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Pet Press KALISPELL
MARCH 2024
406.755.6886 WWW.KALISPELLVET.COM
Paws and Positivity
Why? A vet’s role isn’t just to help animals — it’s to help people, too. We advocate for pets to enhance and encourage their bond with their family. To do that, we must work with the family and their pets.
No matter the treatment outcome, they’ll know they acted in their pet’s best interests.
I’ve been in a situation like this recently. A new client wanted a second opinion on their
pet’s diagnosis. They wanted clarification and advice on what to do. Despite the situation’s severity, I came into the room enthusiastically and explained the cat’s diagnosis and my biases.
A vet’s role isn’t just to help animals — it’s to help people, too.
Many clients come in expecting the worst. They assume the first thing we’re going to suggest is to euthanize
their pet, but that’s rarely true. We may
come to that conclusion during discussion, but we don’t go into the appointment with that assumption.
Unfortunately, the cat still had a terrible prognosis, but the clients thanked me
We embrace optimism for many reasons. Many clients simply don’t know what they don’t know. Sickness can be scary, which can feed anyone’s worst fears, and they can catastrophize. Moreover, just because an animal is older and sicker doesn’t mean they should be euthanized. I have a ton of experience of seeing things go badly, but I’ve also had more positive than negative outcomes. There are nearly always options, no matter how a pet is doing. Our job is to figure out if the “we can do this” matches the “we should do this”. Fate is not always inevitable, and every patient has a right to be offered avenues of treatment. It doesn’t help to be resigned or make clients feel trapped. In a difficult situation, everyone needs to feel in control.
for taking the time to talk to them and give them direction and clarification. They didn’t have to throw up their hands and give up; they had ownership of the treatment. Perhaps most importantly, they felt seen, which means a lot to pet owners going through a tragic experience. At the Animal Clinic of Kalispell, we do everything we can to improve the lives of our patients and clients. Optimism is a necessary part of doing that, and the first step is to let clients know they have a choice and there is hope. Sure, we may have bad days, but we all want to help keep animals and their families together. -Dr. Jevon Clark
Willie Nelson said, “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” Optimism is a guiding principle in our practice. The clinic has six vets, and everyone is a natural optimist. It’s contagious, and we’ve infected the rest of our staff. Besides our natural inclination toward positively approaching every situation, we have reasons for putting on a smile even in the direst situations. I’m a glass-half-full person, which extends to how I interact with clients. Their pet might not be doing well, or another vet has given them a terrible prognosis. They might not have a sense of direction or know what choices are available. Despite that, I keep coming in with enthusiasm.
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THE LOVING W As Told by KD
A SPRING GARDENING GUIDE GROW YOUR GREEN THUMB THIS SPRING
Hi Fur-iends! My name is KD Hop on Pop. I’m super proud of my name — it’s different and fun! Back when my mom and dad first adopted me in Lodi, California, my mom was a teacher. At the time, the students in her class were reading “Hop on Pop” by Dr. Seuss — and the name stuck mainly because my official adoption date just happened to be Dr. Seuss’ birthday!
OH NO! I just dropped my last quarter!
I recently celebrated my 11th birthday, and while I’m a California girl at heart, I’ve spent a few (colder) years here, too. I admit, the snow came as a shock to me because all I knew was the beach and exploring on the rocks while looking for sea urchins, but I quickly adjusted. Now that I’m used to the snow and the cold on my paws, I run around in the backyard, chasing squirrels. I have yet to catch one, and I’m unsure what I’d do if I ever did. However, my mom says my tail picks up a “rooster tail” of snow as I wade through it — oops!
Spring is in the air; the chirping birds and warm air call you outdoors. It’s the perfect time to start your garden. Even as a beginning gardener, you can find plants and flowers to bring you joy throughout the summer. Carrots and radishes are quick, easy, and grow well in most areas. Carrots are versatile veggies great for snacking and cooking; even your dogs will love them! They need to be planted early, though, as they take about three months to germinate. Radishes are cool-season vegetables you can start indoors and plant outside after the last frost. Other vegetables can be started from seeds indoors in late February to early March. Try cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, leeks, endive, and lettuce. Later, in mid to late March, you can start peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, Swiss chard, and tomatillos indoors. Wait to plant your seeds and seedlings in the ground until two weeks after the last frost. Some early cold-tolerant vegetables, like cabbage, broccoli, and head lettuce, can go in the ground early to mid-March. Heat-loving plants like peppers, okra, and eggplant that grow slowly can also be planted in March. Tomatoes are the stars of many gardens. It is best to wait until early April to plant them, though. They are like Goldilocks and prefer everything just right — not too cold or hot.
KD at Pescadero Beach, CA
Carrot and Catnip Cat Treats
Inspired by Epicuricloud.com
If you want to be your cat’s absolute favorite human, bake these catnip treats; they won’t be able to resist!
We can’t talk about gardening without giving a few helpful tips for adding color. Plant hydrangea, aster, pansy, sweet peas, garden mums, and Oriental lilies in the spring to invite pollinators and provide blooming color throughout the summer. Spring bulbs, like crocus and daffodils, are the first to bloom. Sometimes, they will even bloom when there is a bit of snow on the ground. But it is best to plant bulbs in the fall so they have time to settle in their roots. A gardener’s best friend is the USDA Hardiness Zone Map. Since most states include three different growing zones, it is a handy resource to choose the best plants for your area. The website at PlantHardiness.ars.usda.gov has a wealth of information, including tips for easy maintenance. So, grab your gloves, get your seeds, and enjoy watching your garden grow!
Ingredients
• • • • • •
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 cup oat flour, plus more as needed
1 tbsp dried catnip
3/4 cup finely shredded carrot
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cold water as needed
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Our New Medications Saves Pets and Money WE’RE SWITCHING TO SENTINEL
WIRE TERRIER D Hop on Pop,
I have fond memories of being a beach girl back in California. We used to live
in the Bay Area, and we’d always go down to a small town known as Half Moon Bay. My mom would let me play in the ocean, and then we’d head back into town, visit a bakery, and grab some doughnuts. Then, we’d walk a few blocks to a farm store. I loved all the smells of the animals — it was my favorite place to visit, and I knew the way by heart.
To ensure your pets live a long and happy life, parasite prevention
is critical. Fleas, heartworms, and other parasites
First time in snow, Kalispell.
are among the biggest threats to animal health, and they’re much easier to prevent than to treat. Preventive medication is
One day, my mom’s sister came to visit, and after we left the bakery, our guest was hanging onto my leash. I couldn’t contain my excitement, so I pulled as hard as possible to get to the farm store as quickly as possible. I made a sharp right turn into the store and headed all the way into the back just to sniff the chickens and rabbits. My mom says I really took her sister for a ride that day as I sent her running down the street with me. If you were to ask me my favorite snack, I don’t think I could pick just one. I love apples and fruit (I can’t have grapes, though), but most of all, I love beef jerky! Whenever my dad heads for the jar of beef jerky, that’s my cue. I get ready, and I wait patiently! Most importantly, I love my family, and I love to cuddle. I’m grateful for such great friends and parents. I live life to the fullest!
the best weapon against them, and they should be taken regularly, especially during the warmer months.
-KD Hop on Pop
For over 15 years, we’ve used the same medicine for parasite prevention. It was and still
is an excellent treatment option, but we’re switching to Sentinel. It’s an excellent preventive and just as effective at protecting your pets as Interceptor Plus..
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a bowl, mix coconut oil and
Sentinel still targets roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms, the common parasites that can harm your pet. In addition it also prevents flea eggs from maturing and hatching, disrupting their life cycle. We decided to switch to Sentinel because it’s excellent medicine and it offers great rebates to you, especially when combined with the purchase of Bravecto that we’ve used for years for flea and tick prevention. We already began switching over (you may have noticed). We have QR coupon codes right at the front desk to be able to easily get that done. We want to make it easy for you to save money! We know times can be challenging right now. Even routine care has become much more expensive, and we want to ensure everyone can defend their family members from parasites. Our mission is to help every pet and their families, and that extends to providing accessible medication to all. This season, parasites will be out there in droves, so make sure to prepare your animals now.
flour until the mixture looks sandy, then stir in catnip and carrots and mix in egg. Add water if the mixture isn’t holding together or add extra flour if the mixture looks too sticky.
3. Sprinkle a flat surface with additional flour and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness. 4. Using a fork, prick the dough all over. After, cut into 1/2-inch squares. 5. Arrange squares on the prepared baking sheet and bake for around 12 minutes or until they begin to brown. Cool completely before serving!
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406.755.6886
406.755.6886 WWW.KALISPELLVET.COM 1408 AIRPORT ROAD KALISPELL, MT 59901
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Inside
1
The Power of Optimism in Veterinary Care
2 Bring Color and Joy to Your Garden
2 KD Hop on Pop, the Wire Terrier
3 Carrot and Catnip Cat Treats
3 Same Protection, Lower Price on Parasite Protection
4 3 Pet Hero Stories
Jack, Togo, and Bandit Went Above and Beyond 3 FURRY HEROES
Sometimes, heroes come sans cape but with fur, paws, and a keen sense of smell. We’ve heard the stories of police dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, and the German shepherd Trakr, who found the last survivor on 9/11. But even untrained pets and strays can be heroic.
In the 1920s, the remote town of Nome, Alaska, grappled with a deadly diphtheria epidemic. Children were dying, and the icebound city was inaccessible by plane or boat in the winter. The only way to deliver the needed antitoxins was by dog sled on the Iditarod Trail. Balto, a Siberian husky, received most of the fame, but Togo, another husky, led the team across the most treacherous part of the journey. These dogs delivered life-saving medicine in time and saved many of Nome’s children. Cats can be heroes, too, as proved by a calico cat who lived up to his name in the most unexpected way. One night in Mississippi, intruders were trying to break into a home. The house cat, Bandit, sensed the danger and sprang into action. The cat’s relentless scratching and tugging at its owner’s blanket finally woke him. Then Bandit led his human downstairs to discover the attempted break-in, which also scared away the intruders. Bandit proved that size and species don’t matter in heroism. In moments of crisis, these four-legged heroes rose to the occasion, not for glory or reward but out of pure love and loyalty. They are potent reminders of the courage and selflessness that animals are capable of.
Meet Jack, a stray dog in New York City known for scavenging through dumpsters. One early morning, his routine search for food took a life-saving turn. Behind one of these dumpsters was a baby, wrapped in a blanket, vulnerable and alone. Instinctively and with remarkable gentleness, Jack picked up the baby in the blanket with his teeth. Whether guided by fate, an extraordinary sense of purpose, or just because it was the closest open business, Jack took the baby to the hospital. The nurses tried to shoo him away when he first ran through the sliding doors. One nurse, noticing the bundle in the dog’s mouth, was able to get close enough to retrieve the baby. Thanks to Jack, the baby received life-saving medical attention.
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