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May 2024 www.surfacecreekveterinarycenter.com 970-856-4474
SCVC Pawprint Top-Notch Treatment Parasite Prevention Is Even More Essential in Summer
Summer is coming. The days are getting longer, pet owners are spending more time outdoors — and parasites are emerging in full force to prey on your cats and dogs. Fleas and ticks tend to wax and wane with the weather. These harmful pet parasites are more widespread than ever, and as soon as nighttime temperatures rise above 40 degrees for a week or more, they’re out hunting for a warm, living host. For pet parents, the best defense is a good offense. The flea collars of old are outdated. Ensuring a parasite-free summer requires staying abreast of the most effective preventive medications. To lay the groundwork for well- informed preventive care, let’s examine the three most common myths about parasites in pets. Myth 1: Cats can’t get ticks. This idea is a widespread assumption based on the notion that cats clean themselves too often to have ticks. It’s what I was taught in vet school. A few years later, a client came in, reporting that his cat had ticks. “That can’t be true,” I said — then I found four ticks in the cat’s ear. I had to recalibrate my thinking. If your cat is scratching at an ear or shaking its head a lot, it may have a tick or two, or two dozen. We once pulled 15 ticks out of one ear of a kitten. We’re used to treating tough problems, but that poor kitty’s condition was heart-breaking. Among the worst threats to pets is the deer tick, a nasty actor that is hard to kill or repel. We have brown dog ticks in western Colorado, but the deer tick, or ixodes scapularis, is far more common. Deer ticks transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, bacterial illnesses such as ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis, and other diseases with significant health consequences. A new class of medications in the “laner” family of drugs works well against ticks. We prefer meds that are given once a month over those that are administered only once every three months. We have had good results with Credelio, the brand name for lotilaner, administered monthly through the spring, summer, and fall. Myth 2: Fleas don’t live above 7,000 feet. Another common belief is that fleas aren’t a problem in our area because of our high elevation. Unfortunately, that’s just not true. We see large numbers of fleas on dogs, especially if they’ve been
out hunting prairie dogs or rabbits. The same is true of cats, who often pick up fleas by chasing mice or other prey. Fleas can cause dermatitis and transmit tapeworms
and bacterial infections to cats and dogs, making flea prevention especially important.
Myth 3: Heartworms are not here. Tell that to the owners of the last 11 dogs we’ve treated for this deadly parasite — especially to the parent of the dog who passed away because we weren’t able to treat him soon enough. We test dogs routinely for heartworms and are seeing an increase in infestations. Unfortunately, pets go untreated because veterinarians still do not run these tests. The catch-22 about heartworms is that if you begin seeing symptoms in your pet, such as coughing in your dog or frequent vomiting in your cat, it may already be too late to save your furry friend. At best, it will be a long road back to health. We run heartworm tests on all our sick, vomiting kitties, too. Testing before giving heartworm medication is essential because if the animal already has heartworms, the medication can cause a severe reaction, including labored breathing, anaphylaxis, and death. Interceptor+, the monthly medication we use to prevent heartworms, is especially valuable because it also controls adult hookworms and expels adult roundworms and whipworms. Dogs can catch gastrointestinal parasites by eating other animals’ feces, and cats can catch them by eating mice and cockroaches. So, as you spend more time outside and enjoy the summertime, start the season right: Make sure your pets are protected against fleas, ticks, and heartworms. A few simple steps toward parasite prevention can protect your pet from discomfort and, possibly, from life-threatening diseases down the road. We will be happy to help you with any questions or concerns!
–Dr. Jeff
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Gear Up Your Pup for a Hiking Adventure TWISTS AND TURNS ON THE PATH TO LEADERSHIP PAW-SOME ADVENTURES Dr. Jeff’s Story
Setting out on a hiking adventure with your furry friend is a rewarding experience, but ensuring their safety and comfort on the trail requires careful consideration of essential gear. Before heading out, consider your dog’s unique needs and preferences so it’s an enjoyable and bonding adventure for you both. Here’s an introduction to some must-have hiking gear for your canine companion. Food and Water One of the most important aspects of hiking is staying well-nourished and hydrated. Packing more water than you think may be necessary is crucial, especially on a trail where natural water sources may be scarce. An ample supply of dog-friendly food is also essential, with the quantity adjusted based on the hike’s duration. A collapsible bowl will be handy for feeding your canine companion during breaks. First-Aid Kit Safety should always come first. A dog first-aid kit is indispensable for addressing unexpected issues on the trail. These compact kits typically include dressings, bandages, and tools for removing ticks or thorns. Being prepared for minor injuries ensures you can safely complete the hike without making any injury worse. Boots While some dogs may resist wearing boots, they can be a lifesaver in challenging terrains. Opt for boots that protect without compromising comfort. Though you likely may avoid trails with terrain that could harm your dog’s paws, having boots in your pack is, at least, a proactive measure for unforeseen circumstances, ensuring your canine companion’s paws are protected if needed. Waste Bags Be responsible out on the trail. That means bringing poop bags. Attach them to the outside of your backpack or tote bag for convenient access once your dog has completed its business. The “leave no trace” practice will help maintain the pristine beauty of the trail for everyone to enjoy. Emergency Harness Preparedness is critical, and an emergency harness adds an extra layer of safety. A proper harness will allow you to carry your dog on your back in an emergency. This versatile harness ensures that you can provide assistance in challenging situations.
Dr. Jeff didn’t come to our profession along a typical path.
From an early age, he was always working toward a degree in veterinary medicine, but he reached his goal in a roundabout way. He started college at a beach school in California but spent too much time surfing and not enough time studying to suit his parents. As a result, he wound up paying his own way through night school at Arizona State University (ASU), working on a construction crew by day and riding his bike to classes at night.
His boss at the time trained him to be a supervisor, and Dr. Jeff made a point of learning all the construction trades so he could manage and communicate
well with employees. The undergraduate business degree he
earned during that period, combined with his 10 years of construction and management experience, shaped how Dr. Jeff manages
our clinic today.
After graduating from ASU, he stuck with his life plan to become a veterinarian, earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 1997. Today, in addition to doing a lot of our small-animal care, Dr. Jeff functions a lot like a CEO. He’s by nature a good communicator and educator. He sees what needs to be done, and he can delegate responsibility. Dr. Jeff also has good business foresight. He was the one who saw an opportunity for us to open our second location in Hotchkiss, understanding that it could be a great thing for our clients and us. He saw the need and now that we have secured a space, he has been using his construction skills to repair it — with valuable help from some of our clients. When our Hotchkiss clinic opens, it will mark a significant expansion for us and provide a service to the community. Some of our clients currently drive an hour to see us, and our new clinic will cut their travel time by half or more. No one could have guessed that Dr. Jeff’s teenage love of surfing would result in his gaining the diverse skills that have made him such an effective leader for Surface Creek Veterinary Center, but we’re glad it did.
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Cat-Astrophe Averted
gloxinia, another flowering houseplant. Baby’s tears, a small, delicate-looking plant with yellow leaves and tiny white flowers, is also non-toxic for cats. Safe Houseplants for Your Cat Other choices include the friendship plant or pilea involucrata , with textured, deeply veined leaves and metallic coloration, or the asparagus fern, which is actually not a fern at all but a sprawling shrub with feathery, fernlike leaves. If you prefer a taller potted plant, consider the money tree or pachira aquatica . With its multiple intertwined woody stems and broad green leaves, the money tree symbolizes luck and good fortune. It supposedly got its name after a poor man prayed for money, found the pachira aquatica , took it home and began making money by selling its seeds. Another tall, showy, feline-friendly option is a banana leaf plant.
The long list of toxic houseplants
to cats leaves many pet lovers wondering whether plants are
safe for felines.
Fortunately, some of the most popular indoor greenery is safe for cats. Your kitty can thrive among the broad, bright green fronds of a Boston fern, for example, or a
spider ivy or ribbon plant, with its narrow, strap-shaped green or variegated leaves. Another feline-friendly favorite is the prayer plant, a tropical variety with beautiful decorative oval leaves. Among safe flowering houseplants is the Christmas cactus, also known as the Easter cactus or Thanksgiving cactus, has shiny green leaves and gorgeous blossoms that sprout around the same season each year. Also safe for cats is Swedish ivy, which has glossy green leaves with scalloped edges and sometimes sprouts white or light purple flowers.
If you crave exotica, consider a Venus flytrap, a surprisingly low- maintenance houseplant. Their pest-trapping ability makes them good company in the home, and fortunately, they don’t prey on cats. Oddly enough, some of the plants most toxic to humans are perfectly safe for their feline friends. Care to bring a bit of potted poison ivy or poison oak into your home? Your kitty won’t mind.
Plants with smaller, more delicate blossoms include the African violet, a velvet-leafed houseplant with beautiful, showy flowers, or its relative, the
WWW.SURFACECREEKVETERINARYCENTER.COM 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 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. 3 New SCVC Policies • At the time of scheduling a dental or surgery
Clien th ts e SWpr o e r a d ding
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1 inside this issue Cutting-Edge Flea and Tick Prevention for Your Furry Friends
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Paws and Paths!
How Dr. Jeff Became Our CEO
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Feline-Friendly Foliage for Your Home
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New SCVC Policies
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When a Shark Became a Lifesaver
NPoelwicySCVC 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 24-hour notice, the deposit will be refunded. THAT SAVED A MAN’S LIFE The Unbelievable Shark Encounter
Sharks are powerful, violent creatures. They can have thousands of razor-sharp teeth. They swim about 12 mph when attacking — twice the speed of a (very fast) human swimmer. The mere presence of a shark is enough to close down a beach and frighten movie audiences.
attacks. That evening, Eugene was in severe pain from the injury and was rushed to the hospital.
Not surprisingly, blunt force trauma was causing his pain, befitting a large shark ramming him in the back. However, this wasn’t the only diagnosis he received that day, nor was it the most severe. While examining Eugene,
Apparently, some sharks are different. One shark even saved a man’s life.
doctors discovered a walnut-sized tumor on
Eugene and his family were enjoying a warm summer day in Huntington Beach, California. As he swam in the ocean, enjoying the cool waters of the Pacific, he was struck by a sudden tremendous force, pushing his neck backward. He later described the sensation as “instant whiplash.” After a difficult and painful swim, he reached the shore. Eugene’s daughter asked why his back was so bloody. He was shocked to find a giant gash across the center of his back, as well as several teeth marks on one side. The family headed home as lifeguards closed the beach, fearing more
his right kidney. They quickly rolled him into the operating room and removed the cancerous tumor before it could progress.
Whether the shark intended it or not, it may have saved Eugene’s life. Undetected, the tumor might have metastasized and spread to the rest of his body. Without
that attack, he may not have known about the cancer before it was too late. Because of that fact, we are confident the shark is a hero, whether it knows it or not.
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