Surface Creek Veterinary Center - September 2020

Check out our September newsletter!

September 2020 www.surfacecreekveterinarycenter.com 970-856-4474

SCVC Pawprint

HOW TO ENSURE LONGEVITY AND OVERALL HEALTH Pay Attention to Your Pet’s Teeth

their teeth clean by brushing them. Ideally, pet owners need to brush their pets’ teeth every 24 hours to make sure there’s no plaque buildup. However, even if brushing isn’t done regularly, the key to oral health is to keep harmful bacteria out of the mouth. There are several ways to reduce the amount of bacteria in your pet’s mouth between their vet visits. One is a water additive that kills bacteria. Another is oral rinses that not only reduce the amount of harmful bacteria but also the amount of plaque on our pets’ teeth. To promote oral health, throughout the month of September, we are offering 20% off all dental needs for your pets. A typical cleaning includes X-rays, cleaning, and polishing while the pet is anesthetized (when we humans get our teeth cleaned, our dentists don’t usually have to worry about us biting them, after all!). If it’s time for your pet to get a teeth cleaning, make sure to give our office a call and set up an appointment today. Let’s take care of your pets’ oral health together! Dr. Susie and Dr. Jeff

When our pets’ teeth are not taken care of, it can lead to many other health risks. The more plaque and tartar a tooth has, the more likely the gums are to become inflamed and infected. Ultimately, this leads to gum disease, which can impact the rest of the body. If the infection enters the bloodstream, it can travel to vital organs and cause heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and even lead to cancer and arthritis. This can result in a short and miserable life, but by keeping our pets’ teeth clean, we can ensure a longer and higher quality of life. The best way to maintain oral health is to start with a clean set of teeth. As humans, every six months, we head to our dentist’s office to get our teeth cleaned by the hygienists, and that’s not all. While there, we have X-rays taken, and everything from our gums to our tongue is examined to make sure we are healthy. The same should be done with our pets, but rather than visiting a dentist, we take our pets to the vet.

O ne of the most important aspects of helping our pets live longer and healthier lives is dental health. Just like us, animals’ teeth collect plaque from food, spit, and bacteria, which can then harden into tartar. When not removed, tartar causes bad bacteria to grow and multiply, and when left unchecked, it can cause cavities and gum disease. Last year, for our September newsletter, we wrote about the importance of dental health for our pets, and this year, we want to touch on this topic again. All of us here at Surface Creek promote it as often as we can. September is also National Gum Care Month, making it the perfect time to discuss how important pet oral health is.

Once your pet’s mouth is clean and free of plaque and tartar, the next step is to keep

“ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF HELPING OUR PETS LIVE LONGER AND HEALTHIER LIVES IS DENTAL HEALTH.”

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Did your dog leave through the back gate that was accidentally left open? Did your cat realize all she had to do was push on the loose window screen and squeeze through it to get outside? Whatever the cause may be, when you can’t find your beloved pet, it can be a heart-stopping moment. According to Michelson Found Animals (MFA), 1 out of every 3 pets will get lost at some point during their lifetime, and without proper identification, nearly 90% of those lost pets are never reunited with their owners. That’s why registering and getting your pet tags are so crucial. When your cat or dog has a proper tag that is visible around their neck, they can quickly get back home. Anyone who finds your pet will be able to call your number on the tag and let you know your pet is safe and sound. Registering your pet is equally important and quite easy to do. Usually, all you need is a current spay or neuter certificate, a rabies vaccination certificate, and an appropriate form of payment. Once registered and licensed, if your pet wanders off and is picked up by animal control, they can find out quickly that you are the owner. This not only allows them to contact you about your pet but also enables them to focus on the other animals in the shelter who may need more attention and care. In addition to reuniting you with your four-legged friend, pet tags have many other benefits. By ensuring they have a tag, you are claiming ownership of your pet and following Colorado law. If you live within the city or town limits, dogs must be licensed yearly. When you stay up to date with their license and tags, you can avoid any fines that may befall you for not doing so. If you’re looking to get your furry friend a pet tag, we can help! Our office is equipped with its very own tag engraver and a variety of tag sizes, shapes, and colors to pick from. Once you have it picked out, we’ll get started on it right away so you can leave with the tag in hand. Or, if you’re unable to make it in the office, we can mail it directly to you. WHY TAGS ARE IMPORTANT Keeping Your Pets Safe and Sound The Best Companion

FEEL THE BURN FROM YOUR LIVING ROOM

Your living room might not be the most conducive environment for a good workout. But as the world continues to grapple with the effects of the coronavirus, working out at the gym, or any other public facility, is out of the question for many of us. Fortunately, you can still work up a sweat from home with the right workout videos for a fraction of the cost of a monthly gym membership. Here are a few worth your time and money! 3 Online Workout Platforms to Try Right Now

Alo Moves

Alo is one of the most prominent outfitters for yoga lovers everywhere, but the workout routines offered through Alo Moves go beyond just yoga and meditation. Whether you’re new to working out or a seasoned fitness buff, you can find thousands of workout routines to follow along with on AloMoves.com. You can even download routines to your phone and follow along with them in your backyard or at the park, all for just $20 a month.

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P.volve

While P.volve only has around 200 workouts available through its online platform right now, new videos are being added every week. If you’re looking for resistance-based, high-intensity, low-impact workouts, this is the platform for you. You can customize a workout plan based on which body parts you want to strengthen and even buy optional equipment to use at home. Get access to the entire fitness library for a monthly fee of $20 or save by paying an annual fee of $135 at Pvolve.com.

Give us a call at 970-856-4474 to learn more.

Tone It Up

Tone It Up is more of a fitness community than a workout program, but the website still offers a variety of both free and paid workouts plus a paid nutrition plan. Try high-intensity interval training (HIIT), cardio, a total-body workout, or one geared toward specific body parts, like abs or glutes. Through the Studio Tone It Up app, which costs $15, you can get additional workouts delivered to you weekly. Even if they’re not what you’re used to, doing these online workouts can ensure you don’t lose the fitness you’ve worked so hard to gain. Try one of them today!

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WHAT NEW BUNNY OWNERS SHOULD KNOW Giving Your New Pet the Best Home

lients Spreading the Word Thanks so much to these clients who referred new patients to us last month: W hen it comes to pets, bunnies are some of the cutest. Rabbit owners know this to be true, but they also know that bunnies require a lot of work, just like dogs, cats, fish, and birds. Sept. 26 is National Bunny Day, which might just be that last little nudge you need to go out and adopt a rabbit of your own. Before you make that leap, though, there are a few important points you should keep in mind. Here’s what every new rabbit owner should know before adopting a bunny of their own. Age Appropriate Owners Despite what you may be led to think, rabbits are not great pets for young children. Bunnies are known to get stressed easily, and loud noises and constant handling are not good for them. Additionally, they require peace and quiet

throughout the day and night to sleep because their most active times are in the evenings and mornings. Keeping the Rabbit Indoors According to Pet Place, your rabbit should be kept in a living area that is at least six times their adult size. The cage should also be padded with soft material to keep their feet off any wire. It might be tempting to place your rabbits’ living quarters outdoors, but that could expose them to disease, insects, and predators. Bunnies are different from wild rabbits and cannot fend for or protect themselves. Rabbit Medical Care Just like other pets, rabbits need medical care to live long and healthy lives. After you adopt your new pet rabbit, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your vet for a checkup and be

sure to come by for regular visits afterward. One of the best ways to keep your bunny healthy is to get them spayed. Female rabbits are at high risk for uterine cancer and should be spayed before they are 2 years old. If you’re considering adopting a rabbit, be sure to consider all of the above and do some research on your own. By ensuring that a bunny is a good fit for your household, you will guarantee a wonderful partnership between you and your new pet.

Want to show your dog that they’re a very good boy or girl? Try this recipe for a tasty treat your dog will go nuts for! DIYDog-Friendly Doughnuts

Inspired by SunnyDayFamily.com

For doughnuts • 1 cup flour • 1 cup oats • INGREDIENTS

• Cydney Jones • Terie Morkovsky • Sidney & Ryan Marah

For topping •

Greek yogurt

• Bacon bits Special equipment • Doughnut pan

1/3 cup coconut oil

• •

1/2 cup xylitol-free peanut butter

2 eggs

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lightly spray doughnut pan with cooking spray and set aside. 2. In a large bowl, combine all doughnut ingredients and mix well. 3. Transfer dough to doughnut pan. Use your hands to tightly pack each mold. 4. Bake doughnuts for 14 minutes. Carefully remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. 5. To decorate your doughnut treats, place Greek yogurt in a small, wide bowl. Dip each doughnut in yogurt and sprinkle with bacon bits. 6. Place decorated doughnuts in the freezer for 10 minutes for the yogurt to harden. Serve straight from the freezer to your hungry dogs.

We Reward Referrals!

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

WWW.SURFACECREEKVETERINARYCENTER.COM | 970-856-4474

17800 HANSON RD. CEDAREDGE, CO 81413

Dental Health 101 inside this issue

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3 Online Workout Platforms You Should Try

Register Your Pet Today

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It’s National Bunny Day!

Clients Spreading the Word!

When You Give a Dog a Doughnut

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3 Fun Family Activities for Fall

Gardening, Gold, and Photo Shoots

3 FUN FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR FALL

It’s fall, which means social media will soon be saturated with pictures of your friends enjoying “classic” fall activities. Photos of leaf peeping, apple picking, and the occasional scarecrow

bulbs that need to be planted in the fall. Do a little research with your family to determine the best time to start planting in your area. Pan for gold. Here’s one that’s really off the beaten path: Take your family on an adventure panning for gold! Start by planning a road trip out to an old ghost town. Many of them have great tourist attractions that include gold panning. You probably won’t get rich, but it will still be a fun story. If you’re not able to make the trip, you can always create a gold panning operation at home! Visit MessForLess.net/panning-for-gold- activity for a great step-by-step guide on how to go panning for gold in your own backyard. Plan a fall photo shoot. It’s time to freshen up those family pictures hanging around the house. The changing leaves provide a beautiful background for any family portrait. Better yet, the cooler temperatures mean that an outdoor photo shoot won’t be nearly as uncomfortable as it would be in the summer. You can take your pictures by the trees in the front yard or make a daytrip of it. What about pictures at the corn maze or pumpkin patch? It’s never too soon to start planning this year’s holiday card.

run rampant. But rather than following the herd, you can make your family the trendsetter of unique fall activities! Here are a few outdoor endeavors your family will love.

Get gardening. Fall is the time for harvest, but if you want to enjoy flowers in the spring, it’s also a time for planting. The cooler autumn air

is easier on plants, but the soil is still warm enough for roots to grow before the ground freezes for winter. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are all spring

Spend this fall outdoors and create great new memories with your family!

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