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Pet Press KALISPELL NOVEMBER 2021 THROUGH THICK & THIN A Thank You to My Wife
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I’m a very blessed person with a lot for which to be thankful, but above all else, I’m thankful for my wife, Rose Ann. This Thanksgiving I want to take a moment to express my gratitude and share how she’s influenced my life for the better. Since I opened this practice 14 years ago, my family has been on quite a journey. In fact, from the day she met me, it’s been pretty amazing what Rose Ann has put up with. I’m not sure she knew what life married to a small-animal veterinarian would look like when she first signed up for the ride. We’ve had some fantastic rewards, but there have also been significant sacrifices. Any of you that have a small business understand what it means to your family to be married to it. Thirty years ago, the two of us graduated from undergraduate school, got married, and moved to Washington state all in about four weeks. Once there, I went to veterinary school, while Rose Ann worked full time. She’s a teacher, but she couldn’t find any teaching jobs, so she worked at a day care where she was wildly overqualified.
there. The universe got the last laugh because soon enough, a perfect job became available — you guessed it — in Butte. In the end, we lived there for 13 years and loved it, we still do. But I wanted to start my own practice, and the opportunity didn’t exist there. In 2008, we found our way to Kalispell. Rose Ann was teaching, the kids were in school, and I was a couple hundred miles away living in the back room of the clinic! Between February and July, Rose Ann was both mother and father to the kids. I’d try to sneak home on weekends when I could, but she was all alone most days. She went to baseball practice, soccer games, and Boy Scout camp. She made dinner, got the kids to school, helped with homework, and kept the house while trying to sell it. She and my boys were all amazing. After school was out, she left her teaching career in Butte to start over, packed up the kids, and moved to Kalispell to a house she had not seen. Though we were all together again, the demands of essentially starting a new practice required all of my time (I can’t tell you the last time I only worked 40 hours in a week) and had used up all of our savings. But Rose Ann believed in us and what
we were doing with the new business. Through it all, she continued to encourage me and take on the extra work at home with the kids. In the end, it took about five years before I had enough help at the clinic to be comfortable to get time away. Veterinarians are constantly under pressure to be available at all times, but I was the only doctor on staff and I had five people working for me — that meant if I didn’t work, they didn’t work. Business owners understand that responsibility, and I couldn’t have made it work without Rose Ann keeping things under control in the rest of our lives. I know that I’m truly fortunate to have Rose Ann in my life. For all these years being my support system and my partner, I can’t thank her enough. If you also have someone in your life who has supported you through everything, make sure to take the time to thank them. Whatever you’re grateful for this holiday, I hope that you and your family have a joyful and safe Thanksgiving. – Dr. Jevon Clark
While moving to Washington, we stayed in Butte for one night and joked that we would never live
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MEET OUR MIRACL Our Senior Cat Spotlight
Can Vitamins Be Customized?
Hi everyone, my name is Chen, and I live with my dad Homer. He calls me Blue Eyes. I’m almost 13 years old, and I should probably mention that I’m a cat. On Dec. 27, 2009, some not-nice people left me and my buddy Wilson on the side of the highway. We were only about a year old, and it was snowing and very cold! Thankfully, some much nicer people found us and brought us to a shelter, where we met my mom and dad. They had seen a story about us in the paper and came down to adopt us both. I was sick at the time, so the shelter tried to give Mom and Dad another cat, but they wanted me. After I got better, Wilson and I went to our new home. It was really scary at first, and we hid under the couch for about 10 days, but I went out and explored at night until it was safe. A long time ago, I accidentally got out and Mom and Dad were really upset. I guess I got kind of lost because it took me about two
Everyone knows it’s important to get their vitamins. But do people need the same amount of certain vitamins, or does it vary? Some researchers say it varies, so vitamin supplement companies, like monthly vitamin subscription service Care/of, customize their pill offers based on your personal health and/or goals. But do these services actually work? Since supplements aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, how do we know whether their packages contain the vitamins and minerals promised?
Vitamins may not help as much as you think.
Johns Hopkins researchers found that for many illnesses (especially heart- related), taking supplements didn’t make a big difference. One study involving 450,000 people found that multivitamins did not reduce risk for heart disease or cancer. Another study tracking the mental functioning and multivitamin use of 5,947 men for 12 years found that multivitamins didn’t reduce risk for mental decline such as memory loss or slowed-down thinking, either. The only exception? Young women. Larry Appel, M.D., director of Johns Hopkins Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, says that supplemental folic acid for women of reproductive age may be helpful. “Folic acid prevents neural tube defects in babies when women take it before and during early pregnancy. That’s why multivitamins are recommended for young women.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends women of reproductive age to intake 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, and the amount of iron in a multivitamin may be also beneficial.
‘Barkuterie’ Board
Ingredients
But can customized vitamins make a difference?
• • • • • • • • •
Cucumbers, sliced
Carrots, sliced
If you’re a young woman, or you have a doctor’s orders to get a multivitamin for certain conditions or treatments, the bad news is that right now, hardly any customizable vitamins have a third-party certification for quality and accuracy. If the vitamin or brand doesn’t have ConsumerLab.com, NSF International, or U.S. Pharmacopeia certification, you simply can’t know what you’re getting. So, the best multivitamin is the one designed for your age group with third-party certification. Even if it’s a $10 bottle from Target, it’s likely more effective than what’s trending online.
Melon, cubed and seeded
Cheddar cheese, cut into 1/2-inch-thick squares
Dog treats
Unseasoned and cooked meats, cut into 1/2-inch- thick squares
Xylitol-free peanut butter Hard-boiled eggs, diced
Bananas, cut into 1/2-inch-thick pucks
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LE PATIENT, CHEN!
WHY WILD ANIMALS AREN’T PETS CUTE BUT DANGEROUS
As the internet allows us a window into more and more people’s lives, influencers with exotic pets have increasingly captured our imaginations. From hedgehogs and foxes to big cats and sloths, it seems like someone out there has brought every type of animal under the sun into their homes. These influencers generally fall into one of two categories: licensed wildlife rehabilitation experts who rescue animals from fur farms or other money-making schemes, and ill-informed amateurs who buy through breeders or bring random animals indoors. Regarding the former, this is a clear case of “don’t try this at home,” while the latter group is generally making life worse for the animals they claim to love. Clients increasingly ask Dr. Clark about the possibility of owning animals like raccoons or skunks, because they look adorable. “Skunks are super cute,” Dr. Clark agrees, “but aside from the smell, keeping them as a pet is a disaster from a public health standpoint.” He points out that skunks are both illegal to own and the second-most common carrier of rabies in Montana (bats are No. 1) — and there is no approved rabies vaccination to give them. If someone is bitten, you could be held liable in both criminal and civil court. Additionally, Dr. Clark notes, “Many of these animals can carry intestinal parasites that cause very serious diseases in humans. Humans aren’t the intended hosts, so these parasites can wreak havoc on our bodies.” Some exotic pets may be technically legal to own, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to bring them into your home. For example, certain exotic cats are legal with a permit, but Dr. Clark doesn’t recommend them as pets. “People don’t know what they’re doing with these animals. They’re not domestic, and there’s a much steeper learning curve than people ever consider.”
days to come home. When Dad found me, he brought me inside to Mom,
and I’ll always remember how happy she looked when she saw I was back. Then when Mom got sick, I spent lots of time cuddling with her. She passed away eight years ago, and I miss her a lot.
I miss Wilson, too. We spent our whole lives together, but he died about two years ago. Dad used to call us “partners” because we always hung out and snuggled whenever we could.
Now it’s just me and Dad. We spend lots of time together, and I like to climb on his chest and rub my face against
his chin. I also like to sleep in the laundry basket with his dirty clothes, and when it’s really cold, I crawl under the blanket on the bed to keep nice and warm. I love meeting new people, and sometimes, just for fun, I like to run up and down the hall. I’ve had a lot of medical issues, so I’m really lucky Dad takes such good care of me. I see lots of Dr. Clark, who calls me his miracle cat. I don’t know if I’m a miracle, but I do know that I sure am lucky!
A charcuterie board blends communal party snacks with a touch of elegance, and this holiday season, your dog can partake in the fun.
Even if you’re convinced you can care for an exotic pet properly, that doesn’t mean you’ll find a veterinarian who can treat them. Veterinarians are generally not
(Note: This will also work for cats with some adjustments for their diet.)
trained in the biology and treatment of non- domesticated animals. Additionally, if the pet is illegal to own, Dr. Clark says, “We have to report you because it’s dangerous.”
1. Cut up all the ingredients. Don’t shy away from fun shapes! 2. On a flat board, arrange the largest treats along the outside. 3. Add peanut butter to a small bowl and place it in the center of the board. 4. Arrange the smaller snacks around the bowl, filling in any gaps. Directions
Your dreams of owning an unusual animal are better left in your head and on the internet. And if you do follow people with these animals online, do your best to make sure they’re licensed and reputable, not just a novice with a raccoon.
Inspired by AintTooProudToMeg.com
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406.755.6886 WWW.KALISPELLVET.COM 1408 AIRPORT ROAD KALISPELL, MT 59901
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Inside
1 What Dr. Clark Is Most Thankful For 2 Do Customizable Vitamins Work? 2 Meet Our Patient, Chen! 2 ‘Barkuterie’ Board 3 Not So Fast: Rethink That Exotic Pet 4 Dog Dials 911 to Save His Owner
Dogs can be trained to obey a lot of commands: sit, stay, rollover, play dead. But “dial 911”? Well, that would probably be a foreign command for most dogs. Luckily, it wasn’t for Buddy, an 18-month-old German shepherd who remembered his training and saved his owner’s life.
How One Dog Saved His Owner BY DIALING 911
Joe Stalnaker of Scottsdale, Arizona, sustained a head injury during a military training exercise 10 years prior to the incident. Because of that injury, he suffered from seizures. Normally,
a condition like that would make it unwise for him to live alone, but Stalnaker valued his independence and wanted to find a way to lead as normal a life as possible. Joe adopted Buddy from a Michigan-based organization called Paws With a Cause when the pup was just 8 weeks old. Paws with a Cause trains assistance dogs, and after adopting him, Joe trained Buddy to dial 911 until an operator was on the line in the event that he had a seizure.
A year and a half later, that training saved Joe’s life. One day, Joe began seizing when he was home alone with Buddy. Buddy rushed to the phone and dialed 911, whimpering to the dispatcher. Even if they don’t hear anyone on the line, dispatchers are required to send police. When police arrived at Joe’s home, they found him and Buddy, who was barking loudly. They took Joe to the nearby hospital, where in a few days, he made a full recovery. Some might say that Buddy was just following his training, but this heroic act goes far beyond just sitting and rolling over for treats. Even the veteran dispatchers hadn’t heard of a dog dialing 911 before. Buddy knew it was his mission to keep his owner safe, and thankfully, he knew exactly what to do under pressure — because that’s what heroes do.
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