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October 2023 www.surfacecreekveterinarycenter.com 970-856-4474
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The MVPs of Animal Care VETERINARY TECHNICIANS’ VITAL BEHIND-THE-SCENES ROLE
two, they could wait 2–3 weeks. Animals would also suffer unnecessarily with less staff. A doctor can only be in so many places at the same time. Hospitalized patients in particular don’t receive the level of care they deserve when the veterinarian must do everything alone. Surgery is a massive undertaking, and it’s one of the areas where technicians shine the most. They place IVs and catheters, sterilize equipment, clean and polish teeth during dental procedures, monitor animals’ vital signs, and more. We couldn’t run a safe and efficient surgical suite without their support.
Doctors get most of the glory, but veterinary technicians are the lifeblood of any practice. I’ve worked at multiple hospitals and clinics throughout my career and know how they operate. I’d put my team up against any other office in western Colorado or just about anywhere else. In honor of Veterinary Technician Week, I want to shine an extra spotlight upon our most valuable staff’s hard work. The team does so much behind the scenes that the average client doesn’t see. Our kennel technicians clean, watch, and care for the
animals in our care, which is a much more crucial responsibility than one might think. I’ve worked in clinics without this type of staffing, and the results aren’t pretty. Sick animals emit all kinds of body fluids where they shouldn’t — and when left to their own devices, they often roll in it. No client wants that to happen to their pet on our watch, and it’s important to us to treat the animals here as if they were our own. Meanwhile, our full-fledged veterinary technicians keep us up and running. They hold animals and assist us during
What impresses me most about Surface Creek Veterinary Center’s technicians is their level of training and attention to detail. Specifics matter deeply in medicine; being one-tenth of a cc off on an injection for a small dog could have serious consequences. We hire perfectionists because anything less is dangerous. Every doctor here would gladly trust the Surface Creek Veterinary Center techs with our own pets’ lives. Finally, our technician team is conscientious and collaborative. Seeing how they work together to create the
exams, perform X-rays, complete blood draws, and give injections daily. They’re the nurses of the veterinary world, and their focus on these primary care basics allows doctors to concentrate on doctoring. It’s not this way everywhere. Doctors draw blood and place IVs at many veterinary clinics. Whether it’s due to insufficient technician training or trust, I don’t know. But working that way slows you considerably, and doctors aren’t the only ones to suffer. Without our technicians, we’d see far fewer patients. I’d estimate our visits would decrease by half. Instead of treating sick pets within a day or
best patient outcomes is a joy. I feel fortunate to work alongside such incredible professionals. It’s because they are so good at their jobs that I can be better at mine.
–Dr. Jeff
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Oh Baby! The Best Companion THE NEWEST AND CUTEST MEMBER OF OUR TEAM
Sometimes, dogs are more than just a man's best friend — they are heroes. When the Israel Defense Forces brought Chris Willingham, a Marine specializing in training military dogs, a small German shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix puppy in 2006, he knew she was special. Willingham named her Lucca, and in 2008, the pair deployed for their first tour in Iraq, where they spent countless hours together searching for improvised explosive devices or IEDs. When Lucca smelled a bomb, she'd lie down and wait for Willingham, an action they repeated so many times that the pair seemed to read each other's minds. In fact, the duo became so successful that when platoons suspected they were heading into especially dangerous territory, they requested the team by name. THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF LUCCA, THE EXPLOSIVE-DETECTING DOG WHO SAVED LIVES
Dr. Neil welcomed her first child, Ottilie, earlier this year, and the new baby is already part of the Surface Creek family. Since returning to work part- time, Dr. Neil has brought her daughter to work at our office every day, and we love having the little bundle of joy here. “Dr. Jeff and Dr. Susie offered the arrangement,” Dr. Neil explained. “I didn’t expect that, but they said they
After returning from their second tour in Iraq, Willingham received orders that the Marines were restationing him at the Marine Security Guard School. But before he had to leave, he was allowed to choose a new handler for Lucca. Willingham chose Corporal Juan Rodriguez, whom he sensed was the perfect match for Lucca. And he was right.
raised their kids in the vet practice and were happy to have her here.” While the idea initially made her nervous, Dr. Neil came around. “We’re getting into the swing of things,” she says. After several weeks, everyone developed a routine. “Ottilie is a perfect angel in the morning,” Dr. Neil explains. “But in the afternoon, she gets a little crabby.” After eating breakfast and attending the morning meeting, Ottilie typically socializes with the staff until her nap at noon. Fortunately, the baby is already an animal lover who loves watching the office cats and seeing dogs play fetch. Ottilie, also known as Tillie and Otterpop, has a nap in an office closet to keep out light and noise. “Theoretically,” Dr. Neil says, “She also takes a few naps in the afternoon.” But babies are unpredictable, and Ottilie is known for the occasional crying fit. “I think I’m more sensitive to the crying than anyone else,” Dr. Neil says, “But if she gets really cranky, we call 911-Granny for a pickup.”
Lucca and Rodriguez picked up where she and Willingham left off until one day in 2012. The pair were four hours into their patrol in southern Afghanistan when Lucca located her second IED of the day. However, when she moved closer to the device to lie down — it exploded . Rodriguez quickly ran to Lucca, where he discovered she had lost one of her front paws in the explosion. He applied first aid, a tourniquet, and called for a medevac, never leaving her side. She had suffered burns to her neck and torso, and doctors had to amputate her front left leg. However, in less than a month, Lucca was back to running around with the same spirit as before her injury but was now retired from her day job. She was reunited with Willingham and lived the rest of her days with him and his family peacefully until her passing in 2018. Lucca led more than 400 patrols during three combat tours in her career. She found 40 confirmed insurgents and countless explosives, and she never had a single human casualty during her six years of service. 2 970-856-4474
As for clients, Dr. Neil says, “The most
common reaction when they hear her crying is, ‘Is that a baby goat?’ We have to say, ‘Good guess, but that’s a baby human!’”
Dr. Neil says her experience as a first-time mom has been “overwhelming and terrifying” but also joyful. She’s extremely grateful for the support from the entire office. “Everyone
pitches in and hands Ottilie off to others as needed,” she says. “I think this will be a great environment for her
to grow up in.”
A DANGEROUS GAME
Why Cats Play With Their Prey Human parents teach their children not to play with their food, but feline mothers give their kittens the exact opposite message. As a result, hunting is the least adorable thing our cat companions do. It’s not only the killing that makes us squeamish but also how much pleasure cats seem to find in torturing their prey first. Rather than putting a mouse or bird out of its misery, cats appear to want to make it suffer.
behaviorists believe cats attempt to weaken their prey so they can’t fight back. Cats kill by biting their prey’s spinal cord; at this moment, they’re most at risk of a biting counterattack. A drained and injured animal is less likely to harm the cat. The same playing activity also helps felines ensure their food is healthy and unpoisoned.
Cats also don’t engage in extended torture during every hunting session; hungry cats kill and eat their prey faster. Cat owners observe the playing behavior more frequently because their cats are well-fed.
Let your furry friend celebrate the fall season with these simple pumpkin dog treats! PDeorgf eTc tr ePautsm p k i n Nevertheless, the behavior can be distressing to humans. If you want to reduce your cat’s hunting, one of the best methods is to keep them stimulated with regular play. Experts also recommend outdoor cat owners place a bell on their collar so they can’t sneak up on their prey or are less successful. You’ll have fewer “presents” to clean up and you’ll protect the local bird population. But why do cats continue to hunt when they’re not hungry? While cats do find stimulation and excitement in hunting, they’re not simply killing for “fun.” Cats are opportunistic hunters and could go long periods without locating prey. When cats leave the dead animal behind — sometimes on our doorsteps — they likely intend to return to it later. Experts used to believe cats were giving a “gift” to their humans but increasingly prefer the theory that cats are storing their food in a safe place. Inspired by LoveFromTheOven.com
While some cat owners worry they’re living with a small, furry psychopath, that’s (probably) not the case. Researchers have set out to discover why cats “play” with their prey for extended periods before finally going in for the kill. They’ve found that the behavior is a natural survival instinct, not meaningless cruelty. The larger the prey is, the longer a cat plays with it. For example, cats generally attack a rat significantly longer than a mouse. Animal S NCVew C Policy At the time of scheduling a dental or surgery appointment, a $250 deposit will be required. This deposit will be applied to the procedure bill. If you need to cancel the appointment, and you give us at least 24-hour notice, the deposit will be refunded.
INGREDIENTS
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2 tbsp xylitol-free peanut butter
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2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup canned pumpkin purée
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease your baking sheet. 2. In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients. The mixture will be dry and crumbly, so add 1 tablespoon of water to moisten the mixture and knead the dough. Add a tablespoon of water at a time while kneading until the dough is a thick but dry consistency. 3. On a floured surface, roll the dough out until it’s around 1/2-inch thick. Using cooking cutters, cut out individual shapes and place them on the baking sheet. 4. Bake for about 35 minutes or until hard. Let cool and serve!
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1 2 The Dynamic Force Behind Veterinarians inside this issue Lucca, the Explosive-Sniffing Dog
The Littlest Animal Lover in Our Office
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Why Cats Can't Resist Playing With Their Prey
Perfect Pumpkin Dog Treats
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Use Your Garden's Fall Bounty for Home Decor!
TSrt ua nn snfionrgmIYn doouorr FDael lc oHr aatri vo ensst! I n t o New Appointment Cancellation Policy When you cancel with less than 24-hour notice, we now require a prepaid $50 deposit to reschedule. If you keep your rescheduled appointment, we will apply the deposit to your veterinary bill. If you miss your rescheduled appointment, the fee is nonrefundable.
You can also mix herbs like basil, parsley, thyme, or rosemary into the bouquet for fragrance and a fuller appearance. Play with the different shapes and sizes of your gourds. Have them lean against each other or stack them for variation and depth in your display. A Natural Wreath Fresh herbs, flowers, or leaves from your fall harvest are perfect for an autumn wreath. All you need is a wreath form, which you can buy from your local craft store or online, and some floral U-pins. Use large leaves as a base (pumpkin leaves are great), then layer on smaller seasonal herbs such
as sage, rosemary, or oregano. Finally, attach some flowers to it! Squash or pumpkin blossoms work beautifully, but you can use any seasonal flower you have growing. An Autumnal Herb Swag A "door swag" is a traditional holiday decoration, and it's an easy way to add some color to your door without creating an entire wreath. To make a swag, grab a few bundles of your favorite herbs, secure the stems with a rubber band, wrap them with twine, and tie them off, leaving a few inches of twine on both sides. Then, tie those ends together to form a loop and hang the swag on your door!
If you have a backyard garden, you may find yourself looking for new ways to use all the crops you’ve grown. After all, there are only so many pumpkins you can carve, seeds you can roast, or squash you can spaghetti. So, instead of looking up "squash recipes" for the hundredth time this week, consider these indoor decor tips that utilize your garden's bountiful harvest! A Centerpiece Fall fruits and vegetables make great centerpiece arrangements because they have both seasonal colors and unique textures. Consider arranging a few squash or pumpkins in a bowl or basket and topping them with a bouquet of festive flowers.
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