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Pet Press KALISPELL AUGUST 2019
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WAS IT SOMETHING THEY ATE?
A Reality Check About Pet Allergies
might have stopped your neighbor’s dog from itching, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right solution for your four-legged best friend.
What causes pet allergies?
This is something I am asked a lot, especially around this time of year. Another common question is “Why are we seeing pet allergies more often?” To answer that, I suppose it is possible that something may be causing
Nationwide, one of the biggest sources of dissatisfaction between vets and clients is unsuccessful allergy treatment. Clients get upset because their dog or cat isn’t getting any better, so they turn to someone else for help,
animals to suffer from allergies more frequently. Or it could be that pet owners are getting better at recognizing allergies. After a little digging, I find there’s a lot of misinformation online about pet allergies. The most common dogma, if you’ll excuse the pun, is food. If your pet is suffering from allergies and you look up their symptoms, nine times out of 10, some pet website will insist food is to blame. But food isn’t the only cause of pet allergies. In fact, it’s far from the most common cause!
or they give up altogether. We try to alleviate this problem by prioritizing communication and we don’t sugar coat it. We tell clients that we may have to work through many diagnostics and treatments over months and even years. Dealing with allergies can be a nightmare until you find a treatment that is effective. I recently worked with a dog who had been itchy for six years! And that’s human years, not dog years. The owners had gone to other clinics, found things that seemed to work for a
The thing about pet allergies
is they are incredibly frustrating to diagnose.
little while, but would always stop working. Either they were getting a drug that just didn’t happen to be effective, or the dog needed more than one medication for a longer time period. Our goal is always the long-term view of the pet’s health. Things aren’t going to be fixed tomorrow or next week, but we have long-term goals, like how are they in a month, or three or six months. Thankfully, even though pet allergies can be a pain to deal with, we have lots of tools in our toolbox to take care of them. We have medications like apoquel, cytopoint antibody therapy, low-allergen foods, hypoallergenic foods, shampoos, antibiotics, and even steroids available. And to make life better, we have a great relationship with Dr. Miller, who can consult on really difficult cases. Pet allergies can be tricky, but they’re a problem I enjoy solving with a little patience.
I have practiced long enough to see great positive strides with regards to diagnosing and treating allergies. Recently, I
struck up a new relationship with a veterinary dermatologist, Dr. Rose Miller. I’ve been communicating with Dr. Miller for a while, and this past June she came to visit the clinic. We hit it off right away — she talks as fast as I do! During her visit, Dr. Miller and I started talking about pet allergies. She told me that in her practice, 80% of pet allergy cases are related to environmental allergens. Only 20% of her patients suffered allergies because of their food. The thing about pet allergies is they are always incredibly frustrating. Pets nearly always require many rechecks and medications for life. Not every pet behaves the same way when there’s something wrong. Allergies might be caused by food, pollen, airborne allergens, infections, or parasites, and pets can react similarly to different causes. Getting a certain kind of medicine
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Lakes and Las
Staying ‘Cool’ With Your Canine ENJOY THE WEATHER WHILE KEEPING YOUR PUP COMFORTABLE With all this late-summer sunshine, it’s the perfect time to take your dog out for some fun. And while spending time basking in nature’s beauty can be a great source of fun and exercise for you and your pets, it’s important to keep a careful watch on your dog’s core temperature to prevent heat exhaustion. There are several detectable signs of heat exhaustion that you can watch for, including abnormal lethargy, vomiting, or a brightly colored blue or red tongue. Here are some tips to keep your canine cool this summer. While certain dog breeds thrive in hotter climates, all pups need a little extra care when it comes to staying hydrated during the summer. For starters, always make sure they have ready access to drinkable water. If you are going on an adventure, consider bringing a collapsible water bowl. If you are doing some backyard chilling, consider filling up a small wading pool with water for your pooch to splash or lounge in. Water in All Its Forms
Hello all!
This is Vayda. I’m a German shepherd who lives with Patsy Tiernan, one of the veterinary technicians at The Animal Clinic of Kalispell. I’ve been by Patsy’s side since I was just 9 weeks old. I first saw Patsy when she passed by my kennel to meet my mom and dad at the breeder and their beautiful farm. She didn’t know I was the puppy she would be taking home, but I knew right then that Patsy was going to be my best friend.
I’ve been with Patsy for 12 years, and we always have so much fun together. We go swimming at the river all the time, which is one of my favorite things in the world. Patsy also gives me great treats that keep my teeth clean and lets me play with everyone I meet. I love people, kids, dogs, and even cats! I love hanging out with kittens more than I like hanging out with anyone else — besides Patsy, of course!
I’m told I’m in really great shape for a German shepherd. My hips are strong and I still have tons of energy. I credit my good health in part to
Some Invaluable Inventions
Doggie Ice Cream We’re well into the dog days of summer when humans and canines alike are looking for ways to beat the heat. This month, we have another frozen treat your dog will adore! Note: Make sure your dog isn’t lactose-intolerant before serving them yogurt.
There are many contraptions to help you keep your canine cool in the summer heat. Booties to insulate their toes and protect their paw pads from the hot asphalt, cooling vests that reflect sunlight off darker fur, and pressure-activated cooling pads are just a few of the gizmos you can purchase to stave off those scorching temps.
The Dog People, a website powered by Rover.com, also recommends making frozen “pupsicles,” a yogurt-based frozen treat that can satisfy doggy cravings while keeping them cool.
Time Is of the Essence
While fun water toys and helpful cooling inventions are great, the
best thing you can do to keep your dog cool is be careful about when you decide to go outside. Taking your pup out in the early morning or later in the evening, when the
Ingredients
• • •
2 cups plain yogurt
1 ripe banana
sun isn’t at its highest point in the sky, will help keep them cooler in the long run. Additionally, keep in mind that some breeds deal with the heat better than others. If you’re unsure, do a little research to determine your dog’s susceptibility to heat exhaustion.
1/3 cup xylitol-free peanut butter
Just because the heat is sizzling doesn’t mean your dog should be! Keep these tips in mind before taking your canine out in the summer sun. They will thank you for it!
Inspired by Food with Feeling
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rs
WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS How to Combat Recommendation Fatigue Have you ever heard the story of Sisyphus? According to legend, he was a cunning Greek king who managed to cheat death not once, but twice. This infuriated Zeus, king of the gods, who punished Sisyphus by forcing him to roll a massive boulder to the top of a hill. Unfortunately for Sisyphus, every time he was just about to reach the top, the boulder would roll back down and he would have to start again. Plenty of pet owners feel like Sisyphus when it comes to their pet’s health. It seems like there’s always some new problem to deal with. New clients can feel very overwhelmed when they come to a new veterinary clinic and walk out with a mile-long list of problems they need to deal with. This is called recommendation fatigue, and it’s something we aim to avoid at The Animal Clinic of Kalispell.
VAYDA THE GERMAN SHEPHERD
Patsy being a veterinary tech. She’s able to take really good care of me. A while back, we were at the
lake during Patsy’s lunch break, and I went a little overboard playing in the water. It was hard to move, so Patsy took me into the clinic and did some X-rays. She discovered that I have degenerative disc disease. This can be a big problem in older dogs, but fortunately the Animal Clinic has a Class IV therapeutic laser. Patsy treated my back with the laser, and the next day I felt like a puppy again! I was able to run around pain-free. I’ve gotten laser treatment from other veterinary clinics Patsy has worked at before, but the laser here in Kalispell is probably the best. It’s brand-new and built with top-of-the-line technology. Treatment takes just three minutes, so I don’t have to sit still for very long. It feels pretty good too, like a warm heating pad. We’re fortunate Patsy has access to the laser, especially after my injury at the lake. It helps keep me strong and agile, which is great! There are still rivers to swim in and kittens to play with, after all. -Vayda
Recently, we started seeing an old dog with his fair share of health problems. He was brought in by a wonderful woman who makes a point to adopt dogs no one else wants and help them enjoy a great life. When this dog first came in, even Dr. Clark was overwhelmed by everything that needed to be done. But he didn’t spend 30 minutes prattling off a laundry list of treatments that needed to
be taken administered. Instead, he put things in order of what they
should address first. He started on the ear
infection and then, when that cleared up, worked on the dog’s arthritis. He then ran some senior blood work.
1. Blend all ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth and creamy. 2. Pour mixture into ice cube trays or paw print-shaped silicone molds, if available. 3. Freeze for at least 3 hours or until hard. 4. Carefully remove from molds and treat your pup on a hot summer day. Extras can be placed in a Ziploc freezer bag and stored in the freezer. Directions
It’s not just unhealthy pets that can need a lot of work. Even pups that come in
with one problem, or are perfectly healthy right now, should be treated with the future in mind. There’s always
something to treat next. If we’re treating a 10-year-old pug for heart failure, we shouldn’t forget about their teeth. The same goes for a 2-year-old border collie who just got their vaccines. We don’t believe it’s the owner’s job to keep track of every aspect of their pet’s health, or that they should feel pressured to solve every problem at once. This is why we spend so much time talking to clients and getting to know their pets. It’s our job to help pets feels better — without making pet owners feel overwhelmed.
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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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Time for a Pet Allergy Reality Check
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Staying ‘Cool’ With Your Canine This Summer Meet Vayda A Cool Treat for the Dog Days of Summer Avoiding the Laundry List of Problems How These Rats Save Lives
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Heroism From an Unexpected Source
MEET THE RATS THAT SNIFF OUT LAND MINES
When you think of animals that could be considered heroic, giant rats probably aren’t the first creatures that pop into your head. Many people still think of them as filthy, disease-ridden little thieves that deserve eradication rather than a medal. But one nongovernmental organization (NGO) has proven just how heroic rats can be by training them to detect land mines and, in turn, save lives. Over 60 countries worldwide still feel the effects of wars past every time someone steps on an unactivated land mine. Dogs and metal detectors have traditionally been used to find and safely detonate land mines in these countries, but both methods are costly and time-consuming. A human with a metal detector could take up to four days to clear a 2,000 square foot area of any land mines, and people knew there had to be a faster, safer way.
Tanzania-based NGO APOPO found the answer: African giant pouched rats. These rats have several advantages over dogs and humans when it comes to detecting land mines. While they are bigger than your average pet rat — some can be as large as a cat — they’re still light enough that they won’t detonate a land mine if they stand on one. Though they have poor eyesight, they make up for that deficiency with an incredible sense of smell. A fully trained rat can sniff amounts of TNT as small as 29 grams and distinguish it from other industrial substances like motor oil and battery acid. Along with these innate qualities, pouched rats are easy and cheap to train. While a dog can only bond with and work for one master, rats will sniff out land mines under any person’s direction, so long as they get a tasty treat afterward. They can search a 2,000 square foot area in 20 minutes, saving humans from days of dangerous, meticulous work. Between 1995 and 2015, APOPO’s rats found about 13,200 mines in Africa and Southeast Asia. Today, their programs are still going strong, proving that heroism can be found in even the most unlikely of animals.
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