Welcome to November! I hope you and your furry friends are doing well. We’re about to enter that time of year when it gets very, very cold outside. Honestly, I can’t wait! I’ll still make Dr. Petersen take me outside in cold weather, even when there are 2 feet of snow out there! Winter has never bothered me much, but it could be pretty rough for your pets if you’re not careful. SAFETY TIPS FOR FROSTY FURRY FRIENDS SAM’S CORNER
First off, wintertime out here can get freeeeezing cold! When you walk your dogs, make sure they’re wearing whatever sweaters, coats, boots, and shoes they need to keep warm. If temperatures go below zero this season, there are still ways to keep them active and stimulated indoors. Exercise training in the home can help keep them moving, and interactive toys can help keep them mentally engaged. Obviously, it’s tempting for pets (and their humans) to be less active in general during colder and shorter days, but exercise is still important for dogs. It helps us with healthy
Sometimes, our pets surprise us with how resilient they can be. Beanie is a perfect example! Beanie’s Bold and Brave Recovery A TOUGH PUP TRIUMPH Back in April, she experienced a scary accident that resulted in her lower jaw being broken. Because a broken jaw can make it difficult for a dog to eat, drink, and even close their mouth normally, we knew she needed special attention. Beanie was placed under anesthesia so Dr. Petersen and I could get a close look inside her mouth and take detailed X-rays. The X-rays showed just how extensive the injury was and helped us decide how to give her jaw the best chance to heal. During surgery, the portion of the jaw that was too badly damaged to save was carefully removed. The remaining pieces of her lower jaw were then lined up and secured with a small wire. (Think of the wire as a “support system” that helps keep everything in the right place.) After surgery, Beanie had a little extra TLC ahead of her! She received pain medication, an anti-inflammatory, and an antibiotic. She also started on a liquid diet to get the nutrition she needed without putting unnecessary stress on her healing jaw. Beanie’s recovery hasn’t been completely smooth. Because of the trauma, part of her lip initially didn’t receive enough blood flow, and some of the damaged tissue sloughed away. Thankfully, her lip has been healing beautifully, and we’re very happy with the progress we’re seeing! Beanie returned in July, about 12 weeks after her procedure, and she was anesthetized again so we could carefully examine her mouth and take new X-rays to track healing. Her jaw bones didn’t heal back together, but her jaw was doing well, and the wire was intact. We elected to leave it in place to provide additional support. Through it all, Beanie has shown us what a tough, determined pup she is! We’re excited to see her get back to doing what dogs do best: enjoying life! —Dr. Hannah Green
Sam’s Si
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