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Pet Press KALISPELL JANUARY 2021
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A VETERAN AND HER GOLDEN RETRIEVER
A Memorable Moment From 2020
S omething I’ve come to realize after practicing for 25 years is that I have quite a large knowledge base. I’ve seen almost everything there is to see as a veterinarian — there’s not much that surprises me anymore. Every once in a while a patient will come to me with a problem I haven’t seen before, but it’s not often. But I do still get surprised with the resilience of pets and people. When I look back on 2020, I remember many difficulties and challenges but also many people I met and pets I helped. There’s one client in particular — and her dog, Bentley — that sticks out for 2020. This woman lives out of state and because of the pandemic, she decided to go on a long road trip around the country. She and her husband are ex-military, and she wanted to take this opportunity to get on the road with her golden retriever and visit friends she hadn’t seen since their time in the military. Her journey eventually brought her to Kalispell, only five blocks from our clinic. As she loaded up Bentley and was getting ready to leave on the long journey home, Bentley spotted another dog on the other side of the street. He took off running across the street and got hit by a car. Minutes after the accident, she pulled up to our clinic and came bursting through our doors with him. Our team immediately leaped into action. He had a couple of broken limbs, a hip dislocation, and a diaphragmatic hernia, which means, when he got hit, his diaphragm tore. We recognized he was having difficulty breathing and rushed him into surgery immediately. That surgery ended successfully, and he not only did great that day but also continued to do so with every treatment we provided him. Pets are amazing. As I was working on this case, I had time to think about the steps I would take to ensure this dog would go home as healthy as ever. When we were first examining him, I believed he would have to endure several surgeries,
and while I am an eternal optimist, I was concerned about his prognosis and wondered how long this healing process would take. But he surprised me. Each time I would prepare the owner for unexpected outcomes, Bentley rallied and improved at a rapid rate. He had no complications after his major thoracic surgery, and the dislocated hip once replaced healed appropriately without further surgery. By the end of this anxiety-filled accident and treatment, Bentley left our practice happy, healthy, and ready to head home. His owners and I really connected, and they chose to stay here with us for an extra few weeks with her friends while we treated him through recovery. As she was preparing again to make her way back home, she wanted to give me a gift. She explained to me that she knows a military artist who is a sculptor; he creates these incredible pieces for wounded warriors and service dogs who have been injured or killed in action. After she told me this story, she gave me a book signed by this artist and proceeded to go through the book telling me each story of each dog and veteran. It was such a special moment, and I felt so thankful for the gift. I told her I did not expect anything like that — to give me such a beautiful and signed book that was clearly special to her. She insisted that I took it and reassured me that she and the sculptor were friends and she could get another one. Seeing her and Bentley leave was a happy moment because I knew both were well, but it was also sad. Seeing such wonderful people and pets come and go is always a little heartbreaking. But, it wasn’t long afterward that I received an update from her that Bentley was doing well. Even though they were in my life for a short time, I’ll remember her as such a wonderful human being and Bentley as a loving and easygoing dog with a will to heal.
– Dr. Jevon Clark
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MEET ZAZU!
The Excitable and Loving English
Hello everyone!
I’m so excited to meet you! My name is Zazu. I’m an English bulldog, and I want to tell you all about my mom, Colby, and her big, big heart. I’m so happy to be part of my mom’s life, and I am so thankful for Opie’s English Bulldog Rescue, the organization that helped me meet her. My mom is someone who rescues dogs and gives them a home they can be truly happy in. The first dog she ever rescued was a Great Dane named Maslow from a place called Big Dogs Huge Paws. He was a great dog! At the time, Mom worked at a grade school and Maslow accompanied her there as a therapy dog. He was really good at his job, and I’m sad I never got the opportunity to meet him.
Out With the New, In With the Old! 4 OLD-SCHOOL HOBBIES MAKING A MAJOR COMEBACK
Mom says that suddenly, one day, he developed wobbler syndrome and lost the use of his legs. She says it was completely out of the blue, and she did her best to ensure he was taken care of. She traveled back and forth to a veterinary hospital in Holmen, Washington, a few times. They did physical therapy with him, and he even used a wheelchair. Maslow rallied for a year, but then got worse, and Mom had to let him go. Mom says it was a really sad time, but she still wanted to help other dogs. From the same rescue site — Big Dogs Huge Paws — Mom rescued a Neapolitan mastiff named Wallace. He’d been a stray before the rescue place picked him up. They believe he had been a breeder who’d been put out on the streets. Being a stray, he was extremely emaciated and had developed a number of tumors on his feet and limbs. My veterinarian, Dr. Clark, was also Wallace’s veterinarian at the time and helped Wallace through some of his treatments. But he ended up passing away in the night. I’m sad to hear he is gone, especially when Mom describes Wallace as 200 pounds of slobbering drool and love. I’m just glad he had the chance to stay with Mom in the time he had left. I know she made him happy!
January is National Hobby Month — and for good reason! As people set goals for 2021, they’re also thinking about trying new hobbies. But with so many out there, picking just one can be a hobby in itself. Thanks in part to COVID-19, many people have rediscovered old-school hobbies. Some of these have been around for decades or even longer, and others have established communities that can rely on one another for support, sharing information, and more. Here are four great examples. MAKING BREAD Over the last year, interest in this ancient hobby has skyrocketed. Homemade bread is tastier and more nutritious than store-bought, and it’s so satisfying to watch it come together. Not to mention it’s a great skill to have! With so many types of bread to try, you’re not going to run out of ideas any time soon. COLLECTING CARDS
The next dog Mom rescued was me! Mom found me through Opie’s English Bulldog Rescue, which specializes in rescuing dogs with spina Carrot and Spinach Dog Treats Does your dog have a vet-mandated New Year’s resolution to lose some weight? If so, these grain-free, veggie-packed treats will be its favorite snack this month.
No matter what people were into during the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, there was a trading card game for it. And even going into 2021, that tradition has been kept alive. When many people were stuck at home last year, they rediscovered their card collections and remembered how much fun they were. As a result, card sales went through the roof, and online card communities lit up with activity from all over the world. RESTORING CARS Car restoration is a hobby that lets you get your hands dirty, and it’s one that you can do with your kids or grandkids. It can be not only educational for them but also fun! Together, you can track down parts, talk to folks who are also interested in restoration, and learn about the history of your car. Though car restoration can be a bit costly and time consuming, it’s certainly a journey worth taking. EMBROIDERING Embroidery has taken off because it’s both inexpensive and fairly easy to get into. Plus, many people have fallen in love with its meditative quality. One of the great things about embroidery is that you can use it to make amazing personalized gifts, like pillows, wall hangings, and kitchen towels!
Ingredients
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2/3 cup pumpkin purée
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1/4 cup xylitol-free peanut butter
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2 eggs
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3 cups almond flour
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2 carrots, peeled and shredded
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1 cup baby spinach, chopped
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Bulldog
bifida, which is a fairly common condition found in my breed. With spina bifida, I have a minor deformity in my rear legs, which means they don’t quite line up with the rest of my body. I have to be in a diapering system for the rest of my life, but I don’t mind. I love the suspenders I have to wear, and they always make humans really happy, too! Opie’s English Bulldog Rescue was founded by Julie Hershberger, who has connections with breeders all throughout the country to save puppies just like me. That was how she found me and took me into her care! But, when she started to look for a forever home for me, I had some trouble adapting. When I have a toy, I really like my toy, and when I have Mom’s attention, I really like being center stage! I don’t like sharing toys or attention with other dogs. But that’s why Mom knew I was the perfect fit for her! With her human children all grown, Mom lives alone and can look after me.
WHAT DO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND VETERINARIANS HAVE IN COMMON?
Getting to Mom’s house was a really exciting adventure, even though I didn’t know what was happening. The best part about the trip was that I got to meet so many new people! They’d take me in their car and drive me until I met the next person. That was how I traveled all the way from Missouri to Montana until I arrived at Mom’s doorstep. Since I got here in June, I’ve absolutely loved it! I’ve met so many new people and dogs. Whenever Mom takes me to the park, I love meeting new dogs (especially when toys and food aren’t involved!), and Mom gets to talk to their human parents. It’s a great time to be social, and I get to run around to my heart’s content! I also got to meet Dr. Clark, who has taken such good care of Mom’s pets. My doctor and his team are so kind and gentle; I know I’m in great hands whenever I go. Each day is such a blessing, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us each morning. Oh! One last thing before I let you go: If you want to learn more about Opie’s English Bulldog Rescue, you can find them on that social media site that humans like, Facebook, at Facebook.com/OpieRescue. If you’re hoping to adopt an adorable dog like me, then that is definitely a place to start!
Inventiveness and Creativity At the young age of 11, Benjamin Franklin — who’d always loved swimming — decided that he wanted to propel himself further in the water, so he made himself some fins. He took two pieces of oval wood, 10 inches long and 6 inches wide, and cut a hole into each to slip his thumb into. The fins did allow him to push himself through the water more quickly, and they also became young Franklin’s first invention — the first of many in his lifetime. Franklin’s birthday is Jan. 17, which is a perfect opportunity to marvel at his innovations. In addition to swimming fins, Franklin also invented the Franklin stove, bifocals, and the lightning rod. His constant urging also led to the formation of the first fire department in Philadelphia. While these inventions have left a lasting impact, and still influence our lives today, being an inventor isn’t the only way to be creative.
Often, when someone thinks of inventiveness, they think of inventions like glasses, cellphones, or even air fryers. Not very many people think about scientific professions, such as a veterinarian, as being inventive or creative, but they are. As veterinarians, it’s our job to solve our clients’ and patients’ problems, and that involves quite a bit of creativity. Veterinary medicine is an art: We must learn a vast amount of knowledge in order to do our jobs well. Then to put that knowledge into practice, we have to take the information we have (often in completely different areas) and merge it into one effective treatment. If, for instance, a dog is having a problem with its liver, a veterinarian must consider which medication will help and also how it will affect the dog’s heart. A cat that comes in with an infection will be given an antibiotic, and the veterinarian also has to think about how it will affect the kidneys. Veterinarians have to be systematic thinkers. They are finding the best solution to help their patients get back to full health, and that’s when inventiveness and creativity come into play.
FOR THE HEALTHY PUP
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin purée, peanut butter, and eggs. With an electric mixer, beat until smooth. 3. One cup at a time, stir in the almond flour. 4. Stir in the carrots and spinach. 5. When the dough is fully mixed, roll it into a ball. Then, using your hands, split ball into marble-sized pieces and create square, round, or heart-shaped treats. 6. Bake treats on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 25 minutes. 7. Let the treats cool and give your pup a taste!
It’s always important to recognize inventiveness, even if it doesn’t make it into the history books.
Inspired by TheProduceMoms.com
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Inside
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A Veteran and Her Golden Retriever These Old-School Hobbies Are Making a Huge Comeback She Doesn’t Let Anything Slow Her Down Carrot and Spinach Dog Treats
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Benjamin Franklin and Veterinarians
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The First Dog to Win a Nobel Peace Prize
The First Dog to Win a Nobel Peace Prize
FOXTROT’S HEROICS WITH THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME
J ust this past October, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to what can only be described as one of the world’s goodest boys — a dog named Foxtrot, known also to his Instagram followers (of which there are nearly 7,000) as humanitarian_pup.
WFP outpost that works to supply one of the world’s largest refugee camps. According to an NPR article that spotlighted Foxtrot and the efforts made by his WFP humans, they worked not only to get food to refugees but also to flatten hillsides to make room for shelters for Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar. Foxtrot himself became part of the effort to combat world hunger during a WFP beach cleanup in his home country. Workers found him as a 4-week-old pup, and after failing to locate his owners, took him in as one of their own. For the past two years, Foxtrot has helped however he can to further the WFP’s efforts to end hunger in Bangladesh. This usually includes accompanying his humans while they work, wearing an adorable custom-made WFP cape, and taking to Instagram to raise awareness about how anyone can join in the WFP’s mission. After learning that he and his humans had won the Nobel Peace Prize, Foxtrot didn’t waste the opportunity to share his excitement with his followers. “Woweee,” the pup said. “I … think it would be even more amazing if we didn’t need any peace prizes because peace was the status quo in our world.” If Foxtrot and his humans keep up the good work that won them the Nobel Peace Prize, it seems like that status quo could be within reach.
While Foxtrot wasn’t responsible for improvements to auction theory (like Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson, who won the Nobel Prize for economics) or for a standout career in writing poetry (like Louise Glück, who won the Nobel Prize for literature), this incredible canine shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the World Food Programme (WFP), for their work in combating world hunger. As the organization’s official mascot, Foxtrot shared in the win with the thousands of other WFP workers worldwide.
Foxtrot lives in Bangladesh (one of the most densely populated countries in the world) at a
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