Check out our June newsletter!
June 2021 www.surfacecreekveterinarycenter.com 970-856-4474
SCVC Pawprint AN AMERICAN CLASSIC
Still Showing in Delta County
crunch of popcorn as an accompaniment. Some nights, we’ll grab a bucket of fried chicken on our way there and eat dinner al fresco while the movie plays. It’s really fun, so long as the bugs aren’t out! It’s funny that the early technology of the individual speakers for each car remains a staple in today’s drive-ins. It really makes it a throwback to the original theaters. Of course, you can also dial your radio in to get the sound, as well, but hanging a speaker for the whole car to hear just feels fun and nostalgic. I guess that’s true of the whole experience and is what makes it feel special. It’s been quite a while since our family has been out to a movie theater, drive-in or sit down! That’s probably true for most people because of the pandemic shut downs during the last year. Here’s to hoping we find the time to load up the truck and watch a film or two this summer at Tru Vu.
the whole family enjoys, so we try to go at least a few times each summer. In fact, it might be one of the most popular activities to do in Delta County on a summer Saturday night, as it seems like everybody is parked watching whatever flick is on offer that weekend. Our preferred way to enjoy the drive-in theater is to take the pickup truck and let the kids build a bed in the back of the truck with pillows and blankets. Susie and I often take lawn chairs, and even though that’s not as comfortable as the kids’ bed, I have to admit that I find myself falling asleep quite often. What can I say? They have to wait for it to get dark out, so the first screening isn’t until 9 p.m.! Snacks are the other essential part of the experience. Drive-ins are great because you can bring your own food and drinks, but we still love to get popcorn and candy and let the kids make a mess outside. They each have their own favorites — some are more into the fruity Jujubes and others are on the team for Junior Mints — but everyone loves the salty, buttery
Here’s a little trivia for you: Back on June 6, 1933, the first drive-in movie theater was opened in New Jersey. Richard Milton Hollingshead Jr. invented the concept, rounded up some investors, and patented a ramp that would allow all attendees to have an unobstructed view of the screen. The prototype for the screen was a simple sheet nailed to some wood, and the first movie aired with large speakers blasting the sound for the whole lot to hear. While patrons seemed to love the drive-in concept, Hollingshead did get complaints about the sound quality, so he later worked with RCA to create the individual speakers and radio wave technology that’s still used in drive-ins today. In fact, it’s used right here in Delta County at our very own Tru Vu Drive-In Theater! Tru Vu is one of just a few hundred drive-ins left in the U.S. That’s a major decline from the 4,000 or so that existed in the years following Hollingshead’s launch, so we count ourselves lucky to still be able to take our kids to enjoy this classic summer experience. It’s a fun activity that
Dr. Susie & Jeff Hirsch
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In this month’s cover, Dr. Jeff and Dr. Susie talked about the local drive-in movie theater. While there are plenty of trained dogs, cats, birds, and more that have had their 15 minutes of fame, another category of pets that are often in the spotlight are those of the first family. And there have been some truly interesting pets in the White House over the years! • Only three presidents have opted not to have any pets during their time in office: James Polk (the 11th president), Andrew Johnson (the 17th president), and Donald Trump (the most recent president to leave office). • On the other end of the spectrum, many presidents have had multiple pets! Calvin Coolidge had an astonishing 23 pets, including typical companion animals like dogs, birds, and cats but also some strange editions like a donkey, bobcat, and raccoon! The Coolidges’ dog, Rob Roy, was the first dog to be in an official first family portrait. • George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush’s dog, Millie, gained fame as the first presidential pup to write a New York Times bestseller! The first dog park in Houston was also named after this English springer spaniel: Millie Bush Bark Park. • One of the best presidential photo ops came when President Ronald Reagan’s dog, Lucky — a large Belgian herding dog called a Bouvier des Flandres — took the president for a walk across the White House lawn while he was conversing with U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The Reagans eventually sent Lucky to their ranch, so he had plenty of room to run. Their two tortoiseshell cats, Cleo and Sara, then got their run of the house. • While dogs have far and away been the most popular presidential companion animals, there have been some notable exotic animals to live at the White House. Whether or not they can all be pets is up for debate! Thomas Jefferson was gifted two grizzly bear cubs but gave them away because they were too “dangerous and troublesome.” John Quincy Adams’ wife, Louisa, kept silkworms in the White House. They had a practical purpose though: She spun their silk. Benjamin Harrison and Herbert Hoover both kept opossums as pets of sorts. SILKWORMS, GRIZZLY BEAR CUBS, AND OPOSSUMS Famous First P ts! The Best Companion
IS ANIMAL THERAPY RIGHT FOR YOU?
There are just some things only a dog can understand — same with a cat, or a horse, or a bird, for that matter. That’s the idea behind animal- assisted therapy (AAT), a treatment designed to help those with mental and physical challenges. AAT may look like snuggling and playing with animals, but it's much more involved than you may think. What is AAT? AAT relies on an innate human need to connect with animals. The idea is that humans form bonds with living things, and this connection can have a calming effect on our minds. Physical therapy and massage therapy involve tangible actions on the part of the therapist, while AAT relies on the relationship between a human and an animal. This could help someone cope with grief, lessen a medical patient’s pain related to chemotherapy or surgery, provide connection to residents in long-term care facilities, or even offer exercise for those with limited mobility. Aren’t those just emotional support animals? In recent years, emotional support animals have become increasingly popular both in the media and in their use. Emotional support animals offer their owners vital emotional assistance, but they differ greatly from trained therapy animals. AAT requires the use of a trained animal under the direction of a handler, who will also coordinate with medical professionals to ensure the strategies that they deploy will target what a patient needs. Prior to practicing, trainers and their animals must each pass certification processes intended to help each party gain the skills needed to help patients. To qualify, animals also need to be clean and vaccinated, and the type of animal that is used during AAT also depends on a person’s condition, the location of the therapy, and a patient’s need. Is AAT right for you? AAT isn’t for everyone, but it can be a vital component of your healing process. It’s often seen as a supplemental form of therapy intended to bolster other therapies. The important thing to remember when considering AAT is to establish reasonable goals. Discuss the possibility of using AAT with your doctor or therapist and consider which animals may bring you the most comfort. Be realistic about what you want and need before attempting AAT. Your Guide to AAT
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KEEP YOUR COOL Summertime Tips for Happy, Healthy Pets June marks the official start of summer, and with long, warm days on the
an eye on them when they’re near water. Never force your pet to swim, and if you find yourself near a pool, make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water to drink so it doesn’t drink the pool water! The chlorine and other chemicals can make your pet sick. Also, beware of water getting in your dog's ears and setting them up for infection. Overheating and Dehydration This is one of the biggest dangers of summer, but with a little care, you can keep your pet cool all summer long. Make sure they always have fresh, cool water available to drink. If they spend a lot of time outdoors, ensure there are shady spots for them to retreat from the sun. Take walks and exercise your pet during the coolest parts of the day and never leave your animal alone in a parked vehicle, as it can lead to heatstroke.
horizon, you’re probably making plans to have fun in the sun with your pets. But too much sun and heat can lead to dehydration or heat stroke, and there are other, lesser-known summer health hazards as well. Here are a few to watch out for this June. Pests We’re always reminding our clients about the power of preventive care to keep your pets healthy. If you haven’t already, get a checkup scheduled with us, and let’s talk about your pet’s needs to prevent heartworm, fleas, and ticks. As the weather warms up and pets get outside more, their risk of encountering pests increases. Water Swimming can be a great way to stay cool in the summer for humans and dogs alike! But if your pet isn’t a strong swimmer, be sure to keep
Finally, get acquainted with the symptoms of overheating in pets:
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Drooling
• • •
Excessive panting Difficulty breathing
Weakness, stupor, or collapse Elevated body temperature
Increased heart or respiratory rate
If you notice your dog is panting a lot but isn’t exhibiting other symptoms, move them to a cool place to prevent overheating. If your dog is exhibiting several of these symptoms, take action immediately! Wet your pet with cool — but not cold — water. Offer drinking water, but don’t force them to drink until they’re ready. And, of course, give Dr. Jeff or Dr. Susie a call to provide further instructions or aid.
Chewy Cat Treats Inspired by JoyTheBaker.com
Clients Spreading the Word Thanks so much to these clients who referred new patients to us last month:
Turn your cat’s favorite meal into a scrumptious treat!
INGREDIENTS
• • •
2 tbsp water
• • • •
1 large egg
Sonia Swartz Denise Massart Cora Johnton Cassandra Kelten
1 cup brown rice flour 1/2 cup rice, cooked
4 oz wet cat food
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
2 tsp olive oil
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 325 F. 2. In a medium bowl, combine egg, cat food, parsley, olive oil, and water. 3. Add flour and rice, stirring to blend the mixture together. 4. On a prepared baking sheet, spread the mixture evenly, about 1/3-inch thick. Bake for 12–15 minutes. 5. Let cool, then slice treats into bite-size pieces. 6. Bake for an additional 8 minutes. 7. Allow treats to cool completely and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
We Reward Referrals!
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inside this issue
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Celebrating Our Local Drive-In Movie Theater
Should You Try Animal Therapy?
Famous First Pets
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Summertime Tips for Pets
Clients Spreading the Word!
Chewy Cat Treats
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Have You Explored a National Forest?
ON NATIONAL GET OUTDOORS DAY Explore a National Forest for Free
• El Yunque National Forest: Located in Puerto Rico, El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the United States. • Tongass National Forest: Spanning 16.7 million acres and several islands across Southeast Alaska, the Tongass is the country’s largest national forest. • Salmon-Challis National Forest: This Idaho forest is the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 and contains the Frank Church- River of No Return Wilderness. • Cibola National Forest and Grassland: Spread across north-central New Mexico, west Texas, and Oklahoma, this forest and grassland area is notable for its diverse ecosystems and wildlife. The Sky Islands portion of the park is also home to over 200 rare plant and animal species.
incentivize visitors, the U.S. Forest Service (the organization that oversees the national forests) is offering a fee-free day on Saturday, June 12, in honor of National Get Outdoors Day! While parking and day-use fees to access national forests tend to be relatively modest, fee-free days open up the opportunity to all visitors. The U.S. Forest Service has a great interactive map tool that prospective park-goers can use to learn more about the forests in their area, amenities and activities, and accessibility. Visit FS.fed.us/ivm to access the map and see what’s near your hometown! If you’re dreaming up travel plans beyond your state’s border, consider visiting these notable U.S. national forests.
Many people in the U.S. and across the world have a national park trip on their travel bucket list.
While Zion, Yellowstone, and the Great Smoky Mountains are all awesome locales, outdoor enthusiasts often overlook a resource that is less busy, less expensive, and usually right in their backyard: national forests. All but 10 states have a national forest (or more than one!), like the Grand Mesa in our own back yard. And there’s no better time to hike, bike, forage for mushrooms or berries, or camp at a nearby national forest than this month. The tree-filled landscape will provide shade and help you beat the summer heat, and to further
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