Greetings!
My mother told me recently that I don’t write enough for my blog (she gets extra credit for knowing what a blog even is!) so in an effort of maternal scorn avoidance, here are a few words:
- Fleas and ticks were a problem for the duration of 2016, including the infamous “out-of-season months” such as November, December and now January. The adage of “use flea/tick prevention until the first hard frost” is used by many people to time parasite prevention usage. This thought, unfortunately, is a steaming scooper full of cat poop. I have been hearing similar phrasing since I became a professional in 1998. One hard frost will not eliminate the juvenile ticks in the environment and it only takes a bit of nice, unseasonably warm weather to allow them to be fruitful and multiply. The same is with fleas. Fleas, you can think of like spiders (bleah!). One shudders at the realization that they live in every abode; you just can’t see ’em. This can be true even in residences without pets. They are a ubiquitous pest enjoying the warm comforts of teeny gaps in floors, basements and attics near warm air ducts or other flea-pleasant environments. We have been seeing these common ectoparasites causing grief for our patients every week of every month. These pests are gross and can carry disease but also easily and safely preventable. Use the appropriate flea/tick prevention every month, even through winter.
- It has been quite the realization for me to see the patients in our physical therapy program improve their mobility with each passing week. Certainly, each case responds differently. However, observing arthritic, stiff and sore dogs after a few therapy sessions, along with the home exercises the owners complete, walk through the hospital with renewed vigor and brightness is really, really cool. Veterinary physical therapy wasn’t really a “thing” when I was in school so I was never introduced to it. Dr. Cely’s expertise with physical therapy, along with Dr. Bork’s acupuncture prowess allows for complimentary services we can use in conjunction with traditional medications and joint supplements to dramatically improve these pet’s quality of life. Witnessing similar improvements with multiple patients has made me a firm believer in utilizing these therapeutic modalities. To translate that last sentence, “I’ve seen them work and recommend them!”.
- We are all looking forward to another year serving our community and providing the best veterinary care we can. Good luck and best of health to you reading these words and the creatures in your care.
AR.