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November 2024 www.surfacecreekveterinarycenter.com 970-856-4474
SCVC Pawprint
Tune In to This Growing Health Threat Cancer in Pets
Loving pet parents go all-out to protect their animals from disease and parasites with vaccines, medications, and other preventive care. But defending against canine and feline cancer is an entirely different game. There is no such thing as cancer prevention for pets. With this deadly disease, our only defense is to find the cancer before it kills them. In recognition of November as National Pet Cancer Awareness Month,
can sometimes be done with a local anesthetic or, in the case of larger tumors, while your pet is anesthetized. Sometimes, depending on the complexity, this can be combined with other procedures. Internal cancers are tougher to detect. We discover these most often during a routine checkup. We may notice a mass in a dog’s abdomen or elsewhere during a physical exam or on an X-ray. We have performed dozens of splenectomies on dogs after detecting a hemangiosarcoma in the pets’ abdomens during a physical exam.
this is a good time to review techniques pet owners can use to detect and deal effectively with signs of a malignancy.
Amid a rise in pet cancer cases, awareness is more important than ever. While people often assume the increase is driven by environmental contamination, the main reason is that dogs and cats are simply living longer than they did in the past, thanks to improved health care, nutrition, and safety practices. The longer pets live, the more likely they are to develop cancer. In the past, pets tended to die of heart, liver, or kidney failure. But today, almost half of dogs over 10 develop cancer, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
We may also detect potential cancer signs in blood work. While there is no reliable blood test for cancer in pets, blood work can reveal clues to an infection or other problem somewhere
in the body. A high lymphocyte count could signal lymphoma or an infection. A urinalysis and ultrasound exam are also helpful diagnostic tools.
While so-called “liquid biopsy” blood tests are available, the rates of false positive and false negative results from these tests are very high. I can run the tests for clients who insist on it, but the findings won’t be conclusive.
Annual check-ups are critical in early cancer detection. Skin cancer accounts for 90% of the cancer cases we see. While most owners tend to notice bumps on their pets’ skin, too
Signs of internal cancers include lethargy, swelling, bleeding, difficulty breathing or eating, unpleasant odors, diarrhea, or sudden changes in weight. Pet owners who are worried can ask us to do an X-ray or X-rays of the pet’s entire body. We can also offer abdominal ultrasounds to look for any abnormalities. Some clients come in for exams twice a year because they don’t want us to miss any early signs. For your pet’s sake, if you notice a change in behavior or other potential signs of cancer, don’t wait.
many fail to bring their animals to us until it’s too late to treat them. That bump may be just a little cyst at the moment, and owners often assume it is safe to ignore it unless it grows. That assumption, however, risks giving cancerous cells enough time to metastasize throughout the body. We encourage our clients not to make this mistake. Don’t let these growths expand to the size of a golf ball, or, as I have seen in one pet, to the size of a volleyball. People rationalize that the growth is merely a fatty cyst. But depending on the location, a benign growth may still interfere with your pet’s quality of life and even their survival. Removal of a skin tumor or cancer
– Dr. Jeff
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MILESTONE MOMENT
Have you ever gawked at a gorgeous bird with resplendent plumage, an immaculate beak, and its hypnotic call, only to have it fly from your view, never to return? When you try to tell your friends about this beautiful visitor, do they look at you with mild disinterest and disbelief? Then a Smart Bird Feeder may be just the thing for you! These new devices combine technology and convenience to benefit anyone wanting to enjoy the sights and sounds of their backyard birdies. How do they work? Regular bird feeders are great for feeding local flying friends, although they are susceptible to being knocked over or spilling their contents when the weather turns. Since Smart Bird Feeders only dispense seed as needed, they mitigate the problem of losing feed and pack in the functionality of a game camera. When the sensors on a Smart Bird Feeder detect a bird on its perch, the high-quality Wi-Fi camera begins recording. These videos are saved to the cloud or the camera’s memory card. Some Smart Bird Feeders even alert you to the presence of the birds by sending notifications to your smartphone. Naturally, you can also access the videos directly from your smartphone and share them with friends and family. Not only will your Smart Bird Feeder record birds, but it will also identify them. AI technology can scan the bird and compare it to its vast database of feathered specimens, giving you the exact identity of your flying visitor. For example, the Netvue Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder can identify over 6,000 bird species. Don’t squawk at the price. One of the downsides of opting for a Smart Bird Feeder is the price tag. The Netvue Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder, which Wirecutter recommends in The New York Times, costs $169.99 with a lifetime subscription to its AI service and $129.99 when paired with a monthly subscription. On the plus side, it comes with solar panels, so it can run all hours of the day without needing a battery change. If you are a verified bird-watcher and interested in turning your backyard into a videographer’s apiary, then a Smart Bird Feeder may be a great purchase! What Smart Bird Feeders Have to Offer 1080P Birdwatching
It’s often said that good things come to those who wait. Our latest news proves that good things come to those who keep going! Our Hotchkiss Clinic Is Open!
After nearly four years of planning and improvements, we are delighted to welcome our first clients at our new location in Hotchkiss. Our hours during this opening phase are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, subject to expansion if needed to meet demand. Our doctors and team members will staff the clinic on a rotating basis. The opening of this North Fork location marks a significant expansion for us and will provide a much-needed service to the community. For clients who formerly had to drive an hour to see us, this convenient new clinic will cut their travel time by half or more.
First client at Hotchkiss location: Derek Udy and his cat Raven
Surface Creek Veterinary Center Hotchkiss is fully equipped with X-ray equipment, a laboratory, a surgery room, and examination rooms to provide clients with most of the veterinary services we offer at our Cedaredge location. Clients can schedule pets in for checkups, vaccinations, minor illnesses, and wound care. If a pet needs major surgery, laser therapy, or critical care, we can arrange for them to be seen at our Cedaredge location, which is only 30 minutes away. We saw the need for veterinary care in the North Fork and secured the Hotchkiss site in 2020, at the outset of the pandemic. We have been plugging away at remodeling and preparing the business ever since. We are deeply grateful to the numerous clients, friends, and neighbors who pitched in to help, providing the extra work and expertise we needed. We want to thank all the friends and neighbors who helped make this clinic a reality! They are Christine and Tyson Pfenneberger, Michelle and Sterling Krumtum, Debbie and Doug Christner, Justin and Dawn Foster, Anthony Montoya, Rick Aragon, David Baysinger, Tanner Neil, Cora Pitt, Rebecca and Matt Drbohlav, Carol Nations, Jodi and Mike Pitt, David Bannister, Dan of Dan’s Roofing, and The Cabinet Ladies.
We never could have reached this goal without your help! Thank you.
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Table Training Begging at the table is one of dogs’ most common bad habits. Breaking it is especially difficult if you have children or other family members who love sneaking scraps under the table to your pet. Slipping human food to your dog not only encourages this annoying habit but risks causing obesity and stomach upset. Also, some human foods are toxic for dogs. Raisins and grapes can cause kidney problems — including the raisins in a seemingly harmless oatmeal cookie. Chocolate can cause diarrhea and vomiting. Garlic and onions are linked to anemia in dogs, and macadamia nuts may be especially harmful, potentially causing vomiting and nervous system damage, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). Breaking the begging habit isn’t difficult if all family members are consistent in following the rules. Begin by refusing to look at or talk to your dog when it begs. Simply ignoring your pet is best since dogs (like some human kids) prefer negative attention or scolding over being ignored! Teaching a dog basic obedience commands can discourage them from impulse-driven behaviors. Work with your pet on learning to “sit” or “lie down,” and try using those commands to distract them from begging. BREAK THE BEGGING HABIT
If someone drops food on the floor and your dog races
to snatch it, train them to respond to a “leave” command. Or train an alternate behavior during
dinner, such as sending them to a designated area away from the table with the command, “Go to your spot.”
Other options include moving your dog to another room while you eat. Or consider feeding your dog before your own meal, preferably in a separate room. When they are finished, say, “All done,” and be consistent in denying them food after that. During holiday meals when guests may undo your training by dropping scraps for your pet, consider giving your dog an alternate treat to devour away from the table, such as a KONG toy stuffed with peanut butter. Following all these rules consistently will help your dog learn its place in the family, resulting in a more contented pet!
Clients Spreading the Word
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UnNtiloFtiucrether Due to a staffing shortage, SCVC will be closed on the first and third Saturday of the month. We will continue to be open on the second and fourth Saturdays. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Judy Weaver Terry Calhoun Jil Ludlam
• 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 a 24-hour notice, the deposit will be refunded.
• Due to the increasing cost of
credit card processing, there is now a 3% service charge added to all clinic services and products. If paying with cash, check, or PIN debit, there is no charge.
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Stay Alert: Pet Cancer Is on the Rise inside this issue
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What Is a Smart Bird Feeder?
Surface Creek Opens a Second Location at Hotchkiss
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Train Your Dog to Stop Begging
New SCVC Policies
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Paws of Hope
A Warrior’s Best Friend HOW A RESCUE DOG CHANGED A VETERAN’S LIFE NC aenwc eAl l aptpi ooni nPt mo leinc yt 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.
When Marine William “Bill” Lins returned home from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, he felt ruined. He wasn’t the same man anymore and felt like he didn’t fit in anywhere. After sustaining multiple injuries and witnessing the horrors of battle, he never thought he would be able to go back to living a normal life. That is until the nonprofit K-9s For Warriors helped him find his missing link — a rescue dog appropriately named Link. K-9 For Warriors has been pairing highly trained service dogs with military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma since 2011. The free program strives to better the lives of veterans through special canine bonds and ultimately end veteran suicide, which claims the lives of roughly 20 veterans every day.
When Bill returned from deployment, he had to recover from two surgeries and realized he had PTSD. He had developed severe alcoholism, drinking every day nonstop as his only coping mechanism. In a hopeless place, the Marine felt like he was losing every piece of his identity and had nothing left. After seeing a friend at the VA bring in his service dog, he noticed a remarkable change in him and decided to apply for the program. Bill felt an instant connection to the goofy rescue dog Link, who was recovering from his own trauma after living a rough life in a kill shelter. Bill said his canine companion is his 24/7 therapist, providing him with support and safety at all hours. Link doesn’t just impact Bill’s life; he makes a difference with everyone he encounters, from Bill’s children to the youth athletes he coaches.
“Together, we kind of make each other whole,” Bill said. “He makes everyone’s world better, and he makes it seem effortless.” Link has inspired Bill to help others and spread a message of awareness that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a symbol of strength. Bill has since earned his master’s in social work and provides mental health services with his tail-wagging companion by his side for every session. Together, the pair are showing veterans everywhere that there is hope and that life can get better with a little help from a four-legged friend.
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