tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87853757938749146222024-02-07T00:10:00.718-06:00Know Your PetGet to know your pet, and help them to have the best behavior through understanding what your pet needs for good health and life in your home. Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-90374697070172898052019-09-03T11:00:00.000-05:002019-09-03T11:00:02.680-05:00Back to school blues <br />
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Back to school Blues <o:p></o:p></div>
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Separation anxiety can show up in various ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When school starts up again, you can may see
your dog and cat acting up in naughty ways or showing signs of anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dogs and cats live by routines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They feel the secure and happy when feeding
time, walks and play time are all on schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When the family schedule changes, their schedule changes. This shift in routines
can cause stress in our pets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to
school season means more hustle and bustle in the morning, less walks and
playtime. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pets associate the backpacks,
school buses, and children studying mean less time for walks and play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This change in routine and separate time from
family causes the anxiety. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0mx_CE0mYkDKEwP2nIlGrHdY0mF3RICTxa7JLgXNpIS8jUsb6RUz6_Mgg5bIcV5YEQIBUadUrcVZIBcEhUa-pVMn4cCqO5tb4MiN4AYJDOt4yJRWpufgzQshb_ySJVAjgn-YsNGHOc0/s1600/bella+in+thundershirt+-+mercy+sleeping+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0mx_CE0mYkDKEwP2nIlGrHdY0mF3RICTxa7JLgXNpIS8jUsb6RUz6_Mgg5bIcV5YEQIBUadUrcVZIBcEhUa-pVMn4cCqO5tb4MiN4AYJDOt4yJRWpufgzQshb_ySJVAjgn-YsNGHOc0/s320/bella+in+thundershirt+-+mercy+sleeping+018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you know your dog's signs of separation anxiety? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Mild separation anxiety will show as pacing, gathering up
socks and putting them in the pet bed, whining, or even house soiling. Cats may
meow more, avoid using the litter box, knock things off the shelves or have
more spats with other house cats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
change in routine is creating stress - how do we help these pets? <o:p></o:p></div>
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If your pet is showing signs of high anxiety, please contact
your veterinarian as soon as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chewing their way out of a crate, soiling in the home, not eating or
pacing and panting are signs of severe anxiety in a pet. The stress hormones
increase, and this can have a harmful impact on the heart, the kidneys, skin
and intestinal track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Medications, supplements and a behavior plan are
needed immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can help by
establishing new routines and sticking with them despite the business of back
to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is predictable when
there is a routine, and that predictability reduces anxiety. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start by creating regular feeding times. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take your dog on a walk every morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sniffing new smells and the sustained
exercise of walking settles the body and the brain preventing boredom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may need to get up earlier or assign a
task to an older child as part of life’s responsibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you get home, walk your dog again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cats need play time routines too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Play with your cat for 10 minutes every
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be sure the homework and backpacks
are not crowding out perching places for your cats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNjOdG5liSQWlkQbnC5q-KRBWl_xLMc-5_6HzR68iex2pD8gex8Fe6w_xL7HZlb7OoFl0Pp44B6BaYCqVVL0ySsDja4OVMVer30rbMuoyIxQ8-shnmVqXaAXRraR7ZOwhAvojsi_XHuA/s1600/old+butter+and+frolic+cat+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNjOdG5liSQWlkQbnC5q-KRBWl_xLMc-5_6HzR68iex2pD8gex8Fe6w_xL7HZlb7OoFl0Pp44B6BaYCqVVL0ySsDja4OVMVer30rbMuoyIxQ8-shnmVqXaAXRraR7ZOwhAvojsi_XHuA/s320/old+butter+and+frolic+cat+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even if your walks are shorter, keep on schedule with the walks </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Brewing health problems may be aggravating separation
anxiety in older pets. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your older dog may
have trouble rising on that slick kitchen floor to move out of the way of the
busy kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your older cat may hiss as
kids rush past in the hallway. Arthritis, poor vision, deafness may have crept
up so the difficulty of moving away from the hustle and bustle increases
agitation and anxiety. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a dog
or cat over the age of 7 acting irritated or anxious make an appointment
immediately to have a check up and screen for early aging problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A video of how your dog or cat is acting
during the busy times helps the veterinarian tremendously to understand the
behavior and ability of this older animal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anxiety is triggered by the sounds, movement, location,
people or objects in an area that tell the animal something unpleasant is going
to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the sight of the backpack
causes your cat to run out of the room, then the backpack is the trigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the school bus arriving in front of your
house causes your dog to pace, and whine then the school bus is the
trigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Removing or reducing how much
the pet sees the triggers is the first step to improve behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second step is to toss treats, or a toy to
provide a pleasant experience when this trigger is present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, your cat will get a saucer of
canned food when your kids come in with the back packs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your dog will get a squeaky toy tossed away
from the window when the school bus arrives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now fun things happen when the trigger is
present, changing the meaning of the trigger. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your pet will not eat, or play at these
times, the anxiety is high and medication, supplement or other aids are needed
to help the pet calm to learn. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In veterinary
medicine we use medication to facilitate learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A dog who is so upset that it cannot stop
pacing needs medication to learn to focus on the food puzzle when you are
gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they eat out of the food puzzle,
they make the association that good things happen when you leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4x3H1idrMJQ1bPgS2YjwddyvwU0SSW4EX474HlBZ8SLhv4pH2OKtQPu4KAeVDtrw-6O9oJGdxmOxm0n0If0SufDrZ9aU2nEKy9v9iuTKQsjCp43ubcmCk9P1JCTj7D32CDncNSleKZsE/s1600/colorado+trip+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4x3H1idrMJQ1bPgS2YjwddyvwU0SSW4EX474HlBZ8SLhv4pH2OKtQPu4KAeVDtrw-6O9oJGdxmOxm0n0If0SufDrZ9aU2nEKy9v9iuTKQsjCp43ubcmCk9P1JCTj7D32CDncNSleKZsE/s320/colorado+trip+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fun food puzzle can help for dogs of all ages </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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If they do not eat, they cannot make the
association because they are too anxious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is where medication plans need to be tailored to the pet, according
to the age and health of the pet and the degree of anxiety. After the animal
has learned to be calm in the face of the triggers, medication can be weaned
down. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new routine does not stop –
this routine is what creates the calm now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some pets need to stay on medication even when following the plan. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be sure to stay in contact with your
veterinarian, and any behaviorist you are working with. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Have a safe and happy school year to all our families. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Dr Sally J Foote CABC-IAABC<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.drsallyjfoote.com/" target="_blank">drsallyjfoote.com </a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-4337817119673328842019-07-16T12:55:00.002-05:002019-07-16T13:08:00.567-05:00Advancing the art of veterinary medicine through essential handling skills <br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Essential handling skills
advancing the art of medicine <o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46vQBcjyBTtoMxm_91qGVtZBkog5c-a5XFiTzvwdJbuJUFAd9erNVcomUZko6vOdDhp3o3RfODoozkPItkgwLFNy0ERIVZP8r11nWX7lw4Hpt5wDhYn3_pIYcbGTM7yfgCPQk18XWG-g/s1600/IMG_5270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46vQBcjyBTtoMxm_91qGVtZBkog5c-a5XFiTzvwdJbuJUFAd9erNVcomUZko6vOdDhp3o3RfODoozkPItkgwLFNy0ERIVZP8r11nWX7lw4Hpt5wDhYn3_pIYcbGTM7yfgCPQk18XWG-g/s320/IMG_5270.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lidocaine cream to lateral saphenous, for a less stressful blood draw<br />
observe, respond, integrate </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Veterinary medical education has been focused on evidence
based, medical science for the last thirty plus years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The advancement of ultrasound, radiology,
clinical pathology and pharmacology from the 1980’s to present has provided
this evidence-based approach to medicine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Client communication is one of the social sciences
in our curriculum to aid in client communication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have phone apps to help us wade through
the sea of medical knowledge to treat these conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hands-on application of our knowledge,
also known as the art of medicine, is currently weak in our education. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The art of medicine integrates the observation of the
animal’s behavior, response to therapy, hands on care, and knowledge of the
home environment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listening to the
client’s ability and needs allows creation of the treatment plan for this
animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, the doctor takes all
the science and puts it into real life use for this patient and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To observe the way an animal stands, walks,
responds to in the clinic and at home is the foundation of animal behavior
knowledge in veterinary medicine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHeyC7soh8IeVN3mpzl9WFePnJ42F0_7h-WeAcl9XhFaNABfdU4fhrh4OEhrnxbj_2cRb-9nrvMLi6vc_8hvOGRGA4-Kw6Z_3awefghC3gPPquxL-9V0VkpO2fSzCcYmvFcYXbtAPrdY/s1600/back+massage+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHeyC7soh8IeVN3mpzl9WFePnJ42F0_7h-WeAcl9XhFaNABfdU4fhrh4OEhrnxbj_2cRb-9nrvMLi6vc_8hvOGRGA4-Kw6Z_3awefghC3gPPquxL-9V0VkpO2fSzCcYmvFcYXbtAPrdY/s320/back+massage+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hands on examination - a comfortable environment, rewarding for touch, observation of patient response </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /> </span>In our age of
science, the intuitive skills of observation have fallen away from our
educational experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many veterinary
professionals gain these skills through experience. Unfortunately, the
experience is derived from increasing patient anxiety during care. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, the diagnostic exam causes pain;
pain triggers aggression; the animal bites and must be sedated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sedation allows the radiograph to be
performed; the radiograph displays <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the severe arthritis that caused the pain that
triggered the bite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the veterinary
professional has learned – pain increases anxiety which leads to aggression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In future exams, more time is spent watching
the animal move, and interact in the exam room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Consideration of anxiety and possible pain before initiating care or
diagnostics is now standard. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
patient’s behavior is considered with response to therapy as an option for care
if performing diagnostics on this day would harm welfare, and all of this is
communicated to the client.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the
integration of knowledge that creates the art of medicine. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It is essential for all veterinary professionals to have the
ability to observe and interpret the behavior of any animal presented to them
for care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From this knowledge the
appropriate techniques for approach, touch and triage for care can be applied. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The interaction with the animal is where the
art of medicine lies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The number of colleges offering education in
the fundamentals of animal behavior is increasing, yet most of us need to gain education
through conferences, webinars, articles and certification programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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Presently, there are three major veterinary animal behavior
programs focused on improving the veterinary care experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of these programs contains fundamental
animal behavior education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The effect of
environment, correct reading of body language of anxiety and aggression,
methods of approach and touch to reduce fear and stress are addressed in each
program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Expertise in specific areas of veterinary care
provide the focus of each program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
can be overwhelming to complete each certifying program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Integrating the parts of each program,
choosing which program best fits with your practice perspective is often
best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sharing collaboration and referral
to other veterinary professionals certified in different programs is also a
good way to enhance patient care. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my experience as
a veterinarian, speaker and educator I find that learning the core fundamentals
of multiple programs helps me create a well-rounded approach to care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can think more critically about a situation
and apply this knowledge efficiently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
presentations often blend the knowledge of the three behavior based veterinary
care programs to encourage critical thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I head Dr Sophia Yin’s Low Stress Handling<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">®</span> Certification program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a contributing author to the first
level of the Fear Free<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">®</span> certification program and support the Cat Friend Practice<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">®</span>
program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My strongest foundation of
knowledge comes from the Low Stress Handling<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">® </span>certification program, yet I
would be deficient in applying this knowledge without the benefit of education
from Cat Friendly Practice<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">®</span> and Fear Free<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">®</span> Certification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kIso7fxcozu5E1-rSwp8lFIwdTL80r9uyioUrMkTActqhx5KjwrAKTsmTn1WGbR238HNl4CAiI748jRDsUy2OeNJu2lnNVBFP2rbwztPX8DArXEVcReVhwWjWVXegSZ1RL5WUrWfvW8/s1600/feline+handling+for+scar+exam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kIso7fxcozu5E1-rSwp8lFIwdTL80r9uyioUrMkTActqhx5KjwrAKTsmTn1WGbR238HNl4CAiI748jRDsUy2OeNJu2lnNVBFP2rbwztPX8DArXEVcReVhwWjWVXegSZ1RL5WUrWfvW8/s320/feline+handling+for+scar+exam.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wet lab presentation at Humane Alliance Asheville NC </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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Each piece of our education is a tool in our tool belt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fundamental use of these educational
tools may be similar, yet there are special features that make each
unique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recognizing this uniqueness is
most helpful when it is uses properly without judgement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please
be kind with your colleagues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one is
less than another as they are learning these less stressful care skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start with the essential skills and encourage
your co workers to learn and expand in the art of veterinary medicine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I am presenting the Essentials of Low Stress Handling at Anti Cruelty Society in Chicago Sunday Sept 15. 6 hours CE. <a href="http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=6zbryhfab&oeidk=a07egf89vhs79f684ee" target="_blank">Register here</a> I hope to see you there! </span></div>
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Sally J Foote DVM, CABC-IAABC July 2019 </div>
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-57825111417612100482019-04-19T06:36:00.001-05:002019-04-19T06:36:14.553-05:00Dampening the Din - reducing noise through design in veterinary reception areas Since I have sold <a href="https://www.okawvetclinic.com/" target="_blank">Okaw Veterinary Clinic</a>, I have been creating webinars, speaking at seminars, and providing in clinic consultations to general veterinary practices. The clinic consults are fun. I call this my " Super Nanny" service. Like the TV show, I follow the staff around for the first hour to assess where they are with Low Stress Handling skills, where additional training is needed and any physical changes to the practice environment to reduce patient stress. I present to the staff and demonstrate the Low Stress Handling skills that need polishing up, do some hands on coaching, and will discuss cases. I round out the day by meeting with the practice manager to outline what protocols I will develop for this practice. Email and video chat support is included in the consultation to support the process of staff development.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxZJAFjR4FFylcJL529lUBMg2kDD19eHXUWrJ8XtKQsbj1mccsSgAUQkjxL2Ms4t8Hto3p47Tw8i4jwG27FjJgkn3tQA1bnNDy5SxRthCnuyVzEA8X45-lw608ruQp0AojxofId_NznU/s1600/IMG_4231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxZJAFjR4FFylcJL529lUBMg2kDD19eHXUWrJ8XtKQsbj1mccsSgAUQkjxL2Ms4t8Hto3p47Tw8i4jwG27FjJgkn3tQA1bnNDy5SxRthCnuyVzEA8X45-lw608ruQp0AojxofId_NznU/s320/IMG_4231.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">This is the back wall to the vaulted ceiling line, over the reception desk<br />
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One of my " Super Nanny" visits was focused on a noisy reception area. This clinic was advanced in reducing waiting area noise from the patients. They created a " Kitty Concierge" service to prevent the stressing feline patients in the waiting area. Special parking spaces were reserved near the front door, and a staff member would come to the car to directly escort the client and kitty directly to the exam room at appointment time. Barking dogs were quickly moved to exam rooms or waiting outside to reduce patient agitation and noise. The staff still noticed how loud one barking dog, even for a moment would be in the waiting area. Even without any patient noise, the staff sensed a lot of reverberation of echo. It was clear that there was something about the design of the reception area that was adding to noise problems. This practice moved to this newly constructed building less than 10 years ago. A staff member commented that the " old building" was not as noisy as the new office. High vaulted ceilings, covered in dry wall graced this new property. The old property had typical flat ceilings with acoustical tile covering.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGVgoBbwaGG98zvNWJUSDDglaMGO51AG6pgbOUqc3fZBN7gy-ocVlmQF8aEEHpsQN-QyItilK7vmb5yMeVmMe1pjU5RDy6dJ6P0ycPM33zppVt4uvBF0IgQAeocjYsPFuDXbJbKBQZIg/s1600/decibel+meter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGVgoBbwaGG98zvNWJUSDDglaMGO51AG6pgbOUqc3fZBN7gy-ocVlmQF8aEEHpsQN-QyItilK7vmb5yMeVmMe1pjU5RDy6dJ6P0ycPM33zppVt4uvBF0IgQAeocjYsPFuDXbJbKBQZIg/s200/decibel+meter.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">this is the free app from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)<br />
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I downloaded a decibel meter on my phone and took measurements at my visit. In my pre visit research, I learned that noise over 85db in an 8 hour day can cause hearing damage (<a href="https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/loud.html" target="_blank">OSHA guide</a>) Also spurts of noise over 115 db are painful, and can affect worker welfare.<br />
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The waiting area had a high vaulted ceiling that met at a back wall to the reception desk. With few clients in the waiting area, sound measured 65 to 95 db When I stood talking in a conversational tone with three other people, the sound increased to 90 db. Upon showing the readings to the practice manager, she responded " Now I see why it is unbearable when just one barking dog is in here). I discussed some general ideas for noise reduction and promised to research more solutions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0jitoBwF5yLM6Lll453RlKKbyG9d39VNQna5hpkZABzQQYAfoMvLIjqDlzktDQvemJgiVJUX_fBqqKiiOJYv4fLF_VSN4jKGg-tsDFtJDGyVy76LBd39wEu4pDIGU56t5lgMGYXCDdM/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0jitoBwF5yLM6Lll453RlKKbyG9d39VNQna5hpkZABzQQYAfoMvLIjqDlzktDQvemJgiVJUX_fBqqKiiOJYv4fLF_VSN4jKGg-tsDFtJDGyVy76LBd39wEu4pDIGU56t5lgMGYXCDdM/s200/IMG_0111.JPG" width="200" /></a>The very next day, I was at another clinic, built 2 years earlier. The lovely reception area had a peaked, vaulted ceiling, with many of the same hard reflective surfaces as the previous clinic. I took out my phone and covertly checked the decibel levels. This clinic was averaging 50 db and did not spike over 75db. I commented to the reception staff that it was fairly quiet for a vaulted ceiling reception area. The staff immediately responded " It was awful until we had the acoustical panels installed". They pointed out lovely fabric panels, high on the walls that absorbed the sound in the waiting area. I took photos, and the the info of the installer which I sent that night to the other clinic. It felt good to be able to use the experience from one clinic to help another.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFY2waO1q3u6mcluYsPA_UWCYw07uQsRIiWOP7wgxwp7tzK-OdghN6h1oF5BRbVg-GExzGOES6wGM_a6Sao5yDFlbVs_RQ3OAtC7KKsHWuJDlrQy2SZNWANe5ZhY12IRo8XX-s7LmQ6U/s1600/IMG_0112+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFY2waO1q3u6mcluYsPA_UWCYw07uQsRIiWOP7wgxwp7tzK-OdghN6h1oF5BRbVg-GExzGOES6wGM_a6Sao5yDFlbVs_RQ3OAtC7KKsHWuJDlrQy2SZNWANe5ZhY12IRo8XX-s7LmQ6U/s200/IMG_0112+%25282%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> A closer look at the fabric acoustical panels that helped with noise problems </td></tr>
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Last week I presented at a clinic in Kansas. This property was about 40 years old, and the owner is planning on building a new clinic. The present property has a vaulted ceiling, with ceramic tile floor, yet the noise level was generally low. 75 db was the highest recorded level, during a busy time of client traffic, phones ringing, and staff conversations. I noticed the popcorn ceiling finish. This style is dated, yet absorbs noise better than plain drywall. The reception desk area had an 8 foot ceiling with acoustical tile, which also helped reduce noise there. I strongly advised the practice manager to review the design, focusing on the reception area to avoid noise problems. Many modern clinics are styled with vaulted ceilings, hard flooring, counter and wall surfaces which increase noise problems. They look lovely but can literally create headaches for our staff and patients.<br />
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The impact on staff stress due to noise reflection is significant. Various medical groups have studied the reduced productivity of office workers due to noise (<a href="https://resonics.co.uk/12-ways-noise-affects-employee-wellbeing-health-productivity/" target="_blank">noise studies</a> ref). Strained facial expressions in our staff trying to hear a client on the phone, or talk to a client across the counter affects the animals in care too. Carefully considering the ceiling design, surfaces, and flooring before new construction or remodeling can save a lot of problems.<br />
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Solutions are easy and not very expensive for existing practices. Acoustical panels range in price and effectiveness <a href="https://acousticalsolutions.com/product-category/acoustic-panels/" target="_blank">panel resources </a>. At first, I suggest you measure your noise levels. Download a decibel meter to a smart phone or i pad at the office. Measure and record at different times of the day to see the range. If you have a large reception area, and are at high levels, hire an acoustical consultant and installer. They can create a plan for you, working with your budget and needs. If you cannot find an installer in your area, reading some of the info at the resources link above may help you create a plan for yourself. Simple choices such as cloth upholstery for chairs over hard plastic, fabric wall hangings or canvas paintings are some solutions. A combination of ideas can create the noise reduction you need.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ86GeWzZI7qeMU4a7HjEmruYeGhYusJIE3fFNsUpWKkrMRT_j65FnJV9wK51UXIFW5NVMtf4aWoBQ1OK8HSTCDQ7vLBVYugC4ODMpBMXYGT8-PtelUeXhMQRArG63XtTOzDZmynObdY/s1600/IMG_5664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ86GeWzZI7qeMU4a7HjEmruYeGhYusJIE3fFNsUpWKkrMRT_j65FnJV9wK51UXIFW5NVMtf4aWoBQ1OK8HSTCDQ7vLBVYugC4ODMpBMXYGT8-PtelUeXhMQRArG63XtTOzDZmynObdY/s200/IMG_5664.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A comfortable cloth chair, about $50 is an inexpensive furniture fix </td></tr>
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If you are building new, be aware that expertise in acoustics can vary. In my experience, few builders understand the levels of noise, the intensity of our work and the need for conversations in a practice. An architect specialized in veterinary clinical design tends to have this expertise and understanding. Some of these architects may offer review services for building plans, if they are too far away. Take time to visit other clinics and measure the sound level in their reception areas. Notice the flooring, ceiling and furnishing choices, especially in the quieter offices. You may be departing from a popular design style to not opt for a vaulted reception space, yet you may appreciate the quiet environment it helps provide. One of my friends did these site visits when he built a new practice building. When I stopped by the office, the noise level barely raised about 60 db. Opting for a flat ceiling in the reception area was a departure from the popular style, but an important choice for the function of the space.<br />
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I look forward to more clinic consults aka " Super Nanny" visits. Meeting the veterinary staff, clients and seeing the change in veterinary medicine that incorporates the understanding the animal in front of us, right now for care is so exciting. If you would like to know more about a clinic consult, please email me at dr.sally@mchsi.com.<br />
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Thanks!<br />
Sally J Foote DVM, CABC-IAABC, LSHC-S<br />
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-21078327368881040802019-02-07T11:56:00.002-06:002019-02-12T08:51:44.579-06:00Certifications - what's in a name? <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYD4qoccC6S96Zi30Q0LtMe6zv7voZZdwvcH9MlEnNoLvS2raeTUpu5iBZegHYQPR6sHSufdi2lbnHz6P_K9NU0G1etjHMxl4ER7FyDf2HfeapupA9zJolAxHKYuFk67BkXar6euHJ_yI/s1600/IMG_3878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYD4qoccC6S96Zi30Q0LtMe6zv7voZZdwvcH9MlEnNoLvS2raeTUpu5iBZegHYQPR6sHSufdi2lbnHz6P_K9NU0G1etjHMxl4ER7FyDf2HfeapupA9zJolAxHKYuFk67BkXar6euHJ_yI/s320/IMG_3878.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yummy treats, wagging tails, padded tables - these is all part of<br />
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Over the past 7 years there has been a focus on creating a less stressful care experience at the veterinary clinic. A number of certification programs now exist to help both the practice and the consumer provide this experience. I have witnessed the growth of the Cat Friendly Practice from the American Association of Feline Practitioners ( <a href="https://www.catvets.com/cfp/cfp" target="_blank">https://www.catvets.com/cfp/cfp</a> ) the Low Stress Handling Certification program from Cattledog publishing, the legacy of Dr Sophia Yin <a href="https://lowstresshandling.com/" target="_blank">https://lowstresshandling.com/</a>, and the Fear Free Certification program <a href="https://fearfreepets.com/my-courses/" target="_blank">https://fearfreepets.com/my-courses/</a> . <br />
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These programs are one way for veterinary staff to learn these skills. There are seminars, webinars, text books on handling and interactive handling labs as well. A practice may approach bringing a less stressful care experience to you combining some of these resources - certified by a program or not.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #5b513e; font-family: , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">At Okaw Veterinary clinic, a small animal practice in rural central Illinois which I owned, my staff and I created a low stress culture before these certification programs started. Dr Yin was a friend, and asked if I would have my staff take her program to evaluate it and become one of the first clinics certified. We did and it was a good investment of time and knowledge that elevated my staff's skills to a new level. This program was intense in the behavior education and specific handling techniques. The other programs covered material and standards that we already had in place, so it was not worth the expense to do these. These are great programs, yet we were already at the certified level, so paying for these programs and associated costs was not going to gain anything for my practice in my community. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #5b513e; font-family: , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">As the 3 certification programs have become established in veterinary medicine, there is broad choice for clients to find practitioners who create a less stressful care experience. I am also witnessing some practices becoming certified, only to the branding that certification can bring. It is a tricky business to be sure that one who carries a certification is following the standards. You may find non certified practices following positive</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5b513e; font-family: , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> care standards very well. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0rCQdqDCmF1pdFd3QdAqCUEnf1B8uIcr_baJWwYYyDMym5J8VdKCSIZbk3ps_tBAqQXmKpq9sr_G55rpU66fJZ6WUevIgjqGeC4C4ZHaSieWNKBpXKKcgAf5gCPSUOkHdClYe9OQBDk/s1600/IMG_5204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0rCQdqDCmF1pdFd3QdAqCUEnf1B8uIcr_baJWwYYyDMym5J8VdKCSIZbk3ps_tBAqQXmKpq9sr_G55rpU66fJZ6WUevIgjqGeC4C4ZHaSieWNKBpXKKcgAf5gCPSUOkHdClYe9OQBDk/s320/IMG_5204.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hands on teaching of Low Stress Feline handling </td></tr>
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So, you are a pet owner. You want a veterinary practice that is competent with medical care, knows how to be nice to your pet, keeps their costs at an affordable level for you, has convenient hours, reliable staff, and a well maintained operation. As a past practice owner, I can assure you this is no small task. It became much easier for me to provide all these things as I took the steps to create a low stress clinic. For some practices, the cost of certification and maintaining that cost may be a factor in whether or not you see any logos from certification. In a more populated area, having this certification can make a distinction for a practice - a way for clients to choose and that is important. In smaller areas, a practice may not be certified yet they may be providing a positive care experience. Each program has a cost ranging from a one time fee of $330/person, to annual fees upwards of thousands of dollars per year in a large practice. Some programs have corporate sponsorship and others do not. So like anything else, there needs to be a return or value for the cost of the program for a practice to take part. In a competitive environment, there may be practices who are certified in name only, to market themselves.<br />
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The good news is that all 3 of these programs are working towards the same goal - improve the experience of the animal in care. As I say Every Day, Every Way with Every Animal - Low Stress.<br />
There is a bit of overlap, so as a consumer or professional how do you pick? I work for Dr Yin's company that publishes the Low Stress Handling Certification program. I was an author for the Fear Free program. When veterinary staff ask me "which one should I chose to take?" I ask them " What do you see as your primary need for reducing patient stress? What do you want to focus on for your practice?" If one wants to improve the feline experience - take the Cat Friendly Practice program. If you have a large staff, and want to quickly provide everyone with fundamental understanding of fear, and the benefits of pre visit meds, take the Fear Free program. If you need improved handling skills for the animal in care, with less dependence on pre medication, take the Low Stress Handling program. There is overlap to these programs, and if a practice is certified in one, there are resources, articles and educational materials that are available to blend some of the advantages of each. In the end, it is the experience for the patient that matters most.<br />
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As a consumer, how do you choose? I suggest you look at each website's directory of certified professionals as a start. No matter if you find a certified professional or not, always ask these questions when investigating the clinics in your area.<br />
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<b>Do you do everything in the exam room or take them to the back</b>? Providing care in the exam room is the best way to provide a positive experience. If they always " go in the back" that can increase stress. Find a clinic that avoids this.<br />
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<b>Do you provide treats for my pet or should I bring my own?</b> If the clinic is surprised by suggesting food for exams, they are not a low stress practice. You can also ask about bringing a toy or favorite blanket - the attitude should be one of appreciating your efforts to reduce your pet's stress.<br />
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<b>Can we split up care if my pet is getting stressed?</b> You should hear a plan for the most important care first, with an eye for possibly splitting up care to help prevent increasing fear. The days of "getting it all done " are not the focus now. Taking care of the most important needs, while keeping it pet friendly is the focus now.<br />
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Does certification matter? Yes, but it is not everything. The particular program is not as important in my opinion compared to holding the standard of less stressful care. I have seen non certified practices holding a higher standard than those certified. In the end, it is the care experience that matters - does your pet like coming in? Are they becoming more calm and relaxed with every exam?<br />
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Helping your pet have a positive veterinary experience requires your participation as well. Every practitioner involved in low stress care encourages happy visits, where your dog gets a quick treat at the reception desk, can step on the scale, get a reward and go home. You are encouraged to keep your cat carrier out in the living room to help your cat like it. Being open to giving your cat supplements and medications to reduce anxiety for your helps tremendously.<br />
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I hope this articles helps you with providing or receiving a kinder, positive experience that is centered on knowing your pet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHC44zTDQBDprlMvl0S6p3VAkRz_hgk6rZZgg3j2TzHFDBNZOk0sC2ZTyuKUeZKSbVioua9jjJE94bY2owz2jeVBSMzfBYTuvKHX5kvF_yIoL3ZE3v96CDpM7enwDZYyLbjs_7N6xS18/s1600/butter%252C+me+and+bella.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHC44zTDQBDprlMvl0S6p3VAkRz_hgk6rZZgg3j2TzHFDBNZOk0sC2ZTyuKUeZKSbVioua9jjJE94bY2owz2jeVBSMzfBYTuvKHX5kvF_yIoL3ZE3v96CDpM7enwDZYyLbjs_7N6xS18/s320/butter%252C+me+and+bella.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A favorite photo of me, Butterscotch and Bella outside Okaw, which has passed on to Dr Kyla Kuhns, an<br />
excellent veterinarian. I now travel speaking, consulting and creating webinars to continue <br />
build the low stress veterinary care experience </td></tr>
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-9910587724495062952019-01-13T18:21:00.002-06:002019-01-17T09:02:12.461-06:00Cool Cat Room at Indy Humane <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rstFELHye88TNza8HEfP6eOKjbIWhKH57Zao_8_O7e5s6fXLpXeG_8ItXId8Ri9suzOPuv8fD23hkL3DQlzrb0bYTM9Sh9s9agn2rczGoUB5v40cTiO7RBom91iAwioACjLB8V9LTzA/s1600/IMG_5564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rstFELHye88TNza8HEfP6eOKjbIWhKH57Zao_8_O7e5s6fXLpXeG_8ItXId8Ri9suzOPuv8fD23hkL3DQlzrb0bYTM9Sh9s9agn2rczGoUB5v40cTiO7RBom91iAwioACjLB8V9LTzA/s320/IMG_5564.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wonderful staff at Indy Humane who helped make my<br />
Essentials of Low Stress Handling Seminar possible </td></tr>
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I traveled to Indianapolis last week to present a full day
seminar on Low Stress Handling at Indy Humane. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colleen Benson, director of shelter behavior, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>gave me
tour of the facility when I stopped by the day before my event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indy Humane is the central Humane society of
Metropolitan Indianapolis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The facility
has grown since <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the founding in 1905, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a
vaccine clinic, behavior program for dogs and cats, and assists <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>other humane societies by taking on transfers .
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As I walked into the seminar room, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed that someone was painting small
crates a lovely lavender color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colleen
then explained Dr Liz Rose, one of the shelter veterinarians, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was busy hanging shelves, painting the crates
and creating an enriched space in a second feline open room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I met Dr Rose, drill in hand, working away transforming
a basic room into cat wonderland. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjb5mC2SDRbhZl6NxwxsDGLK8tJpVSP0U1oNMfmjsh38VkQJKe16sfROYQDM25N5HzLBI32yN31J8lYoHBUabff2ThywJNUCxnB0-F89blChlKl3qJemmNYKjC49copYZRCJn4jr8Uhvo/s1600/IMG_5547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjb5mC2SDRbhZl6NxwxsDGLK8tJpVSP0U1oNMfmjsh38VkQJKe16sfROYQDM25N5HzLBI32yN31J8lYoHBUabff2ThywJNUCxnB0-F89blChlKl3qJemmNYKjC49copYZRCJn4jr8Uhvo/s320/IMG_5547.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like Vanna, Dr Liz Rose points out the optimal spacing for cat launching<br />
from shelf to shelf </td></tr>
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This central room, which is kind of a traffic zone for staff
, was needed to create more space for the well socialized cats to play while
they were awaiting adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brett
Kruger, the feline behavior lead <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>recognized the need for extra space and worked
with Dr Rose on the design. The ideas implemented here, using <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>color and fabric are not difficult to use in your home if you have a little time, money and are a bit handy .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTV3jNkYZkcNLM0a__qRxWnZ347IshE-95epFusGNCEtqi1KxcFoOTsdHGjVwpg6KaUF5A8z0eJLw63wEpzKcMTF3tVidbhpdPNj38Gl2OlrtAsnZPZMmfbXB1OdummTMoc5NZrlKi7U/s1600/IMG_5549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTV3jNkYZkcNLM0a__qRxWnZ347IshE-95epFusGNCEtqi1KxcFoOTsdHGjVwpg6KaUF5A8z0eJLw63wEpzKcMTF3tVidbhpdPNj38Gl2OlrtAsnZPZMmfbXB1OdummTMoc5NZrlKi7U/s200/IMG_5549.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A simple wall hanging using the custom fabric<br />
in the signature lavender color and logo </td></tr>
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Lavender is the signature color for the humane society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is appealing, and easy on the eyes for
both humans and cats, so it works well in the décor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved the fabric. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not sure of the specific company Indy
Humane used, but I found<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/welcome">https://www.spoonflower.com</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> as a resource. Fabric was custom printed with the color and logo of the humane society. I saw this fabric in other areas, such as the cage covers for the the cat habitat cages. This controls contagion from upper respiratory disease, they are easy to wash, and livens the decor up in the ward areas. </span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPQPgEzkrvwkR8aBOb69dN7dRbfoFGRUxNcxxbiWeSxxCKiJ7hLRECvJ_nMn9TqXfyZ8L01ijZBcG1-Cd0ER0jmvrEMGWvHcBx9sIavNUxG1rAdszAKHns6Tu8SiVVKhdv91JXhyphenhyphenHlDs/s1600/IMG_5552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPQPgEzkrvwkR8aBOb69dN7dRbfoFGRUxNcxxbiWeSxxCKiJ7hLRECvJ_nMn9TqXfyZ8L01ijZBcG1-Cd0ER0jmvrEMGWvHcBx9sIavNUxG1rAdszAKHns6Tu8SiVVKhdv91JXhyphenhyphenHlDs/s200/IMG_5552.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">easy cage covers to control<br />
congation </td></tr>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One wall has many
shelves strategically placed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for
stepping and jumping between them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is important – watch how your cats stretch, and the space and height between
shelves to be easy for them to navigate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bridge over the office
doorway is creates the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“ off the floor
runway” most cats want. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Central
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>floor areas <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>can be a competitive traffic zone, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so having the ability to walk around the room
off the floor is essential in an enriched space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The litterboxes are located here , so
providing this off the floor runway also reduces the “ stare down” between cats
when the box is in use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18-uOYu40r4bQO4dIfydp272KEuXUHBW7Ee2XoFpc10_DzBcvRBmgoujQUP9I83ib8XcwGnDuPLbM65WQX0VMmKXYcd9MsIejfHGfNgxl69k6uAmGh2fP7I_4JRIggLMp4GT0Ld8xdAg/s1600/IMG_5571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18-uOYu40r4bQO4dIfydp272KEuXUHBW7Ee2XoFpc10_DzBcvRBmgoujQUP9I83ib8XcwGnDuPLbM65WQX0VMmKXYcd9MsIejfHGfNgxl69k6uAmGh2fP7I_4JRIggLMp4GT0Ld8xdAg/s200/IMG_5571.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bridge for a cat runway - note the crates<br />
pretty and functional </td></tr>
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The cubbie organizer shelving units are great and can
alternate between cat storage and actual product storage for the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pretty
lavender crates so carefully painted the day before, now hung from the walls
near the shelving areas. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These crates provide that hiding space but
with some peeping cracks so the cat can see out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love this idea – they can hold the weight
of the cat, are lightweight themselves, and can be painted or stained to match
the décor of the home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tee pee tents,
cat trees and an open floor space round out the enrichment area. ( picture) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is plenty of room for people to go
about their work, for the cats to be safe and happy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqEJAlRuQBQzlPlr4dJGY6UrbemWeqzlZuQ_W00ROz_8wA4uuOBAr37d11vvKk-oAwGfkcKm9_yXhtC-POIxz_34F6LUcsrCIpQwsiFkEekuvjlwuWDsj4zMhZ9U-_G96451SIU8efUo/s1600/IMG_5570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqEJAlRuQBQzlPlr4dJGY6UrbemWeqzlZuQ_W00ROz_8wA4uuOBAr37d11vvKk-oAwGfkcKm9_yXhtC-POIxz_34F6LUcsrCIpQwsiFkEekuvjlwuWDsj4zMhZ9U-_G96451SIU8efUo/s320/IMG_5570.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">nice tee pee, scratching pad - they can be moved<br />
about as the cats like </td></tr>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As far as costs go – I
did not ask, but looking at the crate, shelving, and cubbie cases I would estimate
it was under $200 for all the materials new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You could save some money by asking at a construction site if you can
take scrap shelving or go to a Habitat for Humanity store for materials. Not handy
with a drill?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe a friend can help or a few hours paying a handy person. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With your plan in hand,
it would not take more than a few hours to get everything up and in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
do not sew, use fleece for cubbie and shelf pads. Fleece does not fray,it comes in
all sorts of patterns and colors and cats love it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Staple guns and hot glue guns make quick short cuts of creating framed wall hanging, and upholstered pads</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I post hope this gives you some ideas for creating a “ Cattastic” space in your home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cubbies,
shelves and runways can resolve a lot of cat problems in a home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enriching the home does not mean it has to
look like a cat house – it can be fun and creative for both of you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, share some of your stories of how you made
your home more enriched for your cats – I would love to see your creativity!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCh8p0y3VLxY2bxBDltKi4mHFRcNgTcxHH4EJOgDXz_hE_z1fNi8kW8GrSTOhUKtDOjPkgZKREaiXQIdvDSMgHpdCYt7zEtOCakUSV7WTgMG-twDKDfKUAqg9n0TxXQm9vVX51oxxEtU/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCh8p0y3VLxY2bxBDltKi4mHFRcNgTcxHH4EJOgDXz_hE_z1fNi8kW8GrSTOhUKtDOjPkgZKREaiXQIdvDSMgHpdCYt7zEtOCakUSV7WTgMG-twDKDfKUAqg9n0TxXQm9vVX51oxxEtU/s200/001.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ranger, my office cat now retired loved his perch at our office of course with all his toys! </td></tr>
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Take care, </div>
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Sally J Foote DVM Jan 2019 </div>
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-64013138355777650462018-12-09T20:33:00.000-06:002019-10-14T14:02:03.714-05:00How to get the bouncy, rowdy dog calm for exam The bouncy, fidgety, active dog in the veterinary exam room<br />
<br />
I have been posting some Face book live events at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/lowstresshandling/" target="_blank">Low Stress Handling of dogs and cats face book page</a> for the past two weeks. We have had some great ideas and I am answering the comment requests as they come in. About a week ago, there was a request to show how to handle the bouncy, active but happy dog presented for care. This is a common situation in veterinary clinics and shelters. Often there is no time for clicker training, or setting up training visits, and you have to provide care that day. So the question was how does one get this dog to calm down, especially if the dog is not medicated, and cannot be rescheduled?<br />
<br />
The scene is this - you have a happy, very animated dog who is jumping up on you, taking treats in a grabby way, and full of life. We all value this happiness, but the dog becomes more agitated when held, or an examination begins. The caregivers - DVM or technician need to do their job, but the touch can increase agitation which can result in the dog flipping it's head and aggressing. What the heck is going on here???? The dog seemed happy but now he is biting me?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATEzmOktZKUelk2n6HM3PXNEJGu5RECFUhQM9Zctz4s4ASY0p0MkuQK5RfFK24VohkjT6X7cIAgpZAye6_ylnbZ521BSo1ThXSWjGTbTGx0f2XxlQsEToydH9vR3NBNn6YK79BEWHKSo/s1600/target+to+bowl+drawing+blood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATEzmOktZKUelk2n6HM3PXNEJGu5RECFUhQM9Zctz4s4ASY0p0MkuQK5RfFK24VohkjT6X7cIAgpZAye6_ylnbZ521BSo1ThXSWjGTbTGx0f2XxlQsEToydH9vR3NBNn6YK79BEWHKSo/s320/target+to+bowl+drawing+blood.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">targeting to a bowl with shoulder hold - less agitation with focus </td></tr>
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It is important to understand That there are four F's to anxiety. Fight, Flight, Freeze and Fidget. Some of this bouncy, rowdy agitation is fidget. The dog may be bouncing between approach for treats and avoidance of exam. The anxiety stems from sensory overload at the clinic from people, other animals, smells and noises. It may also be from a memory of firm restraint to limit the bounciness as painful injections are given . An approach - avoidance behavior unfold before you. The dog may also be grabbing the treats, and indication of lack of impulse control. In short - the dog is over the top with joy, resulting in a lack of the ability to slow down mentally to carefully approach or accept a food reward. The dog grabs and increases agitation due to the desire for the item.<br />
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All of this physical animation increases adrenaline, the fight or flight hormone. A dog may not be negatively stressed but bouncing around so much they are preparing their body and mind to react. That is why when you start a non painful exam with a stethoscope, they flip their head and try to snap. That touch is the one extra stimulus on an already amped up body responding with fight. While a stethoscope is not threatening, the touch is enough to be the added stimulus to have the dog react against it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjB6gO1dovmduyiR_gmFSqRUA-oUfpM1fnBML9zYGCPlD850usHXMG05mvSO2xaMNQp1TzhSlYDhw67hf0YSR2V0Sb-3h9N0JFfOnjFPMzcVKfpfH3jA0muMn6rdGE49iHkIKPv8UlDE/s1600/modified+cowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjB6gO1dovmduyiR_gmFSqRUA-oUfpM1fnBML9zYGCPlD850usHXMG05mvSO2xaMNQp1TzhSlYDhw67hf0YSR2V0Sb-3h9N0JFfOnjFPMzcVKfpfH3jA0muMn6rdGE49iHkIKPv8UlDE/s320/modified+cowl.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cowl hold to minimize handling but safe for the dog and handler<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzX1oxeziHxeJUGHcMHV5BKJGWtA4hBW4vu_10dcIydk0sB0CDjwLMegLBaFg4E_HQ8LQKIvD-a0bNrRkrV0DLp1cqr8Btb_C-q-w-MiTEY_bYTYNlIK3BM2CQJmhs8KWcT6zYwboC9k/s1600/reward+post+hood+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzX1oxeziHxeJUGHcMHV5BKJGWtA4hBW4vu_10dcIydk0sB0CDjwLMegLBaFg4E_HQ8LQKIvD-a0bNrRkrV0DLp1cqr8Btb_C-q-w-MiTEY_bYTYNlIK3BM2CQJmhs8KWcT6zYwboC9k/s320/reward+post+hood+.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">reward directly to the dog's mouth, with cheerio sized treats </td></tr>
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How does one handle dogs like this? You want them happy but you need some calm for the exam. Knowing the Low Stress Handling specific collar holds or cowl holds are essential to handling dogs like this. Secondly, have paper bowls with spreadable rewards like baby food, squeeze cheese, or liver paste immediately available for targeting. Now you can lure the dog into position and mix classical and operant conditioning to condition calm body postures for exam.<br />
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Be aware of what ramps this dog up. Often, people coming in and out the exam room door adds to the agitation. Bring the dog in the room after you have set up all the needed medications, vaccinations and items for examination. Every time you open and close that door, the dog may run to the door, jump up at you coming in and out. You can leave the door open to avoid the opening and closing stimulus.<br />
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Do not allow the dog to investigate the room. Keep the dog on leash,and limit the amount of area that the dog can pace or wander around. This limits the physical agitation that starts the continuum leading to handling aggression. (1) In my office, we had a carribiner clip to attach the dog' s leash to to help hold that dog in place. If the dog has a flexi style leash, have some thick nylon 6 foot leashes to attach then tether the dog. <br />
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If the owner is not helping the dog to calm, have the technician take the dog from the owner and start rewarding for calm behavior. Small tidbits of treats taken softly for sitting or standing calm can immediately be instituted. A food puzzle held for targeting when sitting then removed when any focus is broken can also be immediate target training that will help the dog to calm. This often demonstrates to the client how to handle the dog at home for times when the dog is agitated.<br />
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Use the mother dog calming pheromone - Adaptil immediately. About 5 sprays on a bandana applied in the waiting area and re applied in the exam room will calm the dog within 5-10 minutes. Diffusers are helpful, but do not work as quickly as the spray. Target to a bowl and lure the dog into place. The staff must know the collar and cowl handling techniques to minimize the amount of physical contact with these dogs. Often, dogs of this nature have had 2 or more people holding them down forcefully to restrain. Many dogs like this are not conditioned to struggle against body holds, so you must have a lower amount of hands holding them but some point of restraint for safety. If you increase the amount of holding, often the dog will struggle against the restraint and aggress.<br />
With these dogs you go the opposite direction with handling - have an anchor such as a collar hold or cowl hold but less physical restraint. Use a target in addition to the collar hold to focus the dog's attention away from the examiner and stimulus of any injection. <br />
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The Low Stress Handling certification program goes into specific details of positioning dogs like this, how to handle them on leash to lead them for exam as well as positioning them for radiography or blood draws. All of these situations are high risk for aggression because the dog is physically primed for reacting. In the " less is more " approach, you need to have a hold on these dogs but one that is not forceful. The Low Stress Handling, Restraint and Behavior Modification of Dogs and Cats by Sophia Yin DVM covers these techniques. This is a youtube video demonstrating how to use the cowl hold in a dog. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5L6f9f365M&t=101s" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5L6f9f365M&t=101s</a><br />
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Please join me at low stress handling of dogs and cats on facebook. I am hosting weekly facebook live events to demonstrate ways to reduce stress to dogs and cats in care.<br />
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Thanks!<br />
Sally J Foote DVM<br />
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https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201801/can-dogs-suffer-adhd<br />
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https://pethelpful.com/dogs/Understanding-Sensory-Overstumulation-in-Dogs <br />
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-68667220420267341412017-11-26T12:59:00.004-06:002017-11-29T10:43:21.476-06:00<br />
Dancing around thresh hold<br />
I have recently returned home from a week of presenting at the Veterinary Congress of Quebec, and to the Pet Professional Guild in Orlando Florida. At both conferences, I educated on less stressful handling during veterinary care. The Quebec audience was veterinarians and veterinary staff while the Orlando audience was primarily dog trainers and other non veterinary animal behaviorist who also offer counter conditioning animals to veterinary care. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3CsK89s7RHkbPmdD9Ajw_CKYzbk5w_bELPGqyV3ouPfC4_tvrhmD3lYyeQgQH-LsiPNkATywu4_fl8qCaN2dWuzQ9d1qi3JR_tYO_WFAAAr1173SeZ44HmiCZ1sjzRETpHmsO3hST3c/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3CsK89s7RHkbPmdD9Ajw_CKYzbk5w_bELPGqyV3ouPfC4_tvrhmD3lYyeQgQH-LsiPNkATywu4_fl8qCaN2dWuzQ9d1qi3JR_tYO_WFAAAr1173SeZ44HmiCZ1sjzRETpHmsO3hST3c/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In french - translation - less stressful handling of companion animals </td></tr>
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One concept that I needed to emphasize was knowing the thresh hold for panic or aggression for the animal in front of you, in situations. For example, for a particular dog, the prick of the needle for an injection may be the trigger that causes this dog to stop taking a reward and start to struggle. This dog may be eating treats, relaxed but as soon as it sees the veterinarian moving close and feels the needle, then snapping, or lunging occurs quickly. It is difficult to counter condition a trigger so deeply related to fear so how can one administer needed care, like a rabies vaccination, or insulin injection? Knowing this animal's triggers to anxiety and understanding this animal's signals are individual. Yes, it is best to reschedule an appointment using pre exam medication but at times this is not feasible. If the patient is vomiting and needs an anti emetic injection to control vomiting, or an overdue rabies vaccine on a dog with a bite history - that will need to be taken care of immediately.<br />
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So, how do I keep care low stress knowing the injection will cause stress? The answer is keeping the care short and sweet. You remove as many stressors as you can, giving rewards to counter condition for all parts of the exam and when the moment of stress comes, you give the injection quickly and remove your hands and move the dog away praising and giving rewards from the handler, then the vet to help them settle. You have crossed over the threshold for aggression, but quickly removed triggers to help the dog come down below threshold and take the reward. This stimulus - stop - reward is dancing around threshold.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim29mMyyiMavPMt1LqfU0m0wdfgEdrvm0Sh-O_cfw1jEWSf0Hvh7CxV2dRMmGDckY3d7OIEsQgFWIbODXzUV2w_5h-gXfYENqIYEENocX0vpdwyyr7vDwOtrrtqk9j7IeYL6zXln2SSic/s1600/aggressive+dog+video%252C+office+decor%252C+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim29mMyyiMavPMt1LqfU0m0wdfgEdrvm0Sh-O_cfw1jEWSf0Hvh7CxV2dRMmGDckY3d7OIEsQgFWIbODXzUV2w_5h-gXfYENqIYEENocX0vpdwyyr7vDwOtrrtqk9j7IeYL6zXln2SSic/s320/aggressive+dog+video%252C+office+decor%252C+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allow the handler to evaluate, communicate and reduce escalation </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I call this technique dancing around threshold ,because it is like stepping over and under the threshold line. The action is quick administration of stressor, then removing the stressor, to bring them down. You wait a few minutes with reward to prevent further escalation, before another stimulus . Think of some one doing the cha cha where they step forward and back over an imaginary line. This technique is reserved for needed care, not elective. It takes clear communication between the handler and the person administering an injection, to co ordinate rewarding then watching the body language of the animal as the care administrator ( veterinarian or other technician )actually gives the injection. If we sense the animal will snap, the handler will quickly hold the animal as the injection is given, then lead the animal away or give a rewards as the veterinarian moves away for a few moments, The key points are that the stimulus has to last less than 1 second, and the time for hold - stimulus - release - reward or lead away had to happen in less than 3 seconds. So this is fast work. Just like in dancing you are moving back and forth around the threshold line, not staying on the high side very long.<br />
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What is good about this technique is that the animal learns that the high stress point is going to be short, they are not stimulated to escalate up the ladder of aggression from where the present high point is, and the warnings they show us are heeded for reducing stress and anxiety. By heeding these warnings, the animal learns to warn and give more time before escalating to panic or biting.<br />
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Knowing the animal in front of you for their triggers, and their body language is essential. Even if you are not certain if a nervous animal will escalate higher, bet on the side of fast escalation. So keep the stressor short and sweet with lots of rewarding before and after. Understanding that both the handler and care administrator must communicate that the animal is approaching thresh hold is of utmost importance. If the threshold for panic or aggression is not recognized, and the animal is triggered for more than 1 second, it will escalate - you are taking too long and are forcing the animal to react. This is a video of a dog who is nervous but we keep the actions short and sweet that would trigger him up to panic . <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8ce_SvRp5E" target="_blank">video of nervous dog dancing around threshold </a><br />
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Clear understanding of the animal indication that it is over thresh hold takes experience and education. The lab 3 and 4 of the Handling, Moving and Restraining modules of the Low Stress Handling Certification program demonstrates this very clearly. Dr Yin works with an aggressive dog pointing out the threshold for stress during a counter conditioning session. For many pets, they may shut down just arriving at the veterinary office. If care can be rescheduled, then have a house call for this pet. Another idea, is to do the exam or care in the car or grounds outside the building. As a practitioner in a rural community, I have seen many a farm dog less agitated in the bed of the farm truck for exam or vaccination or standing on the grass outside of the building. It may seem crazy, but I had yellow Lab patient who would be very nervous in the waiting area, and attempt to aggress in the exam room. Outside, he was calm and happy. So I would do his exam and vaccinations standing in the grassy area to the side of my building. When he needed more advanced care, I would give him the sedation injection outside and then take him into the building when he was sedate. It may have looked weird to see me outside listening to a dog's heart , or giving a vaccination but it prevented this dog from escalating. I was willing to make it less easy for me for the dog's benefit. That is what I like about reducing fear and aggression during veterinary care - you get become creative in handling, see a more relaxed patient and deliver more care.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_RQF8QPd5_9_YibgDLb8JnKHnDJIGEBA0kXc4ea50NbbOc6JXOXFRjtmg1aCpEtC-crg6sbZ7yraLFgdB_bxBaceshGmxz-8S87gMYrF5cLkCHS3Qic6etGEg2tWaFll98bTWH_iHeE/s1600/aggressive+dog+video%252C+office+decor%252C+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_RQF8QPd5_9_YibgDLb8JnKHnDJIGEBA0kXc4ea50NbbOc6JXOXFRjtmg1aCpEtC-crg6sbZ7yraLFgdB_bxBaceshGmxz-8S87gMYrF5cLkCHS3Qic6etGEg2tWaFll98bTWH_iHeE/s320/aggressive+dog+video%252C+office+decor%252C+043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick use of a blanket to hood allows an injection to be given with less stress then move the dog away and reward immediately </td></tr>
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Dancing around threshold is a skill that veterinarians, technicians, assistants and trainers must learn to prevent escalation of anxiety and stress during needed care or events. Understanding this animal's body language for escalation, how to block or minimize the trigger to stress and work quickly to lower the stress through rewards and movement away from the trigger is an essential skill. I look forward to hearing from my readers and attendees to know how they are starting to use these skills<br />
Thanks<br />
Dr Sally J Foote DVM Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-10842548657405238132017-10-22T13:41:00.000-05:002017-10-22T13:41:47.907-05:00Tactile learning with positive veterinary care - from learning to doing <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mceItemTable" id="textEdit" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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<a _mce_href="http://www.okawvetclinic.com/for-veterinary-professionals.pml" _mce_shape="rect" class="imgCaptionAnchor" href="http://www.okawvetclinic.com/for-veterinary-professionals.pml" shape="rect"><img _mce_src="https://mlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/d37888f4101/c34d8714-0e11-42c4-9010-3be130aba9a8.jpg" alt="ranger and Emily " border="0" height="99" hspace="0" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.72" src="https://mlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/d37888f4101/c34d8714-0e11-42c4-9010-3be130aba9a8.jpg" vspace="0" width="150" /></a></div>
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<tr><td _mce_style="text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; color: #403f42; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;" class="imgCaptionText" style="color: #403f42; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; text-align: center;">Hands on practice only takes a few minutes</td></tr>
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<br /><div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"> As I
am leading handling labs in Low Stress Handling, I have come to realize
the tremendous impact hands on learning has to actually feeling
confident using Low Stress handling techniques. This type of learning
is also called tactile learning - because you literally feel the process
of what you are learning. When I think about providing health care to
animals, it is primarily based on touch. One must touch an animal to
lead them to an exam area, to listen to their heart,examine their skin,
look in their mouth and more. For many of us, touching the fur,
feathers or scales of an animal is very calming to ourselves. This is
part of what attracts us to veterinary practice, shelter care or
training. Through Low Stress Handling, we can now be more aware of how
we provide a calming effect through our touch to any animal. The
knowledge of an animal's body language, past and new memory, physical
and emotional health lay the foundation for delivering low stress
care. The next step is actually handling the animal using this
knowledge. </span></div>
<div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">That
is where the handling labs come in - the opportunity to actually try
out the knowledge you have gained from seminars, webinars and
certification programs. As I am leading these labs to various groups, I
am realizing some important elements to have in place for a good
learning experience. This list is based on my experience training
faculty who are certified in Low Stress Handling, staff at a large
shelter who while not certified have been using the skills, and general
veterinary staff who are starting to learn to use these techniques.
While this is a diverse range of students, there are some common needs
in learning to feel confident to use these skills: </span></div>
<div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">Technique check Am I doing this right?
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="imgCaptionTable OneColumnMobile mceItemTable" data-padding-converted="true" style="text-align: center; width: 175px;"><tbody>
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<a _mce_href="http://www.okawvetclinic.com/clinic-consultation-and-staff-training.pml" _mce_shape="rect" class="imgCaptionAnchor" href="http://www.okawvetclinic.com/clinic-consultation-and-staff-training.pml" shape="rect"><img _mce_src="https://mlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/d37888f4101/ec872dd2-f0ba-4b25-994c-e26c009288b5.jpg" alt="teaching blood draw " border="0" height="234" hspace="0" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.75" src="https://mlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/d37888f4101/ec872dd2-f0ba-4b25-994c-e26c009288b5.jpg" vspace="0" width="175" /></a> </div>
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- students need a coach who actually uses these handling techniques,
and directly observes the student for hand placement, body position and
approach. The coach needs to think of ways to adapt these techniques
based on the animal's body or the handler. In leading a session, I
found reminding the students of the anatomical points of placement for
head holds, cowl holds, blood draws, or positioning from standing to
lateral and had them compare touching on their own body these points.
That small step helped them recognize how important bony points are in
handling and not holding against soft tissue. This improved their
confidence immediately. As I would see the " gaposis" as I call it -
arms splayed out along side a cat in a towel wrap where the cat might
wriggle free - then move the handlers arms in and remind them to close
the gap - BINGO! They understood how thier body placement of both the
handler and animal mattered. I use the Low Stress Handling,
Restraint, and Behavior Modification et al book by Dr Sophia Yin as my
guide, as well as some of the instructional DVD's from Cattledog
publishing. With these resources at everyone's side, they too can
quickly look up a point for review and use these resources at home. </span></div>
<div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">Stuffed animals - fun support from peers.
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<a _mce_href="http://www.okawvetclinic.com/clinic-consultation-and-staff-training.pml" _mce_shape="rect" class="imgCaptionAnchor" href="http://www.okawvetclinic.com/clinic-consultation-and-staff-training.pml" shape="rect"><img _mce_src="https://mlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/d37888f4101/dd2f855c-83d3-4036-b933-3b81feec4134.jpg" alt="having fun in handling lab " border="0" height="225" hspace="0" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.78" src="https://mlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/d37888f4101/dd2f855c-83d3-4036-b933-3b81feec4134.jpg" vspace="0" width="300" /></a> </div>
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When you have a stuffed animal you have the security of knowing if you
mess up it won't hurt anyone. You have peers who are also practicing
technique first on the stuffies then moving onto real animals. The group
collaborates, sharing how the holds and body placement feels and what
they find works in their situation. It is safe to make mistakes and
even the most skillful will share what they find difficult. With the
live animal in this practice environment, the stress is off if you miss
the vein on a blood draw, or the animal is escalating and you are not
recognizing it. Certified coaches will kindly point it out an
alternative approach for the second try. Often here is where fellow
students will share the stories of animal stress escalation that they
did not see or appreciate. Now they can see it, the coach can point out
what touch,noise or is particular to this patient has been part of the
escalation to make a better handling situation. I love these moments
because it is like we are all on even ground learning in the moment. </span></div>
<div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">Special
situations - Not every practice, shelter or animal care setting is the
same. Often we discuss ways to organize space, or manage an animal
holding area to decrease stress. With each presentation, I have found
more and more ways to help animal care providers create a less stressful
handling situation based on the behavior knowledge that is the
foundation of Low Stress Handling. It is when the students are sharing
ideas and stories that solutions are thought of and tried out. Staying
in contact with these students to hear how the ideas work out is what
continues development of more Low Stress Handling techniques.
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<a _mce_href="http://www.okawvetclinic.com/in-clinic-presentations.pml" _mce_shape="rect" class="imgCaptionAnchor" href="http://www.okawvetclinic.com/in-clinic-presentations.pml" shape="rect"><img _mce_src="https://mlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/d37888f4101/f82cbfe9-0906-423c-89d3-ba062f7eea23.jpg" alt="spay scar check " border="0" height="400" hspace="0" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.79" src="https://mlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/d37888f4101/f82cbfe9-0906-423c-89d3-ba062f7eea23.jpg" vspace="0" width="300" /></a> </div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td _mce_style="text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; color: #000000; font-family: Arial;" class="imgCaptionText" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">figuring out a less stressful way to check for spay scar</td></tr>
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</span></div>
<div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">I
will be leading a handling lab at the Illinois State Veterinary Medical
Convention in Lombard Il November 3. The lab is full, but I am working
on dates for handling labs in 2018. Below I have a survey I would like
for you to fill out. There is an opportunity for me to develop a place
to have handling labs in an actual practice setting. We would have
lectures, and practice animals in exam rooms, treatment areas and run
areas just like a practice. The point of a space like this would be to
learn in a space that is close to where you actually have to do these
skills - in a practice. </span></div>
<div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">Thanks ! </span></div>
<div>
<span _mce_style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">Sally J Foote DVM CABC-IAABC </span></div>
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Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-80394177256669400412017-08-18T16:37:00.003-05:002017-08-18T17:04:25.552-05:00Once bitten - twice shy Bite - near bite job stress in veterinary medicine <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I recently attended the American Veterinary Medical
Association Convention in Indianapolis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was pretty exciting for me as I was selected as a poster presenter
for my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>survey " Once Bitten, Twice
Shy - bite/near bite job stress in veterinary medicine".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
addition to the poster presentation,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was also selected to lead a
round table discussion on the same topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJF03eI5ZeULw7Gd-Dj2pMgKIxKiLl3CFd37c5L_SyDqCf6xIasXywafsdOcPScc6qlzmf7Y8bsRcdfB5kL8QxbyiRZXPELmRM2vjgjuUqkMasW9kZI1PJ7zZUGwLgBIN5wcT2BOxh4U/s1600/sally%2527s+phone+july+2017+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJF03eI5ZeULw7Gd-Dj2pMgKIxKiLl3CFd37c5L_SyDqCf6xIasXywafsdOcPScc6qlzmf7Y8bsRcdfB5kL8QxbyiRZXPELmRM2vjgjuUqkMasW9kZI1PJ7zZUGwLgBIN5wcT2BOxh4U/s320/sally%2527s+phone+july+2017+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my poster at AVMA convention </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Last summer, I ran a 10 question survey to veterinary <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was an effort to gather data
on our job <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stress due to bite and near
bite injury in small animal practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a speaker, I was often asked by
attendees who had been bitten, how to be less nervous at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my research I found few surveys or
research on this subject so I ran my own, independent of any sponsors or affiliations.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have presented the findings at the
Midwest Veterinary Conference in Columbus Ohio Feb 2017, and at my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Low Stress Handling Ce days in Tuscola Sept
2016.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULLyKrv4O0RZivBfQuZYlVXTaObRBHtcurJbFDUEaHxSHPVDYP1HbveUrp_F4XRlbNLYm1u9yjB1AhxKpfjKoAR9e-z67jrJDU69iv1OD6v6FsmsL6GPzhwiHeZKIOiRGlDrKIhpbh1k/s1600/facial+bite+lip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULLyKrv4O0RZivBfQuZYlVXTaObRBHtcurJbFDUEaHxSHPVDYP1HbveUrp_F4XRlbNLYm1u9yjB1AhxKpfjKoAR9e-z67jrJDU69iv1OD6v6FsmsL6GPzhwiHeZKIOiRGlDrKIhpbh1k/s320/facial+bite+lip.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It can happen in a second - facial bites often creates the most stress on the job </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Creating the poster was a little bit of a challenge since I
had never done this before ( !)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and the
guidelines were very broad from the AVMA. So I felt<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a bit lost creating the poster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr
Paul Eubig from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary medicine was a
huge help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I present a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>behavior lecture in his pharmacology course,
and he responded to my plea for help. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Paul sent me a template, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>gave constructive criticism on my draft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nancy Oliver in the design group at Vet Med U
of I printed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my poster with short
notice, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and helped tweak the lay out as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A huge thank you to both Paul and
Nancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not have had my poster
ready without you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The round table event was fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was food, drinks and 30 different
experts at tables to present a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>topic for 10 minutes, then lead discussion with the
participants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were 3 rotations of
20 minutes each for the hour and a half of the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a full table at each turn, with different
input from each group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I presented this
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>summary of the survey results<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> which are as follows </span>- responders were DVM, licensed tech and on
the job trained with <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>over 5 years of
clinical experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scenarios for
bite/near bite injury were greeting the animal ( 29% of injury risk)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blood draw,nails, feet handling( 40.1%)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>rectal, ear, oral, or painful exam (
29%)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>transfer while sedated (14%) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
75% claimed the bite came without warning, yet 70% indicated
that there were signs of anxiety and early aggression before the bite which was
not recognized for the bite risk. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Methods to reduce job related stress included asking help
from a co worker ( 55.5%) requiring use of muzzle, sedation or other safety
measures ( 58.2%), or avoidance of fractious animals ( 36.4%) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
42% reported prolonged stress post bite/near bite with an
additional 33.4% who indicated stress" just for the day". </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
12% of responders consider leaving the practice they are at
due to injury risk, with 1.46% leaving practice<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>( career change) due to job related stress.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcz72q1R0AneMnu8zi-B22L_AtKmHcU5sbwN_vWyRbawF80uuUfKLBdwr9E4U2Ed24lTzoPO1CHphhyWHkwsERDE-VmhQSRDXJCRBMJhsgevVdVrUZmiJH00fT3td9raCvkYVaww4ctU/s1600/cat+bite+to+arm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcz72q1R0AneMnu8zi-B22L_AtKmHcU5sbwN_vWyRbawF80uuUfKLBdwr9E4U2Ed24lTzoPO1CHphhyWHkwsERDE-VmhQSRDXJCRBMJhsgevVdVrUZmiJH00fT3td9raCvkYVaww4ctU/s1600/cat+bite+to+arm.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">feline bites are common to the hands and arms often requiring hospitalization </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the survey comments, taking courses in less stressful handling, behavior and having the support of the DVM for sedation and pre exam
medications is what reduced job related stress the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibKHSPIOq631aTShvz3f5lTpvm80gD3Dq9YhuBiM7B3FjO2PREe_t5_2Yhq_os8sdT6QYOR-X4b9d05mdqZLznv2PcIkNpoAxk3lgwKEGgjnz1UNS4SsB7LQmjXS1T2_21mwJueVJU_w/s1600/emily+towel+wrap+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibKHSPIOq631aTShvz3f5lTpvm80gD3Dq9YhuBiM7B3FjO2PREe_t5_2Yhq_os8sdT6QYOR-X4b9d05mdqZLznv2PcIkNpoAxk3lgwKEGgjnz1UNS4SsB7LQmjXS1T2_21mwJueVJU_w/s320/emily+towel+wrap+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Towel Wrap technique from Low Stress Handling text book by Dr Sophia Yin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the round table discussions, there was a mix of
experienced DVM's, practice managers, technicians and veterinary students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much of our discussions centered on how to
improve staff awareness of bite risk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As one DVM stated " It seems they need to get bitten in order to
realize there is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bite risk."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>many agreed with this statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking the time to train new staff in
handling and recognizing the body language of stress is also a challenge. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a new person has been added to the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>staff, they<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> are
</span>handling animals<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>before they have
a received this training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Ideas for training and handling protocols, was discussed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other points of discussion were how approach to the animal when it is agitated, reduce travel stress and reduce the intensity of
handling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seasoned DVM's had the most input about the importance of not pushing through care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Many stated that it seems there is a focus on getting the task done, without paying attention to the animal's response so fear build and becomes aggression. </span>The veterinary students brought up how they
feel a lack of preparedness for knowing how to reduce stress in an animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As one student said
" So I can tell this animal is a yellow or red for stress, but what do I
do now?" <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
discussing <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the technician programs, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>while some are including behavior and low stress
handling in the curriculum, few are addressing handling aggressive animals in a less stressful way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Considering the number of
aggressive animals adopted out of no kill shelters, preparation for the
aggressive animal is important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all agreed more surveys are needed to dig deeper into this topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At my poster presentation, people would wince at the bite photos, acknowledging that these injuries
happen, and we must have more knowledge to reduce this.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a great weekend. I learned a lot, gathering
ideas to write and create products to help veterinary care be less stressful for patients,
owners, and staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a personal note, I
was able to meet up for brunch with two of my Purdue suite mates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had
a great meeting and it was hard to believe it had been 37 years since our
"suite life" at Earhart hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-zN68jZqZAUGXqa-R3mFYelObbEkrkIPqypoXKb1xzkmyS1o73qM6bC-I6hx1FiAtfVfTuCTkxkv8mC1oHxUf4-zhjo2DBZ92i6wgd_VZyBPoxXQAH7vRNZmwC2sMjC6VgrUyeSdegY/s1600/purdue+suitemates+kathy+and+Jo+anne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="663" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-zN68jZqZAUGXqa-R3mFYelObbEkrkIPqypoXKb1xzkmyS1o73qM6bC-I6hx1FiAtfVfTuCTkxkv8mC1oHxUf4-zhjo2DBZ92i6wgd_VZyBPoxXQAH7vRNZmwC2sMjC6VgrUyeSdegY/s320/purdue+suitemates+kathy+and+Jo+anne.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jo Anne and Kathy - 2 of my old Suite mates from Purdue! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-23630493072300929142017-04-12T07:56:00.000-05:002017-04-12T07:56:30.121-05:00The cost of rough and tumble veterinary visits Recently, a couple brought in their 2 pug dogs for check up. I had not seen these dogs for care in a few years. The couple moved about 3 hours north, and that would have been a bit of a drive for veterinary care! Now the couple were living back in my area, and the dogs needed a check up. " really bad breath - be sure to check teeth". was noted on one of the chart. OK, dental exams are part of check ups so that would be fine. <br />
<br />
The dogs were their usual happy, but mildly anxious selves. If you have ever cared for a pug, panting continuously is normal for these dogs. The pushed in face, small nose, long soft palate and big tongue makes creates a small airway. This is the tricky part of examining pugs, or any of the brachycephalic ( pushed in face) dogs for that matter. When they start to fidget, paw, or struggle it can become very difficult for them to breathe. Examination of the eyes, ears and mouth can be more challenging, because it involves approaching them from the front. Many dogs see this as a threat, pulling away from the approach. In pulling away, they start to struggle which causes them to breathe harder and pant more intensely. It is more difficult for them to breathe now, so they continue to struggle trying to escape the restraint.<br />
<br />
In traditional handling, often a second or third person is called in to hold the dog to "just get the job done". The dog will become very agitated and even have severe difficulty breathing as they struggle. Now the dog has learned to struggle for any handling right from the start. The struggle is real - these dogs are fighting for air. I am not here to discuss the breed, or breeding that created this health risk. I want to have everyone understand from the animal's point of view why they resist handling in the first place, and how traditional handling creates a very rough experience. Owners see this struggle, and know it is not good for their pet. <br />
<br />
Back to my story - I reviewed the history for both dogs with my technician. Both dogs were presented for nail trim, general exam and " bad breath" for one. As I reviewed the history with my technician, she noted the dogs had not had veterinary care since the last time I had seen them a few years before. The breath was foul, and from the information that the dog did not want to play ball, or use the chew bones, she suspected mouth problem had been present a number of months. Why had they not sought care before this I wondered? I put that in the back of my head and entered the exam room.<br />
<br />
I was greeted by 2 active, pugs slathered with Adaptil ( mother dog calming pheromone) to help calm them in preparation for exam. My technician knew the Adaptil helped these dogs be calm because we a medical record system ( Bella Behavior Label System tm) to record the handling plan for each patient. We still had the medical records from years ago and the tech and I followed that plan providing a low stress exam and nail trim. For the first dog, we used the calming pheromone, a cowl technique , and positioned the owner to continuously deliver baby food by syringe to her dog as I clipped the nails. There was a little prancing at first, but with the right approach, rewards and low stress restraint the first dog was standing happily for care.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8q8xwM9z4zI89WV4RT0zRY3jYhmV5F4kJL4kH9UZRHz64oBMg3G_9ADlEgRLBExnOv4LbXu1ujwTduSS1hLZpyal-MLsiJ9pnoDfTLquIq-0x0OqhlAX64g1AnE9Beq7Bse6hoWJd8go/s1600/mandy+cowl+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8q8xwM9z4zI89WV4RT0zRY3jYhmV5F4kJL4kH9UZRHz64oBMg3G_9ADlEgRLBExnOv4LbXu1ujwTduSS1hLZpyal-MLsiJ9pnoDfTLquIq-0x0OqhlAX64g1AnE9Beq7Bse6hoWJd8go/s320/mandy+cowl+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cowl technique - "Low Stress Handling, Restraint, et al" SYin </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When we started the exam on the dog with the mouth odor, I could see he was more fidgety. Fidget is a sign of anxiety and normal when there is pain. Mouth odor usually equals dental disease and mouth pain so I knew I should be careful about examining his head and mouth. We put the cowl on him and I used a pretzel stick to lift his lip to avoid excessive touch which would stimulate pain. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ7-HfCjmZAyjh7nh7C2Nn-rpSW2zMallGyslH0s0cA8PXQ4W29BcL1AqRH4wpmNYapZmqmp_XIKFR17zu932Pv7L1bh8b-CJeG7O6N-CRObFu166kctouQZGF2LxYCLQt77iwiCxcjw/s1600/pretzel+stick+dental+exam+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ7-HfCjmZAyjh7nh7C2Nn-rpSW2zMallGyslH0s0cA8PXQ4W29BcL1AqRH4wpmNYapZmqmp_XIKFR17zu932Pv7L1bh8b-CJeG7O6N-CRObFu166kctouQZGF2LxYCLQt77iwiCxcjw/s320/pretzel+stick+dental+exam+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">using a pretzel stick to lift the lip minimizes touch and pain </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
His gums were inflamed with advanced periodontal disease, to the point one of the first molars was just about ready to fall out. He was always difficult for the owners to look in his mouth, so they could now see what was causing the foul odor. I carefully showed the owners the problem teeth, and the wife was especially upset that her dog was in pain and she had not realized the extent of it. She could not see the extent at home, and had been in a quandary of what to do for him. We set up his dental immediately, checked his blood work and started him on medication in preparation for the dental. <br />
<br />
I was wondering why they had delayed care for his teeth. They had smelled the bad breath, suspected dental problems for over 6 months but had not sought care. My curiosity was not to accuse them of wrong doing but rather understand why they would delay care. So I asked " From the records I saw that his last exam was from myself a few years ago. Was it difficult to get him in for care at your new home or was there something else going on? I was curious and just want to understand". The husband immediately said " We could not find a vet who would care for them without hurting them. They were all too rough and I was not taking them back" So I asked for more specifics and the wife added " They just called in more people to hold them harder, or took them to the back and who knows what was going on there. Here you use the towel and some food and are kind in your care." The husband added " If they are that rough around us, what are they like handling our dogs when we are not around." I understood - they had seen the traditional handling which can often escalate fear and anxiety in our patients. This couple had the money, had the knowledge of what their pets needed and were near a major metropolitan area so there were plenty of clinics around. Yet despite that they lost trust in veterinary care due to their pet's experience. <br />
<br />
This had his dental 2 days later after being prepped with antibiotic and pain relief. He had multiple extractions, deep cleaning and treatment to his gums for which he immediately felt better. Anesthesia went well and we used calming pheromones in cage, kept his area quiet and allowed him to go home early to reduce his stress. The clients were happy that he was on his way to better health and that we cared for him in a way that was best for him.<br />
<br />
The Bayer corporation ran a pet owner survey in 2011 which showed that approximately 35% of pet do not bring their pets in for care due to pet stress. A repeated study was done in 2014 with not much improvement on this number. As a veterinarian who has made positive veterinary care a standard in my practice, I am not surprised by these statistics. I have had many seek my practice like this family because they saw the stress their pet was in during care and wanted to find a different approach. Presently there is the Low Stress Handling tm Certification, Fear Free sm Certification, and Cat Friendly Hospital programs to help veterinary staff learn specific ways to reduce stress and anxiety in care. The text book " Low Stress Handling, Restraint , et al" by Dr Sophia Yin ( <a href="https://drsophiayin.com/products/" target="_blank">drsophiayin.com) </a> is the guide for all animal care professionals. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has released a <a href="https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Positive-Veterinary-Care-Position-Statement-download.pdf" target="_blank">positive veterinary care position statement</a>. I encourage all veterinary staff, trainers, groomers, and animal owners to read this statement and owners to seek veterinary professionals who follow these guidelines. <br />
<br />
Change is happening, and thank you to the owners who make it clear that the animal's experience is essential to choosing veterinary care. With vocal pet owners, more practices will embrace these standards . Some veterinary <span style="background-color: yellow;">clinics </span>have followed this standards for years and I applaud all of you. Practices new to creating less stressful techniques, I am cheering you on as well. I am especially thankful to the students who have taken the certification programs at the additional time and cost to bring this skill to the profession. Hopefully it will become a standard for both veterinarian and technical colleges.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWsJWyL_hMxoDE0tQaB4KpOgWi9MT65HExGgdXuDQLlf1VKosGKAJXMh5Ds2suikphAyNIzukq2hRNT0O25UrOLtzgMm5FAvL2UYeYG3pC06W84bz_-dGEfCqv3kUX1FUkA400MMmyj4/s1600/lucy+lu+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWsJWyL_hMxoDE0tQaB4KpOgWi9MT65HExGgdXuDQLlf1VKosGKAJXMh5Ds2suikphAyNIzukq2hRNT0O25UrOLtzgMm5FAvL2UYeYG3pC06W84bz_-dGEfCqv3kUX1FUkA400MMmyj4/s320/lucy+lu+1.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every day - Every way - Every patient keep it kind and low stress </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-23490672612239378142015-03-09T17:42:00.004-05:002015-03-09T17:42:47.845-05:00Why I tie- dyed my lab coats - Stop white coat syndrome in pets!<br />
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYJS2vkvdfhNdepg08BxkPaDV_1pOxO2Gyyro07ojKLzvrY1x8N9FQBO_I6tX4hdW5hr8WxHOI3iSZNhfLotIPcCtgSoS05mCv9snmhnf9cMr8GlzRtTkgo3HDiB6aCugL3fw5NaI6sM/s1600/4213+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYJS2vkvdfhNdepg08BxkPaDV_1pOxO2Gyyro07ojKLzvrY1x8N9FQBO_I6tX4hdW5hr8WxHOI3iSZNhfLotIPcCtgSoS05mCv9snmhnf9cMr8GlzRtTkgo3HDiB6aCugL3fw5NaI6sM/s1600/4213+008.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little dog would only allow me to touch him without my lab coat on </td></tr>
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Have you ever seen white coat syndrome with pets?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know what I mean
- the pet is calm, relaxed or even happy with the staff until the doctor walks
in with the white coat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have seen this
at my office, although the pets who have come in since
so used to rewards at the clinic from me as well as the staff, my uniform does
not affect them much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For other pets,
the white coat means trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time for
needles and poking around that is not fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When you remove your coat, the animal is less anxious. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We note on the
medical record what pets have <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>white coat
anxiety so I can remove my lab coat before I come into the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has helped a lot <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to keep the pet less anxious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem now is, how do I keep my clothes clean? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Personally, I</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>like the lab coat look for the doctor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It distinguishes the doctor<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from the rest of the staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here is the quandary - how do I
get the lab coat look without it <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>being
white?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would just a different color make
a difference to these white coat syndrome pets? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my search for non white lab coats,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found some colored ones, and even
rainbow tie dyed ones. They were too bold for my taste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My tech suggested that I tie dye my old white
coats<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to experiment and make it kind of
fun .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never tie dyed anything,
but after reading a few crafting blogs on dyeing, it did <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not seem<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>too<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually had fun doing it!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx50DKNVOw7bbG8PmuaaMLEKkBGORvEAeCdNiKpPRgXdT9WA2_k-2As-jngP6HCjpY7S0NXbGlqFfHRR4vUj6MpXWQo3csByCK7gVsUzJYJsOKw7NvyKf4GLeP9H8swxnKZUgMj29eGQ/s1600/twisted+white+coat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx50DKNVOw7bbG8PmuaaMLEKkBGORvEAeCdNiKpPRgXdT9WA2_k-2As-jngP6HCjpY7S0NXbGlqFfHRR4vUj6MpXWQo3csByCK7gVsUzJYJsOKw7NvyKf4GLeP9H8swxnKZUgMj29eGQ/s1600/twisted+white+coat.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">twisted up coat secured with rubber bands </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wanted to keep things as neat as possible and have a subtle dyeing effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first
coat I wetted down, then using a paint brush I just brushed the dye, diluted to 2 ml dye to 1 pint hot water, onto the
coat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worked on this in a Rubbermaid
under the bed storage box so the mess would be contained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After I brushed the dye on, I let it sit in
the covered tub for 8 hours, then rinsed it clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a neat, watercolor effect to my coat
which everyone liked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second coat I
used rubber bands to make the typical tie dye effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used the same tub and a small squirt bottle
to control applying the dye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one
had more pattern but was still subtle. </div>
For others I twisted the coat around and held it with rubber bands - this has a star burst effect. For these coats I kept the same ratio of dye to liquid but made a larger volume to soak the coat in. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuXAJBllvxaJ3Po-ocJ54KilQlOLNw4UJzy1ycZXXpv_TeasiO6seNheiaP4rKdxo6xh5Uzo_Py5CC5gWvrrA8NXTesmcoT2-xMVNfNaEPYzn2Tsn21Ro0HLWVH18gcIBWLyqS9LKfF8/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuXAJBllvxaJ3Po-ocJ54KilQlOLNw4UJzy1ycZXXpv_TeasiO6seNheiaP4rKdxo6xh5Uzo_Py5CC5gWvrrA8NXTesmcoT2-xMVNfNaEPYzn2Tsn21Ro0HLWVH18gcIBWLyqS9LKfF8/s1600/012.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Use metal tongs to rotate the coats in the dye </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I began wearing these coats, which <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>took a little<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>for me to get used to. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I
am a traditionalist when it comes to lab coats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I pursued, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one day, a dog who
is usually nervous for exams <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was acting
much better. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was wearing the tie dyed
coat and I noticed on the record this dog did not like white coats. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I had forgotten to look at the record ( my bad!) and kept my tie dyed lab coat on. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">He was much less anxious with the tie dye coat on.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
made an effort to wear the tie dyed coats with white coat syndrome dogs and
they are all acting a lot better. So now I have my solution - a lab coat that
protects me, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and does not trigger anxiety
in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the pets as much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3Af8DgKiwyLHmhzi7-9iR8yWGHV7C9b5ITQzB67Sjt5i-Lh2vAxwzKDCZkPftUBm6J-CG5Hlq_K3vCqvzLvJ2Q47jP2bo48dCZvBBhVU7-ZiP8g1krVzjbEDs67VsUiSPZZKDwAjIs8/s1600/me+and+binx+tie+dye+coat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3Af8DgKiwyLHmhzi7-9iR8yWGHV7C9b5ITQzB67Sjt5i-Lh2vAxwzKDCZkPftUBm6J-CG5Hlq_K3vCqvzLvJ2Q47jP2bo48dCZvBBhVU7-ZiP8g1krVzjbEDs67VsUiSPZZKDwAjIs8/s1600/me+and+binx+tie+dye+coat.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> </div>
Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-86856466317588214022014-10-03T16:12:00.001-05:002014-10-09T10:25:31.848-05:00A butterfly was born at my dad's funeral <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
June 10, 2014 my father John Foote passed away peacefully at
his home in Jarman<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Center Senior living,
surrounded not only by his immediate family, but also a terrarium full of
butterflies that lived with him in his final days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These monarch caterpillars were gathered in
from the outdoors to live and become chrysalis's later to be released after
emergence as part of the Monarch butterfly restoration project at Jarman Center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad had released the first butterfly that was
"born"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when the monarch butterfly restoration project
started a few years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIo1mtrw4-4SzYNMTiebY7NmE1Gthyphenhyphendn7v7Jm-Y9Yy1nzPQ3gRvysQLv0yxMe4iGYIIJ-mYO2ezEc9R_XKNrzleC3VrOzmZmj8HA4Xp_1qp5RydHRawUaLZuQoshvmC16tqCSUbpKMjU/s1600/high+res+dad+with+butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIo1mtrw4-4SzYNMTiebY7NmE1Gthyphenhyphendn7v7Jm-Y9Yy1nzPQ3gRvysQLv0yxMe4iGYIIJ-mYO2ezEc9R_XKNrzleC3VrOzmZmj8HA4Xp_1qp5RydHRawUaLZuQoshvmC16tqCSUbpKMjU/s1600/high+res+dad+with+butterfly.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad is releasing the first butterfly born a few years ago </td></tr>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To help put a
positive spin on dad's final days, Cindy Pringle one of his care givers,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>brought a terrarium with 5 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>developing caterpillars in to live in dad's
apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad was able to witness the
first caterpillar actually transform into a chrysalis. All 5 of the caterpillars transformed into the chrysalis
stage as dad declined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time dad
passed away, the first chrysalis was 6 days into the typical 10 day incubation
period. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were some hopes that a
butterfly would be born before dad passed, but that was not to be.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbhtMA46OCReBphXDcOBXKT3GTnYZiRmuycNDNda1ZBV1c5WzF6zEcL7hqlUQMje9d2FLk3KV46eZSw97U8TfK_cAshBHwnpdkGOPFo3J9fxPHnkaR7xdAK5WgJbPaYZWk84Ni0QMA5o/s1600/dads+ipod+after+funeral+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbhtMA46OCReBphXDcOBXKT3GTnYZiRmuycNDNda1ZBV1c5WzF6zEcL7hqlUQMje9d2FLk3KV46eZSw97U8TfK_cAshBHwnpdkGOPFo3J9fxPHnkaR7xdAK5WgJbPaYZWk84Ni0QMA5o/s1600/dads+ipod+after+funeral+056.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and I are admiring the j formed caterpillar ready to become a chrysallis </td></tr>
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On the morning of dad's funeral, Cindy brought the terrarium
to the funeral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chrysalis dad saw
develop was just about <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ready to emerge. She
thought maybe it might happen at the funeral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If not, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at least these developing
butterflies could "attend" dad's funeral .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Cindy said maybe it is wishful thinking to
hope it will emerge, my sister Nancy and I said - " It will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just know it" <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Th7loh6TYk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
The little <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>terrarium
sat to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the side of the alter, just under
the statue of the Virgin Mary . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't
think too many people were even aware of it until my sister's closing comments
pointed out the butterflies and how special it was to see the connection of
dad's physical <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>transformation like the
caterpillars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We proceeded out of the
church, following the casket down to the hearse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As dad was loaded into the vehicle, Cindy ran
outside and exclaimed " Sally, Nancy the butterfly is being
born!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I literally jumped up, and
yelled at Tim the funeral director " The butterfly is being born!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How fantastic" and ran back into the
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure enough, there was the
butterfly just hanging out of its old shell slowly unfurling it's wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nancy grabbed the I pod <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- I grabbed the laptop with my sister's family
in Switzerland <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on SKYPE, so they too
could witness this miracle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so
wonderful to watch the little wings open up with friends <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>crowded around this little terrarium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only took about 6 minutes for the wings to
fully open and to really see how beautiful it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
butterfly was invited to the funeral diner and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>later that afternoon my sisters and I with residents
from Jarman went to Wimple Park in Tuscola to release it.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UgYyLc249ZHnFRZFTQhQCF4lojOB6hAikzE1IeDKk-A4ivSy41IBiNbbvuaz6lbRRuY03sqsbJtKXJHzLBe8SvzEYkRhF3Yp-RFUdhVMcmDfZxmyIKKsy02avBhbDM39_ZG60pflxR0/s1600/dads+ipod+after+funeral+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UgYyLc249ZHnFRZFTQhQCF4lojOB6hAikzE1IeDKk-A4ivSy41IBiNbbvuaz6lbRRuY03sqsbJtKXJHzLBe8SvzEYkRhF3Yp-RFUdhVMcmDfZxmyIKKsy02avBhbDM39_ZG60pflxR0/s1600/dads+ipod+after+funeral+101.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many of the residents came along for the release </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGEHw2Gx0aiaXmutfZh4BtkNsYTa8ENI_bFwciszY0gkq6kLdR-66y18HSXoLK7MBQCs58giG0am9rPNxfeeFLxrgRdqbKQNurnzcmdBUYzVX-0JAnuR6M6oElEC_uOreGImQud3o7No/s1600/dads+ipod+after+funeral+097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGEHw2Gx0aiaXmutfZh4BtkNsYTa8ENI_bFwciszY0gkq6kLdR-66y18HSXoLK7MBQCs58giG0am9rPNxfeeFLxrgRdqbKQNurnzcmdBUYzVX-0JAnuR6M6oElEC_uOreGImQud3o7No/s1600/dads+ipod+after+funeral+097.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nancy, Barb, and myself with the butterfly at Wimple Park </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is an abundance of Milk Weed near the entrance to the
park, by the small creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The butterfly <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>climbed onto <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my sister's fingers lingering<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for a few minutes before<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>resting on a nearby milkweed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a female, fitting since dad had 3
daughters and 2 granddaughters as his offspring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The butterfly flew off into the wind, strong,
agile and knowing exactly what it was and where it needed to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This experience was
so like my dad's <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Positive, forward moving and in tune with
nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although dad is buried in Chicago, now I
have a local place of remembrance also <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>filled with nature. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I go here, I notice all the birds,
butterflies and other creatures that make Wimple Park home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really helps me remember to be present in
this moment with everyone I encounter. <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/trlo1YDTnMU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe to some it was
just a co incidence that the butterfly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>emerged <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at the end of the
funeral. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won't argue with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, I felt there was a reason for that
timing, and it has been one of the most uplifting experiences of my life,
helping me through my grief over losing dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a veterinarian I have heard lots of stories from families about how
their pets helped them spiritually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
woman related how the family dog would find personal items of a daughter that
had recently passed, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and bring them to a
family member having particular difficulty with the daughter's loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This little dog was trying to help a person
in grief take those difficult first steps of acknowledgement. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another friend told of how the family cat laid
with the dying elderly mother right up to the end, and then would not leave the
body when the funeral home staff came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The cat kept finding a way to get back in the room to lay right on the
woman slowing down the transfer process as if on purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, I don't think any of these
situations were just co incidence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many more stories like these where animals - be
they pets, butterflies or any other creature have appeared when someone<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>needed a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sign that a spirit is still here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many of us, this is a wonderfully strong
affirmation of our belief in life after death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Personally I don't think it is crazy - I think these connections of
animals and the spiritual is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The longer I am a veterinarian, the more
often I witness that animals are angels among us.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcUIcDe6JoPgeSdoFT8LPng7_LzyopizOGeoTK8z2krzphjla3kw6GoYBzUri9Xo8DNWyHoWL1qPaOC3NlwaenS05dvgkUgBiyo8DIDjzD8rqrBHB-EaO-6tsqRgpINEI7m7rg-SqwDc/s1600/i+pod+61014+110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcUIcDe6JoPgeSdoFT8LPng7_LzyopizOGeoTK8z2krzphjla3kw6GoYBzUri9Xo8DNWyHoWL1qPaOC3NlwaenS05dvgkUgBiyo8DIDjzD8rqrBHB-EaO-6tsqRgpINEI7m7rg-SqwDc/s1600/i+pod+61014+110.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my dad </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope for anyone in grief that you too have an affirming
experience - your butterfly moment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be
open to the world of nature around you, especially your pets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope it gives you a sense of wonder and
awe as it did me and my family. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks, Dr Sally J Foote<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-50324031902723702822014-04-22T09:53:00.004-05:002014-04-22T09:53:56.824-05:00Storm safety plans - everyone needs one! <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Tornado / Storm safety drills for pet <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOia4yajy6M" target="_blank">watch here </a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SnxpqguCKoFG-G5HLZRN7K80IUSAh0xPSrwZmiwOurDIAWI-zVP2h7fARHAfs5VxeBbuKOopDUrCtqnbNrCFtrs1Bbifrvup9STLcMvTZp57GKL2-a1FzLEmH3-SK0dj5zGGxW1vmZk/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SnxpqguCKoFG-G5HLZRN7K80IUSAh0xPSrwZmiwOurDIAWI-zVP2h7fARHAfs5VxeBbuKOopDUrCtqnbNrCFtrs1Bbifrvup9STLcMvTZp57GKL2-a1FzLEmH3-SK0dj5zGGxW1vmZk/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do your pets know where to do when a storm is coming? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I recently presented a thunderstorm phobia - storm safety
plan talk<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in my community - Tuscola
Illinois.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our town was lucky<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to escape the touchdown of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tornadoes that passed through central Illinois
last November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few homes in rural
Tuscola were badly damaged, and I thought about this as April approached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered how many pet owners have trained
their dogs and cats to quickly come to the basement, bathroom or into their
crate when a storm is approaching?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
staff and I began to ask clients on every exam how well their pets would go to
a safe place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The results varied with
many clients admitting to not having a plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I made it a point at my presentation to include how to train one's pet
to go to a safe place no matter how calm the pet was during storms or
afraid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is the information for you: </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>storm safety plan for
dogs: </b><br />
</div>
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First, set up a comfortable storm safe area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the basement,
put a blanket for them to lay on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some dogs like to lay on the concrete or tile and that is fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is some theory that this may be
grounding the pet to reduce the electrical charges in the air that they sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your dog like the concrete then don't
worry about a blanket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Second, hang a leash near the basement entry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use the leash for fun things like a walk, or
going to the park so your dog will like the leash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A 6 foot leash,( not a flexi type) is
best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using the leash <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will help your dog to know where you want them
to go, quickly and you will also have a hold of them to prevent escape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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If you have multiple dogs, have a place you can tie the
leash in the safe room as you can gather up the other dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will prevent one from getting out <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as you get all your pets in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A grab bar meant for showers can be installed
low on the wall to tether them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCU5VanbGJPNtfr12JoH2aK0ks9MG2idvVCY4bjI9hPttgyC5WgAp583BX3y9AffQgxjFF6a3Pl3svEGrEsETzSH_TQNSSnxqK54bO6mQqgYvPsgZIVWo2rKXUG4fGl-BetuqcsgEBtk4/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCU5VanbGJPNtfr12JoH2aK0ks9MG2idvVCY4bjI9hPttgyC5WgAp583BX3y9AffQgxjFF6a3Pl3svEGrEsETzSH_TQNSSnxqK54bO6mQqgYvPsgZIVWo2rKXUG4fGl-BetuqcsgEBtk4/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">make the tether spot fun - use a food puzzle </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here is the drill:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
not feed them dinner out of the bowl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Put the food nuggets in your pocket and call your dog to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give them a few nuggets<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Walk towards the leash and give them food as you walk to the leash,
attach the leash and go to the basement/bathroom door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reward as you open the door, every few steps
into the bathroom/basement area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key
is to keep the dog focused on the reward every few steps .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toss kibble into the tub to get your dog to
jump in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Step into the tub yourself
with your dog and lots of reward here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You may need to be in the tub with your pets during a bad storm so get
them used to the huddle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can have
a cd player that plays heavy rock music in your safe room to calm your
pets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Avoid radios that will sound
alarms which may startle your pet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Repeat this drill every few days so it is fun and automatic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then when the big storm comes you will have a
plan that your pet knows and everyone will be<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>a lot<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>more calm and safe. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Storm safety plan for
cats<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First train them to go to their carriers easily so you can take the carrier
to your safe room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in a hallway, the carrier increases the safety for your cats. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cats don't like their
carriers because they <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are only used to
go to the veterinarian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The goal is to get your cat to love running
into the carrier.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLsPIXuHOj9MZewdAMUyTfszVkki2HwLVBdUz5KSbOpvUVlgIcoSsg55FfM4ghXxe5sMZ0dMW2-MwPFHqobCJWdlXVvFj6DbOmIXIJ7fGkntrdAOIcTnjlA48ulNuSOTT4jkhd4ehldY/s1600/cat+in+carrier+treat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLsPIXuHOj9MZewdAMUyTfszVkki2HwLVBdUz5KSbOpvUVlgIcoSsg55FfM4ghXxe5sMZ0dMW2-MwPFHqobCJWdlXVvFj6DbOmIXIJ7fGkntrdAOIcTnjlA48ulNuSOTT4jkhd4ehldY/s1600/cat+in+carrier+treat.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yes, cats can love the carrier </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>keep your carrier out at all times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make it a part of the family room
furniture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put a favorite blanket in
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not put your cat's food out for a
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take the food nuggets and toss them
on the floor around the carrier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make it
a game by tossing just one nugget at a time around and then into the
carrier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a great way to play
with your cat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the dry food is not
enticing enough, then try small bits of tuna or other tasty treat tossed into
the crate. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When your cat will run right into the carrier for a treat, close the door without latching it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just close the door and then allow the cat to come out after
eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the cat is eating the food
with the door closed, then go to latching it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Keep practicing calling your cat - tossing nuggets into the crate and
latching the crate door as your cat is calm in the crate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now you can put the crate in the bathroom,
take it to the basement or leave it in a windowless area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Watch demonstrations of storm training on my youtube
channel drsallyjfoote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can get there directly from my clinic <a href="http://www.okawvetclinic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">home page </a> by clicking the you tube button on the home page.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If your dog or cat is nervous on the storm days, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>there are non sedating medications available
to calm your pet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your pet is too
nervous to take a reward, they need anti-anxiety medication or supplement to
help them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adaptil pheromone collars
help many dogs, lasting 30 days without any side effects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Supplements such as Zylkene, the milk calming
supplement or the Anxitane can also help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The right product for your pet <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>determined by your veterinarian knowledgeable
in behavior, will help your pet be more calm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is more storm information at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>my <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>clinic website
www.okawvetclinic.com <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that may help
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also offer consults for storm
phobic dogs and cats to get them on the right medication, supplement, and
safety plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1Lp6K8hyphenhyphenMskSw0Tbk7kppzy31ulxR-1KppLtP-aXP1GeqX1j8u2jVYGQeki0guCWOamHtPHHvE-PZgC7TUeM9jwcL498Hn0wvGxGq5BZhCN-v1XBsoYU38gKmRhi5IptCaRlMQPVdYI/s1600/carrie+in+thundershirt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1Lp6K8hyphenhyphenMskSw0Tbk7kppzy31ulxR-1KppLtP-aXP1GeqX1j8u2jVYGQeki0guCWOamHtPHHvE-PZgC7TUeM9jwcL498Hn0wvGxGq5BZhCN-v1XBsoYU38gKmRhi5IptCaRlMQPVdYI/s1600/carrie+in+thundershirt.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carrie is all set for storms with her Thunder shirt! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOia4yajy6M" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks Dr. Sally J Foote Okaw Veterinary Clinci Tuscola Il
217-253-3221</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-8893234731524441172014-02-23T15:46:00.001-06:002014-02-23T15:46:23.872-06:00Senior dog dental care can turn the clock back - Abby's story <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivwWXBOsuOReMrkE6mu8TLGavmHSgGck0josMg2JylJvS0_mMcax351A9bb0i1Fb6Ya39qobWdIEKJYntL0R76LjryYN3JYt63UuDB63uhHblkLmfWAboaoaveA25jciw7aatqwylpCI/s1600/Abby+wisovaty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivwWXBOsuOReMrkE6mu8TLGavmHSgGck0josMg2JylJvS0_mMcax351A9bb0i1Fb6Ya39qobWdIEKJYntL0R76LjryYN3JYt63UuDB63uhHblkLmfWAboaoaveA25jciw7aatqwylpCI/s1600/Abby+wisovaty.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Abby is a sweet, timid terrier mix who loves her walks and play time. At 14 years old, age has caught up with her. Arthritis has crept into her back and other joints over time. J/D diet, joint supplement and anti inflammatory medications have helper her over the years, but she was recently slowing down. <br />
<br />
Abby's teeth were collecting more tartar causing inflammation as she aged. Brushing her teeth regularly helped to decrease the speed of build up, but as time progressed the tartar grew. For us to really help her, a full dental under anesthesia was needed. Abby is not a young dog - 90 years would be her human age equivalent. So, understandably, the risks of anesthesia are a big concern. It was clear that she was having increasing pain from her mouth, so her quality of life was decreasing. At this point, the benefits of a dental cleaning were out weighing the risks of anesthesia. <br />
<br />
I talked to the family about the risks of not removing the infected teeth versus leaving them in. Intermittent antibiotics could be used to give some relief, but there were risks of creating resistant infection, and rarely can the antibiotic have a real effect on the pain. . I outlined how staging her dental procedure was important. This meant we would start her on antibiotic ahead of the dental to decrease the amount of bacteria released into the body during the procedure. We ran blood tests to screen for any kidney and liver problems . Knowing her internal health helped me pick the safest method of anesthesia which reduced her risk.<br />
<br />
On the day of her dental procedure, Abby was put on an IV catheter with fluids, heart and oxygen monitors with a Certified Veterinary Technician directly assisting her anesthesia through out the procedure. Local anesthetic nerve blocks and pain medication were given during the dental to minimize while her her anesthetic level while controlling pain. I had to remove number of teeth and treat gum pockets around the remaining teeth to address infection. Infection is not apparent when you just look at a tooth. It is by careful probing, measuring gum pocket depth, and even dental xrays that a veterinarian determines the best treatment. She did great through out the procedure with careful monitoring and care. When Abby went home her mouth was comfortable and her pain was well managed. I dispensed additional pain medication and soft A/D food to feed her as I I was concerned she may not want to eat well for a day or two. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkSA7knVIvtVs5rVpRJWuKhtv66oLoeAnP7B5Y5OB65mA5nwa8nkj7wdbDStE6Va_bX1a9DY4fB0EM_eCeQytkBf1glWi38z5zwJOekE_wWkq8pKZd8ePyDo-l0C3JV2TPlUU5QBFjBI/s1600/more+vet+photos+081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkSA7knVIvtVs5rVpRJWuKhtv66oLoeAnP7B5Y5OB65mA5nwa8nkj7wdbDStE6Va_bX1a9DY4fB0EM_eCeQytkBf1glWi38z5zwJOekE_wWkq8pKZd8ePyDo-l0C3JV2TPlUU5QBFjBI/s1600/more+vet+photos+081.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The brown tartar is hard like a rock and holds a lot of bacteria </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One of the techs called to see how Abby was doing the next day. We do follow up calls to see how everything is at home, and I was anxious to know if Abby was able to at least eat and drink. . When the tech talked to her owner, they found out Abby was eating and active and even playing ! A few days later Sue, the owner, marveled at how much more lively and playful Abby was. Abby was getting up on the furniture now and playing with the new kitten the family had adopted. They felt she was much healthier and happier than she had been for a long while. . All that inflammation and infection was gone. It was so hard to tell what was affecting Abby before the dental, but with her sudden improvement now we knew it was the teeth that were affecting her. What a wonderful change.<br />
<br />
Dental care in pets is not as straight forward as it is in humans. Dogs and cats can not brush their teeth or complain that their gums are sore. They find ways to avoid the pain by chewing on the opposite side, avoiding chew toys, or being less active due to the chronic pain. It is easy to miss these signs especially if you have an older pet. Witnessing the transformation of Abby was a big reminder to me that teeth are at the core of physical and even behavioral health. I have had cases of aggressive pets who became very sweet after removing infected painful teeth. Yes it is scary to think of the anesthesia. Veterinarians have a very difficult time working on teeth without the help of sedation and anesthesia. Even the best pet will not tolerate someone scraping and probing the teeth. If you find a painful one - they will react against you due to the pain. So deep sedation to anesthesia is important to provide the best dental care. Staging the dental, by addressing the health before the anesthesia and taking extra care through IV fluids, pre-dental antibiotics or anti inflammatory medication are some ways to reduce the risk for an older pet.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcpEWBK2a2gHxsowi4Gpuv0pM2PwXDwp78RzRma_GvmqP8h9twY1d-atQIAdI0-yiXL9jbDsAePkdKzPPnrU2vCfrgmCuZmabjTCA5fcNpD4ko6U_lgO5mGEF5wmfoPieQBi1u9Q94_w/s1600/old+butter+and+frolic+cat+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcpEWBK2a2gHxsowi4Gpuv0pM2PwXDwp78RzRma_GvmqP8h9twY1d-atQIAdI0-yiXL9jbDsAePkdKzPPnrU2vCfrgmCuZmabjTCA5fcNpD4ko6U_lgO5mGEF5wmfoPieQBi1u9Q94_w/s1600/old+butter+and+frolic+cat+013.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used a special dental rinse for Butter scotch as he aged to help his teeth </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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If you have an older cat or dog with stinky breath who moves slowly, it is very likely the teeth are a problem . Take your pet in for a dental exam. We have photos and ways to explain how the tartar is pushing infection into the mouth and putting the heart, kidneys and liver at risk for damage. Treating or removing the problem teeth is important to remove the source of chronic pain and inflammation in the body. Staging dental care to prepare your senior pet will greatly reduces any risk. . Abby is one example of how a dental can make a difference.<br />
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Thanks Dr. Sally Foote <br />
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-22232008927877214802014-01-26T11:52:00.001-06:002014-01-26T11:53:46.599-06:00Mercy's Paw Report spot - Cognitive Dysfunction in dogs and cats Many of you who have been to my clinic have met Mercy, our older office cat. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes,I am old. I still have a life that is good </td></tr>
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She is now 18 years old and coping well with her aging problems of arthritis, hyperthyroidism and blood pressure concerns. She is on joint diet, supplements and now medications to manage these things and is doing pretty well. Her vision is decreased due to the increased blood pressure damaging part of her retina ( it is controlled now but is still a concern) so this makes her anxious when the front office is busy. She rests in her kitty condo in the back and before our day begins she has time to socialize with the staff. Her life is still pretty good. <br />
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Kate Pleasant, the hostess of " The Paw Report" on WEIU TV pbs ( <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ucSdTPatyc" target="_blank">here is a previous episode )</a> asked me to focus on senior aging for an episode. The episode will air Monday January 26 at 6:30 pm central time. If you live in Central Illinois/Western Indiana it is channel 6 - or you can watch it online <a href="http://www.weiu.net/the_paw_report/" target="_blank">here</a>. We talked about Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) in dogs and cats. CDS is a syndrome, so there are a group of signs that develop in pets as they become geriatric. It has been recognized in the dog for approximately 20 years, and in recent years has been studied in cats.As we discuss on the show, CDS has a number of signs that can be confusing for an owner to interpret. If there are other aging or health problems, the signs that look like CDS may be due to another problem, so it is essential to have your older pet keep up with health maintenece checks and screening tests yearly. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA8ao6jPH5nGdqAugesriO6ryEzrpd00hLGjRFj1qFXiwuhfTTfwJNcYCnuz8X-cgxGIIY22ulakSpRSunOYi-4RSHIIcpoMKZZr_rVHCxDjHvwLg2AjTxFojhe0EycfuQi7wts89-rQ/s1600/arcola+wall+dogs%252C+clinic+photos+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA8ao6jPH5nGdqAugesriO6ryEzrpd00hLGjRFj1qFXiwuhfTTfwJNcYCnuz8X-cgxGIIY22ulakSpRSunOYi-4RSHIIcpoMKZZr_rVHCxDjHvwLg2AjTxFojhe0EycfuQi7wts89-rQ/s1600/arcola+wall+dogs%252C+clinic+photos+006.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mercy, a grand dame at 18 years </td></tr>
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What are the signs of CDS? Think of DISH - Disorientation, Interaction, Sleep, Housetraining. So if your dog walks into the family room and stops, staring into space like " why did I come in here?" or stands at the hinge side of the door to go outside like they are confused, it may be CDS. If your cat is going towards the room where the litterbox is, then stops and paces around like she is looking for something, it may be CDS. Does your cat or dog greet you when you come home? Do they bark or meow and seek attention from you or housemates like they usually would? Some dogs and cats will wake in the night as if they need to relieve themselves but don't. They may want to be fed or just meow loudly. This is the sleep cycle interruption we can see with CDS. It is very irritating to owners. Houstraining problems can be seen as well in both dogs and cats. If your dog is by the door but suddenly goes, it may be CDS. In cats they may get lost finding the litter box. <a href="http://www.cdsindogs.com/PDF/CDSInDogs/ANIPRYL.pdf" target="_blank">Answer the questions here to see if your dog has CDS</a> <a href="http://indoorpet.osu.edu/dogs/aging_pets/cds/index.cfm" target="_blank">Here is an article explaining the signs in cats </a><br />
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These signs could also happen in a blind, arthritic pet or one with kidney disease. This is why it is so important to bring any of these signs up to your veterinarian. There are alot of ways to help your older pet with medical problems and they will feel better, relieving some of these symptoms. Our cats seem to suffer the most before an owner brings them in for care. Please do not wait. Age is not a disease. When they are showing these signs, it is difficult for you and your pet. Find a veterinarian who offers senior pet care, and is knowledgeable in senior pet behavior to help you and your senior pet. I have had a number of senior pet patients where it was not clear if they had early CDS or other problems. With a little investigation we were able to adjust pain medication and diet which helped a number of them. Just focusing on signs is not enough. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my beloved Butterscotch - he still asked for walks but neeed some reminding </td></tr>
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In my 30 years experience as a veterinarian, the most common early to mid stage signs of CDS in dogs is disorientation and interaction. From this I have also seen an older dog become anxious about noises, or being left alone unlike the past. My own dog Tropper developed a lick granuloma, a spot that he chronically licked on his back leg despite good pain management for his arthritis. When he went on Anipryl, one of the approved medications for CDS, he stopped licking his leg and was less upset about loud noises. In cats the most common signs I see are problems finding the litter box and night time vocalizing. Both of these problems really upset the owners and they may think the cat is just being naughty. Many of these cats are also dealing with arthritis in the lower back or elbow making it difficult to get to the litter box or sleep normally through the night. This is why it is essential to bring any cat over the age of 10 to regular yearly check ups. I know, your cat may not like coming in - there are ways to make it better for your cat! CJ is an example of an older cat who changed her mind about us with our gentle handling - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofK6cCzlIF8" target="_blank">here is her you tube video </a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing CJ - she likes her exams now at 16 years young</td></tr>
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Seek a veterinarian who offers less stressful, fear free visits for cats ( and dogs!) when you need to bring your pet in. I have many videos on low stress handling on my you tube channel ( <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/DrSallyJFoote" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/user/DrSallyJFoote</a>) that you can see and even try some of the ideas with your veterinarian.<br />
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There are many treatment options for your dog or cat to help with CDS. B/D diet by Hills, supplements such as Novafit, Neutricks and Senilife are available. Anipryl by Zoetis is also an option. A veterinarian knowledgeable in senior pet health and behavior can help you and your pet make the last few years good years. You and your best friend will feel a whole lot better. Thanks and here's to wonderful days with your super senior pet. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterscotch, me and Bella at the office </td></tr>
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-76445365452979654632013-12-21T15:13:00.000-06:002013-12-21T15:13:02.504-06:00Instruments of terror - what sets fear off in our pets at the veterinary office <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcZUBhziPfOxcxdyT98_2aJrMXN0KnLfYEvixSNo4Fwpj2GPOmOlfKG1IKeti7xRFd7a8MfqLcXq4v8-_E1pgP3dPRmoLdgvvHmFusp8PRy1UqBOEXJ-TXvTgkhqNiS1-iyvDjCue-88/s1600/photo+for+web+site+about+book+642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcZUBhziPfOxcxdyT98_2aJrMXN0KnLfYEvixSNo4Fwpj2GPOmOlfKG1IKeti7xRFd7a8MfqLcXq4v8-_E1pgP3dPRmoLdgvvHmFusp8PRy1UqBOEXJ-TXvTgkhqNiS1-iyvDjCue-88/s200/photo+for+web+site+about+book+642.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> cat carrier = fear if exams are scary </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span id="goog_1422493536"></span><span id="goog_1422493537"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week as I was holding a spoon of baby food that an
anorexic cat was finally eating, my tech laid the ear thermometer on the floor
next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cat took one <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>look at the thermometer, stopped eating,
turned away and crept to the back of the cage as I stayed motionless with the
baby food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked her to remove the
thermometer and when she did, the cat came right back up to me eating the baby
food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what was happening here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The thermometer was an anxiety trigger to this cat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That one item - an ear thermometer- was
enough to shut this cat down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How often
have you had a happy dog suddenly snarl and become agitated <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just before an injection is given?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very likely this dog saw the syringe and that
triggered the aggression. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That dog
remembered the pain and irritation that the syringe injection gave. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeL8gkIKzBrgliS1JUyg2L9skf_B7dJMBD7QlCg48V_NpzZfALDXlTCIdYOhN4g2BsukLLrFfM_T7RQoeLzFvMElN2TdcXDHHoJvdwYMyddKHQoTs-S9x8EkRT3j-G7A3JR64iMEH_rg/s1600/ginger+injection+with+reward.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeL8gkIKzBrgliS1JUyg2L9skf_B7dJMBD7QlCg48V_NpzZfALDXlTCIdYOhN4g2BsukLLrFfM_T7RQoeLzFvMElN2TdcXDHHoJvdwYMyddKHQoTs-S9x8EkRT3j-G7A3JR64iMEH_rg/s200/ginger+injection+with+reward.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you don't have a reward, all this dog will remember is the pain </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I present to
veterinarians and technicians, some <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of
the audience acknowledge the trigger effect of our equipment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They too have had an episode like the one I
had with the cat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others can not believe
that something so innocuous as a thermometer could set off that much
anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These instruments are triggers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are items, or settings that predict for
the pet what is coming next which may be unpleasant. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are some of the most common triggers that I see ( and my face book friend
have added!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Stainless
steel topped tables <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>small room
syndrome - the close quarters of an exam room</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>syringe
and needle attached <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>white
coat/smock/scrubs - especially on the DVM </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>thermometers <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>otoscope</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stethoscope
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>nail trimmers<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>electric trimmers<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is the challenge.- how do we perform our work, needing
to use<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>these instruments and avoid setting off fear
aggression and anxiety? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a few tips
that have helped reduce the anxiety and aggression we see from patients. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hiding these triggers is a first step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be creative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When you have drawn up the vaccines, keep the syringes hidden under a
paper towel or piece of paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hold the
thermometer palm down so the pet cannot see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cover your table with a beach
towel to hide the stainless steel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use a
towel or blanket as a hood<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or a calming
cap ( from the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>thundershirt
company)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>over the pet( dog or cat's)
face so they cannot see what is happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Reduce<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pain and
discomfort when <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>using these instruments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use lidocaine cream around the rectum and
wait a few minutes before using a fecal loop or rectal thermometer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smaller gauge needles (25ga for most
injections)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>reduces pain during injection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give pain relief before a procedure such as
oral buprenex. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1ZAYiZ12dhaWi8DAPxRTFLiLrCynN2nBaIMQTbCXP46Sj1Wbv5qRi861YhOsrIoRned3rrqXAjb60QrRAi7QDC4H16mIyOq5mojfkoJMkPZhv6AnqM6lDx5eqTMiW88fa84jvIUKkvY/s1600/dr.+foote%2527s+photos+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1ZAYiZ12dhaWi8DAPxRTFLiLrCynN2nBaIMQTbCXP46Sj1Wbv5qRi861YhOsrIoRned3rrqXAjb60QrRAi7QDC4H16mIyOq5mojfkoJMkPZhv6AnqM6lDx5eqTMiW88fa84jvIUKkvY/s200/dr.+foote%2527s+photos+006.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latex gloves + pain unless you use lidocaine </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reduce the anxiety
the pet is feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try the pheromone
products early and often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adaptil may
take 5-15 minutes to help reduce anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Give the client a bandana to put on their dog so it is taking effect in
the waiting room and during history taking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spray
feliway on a paper towel to rub on the door of the carrier and on the exam
table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Offer food reward, verbal praise
and petting that the pet enjoys throughout the steps of the exam and treatment. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is a video showing how varying the triggers helps a nervous dog in for an exam <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjMqCgJu3-0" target="_blank"> nervous dog exam you tube video </a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever steps you
take with a patient to reduce anxiety,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>record it in the record. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
will save staff <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>time and improve every
visit for that pet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a medical
record labeling system<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.drsallyjfoote.com/" target="_blank">Bella Behavior Label System </a> available at wwwldrsallyjfoote.com to make this easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is essential that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the doctor is a part of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stress reduction for this pet. Technicians can
take the lead by suggesting<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they removing
the lab coat or hold the syringe so the pet cannot see it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell your doctors what you notice when the
pet became tense and that you want to try reducing anxiety by removing a
trigger or 2 and see the effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of
us doctors get so engrossed in doing the tasks of diagnosis and treatment we
don't pay attention to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>what may be
triggering the patient's anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
can't see how the animal is responding as we bend over to look in an ear or are
at the rear of an animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doctors - be
open to changing a few things for the benefit of your patients and your
staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone wins when we decrease
fear in the veterinary clinic. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Y_yT_vq05W9OLXUP8eeNuTgsdylwWW52evdSewsJZobpXKQCPNwDrU4hyphenhyphen_1uoXRbWBwliJDPjzJAKN1pMTKArcAYvrzDt81dPlGDY03KHDx1P9CBd5Dk6dFTsyDHONp09YT18EWZoUI/s1600/4213+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Y_yT_vq05W9OLXUP8eeNuTgsdylwWW52evdSewsJZobpXKQCPNwDrU4hyphenhyphen_1uoXRbWBwliJDPjzJAKN1pMTKArcAYvrzDt81dPlGDY03KHDx1P9CBd5Dk6dFTsyDHONp09YT18EWZoUI/s200/4213+008.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little dog took rewards because I left my lab coat off - the Bella system reminded me to do this <a href="http://www.drsallyjfoote.com/" target="_blank">Bella Behavior Label System</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr. Sally J Foote DVM CABC-IAABC<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>www.drsallyjfoote.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-45640437936829464222013-10-03T21:05:00.000-05:002013-10-03T21:05:20.923-05:00Change just one thing - how to improve behavior in baby steps When ever I see a behavior consult at my office, I know my clients want immediate improvement. . While many people understand it will take time for the problems to be better, there is a need for immediate improvement.. It is possible to see improved behavior by changing just one thing with your pet. No, it won't be the entire solution, and there will be some undesired behaviors going on. Yet the intensity and frequency of the problem behavior can be decreased with some simple first steps.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamXUj64Bh_5dxR2afa8XwI_8GIs4bPIwtNhZoNw-ImePwgQ0oMMxg2PoKDoBC1yhzQIwIn0z-q02gvC4c3XRF6ug6UIsOzh5meSePLNUfiVJvFbKwGVyilVpybiHgmR2txhhj-MgFZaQ/s1600/Carol+and+Audie+Burwash.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamXUj64Bh_5dxR2afa8XwI_8GIs4bPIwtNhZoNw-ImePwgQ0oMMxg2PoKDoBC1yhzQIwIn0z-q02gvC4c3XRF6ug6UIsOzh5meSePLNUfiVJvFbKwGVyilVpybiHgmR2txhhj-MgFZaQ/s200/Carol+and+Audie+Burwash.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Audie and Carol - One of my first behavior cases </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To improve behavior one must have an accurate diagnosis of the problem(s) and address all of them. Now that is pretty daunting. It takes time in the consult, watching video, drawing floor plans to have a full understanding of the problem and provide a comprehensive solution. You can hear some clients sigh in despair of how complicated this may be. I have learned the importance of focusing improvement on the most disruptive or dangerous ( biting for example) behavior first, so a behavior modification plan can be as direct and simple as possible. <br />
<br />
For our pet's behavior to change, we have to change. There lies the difficulty. Many of us are resistant to change. And what will change look like or mean to the other aspects of our life? Breaking change down to baby steps that have the greatest effect is the easiest way to improve behavior. There is often many more than one thing on our behavior plans, but I have found that asking the clients to do one thing first and work on just that the first few days will often improve life that they can then do more.<br />
<br />
Here are a few baby steps to start with that can make some immediate change: <br />
1. Stop using punishers<br />
no more spray bottles, ultrasonic collars, yelling at your dogs or throwing pillows, or grabbing the neck of your cat! Anxiety increases and these techniques rarely work to improve behavior. If you stop the punishers, many pets will be less fearful and reduce their growling, lunging or fighting.<br />
<br />
2. Have your pet behave nice to get any kind of food. Cats included.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgF4b-tirbwLHgHt7ID4CfWHiYfmwxG4XyHGJ4KvsqWYDIUEps9MyM0Ms4YPejPCqqS8BLJ6M7WsUyhqLact5qvnCcJU057YgmwvJeQEOrTuWZ3J1C4IqZUTT6qxxXvwdraL6O9SZqTGE/s1600/bella+boot+camp+and+bella+behavior+videos+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgF4b-tirbwLHgHt7ID4CfWHiYfmwxG4XyHGJ4KvsqWYDIUEps9MyM0Ms4YPejPCqqS8BLJ6M7WsUyhqLact5qvnCcJU057YgmwvJeQEOrTuWZ3J1C4IqZUTT6qxxXvwdraL6O9SZqTGE/s200/bella+boot+camp+and+bella+behavior+videos+002.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bella gets food for just standing nice </td></tr>
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No more food out of the bowl! Now they will get a kibble or 2 for just standing, sitting or laying in their bed quietly. Or better yet, coming when called, attaching a leash, walking at your side or laying on their perch. This is like catching them being good ( or not bad). When your pet is earning their meals they get the idea quickly that better behavior means more food. When they are not acting good -no food, no attention.<br />
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3. Increased exercise for dogs and cats<br />
This means play in the yard with a human - throwing a ball, Frisbee or what ever. Or walking your dog on leash outside of your yard. Walks for dog need to be about 1 minute per pound per day as a dose. Cats really need humans to play with them!!! They need to kill something every day so get those toys on a stick, a laser light, catnip ball, the ring from the milk jug to toss and make them move. Play increases the bond with you and raises calming brain chemicals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlPCrwHrXYqi2HDxW8FELA8q9IdntCEtxqTpvU4GokTI_WebTMdZb95VpU_r7dU3T1C3o8HsvOr2DpZj8WkeEr8MN6bgCAHUL54PYNfd6p33e5HLiY7UZ_HdvVbT-V5pk51eGUWFrb2Q/s1600/old+butter+and+frolic+cat+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlPCrwHrXYqi2HDxW8FELA8q9IdntCEtxqTpvU4GokTI_WebTMdZb95VpU_r7dU3T1C3o8HsvOr2DpZj8WkeEr8MN6bgCAHUL54PYNfd6p33e5HLiY7UZ_HdvVbT-V5pk51eGUWFrb2Q/s200/old+butter+and+frolic+cat+011.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterscotch loved his walks! </td></tr>
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4. Start the appropriate drug/supplement/diet as recommended by your veterinarian.<br />
The proper drug or supplement helps them learn. It helps adjust the brain chemical balance that literally opens up learning pathways in the brain so please do not refuse medication! It is like getting glasses when you are near sighted - now you can learn so much easier. <br />
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5. Chart how often your pet is doing the bad behavior and in what circumstances.<br />
Data is helpful. Keeping track can increase every one's awareness of the problem, show what the triggers are, and really help with accurate diagnosis. Now you can start to help yourself by avoiding triggers or situations.<br />
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Some people feel that only the pet has to change - that the humans should not have to do anything different. Your pet is responding with their behavior to the home they live in. This includes everything from how all the humans come and go as well as other pets. There is something about life from your pet's point of view, that is stimulating the behavior. So if you don't change, how can your pet change ? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffIef9kYMghiGFMz0uZZ7USIn73sGI9DnKDrasm-t8jfq0lAEtqyCpm_uBOx5ATlaUDli6sZlX6u8tnx6dBGKQRmcervuixOHgg3bkWIaiSni6Fd5-e-1pEqCus3T_8IWwcJRnC8LKxo/s1600/reward+with+muzzle+on.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffIef9kYMghiGFMz0uZZ7USIn73sGI9DnKDrasm-t8jfq0lAEtqyCpm_uBOx5ATlaUDli6sZlX6u8tnx6dBGKQRmcervuixOHgg3bkWIaiSni6Fd5-e-1pEqCus3T_8IWwcJRnC8LKxo/s200/reward+with+muzzle+on.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">giving a reward through the muzzle makes treatment much easier </td></tr>
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Think about what is in it for you to change and get better pet behavior. If a 10 minute walk for your dog decreases how much destructive chewing they do daily, and gives you some fun time with your pet is that worth it for you? Is getting the cat toys out and tossing them around or getting your cat to follow you around the house for more exercise worth not cleaning up urine around the house? It may seem unconnected to you, but these little things can make a huge difference. <br />
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Keeping it simple also means trying it for just a week and see how it works. Just give the first step a try and monitor what improvements develop. It's like decluttering a home. It did not happen in one day - even after a huge tornado it takes some days to clean up. Pets that suddenly erupt with behavior problems will take time to be better but small steps do improve things.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxnDIGazG1WBNYVJExSsY9XkxZLnk1Kn-JY38IHTiO3gEQeIj4tuKu2MawqebsfJ9hRvGlvNARt6HkC-PEksFQbkGK-i2CCsEuQCKCCGpK6hoJuw1TAy8l4xaJw43MI0YAmcnpyKmdMo/s1600/100_8805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxnDIGazG1WBNYVJExSsY9XkxZLnk1Kn-JY38IHTiO3gEQeIj4tuKu2MawqebsfJ9hRvGlvNARt6HkC-PEksFQbkGK-i2CCsEuQCKCCGpK6hoJuw1TAy8l4xaJw43MI0YAmcnpyKmdMo/s200/100_8805.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">food puzzles are fun for cats too </td></tr>
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Lastly, what is the level of behavior that is acceptable to you in your home? All dogs don't need to overcome their fears of strangers to the point of running up to everyone to be a happy, safe and well behaved dog. In my home my dog barks readily at noises outside, people at the door and is wary of unknown people. In some ways I actually like that. It makes her a good watch dog for my home and my daughter. She is not aggressive and will warm up to people after she has some time with them. Yes it is irritating, but the reality is that she is always vigilant and that increases our security. Your dog or cat does not have to get an A in training to be a good pet. A C grade may be good enough for you.<br />
Thanks and good luck!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMsl47V5R5t0_Q8YYlRyNV0TS5gx5V4uLEIViUeInqBg4kTyIPuD3DWb_QB83428uuUINKQWyVdHOvkJ1D-ipUzFZ6_iDe7DNXCzxWUBbMdNiAdZurMMaz7ucF60VyJA2YBm7Bg8EHFM/s1600/ranger+spinning+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMsl47V5R5t0_Q8YYlRyNV0TS5gx5V4uLEIViUeInqBg4kTyIPuD3DWb_QB83428uuUINKQWyVdHOvkJ1D-ipUzFZ6_iDe7DNXCzxWUBbMdNiAdZurMMaz7ucF60VyJA2YBm7Bg8EHFM/s200/ranger+spinning+007.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's ok with me to let Ranger play with boxes a bit </td></tr>
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-12702962229565843922013-08-08T12:45:00.000-05:002013-08-08T12:54:25.121-05:00Helping and old cat with acupuncture and chiropractic care Tuesday I took our office cat Mercy to a fellow veterinarian and acupuncturist, Dr. Susan Hites in Savoy Illinois. Mercy had a day or 2 where she was not walking well, did not want to be petted or greet people. My staff is fully aware of Mercy's arthritis in her hip and lower back and faithfully give her the medications, supplement and special diet she needs to keep her out of pain. They did not see her do anything unusual, but could tell she was having trouble. We took x rays and compared to previous ones from a year or 2 ago, to see if things had changed in her. Yes, her arthritis in her back and hips had progressed. Actually I was impressed at how well she has been jumping up on the counters and greeting people as I looked at the films.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydKsPmRyDCZLgixlojRFNXd_TU6jzL4Ev5mSkMwnOVfpjfUCpZvf-aNFccC9apIO33tcN9EcKEelDgoRuiG_HfgrdMhWYTy8n7b-rrpnhyphenhyphenvWLLg08nb5KaD82VtX35L_XtnPw5Bzc_Jo/s1600/82812+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydKsPmRyDCZLgixlojRFNXd_TU6jzL4Ev5mSkMwnOVfpjfUCpZvf-aNFccC9apIO33tcN9EcKEelDgoRuiG_HfgrdMhWYTy8n7b-rrpnhyphenhyphenvWLLg08nb5KaD82VtX35L_XtnPw5Bzc_Jo/s320/82812+068.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mercy loves to be up on the front counter </td></tr>
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There were other choices for pain meds but they don't work well on our Mercy. She gets very sedate, and seems to see pink elephants when she has any of the narcotics used in cats. Buprenex works well for many cats but not our Mercy. That one had her on a drunk that lasted 12 hours, and reducing the dose did not help. Gabapentin rarely causes any sedation or " seeing things" in cats but here again Mercy was on a high that did not seem fun for her. So adding more medication was not an option. As I looked at her x rays, I realized that she needed more help to reduce her inflammation and pain even though she was acting better that day. She would have other bad days, and I wanted to help her have the best days she could. Also, there was that lingering thought - am I missing something in my own cat? Do I not see something bad because I don't want to? I need to take her to another veterinarian, specialized in chronic pain in older pets to have that objective view. I also wanted a veterinarian who is also dedicated to gentle handling in cats. Dr. Hites came right to mind. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDbdnqy2rj12BpcpWfdspbh3NdtKNT_1UXAQkWspA62_ivbr3iMSbGGoKxhWJVemJpEqxUXJ9uEMp-0uw2MLVc4g2OS3EB4adgrdNetxLL17L1cv0XdQiBwj4W0ouPUf9rJUxMTI1Y48/s1600/82812+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDbdnqy2rj12BpcpWfdspbh3NdtKNT_1UXAQkWspA62_ivbr3iMSbGGoKxhWJVemJpEqxUXJ9uEMp-0uw2MLVc4g2OS3EB4adgrdNetxLL17L1cv0XdQiBwj4W0ouPUf9rJUxMTI1Y48/s320/82812+078.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When she is feeling sore - she stays in her bed more </td></tr>
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The day I took Mercy to her appointment, we gave her a calming supplement called Composure. Mercy usually does not like exams and may tense up. This would be a strange place to her so I wanted to reduce any anxiety as much as I could. I took her up myself with her favorite liver paste to eat and A/D food to reward her during the exam. She laid on her own blanket from home and Dr. Hites looked at the X rays with me as Mercy became accustomed to the office. She did not have any sedative because she did not need it. <br />
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I had not missed any thing on her X rays, and she was on a good pain management regime. Mercy's had misalignment in 3 areas on her back which were aggravating her pain. Dr.Hites suggested some adjustment and acupuncture over the back area as a starting point that day, and see how she responds. Some pets may not show much improvement while others may respond more dramatically. It is an individual therapy and response. It is important to understand that the arthritis is still there but the adjustment is to line things up that have become out of place due to using the body differently. It is a trial and see response type of therapy. I was aware of this approach, and wanted to give it a try. There was nothing to lose - the time and money would be worth while to know personally what acupuncture and Chiropractic for pets is really like.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYdNzUTSXWiGoSOV1yLagx5Bbg5LA6SwDc7f_rB__ZaZOZUn85zjhh017CmLyxFUz93Shv5P_YdnG0Rsay8GMqdzUNO3KobyYt8JfuWQxdJ_I1LkBldbyoB4Y0CB0HVUOWT_uHSJqTjg/s1600/x+ray+target%252C+mercy+at+chiro+bees+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYdNzUTSXWiGoSOV1yLagx5Bbg5LA6SwDc7f_rB__ZaZOZUn85zjhh017CmLyxFUz93Shv5P_YdnG0Rsay8GMqdzUNO3KobyYt8JfuWQxdJ_I1LkBldbyoB4Y0CB0HVUOWT_uHSJqTjg/s320/x+ray+target%252C+mercy+at+chiro+bees+046.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after a little manipulation, the first needles go in </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JL6lox5tOW7B16MEoyvsE5gPGtYdaYW9RnihAYLBUmwBMlmIobqzENrEzeNqaFj6x1qfYiWHy4j4mh4JiPlpwG7Ig8RwpvcNgPn7gxPuMzM42Ped_ve8VujkndDLVk3IqYEkd5KHfAc/s1600/x+ray+target%252C+mercy+at+chiro+bees+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JL6lox5tOW7B16MEoyvsE5gPGtYdaYW9RnihAYLBUmwBMlmIobqzENrEzeNqaFj6x1qfYiWHy4j4mh4JiPlpwG7Ig8RwpvcNgPn7gxPuMzM42Ped_ve8VujkndDLVk3IqYEkd5KHfAc/s320/x+ray+target%252C+mercy+at+chiro+bees+047.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Hites feels for the right spots </td></tr>
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We set Mercy up on her own blanket after taking her carrier apart - all good ways to handle cats! Dr. Hites is cat friendly! Dr. Hites began feeling over Mercy as I fed her the liver paste. Mercy was calm as Dr. Hites worked. Adjustments in cats are small - as are their bones. So the manipulations are subltle but effective. Dr. Hites then did acupuncture on about 8 spots along her back and shoulder. These thin needles go in without any notice. Then Mercy just laid there with Dr. Hites supporting her as I gave her more yummies to keep her happy. And she was. This is what shocks many - how can a dog or cat just lay there with a bunch of needles poking out? Hites was able to straighten out her hip area. In response Mercy stuck her hind end up with her tail up as Dr. Hites petted her. That is a comfortable cat!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_4gwrSUmqHKs5h6npqK1QwZVfC9MdtG1T69QWoy6djdaUzfi2niJn7XVzUWVTQYn1_A_L18mLTlP5QUtpQJ5npcWVcL0Vw0cZ9j9wQ2l2OIpLZDXI08LooYX_5iCyFwEMHWaOsav2kw/s1600/x+ray+target%252C+mercy+at+chiro+bees+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_4gwrSUmqHKs5h6npqK1QwZVfC9MdtG1T69QWoy6djdaUzfi2niJn7XVzUWVTQYn1_A_L18mLTlP5QUtpQJ5npcWVcL0Vw0cZ9j9wQ2l2OIpLZDXI08LooYX_5iCyFwEMHWaOsav2kw/s320/x+ray+target%252C+mercy+at+chiro+bees+050.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mercy just laid calmly </td></tr>
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These needles are activating endorphins - feel good body chemicals- as they sit there. So, having needles in your back feels good for a while.<br />
That is the skill for the acupuncturist - judging how long to leave in the needles and not over stimulate. After the acupuncture treatment Mercy's back was more relaxed and Dr.<br />
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I posted Mercy's photo on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Okaw-Veterinary-Clinic-in-Tuscola-IL/129232150440205?ref=hl" target="_blank">facebook page </a>and have had a few ask about how acupuncture could help their cat. I have referred other clients with dogs for chiropractic and acupuncture before but I did not have much information about how it helped cats. Mercy will be going back in 2 weeks for a second treatment. Then as often as we figure out she needs to stay well adjusted - at least physically!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7ezYc934m1WMkx3zs6tavLNK22B7O_STJ0uWFAiINxRPLTyUIqMP1eiIDt6xuxK7hSU3YEr8VVxQfgOJgxK70xt8SGTvNAIMqsv0hNtz8-lmul5OHU_K4DGyVlOIrlmaCOP27e7Y9Mk/s1600/x+ray+target%252C+mercy+at+chiro+bees+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7ezYc934m1WMkx3zs6tavLNK22B7O_STJ0uWFAiINxRPLTyUIqMP1eiIDt6xuxK7hSU3YEr8VVxQfgOJgxK70xt8SGTvNAIMqsv0hNtz8-lmul5OHU_K4DGyVlOIrlmaCOP27e7Y9Mk/s320/x+ray+target%252C+mercy+at+chiro+bees+051.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All done and feeling good! </td></tr>
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It is important to go to a veterinarian certified in Chiropractic and acupuncture. The anatomy and general health are important to know, and a human chiropractor is not trained in this. <br />
I hope others older cat owners will look at their older cat who does not move around much with an open mind to come in and discuss what can be done to make their cat's life better. There are a lot of options, and they can be worked out step by step individualized for your pet. <br />
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Thanks Dr. Sally J Foote <br />
<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-20928691130828825772013-06-25T21:35:00.000-05:002013-06-25T21:35:01.952-05:00Parental Advisory: prevent dog bites to your kids! There are lots of things that drive me crazy when I am out in public as a veterinarian. Dogs left in cars on a hot day; dogs roaming in a yard off leash; dogs loose in the back of a pick up truck, to name a few. My craziness comes from having to clean up the problems such as heat stroke, or accidents that could have easily been avoided. As my practice has developed in pet behavior , I can see the easily avoidable problems with dog bites when I am out in public. So now I get frustrated and a bit crazy at people when they are not paying attention to their dogs, especially when children are around. The resulting bites, scratches, lunges and nips that happen result in the dog being the bad one, not the humans who could have easily prevented the whole scene. I am not going to rant on this. This blog is devoted to preventing bites to our children from owned pets when children greet them - the most common dog bite situation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvrukFw5YBs4ZFfaleFVMC3sTfIHw5xGJ3_KSl3oARtKFsTP7wwJqi7EiePIrVk9fBpvb0RYYVGvGSzbcq-wiauc86jDZVV2Lgn34zTiYApX6ZbXKKtvA-CDlm25-EzWk44DAZkj7tNY/s1600/more+talk+photos+121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvrukFw5YBs4ZFfaleFVMC3sTfIHw5xGJ3_KSl3oARtKFsTP7wwJqi7EiePIrVk9fBpvb0RYYVGvGSzbcq-wiauc86jDZVV2Lgn34zTiYApX6ZbXKKtvA-CDlm25-EzWk44DAZkj7tNY/s200/more+talk+photos+121.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Know your pet - Butterscotch is loving the rubs but others might not </td></tr>
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So who is responsible for keeping kids safe around dogs? The parent or the dog owner? In my opinion both are, with the parent the foremost responsible. One can not rely on the dog owner to be aware of what is the best way for kids to greet a pet. There is not any test on dog care, training and behavior one needs to take before getting a dog. Many people base their knowledge of what to do with dogs on just what they knew from a previous pet. In my experience in our community, I see less than 25% of dog owners actually going through any kind of dog training, so do not depend on the dog owner to knowing what to do. This is your child. Protect and educate them.<br />
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Here are a couple of very important points to always remember:<br />
Look at life from the dog's point of view. It does not matter what your child meant by hugging the dog. To the dog they were about to be strangled so that is why they snapped. A common bite <br />
scenario is hugging a sleeping dog. Let sleeping dog lie!!!! Don't disturb them - do you like someone rubbing your back or hugging you all of a sudden when you are deep in sleep?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHyOc5pCwAGaXhapVxWmEVJmmtK1UGTK2a7POXucVY4mhdtfc0QATkU6aW-NSMuUj3QZKDTrhFaLwlvWMi2Hs7EjFfzQlNi3d_LxXLXWopaf4vMmZoiX6Nt-pEr0TH4nQgjP5vfTRoaw/s1600/indiana+dunes+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHyOc5pCwAGaXhapVxWmEVJmmtK1UGTK2a7POXucVY4mhdtfc0QATkU6aW-NSMuUj3QZKDTrhFaLwlvWMi2Hs7EjFfzQlNi3d_LxXLXWopaf4vMmZoiX6Nt-pEr0TH4nQgjP5vfTRoaw/s200/indiana+dunes+003.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">leave this dog alone not matter how sweet she looks</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">!! </td></tr>
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Dogs turn to aggression - any body language to increase the distance from what the dog perceives as a threat - to get something to stop coming towards it. Simply said, snapping, growling, staring, freezing, lunging and circling are ways to get your child to go away because no one has paid attention to the earlier signs of "help me". Those signs are turning the head away, moving away from the child, tail down, ears turned back, licking the lips, and constantly looking around. Get the dog and child apart if you see these signs and everyone will be much better off. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj624VT_3MPO1aS-gOgQze9Kmzbyb81H9TkoDhXLRNqAwqddKSCJUcujnwdAoyR3MsyQeS2BXqD3-eIiHca3kihC7UCnCrCkzG3u8UDAgiY10eQY5QX1_E4AoKQ5shTzsyCTMyoXmPWKBw/s1600/bad+greeting+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj624VT_3MPO1aS-gOgQze9Kmzbyb81H9TkoDhXLRNqAwqddKSCJUcujnwdAoyR3MsyQeS2BXqD3-eIiHca3kihC7UCnCrCkzG3u8UDAgiY10eQY5QX1_E4AoKQ5shTzsyCTMyoXmPWKBw/s200/bad+greeting+4.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glenda loves this but Butter does not </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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If a dog goes to growling, staring, not moving, they are shifting to aggression because acting afraid is not helping them. Keep your kids away!!! Ask the owner to put their dog up for the benefit of both your kids and the dog. This is not a bad dog. It is a dog that is overwhelmed and trying to help itself. If it is difficult to remove the dog, get your kids to another area or have them do different activities ( like stop cartwheeling around the dog, or running around ) that may help decrease the stress on the dog. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtgo23rsvSaD3Ie7atlYZNy0IzDwow7Em0FYE6_pa_-cx5et0UcIS6iOaftA5HSYm58TcczuLayo5DygXiEzM5KCavULCOw8d_JjysxZ5QLQorYwTuB6p4JdiozBJEGvMSJv8ScxY2DI/s1600/IMG_2882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtgo23rsvSaD3Ie7atlYZNy0IzDwow7Em0FYE6_pa_-cx5et0UcIS6iOaftA5HSYm58TcczuLayo5DygXiEzM5KCavULCOw8d_JjysxZ5QLQorYwTuB6p4JdiozBJEGvMSJv8ScxY2DI/s200/IMG_2882.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">humans like hugs and close contact - but not all pets do!</td></tr>
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Where do you start? Right now !<br />
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1. Infant to toddler ( birth to age 2) - Children at this age cry, squeal, roll around, crawl, and move around very quickly in an unpredictable way to the dog. All of this activity can look like a little injured squirrel that needs to be eaten. Some<br />
dogs stare - sniff intently over the body of the child. Do not allow this!!!!!!!!!!!! Even if a dog seems very tolerant, you don't know what the dog will do next. If a dog is looking away, turning the head away from a child, moving to another area it is saying "I don't know what this child is going to do and I need to get away".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvqFVX0cq4v6vYtZWgsfhqC0LHScfLML50Zb-rUG_0vfNT0w8INEdB_jSgL6csCGqSGuAYDfEar-Seq1LhqvOrQUrV3rWBoYlrPZR-zDX9uCCOJcn7AhagqcF5IVKpQVDyWQ8_PsAvJM/s1600/indiana+dunes+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvqFVX0cq4v6vYtZWgsfhqC0LHScfLML50Zb-rUG_0vfNT0w8INEdB_jSgL6csCGqSGuAYDfEar-Seq1LhqvOrQUrV3rWBoYlrPZR-zDX9uCCOJcn7AhagqcF5IVKpQVDyWQ8_PsAvJM/s200/indiana+dunes+011.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bella keeps one eye on the child - and I on Bella </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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So get the child or the dog away from each other. This requires parents to have their eyes literally on their child. Do not leave kids and dogs alone with each other. The major of bites to children happened when the adults were not present.<br />
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2. preschool to school age: At this age, the child can follow your instructions about proper greetings - asking first, avoid petting on the head, and not rushing up to to dog but they need an adult to demonstrate this with them. Few children at this age remember to follow all the rules, so parents remind the child and demonstrate proper greeting. Take the opportunity to ask your child how they see the dog respond to them. If the dog is pulling away, point out that the dog has had enough. This is how the child learns to respect the dog's space. It isn't all about what the child wants to do. <br />
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3. Adolescent to adult hood: Parenting never ends. Yes, you still need to remind and at this point keep an eye out for how your child is acting around dogs, especially at family barbecues or parties. When your teenager is laughing loud, looking at their phone and not paying attention this is scary to the dog. If they all of a sudden reach down to pet the dog as they hold an I phone, to the dog they are unsure of what that object is in the hand. All the rules are the same- ask if you can pet, invite the dog in, and touch from the shoulders to the back. <br />
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Dog owners certainly need to be in charge of their dogs. Unfortunately not every dog owner sees life through their dog's eyes. They miss the early signs of fear and then aggression results. Information abounds for the dog owner, but some just don't listen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCPtdasAd8mNGj0vmBg29B2WoIjG9uCahzmYkUITvgELVXR-QJYYDlBFv12sZNEvHcVvgDp1DVWZIEPLInAAC4nC27rmh8UmXZL3Y7XfDvLOoVl4ynulFttoqLsihrsqlQDujTb7Rbv0/s1600/bella+boot+camp+and+bella+behavior+videos+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCPtdasAd8mNGj0vmBg29B2WoIjG9uCahzmYkUITvgELVXR-QJYYDlBFv12sZNEvHcVvgDp1DVWZIEPLInAAC4nC27rmh8UmXZL3Y7XfDvLOoVl4ynulFttoqLsihrsqlQDujTb7Rbv0/s200/bella+boot+camp+and+bella+behavior+videos+050.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">reward good behavior </td></tr>
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So parents, step up. Take charge of the situation with your kids. The majority of dog bites to kids could be easily prevented by not allowing the child to rush up to a dog, getting in the face, reaching over the head, or "bugging" the dog when it is sleeping, eating or had a toy. If parents and dog owners would step in and stop kids doing this the bite rate would drop dramatically. <br />
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Thanks. Sally J Foote DVM <br />
Okaw Veterinary Clinic www.okawvetclinic.com<br />
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-73613068679803881312013-05-04T13:03:00.000-05:002013-05-04T13:03:11.897-05:00A surprise gift in the mail!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fBoMNRGiW6VjOGqFmpPGLTOLrEo0_KBkj7t50XGi37N68B72AESUvke2gyDUYeI-SdTPXOXs2BZNamB0MQHH6Nrp3ocf3G3nDmyVRG8qubbdDLjJsCroLns8TgQ00J4WoFLyk3sy-Sg/s1600/IMG_3511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fBoMNRGiW6VjOGqFmpPGLTOLrEo0_KBkj7t50XGi37N68B72AESUvke2gyDUYeI-SdTPXOXs2BZNamB0MQHH6Nrp3ocf3G3nDmyVRG8qubbdDLjJsCroLns8TgQ00J4WoFLyk3sy-Sg/s200/IMG_3511.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bella loves to investigate </td></tr>
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I came home from the office tonight after a bit of a challenging day to find a box from the Kong company. I had not ordered anything, and to my surprise Bella had an early Christmas. There were a few new toy items, treats and stuffing items for my dogs to try out. I think I remember giving my business card to a sales rep at one of the conventions to try out products and review them - so now my dog is reaping the benefits.<br />
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So, first of all I let Bella sniff out and pick through the box. She was most interested in the tire like toy and I thought that would be a good place to start with her. I also saw the jerky treats and thought those would be good to try out too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2Fl2lwQ-5IiyP690Yejl4d3MQBdVc5IDcUAIf0Qq1iMMKNgKeFlriaILGJLM5JCO2qC-J8ZU4w1DA79ul7J5YJFlzsNr9Uny39BUXhQn9KLE5ZyZWhFvCJvL7NomLrNE6g_IRhxKe98/s1600/IMG_3516_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2Fl2lwQ-5IiyP690Yejl4d3MQBdVc5IDcUAIf0Qq1iMMKNgKeFlriaILGJLM5JCO2qC-J8ZU4w1DA79ul7J5YJFlzsNr9Uny39BUXhQn9KLE5ZyZWhFvCJvL7NomLrNE6g_IRhxKe98/s200/IMG_3516_1.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The packet size is also handy for trips to the vet</td></tr>
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The treats are semi soft and easy to break into that small - half a cheerio size I suggest for rewarding. Not the whole treat - just a nibble. Then one treat lasts a long time and gives multiple rewards. It also makes it much easier to reward with the 1 second that many dogs like as a rewarding or reinforcement rate. These treats are lamb or beef and do not have corn, soy or wheat so they are somewhat hypo allergenic. I think these would be great for trips to the veterinary clinic, and for owners to use them for rewarding during the veterinary exam.<br />
I show how to do this at my site <a href="http://www.drsallyjfoote.com/">for the Bella Behavior System</a><span id="goog_659647102"></span><span id="goog_659647103"></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcWVIg4HrV51u3CUMd65pRjif7bI7iWi7wAOHZqJYJu2GoVLtgMCQaNO99UB-c-1DL_ploKFcVndyjCFL_HqQC7j8Kk36Qed5VVN0Olccm18_1Vw9PklirBMChZbdCfn1ZiTMIYnmGkU/s1600/IMG_3523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcWVIg4HrV51u3CUMd65pRjif7bI7iWi7wAOHZqJYJu2GoVLtgMCQaNO99UB-c-1DL_ploKFcVndyjCFL_HqQC7j8Kk36Qed5VVN0Olccm18_1Vw9PklirBMChZbdCfn1ZiTMIYnmGkU/s200/IMG_3523.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the handy tube of Kong past</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2sx2dGzk5cMhdwo8k47YIs8fxvElfqCkEahcwDFMfiayMsm-gi1UxjBDCAfQhtR6g2q39uz98zMyzwk1PpqV7mmr-qbgW45saQhCcI5J7753cwa1GEFLOtIylDzNDvd95anGFsTykvY/s1600/IMG_3519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2sx2dGzk5cMhdwo8k47YIs8fxvElfqCkEahcwDFMfiayMsm-gi1UxjBDCAfQhtR6g2q39uz98zMyzwk1PpqV7mmr-qbgW45saQhCcI5J7753cwa1GEFLOtIylDzNDvd95anGFsTykvY/s200/IMG_3519.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple, but effective</td></tr>
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So after giving Bella one treat, I got the peanut butter squeeze tube out for a try. Kong makes liver , peanut butter and cheese flavored pastes that now come in a small toothpaste tube like container. This makes it easy to carry around in a purse or car to use in toys for distraction and rewarding. This would be a great product to take along with you to the groomer, or veterinarian to stuff a food puzzle toy. That stuffed toy can be enjoyed by your dog as they get their vaccinations, nails trimmed or blood test taken. The rubber is pretty durable and it is a small enough size to carry along with you. It is not that challenging, but at times you may need a simple food puzzle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3TezwxYi0T0vsCNVa2SWrMdQSXRnQWHeHVTN1W8YvgAOku5sCNRyDe6munX1B_cHOo8ukv7lKIEWYjXyaArpE7OTs2aK6Egh6Adc3QsgZAKHLwJnVGB9hAAk2XlS-SIEeOAfvJ8GUaY/s1600/IMG_3529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3TezwxYi0T0vsCNVa2SWrMdQSXRnQWHeHVTN1W8YvgAOku5sCNRyDe6munX1B_cHOo8ukv7lKIEWYjXyaArpE7OTs2aK6Egh6Adc3QsgZAKHLwJnVGB9hAAk2XlS-SIEeOAfvJ8GUaY/s200/IMG_3529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bella, the 2 fisted toy tester!</td></tr>
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The last toy in this box was the Squeezz - a soft ring toy that squeaks. The material seemed soft so I was a bit wary of giving to Bella. She can chew through just about anything. The squeaker in the toy is very enticing for a dog to try to chew out. To my surprise the toy has stood up to some pretty harsh bites. It also bounces to it makes a great play toy as well. The size is a bit small for the big dogs so I would use this just on dogs under 40lbs.<br />
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So, thank you Kong! My dog loves your products as do I. There is a lot of variety with an eye for safety and fun for pets. I really like how these treat products and toys can also be used for rewarding during home treatment and at the veterinary clinic.<br />
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-23463999879028747572013-04-07T19:47:00.002-05:002013-04-07T19:47:22.944-05:00Treats are not bribes - especially at the vet officeIf you have ever brought your pet to my clinic, you know that every single staff member will try lots of ways to help your pet be less upset during the visit. Over the years we have become very creative using towels, treats, happy voices and even taking off our white coats to make the visit less stressful. While this may seem like a lot more work at first, it really saves a lot of time and work in the long run. And that is what really counts - the long run.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqgUQ6AIb9qP1nDd9dHt79AhHAcea-0oBvj81jbqlpK1vy-fLO27INpZ0-N75CVnFLPofVaGn7_UvShUyfNJnguQjx4jCcYhfURcg0O7dkoA0feZoiZktsWK6onH10rLIIz5ForamD-Y/s1600/jan+2011+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqgUQ6AIb9qP1nDd9dHt79AhHAcea-0oBvj81jbqlpK1vy-fLO27INpZ0-N75CVnFLPofVaGn7_UvShUyfNJnguQjx4jCcYhfURcg0O7dkoA0feZoiZktsWK6onH10rLIIz5ForamD-Y/s200/jan+2011+040.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This how I examine a timid cat </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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High volume - get them in get them out veterinary visits are easy on the pocket book but not on the pet, vet or owner. Why would I want to just rush you in and out? This approach leaves little time to fully examine your pet and inform you about what is best for your pet. The wham - bam approach leaves you to the internet, magazines or television to get your pet information which is not always accurate.. Rushed visits taking your to "the back" it often increases the stress for your pet. "What are they doing to my baby?" you may wonder. <br />
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Many clinics focus on efficiency by taking the pet to a treatment area where the trained technician and veterinarian work together. Many lawyers have strongly counseled veterinarians to take this approach. Why? Owners who become bitten, scratched have sued veterinary clinics even when the owner insisted on restraining their pet. Often these owner won large monetary judgements so the resulting solution was do not allow the owner anywhere near the pet while at the vet. So the legal advice focuses on the liability of the veterinarian ,not the pet's experience and behavior.At our office, we use our technical staff to reward the pet in all areas of the office. This will take a little more time the first visit or 2, but soon the pets are co operating much better to go to the exam area and we allow the clients to stay as the techs handle the pets in a low stress manner. It is a win -win for pet, staff and owner. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGgv9vjVsVRe-P9afjALAGFd1XpCBFuzOmTaFfT7swF0wF3s-UhAuKRfIi1fYvvOdDPPiArFbIACpVt27Uj4R4hHxowbMVYXTiRH_Jal8Sgx3J-VFbHO3UZcgZgVRNb4IwVdAyBvFAj4/s1600/greet+at+counter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGgv9vjVsVRe-P9afjALAGFd1XpCBFuzOmTaFfT7swF0wF3s-UhAuKRfIi1fYvvOdDPPiArFbIACpVt27Uj4R4hHxowbMVYXTiRH_Jal8Sgx3J-VFbHO3UZcgZgVRNb4IwVdAyBvFAj4/s200/greet+at+counter.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">treats in the waiting area - calm not nervous</td></tr>
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Through all of this, we have ignored the effect on the pet. Finally the tide is starting to turn. Veterinary technicians, assistants, and veterinarians are becoming educated to identify pets showing anxiety and pain during the veterinary exam. The early signs of fear need to be recognized to change the methods of handling to reduce stress on the pet. This is a new concept in handling animals. Classes are not routinely taught on this in college - it is at the post graduate convention level that many veterinarians and staff are learning how to reliably read the signs of low grade pain, fear, and aggression. When we immediately start to offer treats or use a calming spray, our clients comment about how this exam is one of easiest exams on their pet ever. They are often amazed when their little terrier now accepts the muzzle with treats and is not attempting to bite. The few minutes of rewarding, and reducing stress makes each visit quicker, more complete and safer for the staff and the pet. .<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtJkGXnIqMhQJlxCOjuFGg96_4yGO9zgVKSKe5Xf-4s_MOS7qKVxxV_CDZFFyBxWHYapeKMhNYLxdZ31uvAGbzjaLw2IdPhpt7wTLQlZpO3c3tJPYcrC6YzaxCRNjtydsw2JwDUz5Jws/s1600/bella+with+reward+for+nails.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtJkGXnIqMhQJlxCOjuFGg96_4yGO9zgVKSKe5Xf-4s_MOS7qKVxxV_CDZFFyBxWHYapeKMhNYLxdZ31uvAGbzjaLw2IdPhpt7wTLQlZpO3c3tJPYcrC6YzaxCRNjtydsw2JwDUz5Jws/s200/bella+with+reward+for+nails.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this dog hated her nails clipped until she got treats </td></tr>
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When clients call around looking for a veterinarian, often the first questions are about the cost of care. Sure care costs money and there are different prices at different clinics. Not all clinics are managed, staffed and operated exactly the same. This is often where the price difference comes in. When a clinic takes a minimum of 30 minutes for a wellness exam, they charge more since they have more time and staff involved. This time is often spent in making the exam less upsetting for your pet, as well as time to help educate you. Ask the clinics you call what will they be doing - ask if they use less stressful handling techniques and rewarding. If they stumble to answer - keep calling around until you find a place that puts your pets mental/emotional needs ( and yours) equal with the physical needs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBr_DctDWDpkD7k6jzAp9SyKHlnTpXjiD9RtMso3fda8Rcs7ZLD_yER49nm52ff_tgLwNAe16gae3lP2CKeylaAb0bsB-x3EKzFUhf5E9jUtKuHoWVh-QLgHCoKTW0oG5854ExaE_PJk/s1600/good+cat+exams+with+ranger+and+mercy%252C+title+page+pics+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBr_DctDWDpkD7k6jzAp9SyKHlnTpXjiD9RtMso3fda8Rcs7ZLD_yER49nm52ff_tgLwNAe16gae3lP2CKeylaAb0bsB-x3EKzFUhf5E9jUtKuHoWVh-QLgHCoKTW0oG5854ExaE_PJk/s200/good+cat+exams+with+ranger+and+mercy%252C+title+page+pics+010.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even cats get treats during exams!</td></tr>
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Yes, my clinic charges more than some others in my area - and charges less than others too. When you come here you get that longer exam, the licensed Certified Veterinary Technician, and time with me, the doctor doing all we can to decrease the stress of the visit for your pet. I am committed to less stressful handling and rewarding during exams because it is in the best interest of your pet and my staff. I cringe now when I see a dog trembling in fear at another clinic and more and more handlers are called in to restrain this fearful dog. It can be better. See my videos on my youtube channel drsallyjfoote and you will understand the difference. <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/KTYChCNKS-4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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As I present the concept of Bella Behavior - rewarding and recording what helps this pet to have the least stressed exam - I see staff starting to understand how and why low stress handling is best. Practice by practice change is happening. Be a part of that change by choosing a low stress clinic.<br />
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-1254581883730606192013-02-15T18:12:00.001-06:002013-02-15T18:12:47.602-06:00Good Bye Butterscotch - you were a great teacher <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6zmesb0y6XbCb4hZAQo8Wcq5NBVn1AUjc2Z3g8Ie94MZlQtubw2qwKxpp4GlxgcwCQ9t6nFa3hN1BhuZkPUAUmlQg9xD3xTupv_kENAEZwIFwxdUo24rjlsyyLau-vOHDo_wvSqnv6w/s1600/old+butter+and+frolic+cat+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6zmesb0y6XbCb4hZAQo8Wcq5NBVn1AUjc2Z3g8Ie94MZlQtubw2qwKxpp4GlxgcwCQ9t6nFa3hN1BhuZkPUAUmlQg9xD3xTupv_kENAEZwIFwxdUo24rjlsyyLau-vOHDo_wvSqnv6w/s200/old+butter+and+frolic+cat+011.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butter still liked his walks as he aged </td></tr>
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About 2 1/2 weeks ago, our beloved yellow lab mix Butterscotch had a stroke. He started off with some increased stumbling and balance problems on Saturday night, that progressed the next day to a full blown head tilt and falling to the side. Despite treatment, he became worse over the next day and my husband, daughter and I made the decision to end his difficulties by bringing him to a friend DVM for euthanasia. It was difficult for us, and Butterscotch was able go go peacefully with Tom and myself at his side. We miss him, and Bella is adjusting without the big guy. You read an awful lot about the crazy Bella dog, but now I will tell you about Butterscotch. .<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zfSiUovEvn2n28njyOG_tkDchxfnhae52PoOns03fa6EwnFdrDsgBSgi-Yo8KmDM4yEr0ZhnakD7fsYaDf5c4l44jBwzzzdj_8GhS4B5CypLqAcv1xWBGKeZYtVNue1Odg-xSk-37qE/s1600/Tunnel+hill+trip+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zfSiUovEvn2n28njyOG_tkDchxfnhae52PoOns03fa6EwnFdrDsgBSgi-Yo8KmDM4yEr0ZhnakD7fsYaDf5c4l44jBwzzzdj_8GhS4B5CypLqAcv1xWBGKeZYtVNue1Odg-xSk-37qE/s200/Tunnel+hill+trip+010.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butter loved to have a toy in his mouth all the time </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5tMVx_MVrx15XbLqSgNmfyD51ShnuktuqphJejxasUMl8FjQSOo9B5wec6Q387NJL_x77JE7t3PB5-oeB4-Y204afhqWkXoAN2MmZ6Myeco2d3Azl6AFoFGJpQYPBbrcPMnf3VBYd_Y/s1600/Tunnel+hill+trip+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5tMVx_MVrx15XbLqSgNmfyD51ShnuktuqphJejxasUMl8FjQSOo9B5wec6Q387NJL_x77JE7t3PB5-oeB4-Y204afhqWkXoAN2MmZ6Myeco2d3Azl6AFoFGJpQYPBbrcPMnf3VBYd_Y/s200/Tunnel+hill+trip+009.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sissel - the super senior at the pet show</td></tr>
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We adopted Butter from the local shelter about 7 1/2 years ago at an estimated age of 8. He was picked up as a stray with a leg so crippled with arthritis he could not walk on it. He was gentle, friendly, and looked like the first dog Tom and I owned. When I saw him, I knew we had to keep him. Our dog at the time Sissel was getting a bit older and we needed to have the back up dog to avoid the empty house syndrome after the older pet dies. Sissel was not always receptive to other dogs so, I thought let's have them meet and see how it goes before making a commitment. Do pets know what we need and want? Sissel just came up to him, sniffed him over, and laid down and ignored him. There was not tension, no staring, guarding or anything. Butter was his usual laid back self so home he came. The two of them always got along - no fighting over toys, food, space or anything. Butter thrived on medication to reduce the pain in his knee, joint diet and daily walks. He was such a loveable dog around people and kids he was almost perfect.<br />
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One day while walking him, he saw a dog across the street - he immediately wanted to rush up to that dog in a very forward and not exactly friendly way. The dog was a little toy breed and the manner that Butter hunkered down with his head level, silently stalking I knew right away - we have some predatory aggression here. A few days later in the back yard he quickly lunged after a squirrel using the same manner and I realized this dog very likely predated on small furry animals, so he has a strong predatory aggression drive. There was even a time Butter got a squirrel in his mouth and Tom had to wrestle the poor creature out. I learned very quickly that not all dog aggression presents the same. Some is very specific to the situation - such as predatory aggression but is still something to manage and watch out for. From this incident I knew Butter would not be a dog to have at a dog park. He would very likely aggress on a small dog badly and there was no way I would take that chance. Butter did not get into a fights with a little dog, but there were a few close calls when little dogs off leash would come trotting up to him and we had to get him away. It was very surprising to people who knew how friendly and sweet he was. I guess that is my point - Butter showed how there are different types of aggression and it takes a specific situation for it to show up. One aggression screen does not screen for all types of aggression.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilB38UnoxZ3MzA4agonWJU13tnkbf1mFZjfj-2XLTmsKnqvZ4pZMQjQIAZEDYk_wZNrss9dUCj43WVlibCE57odzFKpGlswJxrMHlNTLc5ngrxSALrc111P1dCsPsgvQar6F_8MwW0CqE/s1600/more+talk+photos+121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilB38UnoxZ3MzA4agonWJU13tnkbf1mFZjfj-2XLTmsKnqvZ4pZMQjQIAZEDYk_wZNrss9dUCj43WVlibCE57odzFKpGlswJxrMHlNTLc5ngrxSALrc111P1dCsPsgvQar6F_8MwW0CqE/s200/more+talk+photos+121.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a calm moment with Carole </td></tr>
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Butter had thunderstorm phobia. I never had a dog with this problem, but I was aware of other client's dogs who were affected. I had been reading on new treatments using pheromone products and other medications but I was not really clear on what worked best. The first time we had a storm with him home, the kitchen table started shaking. I was wondering what was going on when I saw that Butter was trembling and laying against the legs of the table thus causing the shaking. I could not coax him to settle and I could see him drooling and panting and pacing. I had just gotten the DAP/Adaptil collars in so I ran back to the office and put one on him. He settled down after 10 minutes which made us all feel better. Over time I learned more and developed a plan that had Butter sleeping through many a storm. From my experience with him I wrote out Butterscotch's play list of songs that soothe dogs through storms and my blog entry <a href="http://drsallyjfoote.blogspot.com/2011/04/thunderstorm-nightmares-no-more.html" target="_blank">Thunderstorm nightmares no more </a> showing how to set up an area for a dog to calm during a storm. So, Butter is still helping other fearful pets learn to settle and calm with fears.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe__rSDTczI1CIuXbO0MBrnRobiDK5j_B65ZTsVVVRTUpU5ib0IaDH2wXrsorZZg80GplVAyjobWZ9GDFABfFpRPsuDP9TGhgEwQyumDYdU9bMJ7YJFDcMU-jv19BOptTCp6iQ0xxzHA/s1600/toy+video+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe__rSDTczI1CIuXbO0MBrnRobiDK5j_B65ZTsVVVRTUpU5ib0IaDH2wXrsorZZg80GplVAyjobWZ9GDFABfFpRPsuDP9TGhgEwQyumDYdU9bMJ7YJFDcMU-jv19BOptTCp6iQ0xxzHA/s200/toy+video+101.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Butter was a wonderful guest <a href="http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=347862" target="_blank">on television </a>. He appeared on CI living Champaign a couple of times and was on the Paw Report with WEIU twice. He was such a hit at the stations. When I would walk through he greeted everyone at every desk and they loved to pet him. I don't think he ever upstaged any host and he was very polite about any bathroom needs taking care of that before we entered any building. He is also featured on some of my instructional videos on my clinic website www.okawvetclinic.com again, teaching clients, veterinarians, and technicians about rewarding during the veterinary visit to make it less stressful on the pets and everyone. So, again he is still teaching others about behavior and good pet care. <br />
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Every pet has a special place in one's heart. Butter certainly has that in my families. I do miss him. My sadness is passing and writing about his gift of teaching here really helps me to accept his loss. If you have also lost a pet - I sympathize with your loss. It is never easy to go through. I hope that you too can see he ways your pet has helped teach you about life and that those memories give you peace.<br />
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Dr. Sally J Foote CABC-IAABC<br />
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-20719210899436460272012-12-17T16:29:00.002-06:002012-12-17T16:53:44.407-06:00Pressure fit custom cat tree <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTxAab9VLP_CD75B5vY1RUarzpoN-NFRKRndUgszkMEPnSaN7vIvhWXw3QHZpeDt0S23vER6MSFl2cES5FLPeF2aRFucKOcPV0KXsIJrGGmvwksQv9EZ4KyzFrWjao1CGbAqE1T-EmnE/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTxAab9VLP_CD75B5vY1RUarzpoN-NFRKRndUgszkMEPnSaN7vIvhWXw3QHZpeDt0S23vER6MSFl2cES5FLPeF2aRFucKOcPV0KXsIJrGGmvwksQv9EZ4KyzFrWjao1CGbAqE1T-EmnE/s200/119.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas Ranger and Mercy</td></tr>
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Cat tree for Ranger and Mercy <br />
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Putting a cat tree in a home is an environmental enrichment - something to make the inside more exciting for your cat. Many clients agree it is a good idea, but won't do it. Why????? Most of the objections that I hear are - they are ugly - too big - I don't want to put any screws in the walls - they clash with my decor. I saw an idea or a pressure fit cat tree on <a href="http://www.ikeahackers.net/2011/12/stolmen-cat-tree.html" target="_blank">http://www.ikeahackers.net/2011/12/stolmen-cat-tree.html</a> website and thought that would be a great addition to our waiting room for Mercy and Ranger. It would also serve as a demonstration of a cat tree that would answer a lot of those client objections. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXLoirncOVOEkJJfl8duSAWimSm1etQFLLr0yDp-EtxkqRdIpBzVPZjSIb-HPKTnUjxHlwkpgWpPGLc1e_BJNNY5FAVGtjXdqgHyUxnxPwfur0kH6VZPGOXHtmtw7mrtAu2X5HLRngs8/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXLoirncOVOEkJJfl8duSAWimSm1etQFLLr0yDp-EtxkqRdIpBzVPZjSIb-HPKTnUjxHlwkpgWpPGLc1e_BJNNY5FAVGtjXdqgHyUxnxPwfur0kH6VZPGOXHtmtw7mrtAu2X5HLRngs8/s200/027.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">here is the sketch following the website ideas</td></tr>
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I thought I would enlist the help of my husband Tom Wold. He is really good at scrutinizing the details of a project and constructing unusual things. After a few lively discussions, he understood that I wanted absolutely no brackets or screws to be put in the walls, floor or ceiling. He was concerned that a very active Ranger would knock the tree loose. I doubted that would happen, and I needed a solution for the clients who refuse to have anything mar a wall. Some of the other important features were a cubbie off the floor with a bunny hole for a cat to go from the floor into the cubbie then out the top. This would provide an escape hatch from a big dog or other threat. Spacing the shelves to make it easy for Mercy with her bad hip to navigate was also important. I knew fleece was the way to go for covering the shelves. Cats love fleece and it is easy to clean. Working out the details on paper before starting made the whole process easier. <br />
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Supplies needed :<br />
1 Stoleman pole - IKEA online (or store) it will extend up to 129 inches!<br />
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1- 2 boxes of Stoleman pole brackets - there are 4 sets to a box and one set per shelf is needed <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-ea-ro06LKn-E18B534IY85E5AzxnibQBJ6YA6pA_kHwAPLmXiQ7wgwhN53tpiVIpOzY4nH6zrUTPGGtKejk4dOIPbrL5EMRoP3RkNiSrmc00urrfPojhCM0tSYzSTOmgVkMOi3TaRA/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-ea-ro06LKn-E18B534IY85E5AzxnibQBJ6YA6pA_kHwAPLmXiQ7wgwhN53tpiVIpOzY4nH6zrUTPGGtKejk4dOIPbrL5EMRoP3RkNiSrmc00urrfPojhCM0tSYzSTOmgVkMOi3TaRA/s200/074.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carriage bolts, washers and nuts </td></tr>
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2 inch long carriage bolts you will need 2 per bracket installed <br />
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4 washers per bolt on the brackets - <br />
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1 7/8 inch hole saw - this size worked<br />
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drill and bit for carriage bolt holes <br />
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jig saw. sawz all, or hand saw - <br />
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shelves - 1 X 10 inch shelving 2 - 20 inches long 2 - 24 inches long <br />
1 24 X 24 inch plywood ( base of cubbie) - this made it like an end table too<br />
1 12 X 24 inch plywood ( top of cubbie) <br />
2 12 X 15 inch plywood ( sides of cubbie)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">recycled wood from the old cabinet - free!</td></tr>
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I reused the wood we saved from an old cabinet we took apart years ago<br />
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1 yard fleece fabric 54 inches wide - all fleece is this wide - <br />
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Rubbermaid shelf liner <br />
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The cubbie end table replaced the function of the table that used to be in the corner The bottom of the cubbie was the 24 inch square cabinet door, and the top another 12 by 24 inch door. Luckily the edges were already rabbited so the plywood sides were easy to install. Tom used a jig saw to cut the bunny hole. You could use other kinds of saws - just be sure to smooth out the edges. We made the hole 7 inches by 7 inches on the top and bottom.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">marking the placement of the hole saw and bolts</td></tr>
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Tom drew out a template for placing the drill holes for the pole and the bolts. This made the placement very exact and consistent. He drilled the pole hole 5 inches from the end of all the boards <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">washers in place with brackets installed loose</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished boards </td></tr>
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The pole hole and bolt holes were cut then the brackets installed.<br />
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First Tom extended the pole to fit the ceiling height including the ceiling board. Then we took it down to the floor for assembling the shelves. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sliding the first shelf/cubbie on</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the awkward part - not too bad really</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsK8RMXfVREwVhvd_e9FB27_TnvR-oy4Ql6Xx89BnHb2YscCtkpInMI-My6dqxuRFZ628leN4rA9beM0WHeonKhbETetN7XdRBx6mol_tmYeWreS-cJcmCf5XndArIkub2L2hlp2rBBY/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsK8RMXfVREwVhvd_e9FB27_TnvR-oy4Ql6Xx89BnHb2YscCtkpInMI-My6dqxuRFZ628leN4rA9beM0WHeonKhbETetN7XdRBx6mol_tmYeWreS-cJcmCf5XndArIkub2L2hlp2rBBY/s200/092.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">measuring the distance desired between shelves - then tighten</td></tr>
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Now slide the shelves onto the pole with the plastic sleeves in place, then tighten using the wrenches supplied. This was the fiddly part that frustrated Tom the most. It really was not that hard, just a bit awkward so be patient with it. Figuring out the distance between shelves and the way we wanted them to point was a big help when putting the pole together. All Tom had to do was install the first shelf, then measure up and put the next one and rotate it into position and so on.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pole is now set to go up</td></tr>
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Time to put up the pole. The base plate was in position and ceiling board was nearby. <br />
In one motion, Tom hoisted the pole up like a Christmas tree and slipped the board on the ceiling. I just held the center of the pole to keep it in position as he adjusted the base to fit the pole snug against the ceiling. Hooray! The pole and shelves were up and almost ready. The whole process to install was quick and easy.<br />
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Painting the shelves would come later - I wanted to get the fleece up so Ranger and Mercy could start to investigate the cat pole and enjoy it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0LeYeeLXebW0VrelitK_mLJXrrI7OATwLa8LXGe4r4NoFQhySBXMgEzsq_5G98QnzBd3j8gen3eTH1zKVgO-Lk_CDc8o0lQTiBvVZmKAZ8dNpH15fwonmT0nz-VT7uZTqMRa73D88oE/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0LeYeeLXebW0VrelitK_mLJXrrI7OATwLa8LXGe4r4NoFQhySBXMgEzsq_5G98QnzBd3j8gen3eTH1zKVgO-Lk_CDc8o0lQTiBvVZmKAZ8dNpH15fwonmT0nz-VT7uZTqMRa73D88oE/s200/104.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">measuring wall distance for plumb</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUoZE1L9Jl0TwJ38Hs7BRc_sUjtKyOl3WHHGciKfRB3iHam3ziSaD4kaTkKkPzfF972dRDT2cqt-YL1ZokMgJ-usKYRC_Ud8xkl1Rw89cPl1USCy0_ZRggCs5hTM2Lqaxj7rSAJauD8A/s1600/cat+pole+pictures+jessica+and+bella+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUoZE1L9Jl0TwJ38Hs7BRc_sUjtKyOl3WHHGciKfRB3iHam3ziSaD4kaTkKkPzfF972dRDT2cqt-YL1ZokMgJ-usKYRC_Ud8xkl1Rw89cPl1USCy0_ZRggCs5hTM2Lqaxj7rSAJauD8A/s200/cat+pole+pictures+jessica+and+bella+003.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cutting the rubber shelf mat to fit</td></tr>
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The actual laying/perching area of the shelf is about 14 inches long, so I cut 12 inch wide strips from the width of the fleece, then folded that about 4 times to make a thick soft cover. Cats really love fleece - better than carpet and it would be easy to wash. The Rubbermaid shelf line was cut to fit the surface and this prevents the fleece from slipping on the shelf.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWp7zMlC2ZPR9DV6LizlptqXh5fqvMN3egRow3mp-amOd49FaxZDL7cn-YgfYlqtEuJ4ewhjhSGYKlgj0dOXLf26chsKLOBks0brv1VCLGAJxbSGXNaWYLLWaruiBmeddvZtgR1INr-A/s1600/pet+crafting+day+2012++cat+pole+baxter+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWp7zMlC2ZPR9DV6LizlptqXh5fqvMN3egRow3mp-amOd49FaxZDL7cn-YgfYlqtEuJ4ewhjhSGYKlgj0dOXLf26chsKLOBks0brv1VCLGAJxbSGXNaWYLLWaruiBmeddvZtgR1INr-A/s200/pet+crafting+day+2012++cat+pole+baxter+019.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">little cups for finding food</td></tr>
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Ranger can be a little slow figuring things out at times, so I got some small dishes at Pier one and put some of his food in them. Putting the dishes up on the shelves rewarded him for climbing the pole and is also a way to encourage your cat to "hunt" their food. We also re oriented some of the shelves after it was up. All we had to do was loosen the brackets a little, rotate the shelf the tighten.<br />
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As you can see, Ranger likes the pole. Even Mercy has enjoyed the cat tree. There are at least 4 more perching places available in the clinic for the cats expanding their space. . There is also the cubbie for times when Mercy wants to hide out. It has held up well and we are showing it off to clients to encourage them to understand what their cat needs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1wHjCImHfGKCYYMjPAD1gYNaYmEb7ebvDJ7KG1LGfqGspHc6Yz3a8RL3O-hhp35X8Gd8nFitqVgjoYflyBHRnqlxlif9tZkixHYzQ-tpvxNAcrG-fhsAzE4muKw5QXugxU6CMmuv8k8/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1wHjCImHfGKCYYMjPAD1gYNaYmEb7ebvDJ7KG1LGfqGspHc6Yz3a8RL3O-hhp35X8Gd8nFitqVgjoYflyBHRnqlxlif9tZkixHYzQ-tpvxNAcrG-fhsAzE4muKw5QXugxU6CMmuv8k8/s200/039.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas Ranger!</td></tr>
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You could decorate this any way you like to have it work with your home. Shelves could be made of fine wood that is stained, the pole can be painted or even wrap fabric around it to beautify it. Wrapping the pole with jute rope would make a great scratching area for cats too. Our pole was finished just in time for Christmas so Rachael wound greenery around ours. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVImV-PeRCM1kGMgWbZk2xz-JvxlUz0qN9CD4Ef_rp80-roQaut6uw-nwwxHvtbbOamhlZnPNFai_c9hUlvzTFswLVESi9PvxJyuUK4HVYEx7ugLAzA0iLq1mAtZzKuUpqm9db8XttjY/s1600/pet+crafting+day+2012++cat+pole+baxter+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVImV-PeRCM1kGMgWbZk2xz-JvxlUz0qN9CD4Ef_rp80-roQaut6uw-nwwxHvtbbOamhlZnPNFai_c9hUlvzTFswLVESi9PvxJyuUK4HVYEx7ugLAzA0iLq1mAtZzKuUpqm9db8XttjY/s200/pet+crafting+day+2012++cat+pole+baxter+018.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add a custom cat tree to your house. Your cats will love you for it! </td></tr>
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-74158348201143534832012-09-21T16:33:00.000-05:002012-09-22T14:03:24.510-05:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvxRZX-mKc9t-pz9Ueccqo-kdSGG8Hd-h3b9wElM3dGHhw-j5E1SWW6OrRcuXcgrcmU8H-qVMqRzvA6d0s0HbWjmz5pYOvcv9SW2TWv9mUd7hMnAcomfBOK-ggiu0vC8yHSDnxKE5lnA/s1600/100_8833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvxRZX-mKc9t-pz9Ueccqo-kdSGG8Hd-h3b9wElM3dGHhw-j5E1SWW6OrRcuXcgrcmU8H-qVMqRzvA6d0s0HbWjmz5pYOvcv9SW2TWv9mUd7hMnAcomfBOK-ggiu0vC8yHSDnxKE5lnA/s200/100_8833.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mercy in her favorite spot</td></tr>
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Calming a cat's anxiety with CALM by Royal Canin<br />
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Mercy is one of our clinic pet cats. She and Ranger have some basic understandings to keep the peace between each other as you have read in <a href="http://drsallyjfoote.blogspot.com/2011/07/fighting-felines-helping-mercy-and.html" target="_blank">July 2011 post</a>. In the mornings Mercy was acting a bit more agitated at Ranger, also hissing at some people and just out of sorts. I could not find any medical reason outstanding to be making her attitude upset. There were not any overt big fights, and I did not want it to get like that. <span id="goog_1436115815"></span><span id="goog_1436115816"></span><br />
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Mercy is on J/D for her arthritic false hip ( she had a femoral head ostectomy about 14 years ago), pumpkin to reduce hair balls, joint supplement and periodic pain reliever. Her medical management seemed to be at the best it could and I considered if she may be feeling some anxiety or was that developing with age. We have added lots of additional perches in the office to enrich the environment for them so competition for space was not likely. We also ordered some feather toys on a stick for structured play time for Ranger and what ever Mercy would do so there was social interaction with the staff but still, she just did not seem happy. I thought this would be a good chance to try out the CALM diet by Royal Canin and see how it might help her.<br />
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The J/D diet by Hills has given Mercy some benefit with her hip so I did not want to abandon that diet completely. I instructed Racheal, one of the techs to mix the J/D and CALM 50/50 for the trial and see if there was any effect. The supplementation would not be a much, but I figured - there may be some benefit. The behaviors we were looking to see improvement on were - less hissing and avoidance of staff members and Ranger. That was about it. We did not have any soiling problems or real aggressive fights - just the crankiness towards Ranger and some of the staff. We had figured her avoidance of dogs and some clients to be just the way she was.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyeIO2P623-ZHhhUCvyYk37d8azj01fJbLRD4mxXXfXWhJmdnuCpRPIluCSgSUTQJuyb9zXRNGq1w2h-vFlwy9-bnpR4fSM6WIPn__DNna6pXEOr_8AUvTnN-DrfZIx8yrr7U7MNgOak/s1600/82812+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyeIO2P623-ZHhhUCvyYk37d8azj01fJbLRD4mxXXfXWhJmdnuCpRPIluCSgSUTQJuyb9zXRNGq1w2h-vFlwy9-bnpR4fSM6WIPn__DNna6pXEOr_8AUvTnN-DrfZIx8yrr7U7MNgOak/s200/82812+078.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Typically Mercy does not seek affection and want to be petted by women. Men with strong aftershave or cigarette smell on their hands is what she loves - why I have not clue! Really - she will roll, rub, and purr for a man with the strong aroma of Polo or Aramis. She likes to sit on Racheal's lap, tolerate petting from Debbie, and really does not want to have anything to do with Leeza even though Leeza does her feedings and care. So one day about 1 1/2 weeks after we started her on the CALM diet I was at the clinic after hours. Mercy came right up to me and started to rub and weave in between my legs purring. I had to double check it was her and not Ranger. She let me pet her and continued to purr! This was really surprising to me. She rarely sought out affection from me and would usually only tolerate some head pets before leaving. Here she was continually seeking petting. Then the next day she was laying in her bed which is on the shelf under where the microwave is. I put my mug in the microwave which would typically have her jumping out of her bed to go elsewhere. As my coffee was warming up I saw she was laying peacefully in her bed, just taking in the day. Wow - this is unusual. She let me pet her in her bed - another big step toward less anxiety! <br />
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Later I told the staff to observe her interactions with staff members, clients and Ranger. As each day passed we saw her go up to clients and head butt them as well as allowing them to pet her over her head and body as she has not done before! Men were no longer the only Mercy magnet!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm1A_H4RBoeZt5yOuxfC8ujQyhUwGQreGl7v4_frSbZD5HGmNVz7OwnMBh_rnvjmxmJaOiviuMUQ6CyK0Ee5wsYTzQ5-NhTSYOy0nV4mrqsKrEP8_Q9fNBwRiGKkeRXU4YpIPqFV7GVs/s1600/82812+096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm1A_H4RBoeZt5yOuxfC8ujQyhUwGQreGl7v4_frSbZD5HGmNVz7OwnMBh_rnvjmxmJaOiviuMUQ6CyK0Ee5wsYTzQ5-NhTSYOy0nV4mrqsKrEP8_Q9fNBwRiGKkeRXU4YpIPqFV7GVs/s200/82812+096.JPG" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mercy loves to be with Leeza now</td></tr>
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The really surprising day was when Mercy sat right next to Leeza as she worked on files and was head butting her. In a cautious way Leeza picked Mercy up and held her. Typically Mercy would have resisted and even tried to swat or bite at Leeza. Not now. Mercy loves Leeza now.<br />
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Play time has also improved for Mercy. She will now chase after the feather as it is dragged across the ground and play <a href="http://www.okawvetclinic.com/site/view/221410_KilltheBear.pml" target="_blank">Kill The Bear</a> with her toy. She and Ranger still have their am attitude adjustment period. This has been a bit challenging to figure out. They each jump and pounce on each other and will co groom just before. There is not any hissing or tension about perching spaces. It may be that they like wrestling but it is hard to tell.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWZkQ1AMAKLBtRL6rw2RI30x-6etEVRGN4xUIdliC81iVx8pEvjBMF5-WJj8j7koDNf7_vWJhXw5Ss8SOB-ppv0SIXIP7YA0A4Cc7rJUKfY_u4LiG3KnKWuIfXd3Ox3Zj56_nnSP6AK4/s1600/mercy+happy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWZkQ1AMAKLBtRL6rw2RI30x-6etEVRGN4xUIdliC81iVx8pEvjBMF5-WJj8j7koDNf7_vWJhXw5Ss8SOB-ppv0SIXIP7YA0A4Cc7rJUKfY_u4LiG3KnKWuIfXd3Ox3Zj56_nnSP6AK4/s200/mercy+happy.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mercy is much more lovey</td></tr>
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The CALM has really helped Mercy be a more social, affectionate and less anxious cat. With each week we are seeing her be more lovey and interacting well even with dogs that come in. If your cat is hiding, avoiding petting, or interacting with other pets or people I would strongly advise to talk to your veterinarian about trying the CALM diet. Mercy really likes the taste of it and has not had any problems with her stool or vomiting. The diet is adjusted to be good for urinary health and dental health as well. CALM for cats is available in 8.8 lb bags which at 1/4 -1/3 cup dry food per day will last quite a while. There is a rebate available on the Royal Canin Face book page so be sure to sign up for that. We print those out for our clients to make it easier to follow through with the rebate.<br />
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Good luck and let me know if you give CALM a try.<br />
Dr Sally J Foote <br />
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785375793874914622.post-40847963990173263622012-08-14T16:13:00.000-05:002012-08-14T16:13:32.706-05:00Latest updates on Bella and the summerIt has been a busy summer, so sorry for the delay in posting.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace as prairie field assistant to Dr Sheila Sobaski</td></tr>
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Bella has continued to progress will with her CALM diet. She is decreasing in her agitation and reactivity daily. A big step forward for Bella was when my good friend Sheila and her daughter Grace visited at the end of July. Normally I have kept Bella at the clinic for the 2-3 days that Sheila is here doing her field work since Bella does not have to know them; they visit once a year. This time I thought - let's see how it goes. I can always board her if she is not less agitated. Grace was also a fantastic child for working with Bella. Grace has gone to training classes as a volunteer to help dogs get used to kids. So Grace immediately understood the need for her to give Bella her food kibble quick after sits and to follow my instruction on where to walk. There were a few times Bella jumped up suddenly at Grace but she would settle down and take rewards right from Grace's hand. Grace even had Bella coming, downing, and sitting on command. I think Bella even allowed Grace to pet her too!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYwwswNMP0gP3T2rL6kG6pjXVW42QsSGEhE9P7_oZQHN1KosKMTuwLl3cqAhcaWS3Lf0CIaxb_XHzkhBzeVN_Sk3LG6EBa7hGD78tkGg-W4utqkZhAPi7ug2d81id6vGNazKI5ktujls/s1600/551172_3102521980556_1901626583_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYwwswNMP0gP3T2rL6kG6pjXVW42QsSGEhE9P7_oZQHN1KosKMTuwLl3cqAhcaWS3Lf0CIaxb_XHzkhBzeVN_Sk3LG6EBa7hGD78tkGg-W4utqkZhAPi7ug2d81id6vGNazKI5ktujls/s200/551172_3102521980556_1901626583_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bella knows Grace has the goodies!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I did not give Bella any additional medication - just the CALM diet. I did keep the gentle leader on her with the drag line in the home. This was a good way to redirect Bella and put her in the areas that would give her more space with additional people in the house. My friend also felt more secure with a barky, jumpy dog in a head halter to have more control over the mouth. The gentle leader head halter is not a muzzle and it does not mean Bella is failing to become a better dog. It is a humane way to have control and safety when there are triggers for reactivity and possible aggression. We use head halters all the time on horses and cattle - it is not any different for your dog. <br />
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This weekend Bella and I walked all around Meadowbrook Park in Urbana. She was far less reactive to unknown people - many that would look her right in the eye as they walked past. She would sit calmly and just be curious. There were a few dogs on leash where she was barking and lunged out at one who did the same to her. This is the first time between the horrible heat and available time I have had to take her to a busy park for counter conditioning. She even laid and rested on the outside of the dog park and greeted a dog through the fence well. So her progress continues.<br />
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I also made a few more videos that are posted on my you tube channel <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/drsallyjfoote?feature=results_main" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/user/drsallyjfoote?feature=results_main</a>and linked through my website<a href="http://www.drsallyjfoote.com/" target="_blank"> www.drsallyjfoote.com</a>. Barking like crazy 1 and 2. I show how to set up a tether, rewards that are handy and use a dragline. My dad, John Foote was a willing participant to show how to keep things safe and sane while someone is coming in the home with a walker.<br />
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I hope you have had a great summer, and please let me know how this information is helping you to know your pet. I promise to have a post for our cat lovers next month featuring pain management in older cats for good behavior.<br />
Take care! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Grace for helping Bella become a better dog</td></tr>
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<br />Dr. Sally J. Foote DVMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492095460459682301noreply@blogger.com1