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Pet Press KALISPELL
SEPTEMBER 2019
406.755.6886 WWW.KALISPELLVET.COM
A DREAM COME TRUE Dr. Zoe Ball Comes to The Animal Clinic of Kalispell
If you’ve been by the clinic recently, you probably spotted a new face among the veterinarians. Dr. Zoe Ball graduated from veterinary school this past year, and we’re so excited that she came up from Florida to join us here. Now that she’s settled in, I wanted to give Dr. Ball the opportunity to properly introduce herself.
When I first started veterinary school, I had no idea how I was supposed to learn all the information. Now it’s exciting to
look at a pet and know exactly what to do to help them feel better, or get a new case and be able to use my knowledge and experience to find the answers I need. Two years ago, while I was still in veterinary school in Florida, I began checking out clinics in the Kalispell area. I planned on starting my career in Montana, and I wanted to find a place where I would be the right fit. Right away, The Animal Clinic of Kalispell felt like home. It reminded me of how my parents run their clinic down in Florida: with quality medicine in a quality practice. Both Dr. Clark and Dr. Corum and the clinic manager were extremely welcoming and impressed me from the get-go. Externing here last summer was a great experience, and I was thrilled to come back and join the clinic as a veterinarian. I know some clients might be concerned about having a brand-new veterinarian look after their pet, which is why my priority is building that trust. I don’t want to be the kind of veterinarian who just treats a pet’s symptoms and sends them on their way. My goal is to build relationships with clients so they feel confident asking questions and working with me to improve their pet’s long-term health. I know what it’s like to love a pet. At home, I have an orange tabby cat named Pumpkin who is the neediest cat there could possibly be. I plan on giving every pet who comes to me the same care and attention I give to my Pumpkin.
There are two things I’ve always known about myself: That I would become a veterinarian and that I would one day live in Montana.
The veterinarian dream isn’t that surprising. Both of my parents are veterinarians. Ever since I was in preschool, whenever anyone would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up, I told them I wanted to be a veterinarian. Moving to Montana was more of a challenge. My family is from Florida, but, when I was a little girl, we visited Glacier National Park. I fell in love with the whole state and spent the last 11 years trying to get back there. Now that I’m practicing at The Animal Clinic of Kalispell and have a degree in veterinary medicine, it’s all very surreal. When I was little, I wanted to be a veterinarian so I could play with puppies and kittens all day. That’s what I thought being a veterinarian was all about. Eventually, I grew up and realized there’s a lot more to it. Being a veterinarian is a lot of hard work, and some days are really challenging. But being a veterinarian is also about helping those who don’t have voices. Animals can’t really help themselves when they are sick or hurting; they can’t explain what’s wrong or what they need. Veterinarians have a responsibility to work with the owner to help the pet feel better. I’m excited to take on this responsibility because I feel like I am doing my part in the world by helping animals in need.
It is wonderful to be here today. I’m so proud to say that I did it; I never lost sight of my goals, and today, I am truly living my dream.
–Dr. Zoe Ball
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406.755.6886
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Is Your Child Being Bullied? WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP A new school year is a prime opportunity for kids to make new friends among their classmates. Unfortunately, kids also form connections during the school year that aren’t always positive, and many children become the targets of school bullies. If you suspect your child is being bullied, there are a few things you can do to help. Know the Signs Kids usually don’t open up about being bullied right away. However, there are some common signs that your child is being harassed. Here are a few of them: • If they’re refusing to go to school or ride the bus, they may be dreading their bully. • If they’re rushing to the bathroom after school, it may indicate that they’re being bullied in the bathroom, which is a common tactic bullies use to avoid teachers. • If their grades suddenly change, it may be the result of constant harassment. • Anxious or depressed moods can be the result of bullying as well.
SMALL DOGS WITH
A Word From Leo
How’s it going?
I’m Leo, a Yorkie-Chihuahua mix. My adopted brother, Chewie, and I live with Katie Babcock. You probably know Katie as a room tech at The Animal Clinic of Kalispell. Chewie and I know Katie as the best person in the world.
I’ve lived with Katie for almost seven years. I met her back when she lived in Massachusetts. A friend of hers adopted me first, and
Katie always said she wanted to steal me. Then when circumstances arose that meant her friend couldn’t keep me around, Katie swooped in to save the day. We’ve been together ever since. Chewie came into our lives a little over a year ago. We rescued him from a shelter in Polson. He was a stray dog someone picked up in California. They say he’s a Shih Tzu- Lhasa apso mix, but he looks more like a Wookiee from “Star Wars” than anything else. That’s where his name comes from. It suits him. He might not fly a spaceship,
Simple Salmon Cat Treats Cats can be notoriously picky eaters, which makes finding the right cat treat a challenge. Fortunately, we’ve found a recipe for homemade cat treats that will delight even the most finicky feline.
If you spot one or more of these signs, it’s time to talk to your child about what’s happening to them at school. Listen
When your child does open up, the best thing you can do is listen. It can be
tempting to try to give them advice or question the way they handled the situation, but doing this can give your child the impression that it’s their own fault they are being bullied. Let them tell you the whole story, without judgment, and then help them come up with ideas on what to do next. Finding the Right Solution
Ingredients
• • •
10 oz canned salmon
Once you’ve been informed that your child is being bullied, you should inform teachers as
1 egg
2 cups whole wheat flour
soon as possible. Apart from that, there are several ways you can help your child to deal with bullies, so talk to them about what approach they would be most comfortable with, such as de-escalation strategies or a buddy system with their friends. As with most conflicts, the sooner you handle the situation, the better.
Inspired by The Cookie Rookie
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ELIMINATING THE THREAT OF RABIES The Animal Clinic of Kalispell Partners With Rabies Free Africa This is something most of us never think about. These days, rabies sounds like an old-timey problem that only exists in stories like “Old Yeller.” But the reality is that rabies is one of the deadliest diseases on Earth. More than 60,000 people die from rabies each year, with 99% of rabies cases contracted from dog bites. Most rabies deaths occur in Africa, India, and parts of Asia, where over half of all victims are children under the age of 16. The reason rabies isn’t a problem in developed countries like the United States is because we’ve been able to basically eradicate rabies in dogs and cats with the rabies vaccine. Unfortunately, many developing countries don’t have effective veterinary or financial infrastructure in place to invest in a mass-vaccination initiative. In 2017, the World Health Organization launched Zero by 30, an initiative aiming to eliminate What would you do if your dog had rabies? human deaths caused by rabies by 2030. Many organizations have partnered with Zero by 30, including Washington State University’s Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health. Rabies Free Africa is a program from the Allen School dedicated to breaking the rabies transmission cycle in Tanzania and Kenya. In Tanzania, this program has been able to create a rabies-free zone of 11,000 km, where the number of human incidences of rabies dropped from 100 cases each year to zero. Their goal is to replicate these results across the continent. The Animal Clinic of Kalispell is proud to partner with Rabies Free Africa to help eliminate rabies and achieve the goal of no human deaths by 2030. For every rabies vaccine we administer at the clinic, we’re donating $1 to the Rabies Free Africa fund. We’re donating $1,000 by the end of the year. While human deaths caused by rabies are extremely rare in the U.S., rabies still exists. In Montana, bats and skunks are the reservoir hosts. Dogs and cats that spend any time outside can get in contact, especially accidentally. This is why it’s so important to make sure your pet is vaccinated for rabies. Getting a rabies vaccine at The Animal Clinic of Kalispell helps protect your pet, your family, and families in Africa.
TTITUDE
nd Chewie
but he does love to ride on the motorcycle.
Chewie and I have always got on great, and we love Katie, but to be honest, we don’t really care for anyone else. In fact, we really don’t like it when strangers get close to Katie; it’s
our job to protect her! Katie says I still have that “bad Boston attitude,” and Chewie definitely has some trust issues after being a stray. We’re glad that Katie takes care not to make us be around other people or dogs. Things can get hairy when we’re uncomfortable.
Some dogs can be aggressive, which is why dog owners need to be responsible. If you know your dog is aggressive, pick them up or cross the street when you see other dogs while on your walks. Let people know your dog doesn’t want to be friends. Additionally, adults and children should remember to never pet or grab dogs they don’t know. Dog bites can be serious, and no one wants to find themselves in a scary situation. Even a cute, fluffy dog on a motorcycle might bite.
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Pulse canned salmon (undrained) in a food
processor until finely chopped. Combine salmon, egg, and flour in a separate bowl until dough forms. If dough is too sticky, add more flour. 3. Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick and use cookie cutters to cut out cute shapes. 4. Transfer treats to parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes until slightly browned. Remove treats from oven and let cool completely before serving. Treats can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Learn more about Rabies Free Africa at GlobalHealth.wsu.edu/initiatives, and call 406.755.6886 today to make sure your pet is vaccinated against rabies.
406.755.6886
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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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Who’s the New Veterinarian?
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How to Respond to School Bullies Meet Leo and Chewie Easy 3-Ingredient Cat Treats What Would You Do if Your Dog Had Rabies? Honoring the Canines of 9/11
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HONORING THE CANINES OF 9/11 The Four-Legged Heroes of Ground Zero
In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets to clear rubble, offer supplies, and search for survivors. It was a powerful act of resilience in a deeply trying time, and while most of the individuals helping with the disaster stood on two feet, more than 300 canines also answered the call to service. Dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, including search and rescue dogs, police dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs, were brought in to help find and care for survivors in the wake of the destruction. They worked tirelessly alongside rescue crews as they searched through the debris. Search and rescue dogs and their handlers worked 12–16-hour days, searching for survivors and victims. They worked through dangerous conditions: Many dogs burned their paws as they dug through hot rubble, and both
handlers and canines inhaled toxic dust. The task was both physically and mentally exhausting for the dogs during their shifts. Some dogs that found deceased victims refused to eat or interact with other animals. Search and rescue dogs became increasingly stressed and depressed the longer they searched without any results, mirroring their handlers. It wasn’t uncommon for handlers to stage mock “findings” of survivors to keep the dogs’ spirits up. Fortunately, the sacrifices these dogs and their handlers made did not go unnoticed. Many dog owners were inspired to earn their search and rescue certifications after the events of 9/11, promising to aid in future disasters and hopefully lessen the impact of such catastrophes. After 9/11, various researchers conducted many studies examining the effect this kind of work has on animals, both physically and mentally. Many of these studies wouldn’t be possible without the AKC Canine Health Foundation, so if you’re looking to give back this September, visit them at their website to see how you can help: AKCCH.org.
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