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Pet Press KALISPELL
JANUARY 2024
406.755.6886 WWW.KALISPELLVET.COM
Thoughts on a New Year
PURSUING OUR PASSION WITH BALANCE
Welcome to 2024. Our entire team here hopes you had a very memorable and fun holiday season filled with plenty of time with your friends and family.
Having said that, I do think it’s healthy to get away from the work environment, even if you love what you do. When you can change your routine or surroundings for a bit, it helps you recharge, so when you come back to your job, you’re refreshed and full of energy and passion. Being in this business, we are naturally people who are here to serve and please our clients and take care of their needs. But as a service business, sometimes the day can weigh on you or bring you down, so it’s important to step away and take time for yourself.
Now, as we celebrate the start of a new year, there’s a lot to look forward to professionally and personally. I haven’t been in the habit of making New Year’s resolutions, but I admire people who do make that part of their tradition and actually follow through. It’s inspiring to see those who find a healthy new habit or put together an action plan to pursue goals they’ve been wanting to achieve.
But I do have my sights set on improving a few things in the year to come. Looking ahead, one of the things I want to continue getting better at is having a proper work/life balance. That’s important for the quality of life for me and my family.
Especially during COVID-19, mindsets started to change a little bit. Because of the restrictions in place, there were some things we just weren’t able to do, and we couldn’t fully serve our clients. Now that we are back to a more normal schedule, we try to keep in mind the importance of working toward a good work/life balance. After all, we can’t burn the candle at both ends for years, then expect to be our best.
As we celebrate the start of a new year, there’s a lot to look forward to professionally and personally.
As a small-business person, I’ve been very plugged into the business for a long time. As part of that, I’ve never taken a long vacation. In fact, if I’m ever away from work for more than a week at a time, I start to get the itch to go back. I know I’m a bit of a workaholic, but a big reason for that is that I love what I do, and I’m honored to serve you and your pets!
Thank you for being with us for the start of another new year. We’re looking forward to a rewarding 2024 with you!
-Dr. Jevon Clark
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ANOTHER REWARDING BOND Grateful for Yo
HOW DIFFERENT CULTURES CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR BEYOND THE BALL DROP
CA
We love getting to know you and your animals. One of those prized relationships we have built over time is with Jeff and Julie Streeter and their four dogs, Bones, Koda, Bear, and Nimrod. “We’ve been in the area and have been going to the clinic for four years,” Jeff says. “We have three Labradors — Koda (12), Bear (4), and Nimrod (2). We also have 2-year-old Bones, who is a black-and-tan hound dog.”
Jeff says his son works for a hunting guide in Idaho who had Bones as a puppy.
The New Year is a time for celebration, reflection, and new beginnings. While many of us are familiar with the ball drop in Times Square or the clinking of champagne glasses at midnight, exploring how different countries and cultures ring in the New Year is fascinating. Let’s journey outside the United States to discover a few unique New Year’s traditions from around the world. Spain: Eating 12 Grapes at Midnight As the clock strikes midnight in Spain, people eat 12 grapes — one for each clock chime. This tradition brings good luck and prosperity for the coming year. The grapes are usually eaten in public squares and plazas where crowds gather to celebrate. It’s a race against time to eat all 12 grapes before the last chime, as failing can bring in bad luck. Japan: Joya-no-Kane (Bell Ringing) The Japanese celebrate Joya-no-Kane, where temple bells ring 108 times: 107 times on Dec. 31, and then the 108th ring at midnight on the New Year, bridging the old and new year. This practice is rooted in Buddhist beliefs and is thought to cleanse the 108 worldly desires that cause human suffering. Denmark: Breaking Plates The Danish have a unique way of showing affection to their friends and family. On New Year’s Eve, it’s customary to break plates and dishes against the doors of loved ones. The more broken pieces you find at your doorstep, the more popular and loved you are. Brazil: Offerings to Iemanjá
“One day, Bones didn’t come back after a hunt. But they found him. He had been attacked by coyotes,” Jeff remembers. “He had some damage to his throat and ears. We took him to the clinic, and they got him stitched up right away.”
Jeff is usually accompanied by Bear. It’s not uncommon for them to go out together on hunting or fishing excursions.
“I don’t go anywhere without him. This past summer, Bear had a big seizure. I was distraught and thought he was a goner. We got to the clinic when they opened. By that time, Bear had started to rebound,” Jeff remembers. “But they dropped everything, and they got him in right away. They addressed what was going on. Even though they were busy, they made it happen.”
Through time, we’ve been honored to get to know the Streeters and each of their four wonderful dogs.
Is your furry friend bouncing off the walls? Try these soothing yet tasty treats to calm your dog! Scrumptious Stress-Re
Ingredients
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1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
In Brazil, particularly in coastal cities like Rio de Janeiro, people make offerings to Iemanjá, the goddess of the sea, on New Year’s Eve. They gather at the beach dressed in white and send small boats filled with flowers, candles, and gifts into the ocean as offerings. Scotland: First-Footing In Scotland, the first person to enter a home after midnight is called the “first-footer” and will bring good luck for the year. Traditionally, the first-footer should be a tall, dark- haired male who brings gifts like coal, bread, and whisky to symbolize warmth, luck, and good cheer.
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1/3 cup milk
3 tbsp unsweetened applesauce 1 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 tbsp baking powder
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3 tbsp oats
1 tbsp edible lavender buds or chamomile powder
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our Trust
A NEW MEDICATION MAKING AN IMPACT
BEAR, KODA & NIMROD
APTION
BONES
LIBRELA PRODUCING POSITIVE RESULTS
We’re proud to use only the best medications to treat the animals who hold special places in our hearts. Now, there’s a new medication we can add to that list. It’s called Librela, a once-monthly injectable for dogs, and just two months into using it, we’re already seeing some very positive results we’re eager to share with you. Librela has been in use for several years in European nations but wasn’t available in the U.S. until recently. (This is the exact same technology as Solensia that we’ve had available for cats for a few years, FYI). As an antibody therapy, Librela stimulates a dog’s immune system, similar to how a vaccine does. When the injection is given, Librela goes to work stimulating the production of antibodies to block nerve growth associated with chronic pain. Chronic pain in dogs works in the same way it does for humans. When you have chronic pain, it triggers too many nerves, causing the pain sensation, which ends up being a vicious cycle. Librela has been amazing in breaking that cycle, and as an added bonus, it’s not expensive. Plus, since this is an injectable and not a pill, it’s much easier to administer, which eases the stress of clinic visits for anxious dogs. Best of all, we bypass having chemicals go into a dog’s liver with an injectable, which is better for their long-term health. Within a week of being treated with Librela, we’ve seen dogs that have been very inactive getting up, playing, working, and doing things they haven’t done in years — and those examples of happy, active dogs add up the more we use this medication.
“I would 100% recommend the Animal Clinic of Kalispell. They have a great team. We’ve seen three different veterinarians there, and they have all been great. When we walk in, they know me very well. And they know our dogs by name,” Jeff says. “One day, I was in there with Bones. We saw Dr. Clark. In addition to taking care of Bones on that visit, he asked about the other dogs and remembered what we had been dealing with for each of them. We aren’t just a number. It’s very personal, and they care about you and your animals.”
NIMROD
elief Dog Treats
Inspired by AnimalHumaneSociety.org
Directions 1. In a bowl, mix peanut butter, milk, and applesauce. In a separate bowl, combine the flour and baking powder, then add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir well. 2. Place the mixture onto a lightly floured surface before kneading the oats and either lavender or chamomile into the dough. 3. Once the dough forms a ball, press it into a rectangle (about 1/2-inch thick) with your hands. Using a cookie cutter, cut the dough into biscuits. Then, place them onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 F for 30 minutes. 4. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before serving!
It’s our hope that Librela will be another effective tool in the toolbox so we can help dogs live their best lives. If you have a dog struggling with chronic pain caused by arthritis or other conditions, schedule an appointment with us today! We can determine if Librela is a good treatment for your canine companion or provide alternative solutions.
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406.755.6886
406.755.6886 WWW.KALISPELLVET.COM 1408 AIRPORT ROAD KALISPELL, MT 59901
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Inside
1
Mixing Passion With Balance
2 Unique New Year’s Traditions Around The World
2 Client Spotlight
3 Scrumptious Stress-Relief Dog Treats
3 Librela: A Promising New Canine Drug
4 Meet Kupata, Georgia’s Street-Roaming Pup Hero
Kupata’s Road to Fame
We often think dogs live the good life, as they seem to do nothing but play, eat, and sleep. Yet, some dogs are busy at work, some without being asked to do so! Take Kupata, the stray dog in Georgia, for example. This street-roaming pup takes it upon himself to guard a crosswalk all day, every day.
and locals all pitch in to care for and feed the stray dog. His consistently round belly shows just how loved he is. You’ll even see a massive painting of the beloved animal on a nearby building. Now, after tireless days of guarding his street, Kupata has his own doghouse provided by the city with an accompanying star on the road with his name on it. Kupata’s dedication made him go viral on social media, and now travelers from all over the world come to see Kupata. Don’t distract him, though. He’s busy at work! Sadly, even though Kupata remains cherished by his community, thousands of stray dogs in the country need shelter, food, and companionship. According to activists, around 500,000 stray dogs and cats roam the streets of Georgia. While stray animals may get a bad reputation for being dangerous or unfriendly, Kupata proves that even these furry friends deserve love and recognition.
In the town of Batumi, this stray stays by a single crosswalk and forces traffic to stop to allow pedestrians to cross the street. He’s especially protective of children! If Kupata sees a car isn’t slowing down, he’ll bark at the driver as they drive away and run to protect the person crossing the street. One local even shared that Kupata will cross the road with children and stay at the park to protect the youngsters.
THE STRAY DOG WHO CAPTURED THE WORLD’S HEART
Kupata, which in English means “sausage,” has become a staple in the community due to his hard work,
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