Town & Country Veterinary Clinic - August 2018

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PAWS for News TOWNANDCOUNTRYVETCLINIC.NET 682.730.8260

AUGUST 2018

Let’s Make the World Better When Dr. Derrick Nelson Sets His Mind to It

Hello there,

Derrick has said, “The best part of my job is knowing I made an animal better and left a positive impact on their owner’s life. You can’t measure that level of satisfaction.” I can relate. When I was the clinic dog, I really enjoyed

My name’s Bubba, and you may know me from my time as the clinic dog down at Town & Country Veterinary Clinic. When I first showed up at Town & Country, I was in a pretty sorry state. I had a skin infection, heart worms, and I was going bald! Fortunately, Dr. Derrick Nelson volunteered to take me in. These days, I’m like a new dog and I get to live with Derrick and his family. I wasn’t surprised that Derrick was able to patch me up so well. He’s the kind of person who has spent his life looking after animals. Derrick grew up in the middle of nowhere South Dakota, where the neighbors were miles away and all his classmates fit in a one-room schoolhouse. It was the kind of thing you’d read about in “Little House on the Prairie.” Hailing from a family of farmers, Derrick spent his childhood helping with all kinds of animals, from dogs and cats to horses and cows. He knew he wanted to work with animals, but it wasn’t until he was a senior in high school, preparing for a mentorship class, that his mother suggested he think about being a vet. For the class, Derrick shadowed a local vet for 80 hours and realized how cool the field was. He watched the vet perform a successful surgery on a cat with a golf ball-sized tumor in its belly, helping the cat feel better and giving the cat’s owner some peace of mind. After this experience, Derrick decided to become a veterinarian. Being the kind of person who doesn’t give up easily, once Derrick sets his mind to something, it’s as good as done. I’ve always thought that’s a pretty good quality in a human.

greeting pets and people as they walked in. I’ve been told I’m pretty laid back, so my demeanor tended to help everyone else feel a bit more relaxed when they came into the clinic. This wasn’t as big of a job as removing tumors and such, but it’s a job I enjoyed. The team at Town & Country have always been awesome. Derrick is a great vet, but clinics don’t run on the shoulders of one person. It takes an excellent staff to make sure every pet and person gets the right care and leaves feeling better than when they came in. In addition to taking care of everyone who comes into Town & Country, Derrick is passionate about teaching other vet clinics how to offer that same level of care. He and his friend, Dr. Kent Julius of Legacy Veterinary Clinic in Frisco, have teamed up and are working to show other clinics how to be just as great as the team at Town & Country.

This sounds like a pretty big job, but like I said, when Derrick decides to do something, it’s as good as done.

-Bubba

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Treating Your Pets Like Family

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Your whole family adores your dog — but not the barking. This issue can lead to feelings of frustration, and the more frustrated you get, the more your dog barks. It’s their only way of communicating, and they’re telling you, “My needs are not being met.” In order to reinforce good behavior, there are three things to keep in mind. Exercise Part of the barking issue may be due to pent-up energy. According to the humane society, “A tired dog is a good dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration.” If you already take your pup on a morning walk, try adding in an evening walk. You could add it to your child’s chore list and help get out some of the kid’s pent-up energy, too. It may also be beneficial to practice obedience exercises and games that challenge your dog. Discipline To put a stop to the behavior, you’ll first need to change any of your behavior that’s reinforcing it. Any attention your dog gets when he’s barking — even yelling, “Rover, stop!” — teaches him to keep going, because you’re rewarding him with attention. Wait until your dog has stopped barking to give him any sort of attention, including looking at them. “To be successful with this method, you must wait as long as it takes for him to stop barking,” advises the Humane Society. Affection Of course, your dog needs love and attention to thrive — a lack of it could contribute to barking behavior. Reinforce silence by giving your dog a treat and an encouraging pat when she demonstrates good behavior, like not barking. To make your training program successful, consistency is key. Enlist the help of the whole family to stick to the principles. Together, you can foster a calm, peaceful home where you and your dog happily coexist. Become a ‘Dog Whisperer’ Train as a Pack for Better Results

Journey to the Great Backyard

Summer is drawing to a close, but there’s still time to make some great memories. Camping trips are a summer staple. Fortunately, you don’t have to drive hours into the mountains to find the perfect campsite. Your backyard is right there waiting for you! Here are a few tips to help your family say farewell to summer with a perfect backyard camping trip. Pack for an authentic experience. Your back door is literally a few yards away, which can be great in the event of an emergency. But if the kids are running in and out of the house all night long, they might end up deciding they’d rather be inside playing video games after only an hour. Be sure to pack everything you would need if you were really going into the woods for the night so no one is tempted to go back inside. This means tents, sleeping bags, flashlights, pajamas, books, binoculars, a compass, water bottles, and a cooler of food with snacks and dinner. Treat this like a “real” camping experience right from the beginning! Figure out the campfire. Don’t have an in-ground fire pit? No worries! You can still enjoy hot dogs and s’mores with a charcoal grill or a store-bought fire pit. If you have enough room in your backyard, you could even try building a bonfire. Just make sure to check your city ordinances and get any necessary permits first. You can find advice for building the perfect campfire at REI.com/learn/expert-advice/ campfire-basics.html . Remember: It’s okay to call it a night. For kids, the most exciting part of camping in the backyard is getting to sleep in a tent — that is, until they actually have to sleep. After stargazing, some kids will want to stay up all night whispering and giggling in the tent, and that’s great! But other kids might decide they’d rather sleep inside, and that’s okay too. Your camping trip isn’t a failure because everyone spent the night in their own beds. It’s not about where everyone sleeps; it’s about how much fun your family had together before bedtime. Finish the Summer With a Family Camping ‘Trip’

The best part of backyard camping? It doesn’t take a lot of planning. Just grab your gear and your family and hike out into the great backyard.

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Treating Your Pets Like Family

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Pups These Days ...

Important Messages From Senior Pets

At our clinic, we see animals of all ages and breeds. As pets get older, they have different needs when coming to the vet. They also

“Millennial puppies these days spend too much time thinking about artisanal water bowls and

“Why are there so many brands of pet food? When I was a pup, there was one kind of wet food and one kind of dry food. If you didn’t like it, tough! Now the pet food aisle is as long as the cereal aisle. How are you supposed to know what’s the right one? I do enjoy that senior dog food these days, though. Low fat and low protein content makes the kibble easier on my kidneys.”

taking photos of all their treats. Back in my day, if I wanted a treat, I had to walk 5 miles in the snow, uphill both ways. And before I got the treat, I was expected to shake, beg, and roll over! That’s what it means to be a good boy.”

have different things on their minds. Here are some important messages from senior pets about things they wish more people knew.

–Bonnie, Lab Mix, age 11

–Woofy, German Shepherd, age 12

“Have you seen all these new toys they have out? I saw a young Dachshund chasing a toy robot that was being controlled by a kid’s smartphone! Do you know what we had

“Cat trees are too tall! Why should I have to climb 4 feet in the air just to take a nap? I have arthritis and my joints aren’t what they used to be. We need more cat beds on the ground.

to play with when I was a puppy? A stick! And if I wanted to play, I had to go find the stick myself. I would love a new toy, you know. Playtime isn’t just for hyperactive puppies. Exercise is good for senior pets too.”

And while we’re at it, let’s look into some shallower litter boxes with lower sides. Don’t make me climb the Great Wall of China whenever I have to use the box.”

–Minerva, Tabby Cat, age 9

–Shooter McGavin, Blue Tick Beagle, age 8

PAWSitively Hilarious ! Food Hounds ! PEANUT BUTTER DOG TREATS Ingredients

• • •

2/3 cup pumpkin purée 1/4 cup peanut butter

3 cups whole wheat flour, or more as needed

2 large eggs

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside. 2. Using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat pumpkin purée, peanut butter, and eggs on medium-high until well-combined, about 1–2 minutes. Gradually add 2 1/2 cups flour at low speed, beating just until incorporated. Add an additional 1/4 cup flour at a time just until the dough is no longer sticky.

3. Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3–4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes and place onto prepared baking sheet. 4. Place in oven and bake until edges are golden brown, about 20–25 minutes (baking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of the treats). 5. Let cool completely.

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Treating Your Pets Like Family

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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Inside

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A Word From Bubba

How to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking The Best End-of-Summer Activity

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What Your Senior Dog Wishes You Knew PAWsitively Hilarious Peanut Butter Dog Treats

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Shadow: The Hang-Gliding Service Dog

Meet Shadow:

The Amazing Hang-Gliding Service Dog

For his entire life, Utah resident Dan McManus has suffered from several mental health issues, including generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, night terrors, and severe panic attacks. Over the years, he’s utilized numerous coping mechanisms to stave off the symptoms, but there are two things that calm him more than anything else: hang gliding across the Utah skies and the companionship of his service animal, an Australian cattle dog named Shadow. Over the course of 37 years, McManus went from being a hang-gliding hobbyist to an expert instructor in Salt Lake City, going out gliding as often as possible. But it seemed that his passion gave his pup a bit of anxiety of his own. Whenever McManus would take off, Shadow always wanted to chase him. “So I would be out here flying, and he would chase me and jump up at me and sometimes get my foot and hang on a little bit … It felt like he wanted to keep me safe,” he says. And when he left the dog at home, he’d often come home to a scratched-up floor and doors. It seemed that Shadow couldn’t bear to be away from his owner. So, about 12 years ago, McManus had a special harness made for Shadow, enabling the pup to join him while he took to the skies. They’ve been side-by-side on nearly every flight since.

Some pet owners might balk at the idea of taking a dog on a

hang glider, but it’s clear that, in this case, Shadow definitely wants to fly. Whenever they go out, Shadow wraps his paws around McManus’ arm, remaining stoic as they survey the landscape together from high above.

While we all struggle with our own obstacles in life, it’s nice to know that our canine pals will always be there to offer their furry support. As McManus and Shadow demonstrate, it’s a bond that remains strong even hundreds of feet above the ground.

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