November 2019 www.surfacecreekvet rinarycenter.com 970-856-4474
SCVC Pawprint
Looking Out for Our Pets Through the Holidays As for you? Well, we’re pet doctors, not people doctors. But if the tempting smell of turkey is any indication, we could probably all benefit from a couple walks or an extra round of fetch to balance out that extra helping of mashed potatoes. TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? a turkey carcass. As a result, the pet d veloped pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can lead to diabetes in just a few months. Left untreated, it’s one of the most common causes of diabetes in cats.
At our house, we’ll spend Thanksgiving in our traditional, lowkey way, with turkey and all the delicious foods we’ve been looking forward to. We’re thankful for you, for this beautiful place we call home, and for all the pets we get to love on every day. We love what we do, and we’re grateful to you all for being part of our community! As always, we’ll be available through the holiday season should anything come up with your pets.
When the family is around, they may be tempted to give Max just a nibble of their gravy smothered turkey. One droopy-eyed look from those big brown eyes and they can’t help themselves. Aunt Sally gives Max a bit of sweet potato casserole, then he gets a nibble of pumpkin pie from Grandpa Joe, and before you know it, it’s enough human food to send Max to our clinic for emergency vet care. What can you do about it? We know it’s tough when relatives are taking over your house; it’s hard enough to keep track of your own kids, much less your pets. Remind your visiting family not to give Max human food because it will make him sick. Put a note up in the kitchen or put a sign that says “Don’t feed me!” around Max’s neck — whatever you need to do to keep him from getting sick. If you do want to treat your dog to something special this Thanksgiving, check out our pet-friendly recipe on Page 3.
T oo much of a good thing is a bad thing, as they say. While one could argue that you can never have too much pizza or too many animal cuddles, in the case of giving pets rich food, the saying is absolutely true. As the holiday season approaches, so do gravy, pie, and many foods that are tasty to us but terrible (and even deadly) for our pets. Much like how too much sugar is bad for humans, these foods can cause our pets to get sick and even develop diseases. Foods that might be fine for us trigger severe reactions in animals who haven’t evolved to eat them. It can be the equivalent of giving peanut butter to a child who is very allergic.
Have a happy Thanksgiving, and until next month,
Dr. Susie and Dr. Jeff
Last year, we treated a pet who’d gotten into the garbage and enjoyed way too much of
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If your pooch isn’t at the table begging for scraps, your guests are less likely to sneak it harmful foods. However, our pups are an extension of our family, so we don’t want to exclude them from the merriment by locking them away. Instead, keep your dog a safe distance from the table by teaching it the “place” command. Don’t Let Your Dog Beg 2. Introduce your dog to the location, and once they’re there, reward them with a treat. This teaches them to wait patiently until you bring the treat to them. Don’t scold if they don’t listen; just reset and repeat. 3. Practice having them stay at the location. Gradually increase your distance from them and lengthen the time intervals between rewarding them. Once they stay reliably, start pairing a cue word with the action. 4. Point to the area and call it “place.” Start close and gradually increase your distance. They’ll associate the cue with the practice of setting up and staying, so you can send them there with a single word once you start cooking or serving food. Remember that this will take time, so be patient. We know you want your pets to indulge in the holidays as much as you do, but we also know you want to keep them healthy. Using the proper commands and the right rewards is a great way to do both. THE SEASON 1. Set up your dog’s bed or rug in the desired location. This should be at least a few feet away from the kitchen and the dining table.
The Legend of Sergeant Reckless THE GREATEST AMERICAN WAR HORSE Animals have acted as companions to humankind for thousands of years. They’re a near-constant source of companionship, comfort, and aid. Unfortunately, military animals don’t often get the recognition they deserve. One horse, in particular, was essential to the success of her regiment during the Korean War. Meet Sergeant Reckless. Bought for $250 in 1952 by a U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant at a Seoul racetrack, Sergeant Reckless was trained to carry ammunition for the 5th Marine Regiment. Her name was a play on the “recoilless” rifle ammunition she carried and a nod to the daredevil attitude of the soldiers who used them. Reckless was pivotal for her regiment in more ways than one. As Robin Hutton notes in her book “Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse,” “Because horses are ‘herd’ animals, the Marines became her herd. She bonded so deeply with them that Reckless would go anywhere and do anything to help her adopted family.” Sergeant Reckless’ greatest achievement occurred during the final stages of the Battle for Outpost Vegas. During the bloody five-day campaign, Reckless made 51 trips to resupply guns over the course of a single day. By the end of the battle, she had carried 386 rounds of ammunition by walking 35 miles through rice paddies and mountain trails. After dropping off the ammunition, Reckless would then bring wounded soldiers back to safety. Reckless was trained to lie down when under fire and avoid barbed wire, and her ability to do so without needing human command saved many lives during the battle.
Reckless would close out her war career with two Purple Hearts and the rank of staff sergeant. She spent the rest of her years at Camp Pendleton in California. To learn more about this legendary mare, be sure to check out “Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse” by Robin Hutton.
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AMANDA HAS OUR BACK TeamMember Spotlight
hands-on, especially with surgery prep, and that’s why I love it here.” Surgery prep is an important part of our process to ensure that things move smoothly and as quickly as possible so your pets aren’t under stress for any longer than they have to be. Amanda appreciates the opportunity to be a part of that process. She also loves the work atmosphere at Surface Creek and how incredibly friendly and welcoming everyone is. It makes the opportunity to grow and learn in the veterinary care field not only fascinating but also enjoyable. It creates an environment that employees love and pet owners feel confident bringing their pets to. We’re immensely excited about Amanda’s future. With her sights set on the wonderful veterinary program at Colorado State University, we’re sure going to miss her smiling face and
lients Spreading the Word Thanks so much to these clients who referred new patients to us the past two months: Amanda is Surface Creek’s dedicated intern, but she feels like a member of our permanent staff and family. She is on a work/study program, and spends her time here helping in every department however she can, including making appointments, cleaning kennels, and helping with her favorite part of the job: prepping the pets and our staff for surgical procedures. Having grown up on a cattle ranch, Amanda’s love for animals started at a young age. Knowing that veterinary care was something she was destined to do, the idea of working at Surface Creek was an immediate draw. As a senior in high school, she has a full schedule with school, riding horses, and playing on her school’s softball team. Still, Amanda finds as much time as she can to help us help your pets. “I get to see and experience things I wouldn’t see on a daily basis,” she says. “I get to be pretty
expert assistance when she graduates in the coming year. But we can relish in the fact that the veterinary world will be getting another promising pair of hands in Amanda.
If the leftovers are your favorite part of Thanksgiving, then this recipe is for you! Show your dog how thankful you are for them with these post-feast dog treats. Leftov r Thanksgivi g Dog Treats
Inspired by TwoHealthyKitchens.com
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Marka Wellington
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Vicki & Embrey Stults
INGREDIENTS
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Amy Champion
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Les Haddan
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Shanda Bradshaw
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1 egg
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1/2 cup cooked sweet potatoes, plain and mashed
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Dottie Whitlock
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Charlie Bishop
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2 cups cooked turkey, finely chopped
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3/4 cup water
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2 cups whole wheat flour
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. In a medium bowl, combine sweet potatoes, water, and egg. Add turkey and flour and stir again until dough is thick and sticky. 3. Use a rubber spreader to spread dough evenly on parchment-lined baking sheet, about 1/2- inch thick. Cut dough into small rectangles using a knife or pizza cutter. 4. Bake for 30 minutes, until the dog treats are lightly golden brown. 5. Remove from oven and let treats cool completely. Break treats apart along score lines. 6. Serve fresh or store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.
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inside this issue
1 2
When Pets Have Too Much of a Good Thing
The Legend of Sergeant Reckless
Teach Your Dog Not to Beg
3
Team Member Spotlight
Clients Spreading the Word
Post-Feast Dog Treats
4
Life Lessons From ‘Lady and the Tramp’
CAN TEACH YOUR KIDS What ‘Lady and the Tramp’
CELEBRATE YOUR DIFFERENCES. This film celebrates differences and encourages viewers to do the same. Tramp rouses hen houses and avoids dog catchers. Lady was pampered with a fancy dog collar and cushy places to sleep. Despite coming from different ends of the dog park, they find a shared love for adventure and, of course, Italian cuisine. EMBRACE CHANGE. Early on in the movie, Lady’s comfortable life slips away from her as Jim and Darling Dear welcome their new baby into the household. Jim starts to refer to Lady as “That Dog” shortly after the baby’s arrival. After getting lost and meeting Tramp, she gains a new life partner and creates a family of her own, showing children that, while change can be a daunting thing to face, it’s often for the best and comes with a silver lining. These are only a few of the lessons highlighted in this Disney classic. Gather the whole family for a fun night in and see what other lessons you can learn. The original film was such a cult classic, but the remake is sure to deliver. It’s expected to release on Nov. 12, 2019, so mark your calendars.
With Disney+ launching this November, you’ll get access to tons of great classics as well as new original series and movies, like the live-action “Lady and the Tramp” remake. While Disney fans are excited about this, the original film is still perfect for the whole family and has some great life lessons for your kids. Here are some of the best takeaways.
EXPLORE THE WORLD AROUND YOU. “There is a great big hunk of world
down there with no fence around it.” This underrated quote, said by Tramp, perfectly encompasses one of the main lessons of the film: explore! Life is all about seeing
what’s out there and testing your limits. Without Tramp’s ambition to explore, Lady would never have discovered her love of spaghetti or the joy of running carefree through the city.
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