Animal Clinic of Kalispell - November 2019

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Pet Press KALISPELL

NOVEMBER 2019

406.755.6886 WWW.KALISPELLVET.COM

This month, I’m sad to report that we’ve lost Teton. At the end of March, Teton was diagnosed with lymphoma. This wasn’t unusual for a 9-year-old golden retriever, but we got him started on chemotherapy, and he was in remission for 4 1/2 months. In August, a CT scan revealed he’d developed a new lump in his throat. He was still feeling good and we continued chemo, but we knew he was out of remission. The hard thing about dogs with cancer is that they’ll do really well until the day they don’t anymore. With Teton, he crashed over the span of just five days. He started on a downturn the week before Labor Day. Teton didn’t want to eat as much, which wasn’t like him at all. This dog would normally climb counters to get some extra grub. We could see him aging before our eyes and losing weight, but at the time he was still playing with Lincoln, our other dog, and active. So we were cautiously optimistic. Things took a turn when we went camping over Labor Day. Teton lived to camp, but he didn’t want to do anything that last trip. We could get him roused up and excited for a walk, but he’d get sick halfway through then sleep the rest of the day. After we got home, Teton heard me say I was going on an errand and excitedly hopped in the car. He stuck his head out the window for the first two blocks before curling up on the seat for the rest of the trip. I could tell he wasn’t feeling well. When clients come in and ask about euthanasia decisions, I usually encourage them to go home and figure out what they’re dealing with. Euthanasia is practically never an emergency. Decide when you’re ready to say goodbye. With Teton, we weren’t ready to lose him yet, but I could tell his quality of life was waning. I euthanized Teton myself. Euthanasia is one of the most important jobs I have, and I wanted to be right there for him and my family. Even though it was my own dog, I knew Teton couldn’t keep on like he was. That’s not to say it was easy to let him go. I’ve lost pets before, but not like this. With other dogs, we knew the end was coming and when that time came they SUDDEN GOODBYE Farewell to the King of Counter Surfing

really weren’t themselves anymore. With Teton, he was still there. It was really awful to let him go, but I was glad I could be there for him at the end.

When I came back to work on Tuesday (and even now writing this), there were moments when I suddenly found myself overcome with grief. That same day at the clinic, there were three cases of dogs with cancer that had suddenly taken a bad turn. It was rough, and I knew exactly what my clients were going through. It’s okay to grieve the loss of your pet. It’s okay to cry at your desk at work, and it’s okay to not get another pet soon after. We certainly didn’t plan on getting another dog right away, but Lincoln was was so upset by the loss of Teton. He didn’t have his buddy anymore, so he was glued to us, not sure what to do. Around that same time, someone contacted us who had puppies for adoption. That’s how we ended up with Hamilton, our new golden retriever puppy. When we went to pick up Hamilton, we got a little closer after losing Teton so abruptly. The woman who was fostering the puppies happened to be the breeder we got Teton from. She still has Teton’s brother, Remy. When we came by for Hamilton, she brought Remy out to say hi. He is just like Teton, and getting to see him was a bittersweet moment. Being a pet owner means having to say goodbye someday. It’s hard — losing my own dog reminded me how terrible it really is — but you still have all those memories together.

Goodbye Teton, the king of counter surfing. No butter was ever safe from you.

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PUPPY PO What ‘Lady and the Tramp’ Can Teach Your Kids

Meet H

With Disney+ launching this November, you’ll get access to tons of great classics as well as new original series and movies, like the live-action “Lady and the Tramp” remake. While Disney fans are excited about this, the original film is still perfect for the whole family and has some great life lessons for your kids. Here are some of the best takeaways. Explore the world around you. “There is a great big hunk of world down there with no fence around it.” This underrated quote, said by Tramp, perfectly encompasses one of the main lessons of the film: explore! Life is all about seeing what’s out there and testing your limits. Without Tramp’s ambition to explore, Lady would never have discovered her love of spaghetti or the joy of running carefree through the city. Celebrate your differences. This film celebrates differences and encourages viewers to do the same. Tramp rouses hen houses and avoids dog catchers. Lady was pampered with a fancy dog collar and cushy places to sleep. Despite coming from different ends of the dog park, they find a shared love for adventure and, of course, Italian cuisine. Embrace change. Early on in the movie, Lady’s comfortable life slips away from her as Jim and Darling Dear welcome their new baby into the household. Jim starts to refer to Lady as “That Dog” shortly after the baby’s arrival. After getting lost and meeting Tramp, she gains a new life partner and creates a family of her own, showing children that, while change can be a daunting thing to face, it’s often for the best and comes with a silver lining. These are only a few of the lessons highlighted in this Disney classic. Gather the whole family for a fun night in and see what other lessons you can learn. The original film was such a cult classic, but the remake is sure to deliver. It’s expected to release on Nov. 12, 2019, so mark your calendars.

Hello!

Leftover Thanksgiving Dog Treats If the leftovers are your favorite part of Thanksgiving, then this recipe is for you! Show your dog how thankful you are for them with these post-feast dog treats. My name’s Hamilton! I’m a golden retriever puppy, and I started living with Dr. Clark and Rose Ann a couple of weeks ago. They adopted me from a local golden retriever rescue program. Coming to live with Rose Ann and Dr. Clark was a big change. Beforehand, I was only around my brothers and sisters. Now I’m living with another dog and a cat, too! The cat’s name is TJ, short for Thomas Jefferson. I always heard cats were mean, but TJ’s pretty cool. He doesn’t mind that I like to bounce around sometimes. TJ is chill, but the other dog, Lincoln, is my new best friend. He’s a springer spaniel with as much energy as me. We play chase together all the time. When we’re done playing, I like to hang out outside with Lincoln and lay down on his favorite bed. The only downside is that Lincoln doesn’t want to play keep away with the toys, which is my favorite game. He just doesn’t get how fun it is yet, but I’m sure he’ll come around.

Ingredients

1/2 cup cooked sweet potatoes, plain and mashed

• • •

3/4 cup water

1 egg

2 cups cooked turkey, finely chopped 2 cups whole wheat flour

Inspired by TwoHealthyKitchens.com

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ER milton

A Not-So-Sweet TREAT THE TRUTH ABOUT DOGS AND CHOCOLATE In the days following Halloween, we receive a number of calls from panicked pet owners whose dogs have gotten into the leftover trick-or-treat stash. Chocolate and dogs are a bad combination, so pet owners are understandably worried about poisoning via fun-sized chocolates. Here are a few questions pet owners need to be ready to answer when dealing with potential chocolate toxicity. WHAT KIND OF CHOCOLATE WAS IT? Dogs shouldn’t be eating any kind of chocolate due to a compound in chocolate called theobromine. While theobromine poses no threat to humans, dogs metabolize the compound much slower, allowing toxic levels to build up in their system. However, it’s important to note that different kinds of chocolates have different levels of theobromine. Milk chocolate and white chocolate have very little theobromine. If your dog gets into a small Kit Kat, you probably don’t have to worry too much. A little milk chocolate can make your dog sick, but it’s rarely life-threatening. Dark chocolate, baking chocolate, and cocoa have much higher levels of theobromine. Be cautious with cooking chocolates or imported dark chocolates. Less than an ounce of dark chocolate can poison a 44-pound dog. HOW MUCH CHOCOLATE DID THEY GET INTO? If your dog eats just two Hershey’s kisses, they’re probably going to be fine. Even a single dark chocolate chip isn’t a reason to panic. Dogs have to keep eating chocolate in order for theobromine to build in their system. If you’re not sure how much chocolate your dog has eaten, it’s better to err on the side of caution and call your vet right away. HOW BIG IS YOUR DOG? The size of your dog also matters in terms of how serious the situation is. If a Great Dane or a Saint Bernard chows down on a regular milk chocolate Hershey bar, they’re probably going to be okay. However, if a Yorkie got into that much chocolate, it would be a cause for concern. As we enter the holidays, chocolate treats are more readily available, so it’s a real possibility that your dog will get ahold of something they shouldn’t eat. If you suspect your dog has eaten a dangerous amount of chocolate, it’s important not to panic. Give us a call at 406-755-6886, and we can help you determine the right course of action to protect your dog’s health.

A lot of people have

complimented my unique name. Dr. Clark and Rose Ann spent a while picking out the perfect name. Rose Ann is a schoolteacher, so I couldn’t share a name with any of her students,

and Dr. Clark didn’t want my name to get confused with any of his patients. In the end, they decided Hamilton was perfect for the patriotic theme of our house. Some people have been known to start singing show tunes when they hear my name, which seems a little weird. No one sings when they hear Dr. Clark’s name. Is that normal for humans to do? Is there something special about my name?

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. In a medium bowl, combine

sweet potatoes, water, and egg. Add turkey and flour and stir again until dough is thick and sticky.

3. Use a rubber spreader to spread dough evenly on parchment-lined baking sheet, about 1/2-inch thick. Cut dough into small rectangles using a knife or pizza cutter. 4. Bake for 30 minutes, until the dog treats are lightly golden brown. 5. Remove from oven and let treats cool completely. Break treats apart along score lines. 6. Serve fresh or store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.

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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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Goodbye Teton

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Life Lessons From ‘Lady and the Tramp’ A Pup to Sing About Post-Feast Dog Treats My Dog Ate Chocolate! What Can I Do?

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Grave Matters of the Law

Halloween Decorations or Fighting Words?

A GRAVE LEGAL MATTER

We’ve all played a harmless trick or two, but sometimes, Halloween shenanigans get out of hand. They can lead to hurt feelings, outraged neighbors, and, in the case of Purtell v. Mason, a lawsuit.

dates. These messages soon caught the neighbors’ attention.

“Bette wasn’t ready, but here she lies, ever since that night she died. Twelve feet deep in this trench, still wasn’t deep enough for that stench! 1690.” Insulted and a little afraid, Purtell’s neighbors called the police to have the headstones removed. After a couple of visits, Officer Bruce Mason arrived and threatened to arrest Purtell if he didn’t take the tombstones down. Purtell obliged, but the matter wasn’t put to rest. Purtell sued Officer Mason on the grounds of violating his rights to free speech, and the case made it all the way to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Sykes ruled that the tombstones did not constitute fighting words and were protected under the First Amendment. However, she also ruled that Officer Mason was entitled to qualified immunity, as any reasonable officer would act the same under the circumstances. The Verdict

In the days leading up to Halloween, all was not quiet in the village of Bloomingdale. Previously parked in a storage unit, Jeff and Vicki Purtell’s 38- foot RV was now parked in front of their house. In protest, neighbors petitioned to town officials, wanting an ordinance put in place to prohibit RV parking on residential property. While the ordinance was under consideration, Jeff Purtell took matters into his own hands. He erected six wooden tombstones in his front yard. They seemed to be innocuous Halloween decorations, but these tombstones displayed a special message for the neighbors. Each headstone was inscribed with a sarcastic message and house number, implying the occupants’ death

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