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Pet Press KALISPELL APRIL 2020
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Guess What? The Internet is Not Going Away
T here are adults alive today who have only lived in a world run by the internet. That’s wild to me. I was in veterinary school before the internet as we know it existed. I have seen how the internet has evolved and shaped the world over time. Around 15 years ago, the rise of internet pharmacies caused consternation among veterinarians. Some veterinarians are actually afraid of the rise of online pharmacies. When online pharmacies started selling drugs directly to clients, they could do so at much lower prices and deliver the medication straight to someone’s house. I’ll let you in on a secret: we know that care IS expensive, but veterinarians nearly always undercharge services. Our overhead is essentially the same as in human medicine, but veterinary fees are not close to equivalent. Medication fees were an area that we could generate income to keep other prices lower. Internet pharmacies have caused us as veterinarians to look at the old dogma business model. That’s not a bad thing. It’s not necessarily the price that people like about online pharmacies — they’re looking for convenience. That’s the real perk of online shopping. What I buy online is rarely that much cheaper than what I’d pay in the store, but if it means I don’t have to run another errand and can instead have what I need delivered right to my house, you can bet I’ll choose online almost every time. Initially some veterinarians tried to combat online pharmacies by refusing to write prescriptions for internet retailers. This only made things harder and irritated their clients and, by extension, their patients. I believe that as veterinarians, our goal should always be to put our patients’ and our clients’ needs first. Animal medicine can be challenging, so why make it
harder on people if we don’t have to? As the old saying goes, if you can’t beat them, join them!
Recently the Animal Clinic of Kalispell has launched its own online pharmacy! You can order your pet’s medication from anywhere and have it delivered directly to your home. Did you remember at 9 p.m. that you still need to fill that prescription of Bravecto to protect your pets from parasites this spring? You can order the medication on your phone and get it delivered in a matter of days. It’s not just drugs that we have in stock. We also have a selection of pet foods. Anything we have at the clinic you can find listed in the online store, and then some. We don’t carry toys and treats at the clinic, but we have a deal with our distributor to get them and have them sent to your house. Just ask! It’s really cool to be able to offer this to our clients. Our team has been looking for ways to provide more value. The convenience of an online pharmacy is certainly some great value we’re proud to offer. I don’t care whether our clients order from us or some other online pharmacy, so long as our patients still get the medication they need. But when clients order from our online store, they have all the same guarantees that come with buying medicine at the clinic, and they don’t have to worry about the quality of the product. Visit our website to check out our new online pharmacy. There’s a big red banner at the top of our website’s homepage and a shopping button on our Facebook page; you can’t miss them!
– Dr. Jevon Clark
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A Golden Opportunity in Your Golden Years
A NOSE FOR TROUBLE
Search and rescue training with Johnnie, my walker hound, has been going exceptionally well. We’ve been training with North Valley Rescue, a nonprofit corporation that works with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office. We’ve been through a lot of training together, and even got to walk in Columbia Falls’ Night of Lights Parade. Johnnie is proving himself to be a full-blown tracking machine. The day before Johnnie turned 1, we did some training at an assisted living facility. These kinds of environments can be very overwhelming for a dog. However, they are very common scenarios. Seniors with dementia who have wandered away from home are often in need of rescue. This training was a big test, and Johnnie Catching Up With Johnnie
3 TIPS FOR CHANGING CAREERS LATER IN LIFE
It’s 6 a.m. on Monday morning, and your alarm clock blares in your face. You groan and, with the thought of another week looming over you, pull yourself out of bed. But the early wake-up call is the least of your worries. Another week has begun, and you’re still stuck in a job that you no longer love or maybe never did. Does this sound familiar? If so, you may believe changing careers isn’t worth the hassle, especially if you’re close to retirement, but here’s the secret: It’s not too late! There’s nothing stopping you from finding a career you love later in life. Here are three tips to get you started. Be Flexible If it’s been a while since you’ve hunted for a job, then you may have forgotten what it’s like. Job searching can be exhausting, and some job requirements can look overwhelming. But getting stuck in your ways and focusing on the things you cannot do will only hinder your ability to find a job you actually love. Instead, take a deep breath and be open to what comes. You may discover a hidden talent or passion! Forget the Money Money matters, but it shouldn’t be your first priority on the job hunt. Instead, consider what’s going to make you the happiest. What’s your dream job? What have you always enjoyed doing? If money wasn’t an option, what would you be doing right now instead of counting down the hours to 5 p.m.? Be realistic in your goals and find something you love. Seek Guidance Remember, you’re not alone in this fight! Plenty of people switch careers midway through their lives to focus on something they really enjoy. Seek guidance from those who have had a similar experience and look to professional job hunters or consultants for help. Furthermore, after years in the same job or industry, you’re bound to have made a few connections. Reach out for professional support. Regardless of what path you choose, remember that a career you enjoy is always possible. We can’t promise that you’ll love getting up at 6 a.m., but at least you won’t dread what comes next.
nailed it. He sped through the hallways left and right, passed right by other people, didn’t get distracted by the bacon, and found his “victim” in the third hall. I was very proud. Everyone is really excited about Johnnie’s progress and potential. We’re in the process of getting him certified with the North American
The Season’s Best DOG BISCUITS
Inspired by TheRedheadBaker.com
Spring has arrived, and blueberry season is right around the corner! Share the fresh flavors of the season with your dog by cooking up these springtime treats.
Ingredients
• • • •
2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
2 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup dried blueberries
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Place oats in a food processor and pulse for 15–30 seconds until oats are ground to flour.
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FROM FLORIDA SUN TO MONTANA SNOW Dr. Ball’s First Winter in Kalispell W hen I told my friends in Florida that I was taking a job in Montana, they all thought I was going to freeze once winter came. Being stuck in the ice and cold is the very worst fate for a Floridian. But to be honest, I really enjoyed my first Montana winter. Yes, driving in the snow was a bit scary — I definitely had some learning experiences — but otherwise, I loved the winter.
and Dr. Corum
Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA). We should start going out on tracking calls this spring. This has been time-
consuming, expensive, and exciting all at the same time. A lot of this certification called for traveling across the country to train with an instructor for a few days. It’s been a demanding process, but it’s worth it.
It’s been really cool to learn how to read my dog, know when he’s on the trail, and know when he’s lost it. Plus, there are very few hounds beyond bloodhounds that do tracking training. Johnnie is the only walker hound in our area who’s doing tracking. He’s a good working boy, and he loves it. I put his harness on, and he’s ready to go. I’m really looking forward to completing Johnnie’s training and being able to really help North Valley Rescue look after our community. - Dr. China Corum
A lot of people have told me that this winter was pretty mild. I suppose that’s lucky for me because I really get to ease into the
cold. I love being outside, so I was a bit worried that the cold, short days would keep me inside all winter. It was great to learn that even
in the cold months, there is so much to do outside. This is very unlike Florida, where it’s so hot for 11 months of the year that you have to stay inside or you risk getting heatstroke.
This first winter was filled with so much fun. I got to ski a lot, which is something I’ve been doing since I was 3 years old and first learned in Big Sky. So skiing in Montana has always felt natural to me. I never got a chance to try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, so those are on the top of the list for next winter. But as much as I enjoyed the winter, I’m glad spring is here again. I’m excited to get back to hiking and enjoying a little more sunshine.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together oat
flour, eggs, applesauce, and blueberries. If dough is too crumbly,
add 2 tbsp water and mix. If dough is still too crumbly, add more water 1 tbsp at a time until dough can be formed into a ball. 4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a small cookie scoop, form dough into small balls (about 1 1/2 inches in diameter) and place them on a baking sheet. Spray the flat side of a spatula with nonstick cooking spray and gently flatten the dough balls into discs. 5. Bake biscuits for 15 minutes until golden brown around the edges. Let treats cool completely on a wire rack before serving to your favorite pup.
It’s almost my one-year anniversary in Montana. This last year has truly felt like realizing a lifelong dream because I’ve wanted to live here since I was a little girl. When you have a dream for that long, you start to wonder if it’s going to be everything you hoped for. I can say without a doubt that living in Montana has far exceeded my expectations. Even on the coldest days, I am so happy to be here. Thank you to everyone who made my first Montana winter so wonderful. I look forward to many more! – Dr. Zoe Ball
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
406.755.6886 WWW.KALISPELLVET.COM 1408 AIRPORT ROAD KALISPELL, MT 59901
Inside
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The Animal Clinic of Kalispell Goes Digital
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Finding a Job You Love at Any Age Search and Rescue With a Walker Hound Homemade Blueberry-Apple Dog Treats Winter in Big Sky Country
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The Newest Pet Hero
MY COOL DOG What Makes a Pet a Hero?
As a guest writer for this newsletter, I’ve had the chance to cover some truly heroic pets. From Conan, the Belgian Malinois who helped in the fight against the Islamic State group, to Tama, the stray cat who saved a railway station in Japan, I’ve shared some incredible stories of animals that gained fame through their selflessness. But have you heard of my cool dog? My dog’s name is Rusty, and he has not saved a single train station. He really isn’t one for cats either, but I’d like to think he’d make an exception for Tama. That being said, my dog does have some qualities that make him newsletter worthy.
he doesn’t usually want to give the disc back once he’s caught it — he takes pride in his work! But my dog, like any hero, has more talents than just physical prowess. He selflessly provides me with important reminders! Just as Lilou the therapy pig reminds travelers in the San Francisco International Airport to relax, Rusty reminds me to never leave the TV remote in an easy-to-reach location. I swear he chews them up like candy. And the brains on this dog are really something else. Sure, African giant pouched rats have been trained to sniff out land mines — saving dozens of lives — but ol’ Rust took just two weeks to become housebroken. I’m pretty sure that makes him some sort of genius. Plus he doesn’t drool nearly as much as my ex’s Newfoundland. Okay, so maybe none of that is on par with saving lives, fighting terrorism, or even just keeping a rural train station in business. Maybe Rusty is just a goofy mix with a big, lovable grin. But he’s my goofy mix, and one who loves getting me to grin along with him. That seems pretty heroic to me. Any pet can be a hero in the eyes of its owner. If you have a pet half as cool as Rusty, send our team an email and tell us about them!
Despite his name, Rusty’s the fastest frisbee catcher at the local dog park. Of course,
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