Living in a digital world

When it comes to technology such as a laptop, television, camera, you buy something today, a newer version comes out tomorrow...

Download your software upgrade, wait a week and the next version is out...

IPhone, Ipad, Itouch, Ishuffle... text me, tweet me, send me a message on Facebook, read my blog...

It sounds like a Dr. Seuss riddle doesn't it? 

How is a person to keep up with it all?  It seems overwhelming at times but can sure be convenient when you literally can access the information you are looking for in seconds from your hand held device.  

If you have not already guessed, today's blog is to inform you that the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center now has an app!! 

It is in the beginning phases and we look forward to adding new features to it.  

I have included the links for both Iphone and droid users

Iphone users:

FVARC on iTunes: 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fvarc/id617927497?mt=8&uo=4

Android users:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foxvalley&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5mb3h2YWxsZXkiXQ.

As a quick over view:

Currently, there are 4 screens.  A home screen which clients can tap to call, tap for directions, our hours, as well as a history of our hospital.  They can also tap here to get to our website.

The news section of the app currently features directions how to use the app.

The post card screen allows clients to choose a back ground template, take a photo of their pet and email it, post it to facebook, send it to us, post it to their twitter account or just save it to their photo album.  

The 4th screen it a social screen which takes the client to our blog, pintrest board, twitter , you tube account, and facebook page.  Yes, we have ALL of those!!  

Future use for the app will be a links and library section, appointment reminders etc....

Words to live by...

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" -- Dr. Seuss

I saw this quote on the bottom of an email, part of the salutation line and thought how fitting this is for every day life and can be applied in veterinary medicine.  

Often times clients are embarrassed to ask questions or share their pet's history with the doctor because they are fearful that they will be perceived as if they did something wrong or did not take care of their pet.  This is not the case, by the time you walk through the doors of a specialty and emergency hospital, we know you care, otherwise why would you be there? Regardless of the circumstance of how you and your pet arrived, we are grateful you made it so you can get the answers you are looking for.  

"Say what you mean, mean what you say" 

This is also important.  Saying that your cat has been straining "forever" is a very long time.  In order for us to help, we need to know is "forever" a day, a week, a month? Please be direct and specific and we will do the same. 

"They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care"

That one applies for all of us in veterinary medicine.  Once a client walks in, they know to expect the most advance medical care we can provide, what the clients want is a person who talks to them in a language they can understand.  Someone who cares for them as well as their pet.  Someone who helps educate them about diabetes, epilepsy, or whatever the issue may be.  

We are all in this together and we all have the same goal, the best care that can be provided for your pet! 

Education is the key

So we all have heard and have said ourselves, "there is no such thing as a stupid question".

I would say that statement is accurate and if you don't ask the question, how do you know the answer?

I bring this up today because in emergency and specialty medicine,  often times decisions are made in part, based on finances.

I never , never, pass up an opportunity to speak with elementary school, middle, and high school kids about animal health and safety.  I have added finances to this talk, yes, to 1st grade kids I will talk to them about pet care and financial obligations. Why?  Because no one did this for me!

Like anyone in this field, I grew up bringing home every stray animal as well as wildlife.  If the neighbor's dog got loose, they knew to come to our house to pick it up, but not without a lecture from a very precocious young girl.  Later, as a teen working as a staff member at a small town veterinary hospital, I remember thinking to myself "why doesn't the doctor fix it for free if he knows how? Why doesn't she do it because she loves pets?"

Little did I know that in most cases they did, and when the clients were charged, it was little to nothing.  The effect this had on the clients went unnoticed by some, greatly appreciated by others.  Although I am sure it made the doctor feel great to do this, it affected the hospital negatively.  Without the income coming in, there is no way to pay the staff, the electric bill, upgrade equipment, order food and medical supplies, etc.  A hospital simply can not provide the best care for free and keep their doors open.

Medicine has a price.  It is expensive.

When I was a manager, a client asked me once, "you expect me to pay $$ for 30 minutes of the doctors time?", my answer was no, I expect the doctor to be able to provide you with a list of things that may be going on with your pet after examining them within 30 minutes. We may not have an answer but we have a direction to go in.  You are paying for their knowledge.  Their time is worth something.  Their ability to know what to do next is worth something.

Back to the education part of this blog, people spend millions of dollars on their pets. That money is not spent on veterinary care alone, it is spent on things like Halloween costumes, rain coats, doggie massage, etc.  Don't take my word for it, Time Business did an entire article on this alone:

http://business.time.com/2012/10/04/millions-on-pet-halloween-costumes-why-we-spend-more-and-more-on-pets/  

I have no issue with spending money on the "extras" for your feline or canine companion, however, it should NOT take the place of spending money on preventative care.

If you can afford a gucci bag to carry your dog in without taking food off the table for your family that is great! You work hard for your money, spend it how you wish but please, please, please make sure your animal is spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and in good health.  Please make sure that you know what is normal behavior for your pet so you recognize what is not normal.  Please know what medications your pet is on and their dose.  Please ask your veterinarian what food is best for your pet and why, take note of their daily routine, if they are need training and behavior modification ask for help, it is out there.

Maya Angelou  is famous for saying "when you know better you do better".

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/3503.Maya_Angelou

Education is the key.  We need to educate ourselves and share that with others.  There is not a day that goes by that someone does not teach me something new.  It may be a fact about a specific breed of a dog or cat that I am not familiar with or it may be about new technology.  I want to know better, I want to do better.  If we can all do that, we are then all part of the health care team for our pets that mean so much to us.

(for more on this topic there is an ongoing blog at http://www.angryvet.com/the-cost-of-veterinary-medicine )

New Years Resolutions

So it is the middle of January, how many of you made a resolution to loose weight, eat better, exercise more, make and KEEP annual visits to your doctor?  Are you sticking to it?

The same resolution is important for our pets as well.  Obesity in pets is on the rise.  Numerous studies show that obesity can have detrimental effects on the health and longevity of dogs and cats. The problems to which obese companion animals may suffer from include orthopedic disease, diabetes, cardio disease, respiratory disease, urinary disorders, reproductive disorders, neoplasia (mammary tumors, transitional cell carcinoma), dermatological diseases, and anesthetic complications. 

What are our options? dietary management and increasing physical activity!

Did you know that just 1 ounce of cheddar cheese given to a 20lb dog has the same number of calories as 2 1/2 hamburgers!! Or that 1 cup of milk for a 10lb cat is the same number of calories equal to 5 chocolate bars for us!

A healthy diet for us and our pets is an essential.

Just as important is exercise.  YES, IT IS COLD OUT, we live in Wisconsin.  However, maintaining an exercise routine is important for us all.  A short walk around the block is better than no walk at all.  Not only is exercise important for weight management for our pets but pets tend to suffer from cabin fever as well and your new pair of shoes or the dining room table leg sure look like the perfect new chew toy!  For more indoor tips on what to do with your pet visit:

http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/thebasics/indoor-activities?utm_source=Mobile+Storm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=JanuaryNL_4

K9 officer Mato retires

If you are reading this blog, you of course are an animal lover and supporter.  I can spend hours watching videos, looking at photos, reading stories about the human animal bond that the impact that animals have on our lives.

Today I would like to talk about one very special dog.  At the end of 2012 Mato McQuaid, a K9 officer with the Appleton Police Department retired.  We came to know Mato when he was referred for an orthopedic issue.  Matt, his handler, and Mato became frequent fliers here at the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center so the staff got to know them both very well.  To see the bond that these two have on and off duty is really pretty fantastic.   They both rely on each other so much and at times appear to be more one than two separate entities.

Seeing them prompted us to nominate them to receive honors at the Wisconsin Pet Hall of Fame which Mato was recognized as the hero he is in 2010.

Many people ask if the K9 officer gets to live with the human officer and the answer is yes, Mato is part of the McQuaid family. Matt and his wife Jacquelyn have 3 children.  Recently I heard that Jacquelyn who serves in the military was deployed overseas......so Matt and Mato are pulling all the parenting duties while she is gone.

Often when I see a K9 officer or any service dog, other than feeling overwhelming respect and compassion, do I think about their "home life".  I thought about Jacquelyn's selfless choice to serve her country knowing it meant a separation from her family.  I then found myself thinking what Mato must feel like when Matt leaves the house in uniform for the day with out him and she is not there either.  I then thought what is Matt feeling leaving the house with out Mato? What does it feel like to come home knowing your spouse may be in danger?  Both Matt and Jacquelyn are military and Matt is actively serving his community as a police officer so they are aware of the risks they face each day.  With all these changes to their families daily routine, it is certainly a huge adjustment for them all.

On behalf of us all at the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center, we want to wish Mato a happy and healthy retirement, wish Matt the best of luck and lots of patience while he is a parenting solo, pray for the safe return of Jacquelyn and thank them all for their service to our country and community.

Here are just a few facts about Police Service Dog Mato:

Born – 4/4/2003 in Czech Republic

Trained as a working dog in Czech Republic, titled SVV1, SVV2, IPO I, IPO II

Imported by Adlerhorst International Police K-9 Academy, Riverside, CA – September 2006

K-9 Training of PSD Mato / Officer McQuaid at Adlerhorst – September thru December 2006

·     Trained in subject detection, tracking, and illegal drug detection          

Mato retired after six-plus years of service. He had some impressive stats with his Handler Officer McQuaid -Mato utilized on a total of 1,044 incidents including:

• 795 drug sniffs
• 73 drug search warrants
• 20 robberies • 20 burglaries
• 25 public demonstrations

   Resulting in finds of: 

• 4,134 grams (9.2 lbs.) of marijuana
• 135 grams of cocaine
• 14 grams of methamphetamine
• 112 drug paraphernalia finds
• 19 successful tracks of suspects

https://www.facebook.com/K9sForASaferCommunityhttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=387045354719634&set=a.387045318052971.90839.277702592320578&type=1&theater

Blog submitted by L Schuh of the FVARC

Obesity in dogs... not just a New Years resolution for us

Obesity in Dogs

Is Your Dog Overweight?

If your dog is overweight, talk to your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can recommend an ideal weight range for your dog and help formulate a safe and effective weight loss plan. Begin by evaluating your dog’s food. Check the label; has it been formulated according to AAFCO standards? Your veterinarian can recommend a weight loss diet that ensures your pet receives the right balance of  protein, carbohydrates, and other nutrients, while supporting successful weight loss. Nutritional counseling from your veterinarian, along with daily exercise, can help your dog successfully lose weight and live a long, active life.

Obesity is on the rise, and not just for humans. Dogs are increasingly overweight and even obese. In the United States, an estimated 43 million dogs are overweight or obese - that’s over half of all dogs! And it is not just dogs in the United States that need to lose a few pounds - canine obesity is also a problem in Canada, Europe, Australia and other countries worldwide.

Canine obesity increases the risk for osteoarthritis, insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and respiratory problems, kidney disease, some types of cancer, and cranial cruciate ligament injury. Thanks to these increased health problems, overweight dogs face a decreased life expectancy of up to 2.5 years.

Even if your dog is just a couple pounds over his ideal weight, those few pounds could make a big difference to your dog's health. For example, a 7lb Pomeranian is considered to be a “healthy” weight and the equivalent of a 145lb, 5’ 4” human female. An extra five pounds on the Pomeranian, however, is the equivalent to a 249lb female, which is more than 100lbs over the female’s ideal body weight. Just a few extra pounds really will make a big difference for your dog’s health.

Why are so many dogs overweight? Unfortunately, some pet owners are literally killing their dogs with too much food and too many treats! For example, only one ounce of cheese for a 20 pound dog is the equivalent of 1.5 hamburgers for the average woman! While dog owners may never intentionally mean to hurt their pet, overfeeding, lack of exercise, and poor dietary choices have led to a pet obesity crisis.

A lack of outdoor exercise is also a problem. Busy pet owners who work long hours simply don’t have the time to take their dog for longs walks, runs or play fetch. Together, too much food and a lack of exercise is the perfect recipe for dog obesity.

Early intervention will help overweight dogs get healthy. Your veterinarian can recommend the right diet and exercise program to help your dog lose the extra pounds.

Source:

Association for Pet Obesity Prevention

Association of American Feed Control Officials

Meet Charlie....

There have been a series of post regarding holiday emergencies over the past few weeks.  Many times these stories do not have a happy ending.  I thought that I would share one that happened to me over the holiday weekend.

My family lives in Stevens Point and I knew that we had many different stops planned and that there would be a variety of foods consumed over the weekend.  My dog is just the perfect height to counter surf and he is allergic to many, many things.  Did I mention that he is a red bone coonhound? This means that when his nose is on, his ears are off.  Although I knew that he would miss seeing and playing with his dog and human cousins, I decided to board him so I would have one less thing to worry about, plus I know he is spoiled and loved when he is boarding.

Well, let’s just say my stress free animal weekend was anything but.  Enter into the picture, Charlie.  Charlie is the newest addition to my sister’s family.  He is an adorable poodle mix and 99% of the time, a perfect puppy.   The other 1%, not so much.  He is all puppy! 

When we returned to my sister’s, I could tell something was not right.  They were all on edge.  Then the news came, “we think Charlie ate a sock”.  They too just arrived home from her in-laws and when the kids were taking off their shoes, Charlie stole a sock off of her son’s foot and ran under the tree.  He older son tried to get it but it was too late, Charlie ate the sock.

How lucky is my sister to have a sibling who happens to be a Certified Veterinary Technician with many years of emergency experience. 

Charlie was promptly given some hydrogen peroxide via a sports water bottle and seconds later up came the sock…. Along with his supper and a few treats.  Although my nephews were very worried and scared for their pup Charlie, they learned a valuable lesson and I was glad I could be there to help out. 

For a free Animal Emergency Guide please visit our website at www.gbaec.com

(This article was submitted by L. Schuh of the FVARC)