29 Oct 2024

Bring on the Holidays

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Here comes November and with it we get colder temperatures and longer nights. Veterans day and Thanksgiving are days we all need to be grateful and thankful for the sacrifices others have made for us to live in this great country. Our pets have a few holidays this month as well. We are winding down the year in November with Pet Cancer Month, Senior Pet month, Adopt a Senior Pet, and Pet Diabetes Month. That is a lot to consider during the eleventh month of the year. There are so many senior dogs that have ended up in shelters for multiple different reasons. Most are well mannered and want only to be loved in their final years on this earth. I realize that the most difficult part of owning a pet is how quickly the years fly by. Considering starting with a senior pet makes the time together that much shorter. If you look at it in a different light, how wonderful it is that you offered a loving home for that aging pet who now gets to leave this earth knowing that both lives have been enhanced by each other. Go change a senior pet’s life.

Pet Cancer Month raises awareness that owners need to watch for the 3A’s – changes to appetite, attitude, or activity levels. Multiple health conditions can change the 3A’s. I want to point out that discovering cancer in our pets comes from many different diagnostics. Some cancers like human cancers are benign and cause no health risk to patients. One of the most common ones is lipomas. These are fat tumors that are common in large older canine patients. They become more pronounced as a pet drops weight and many people feel they are growing when it is weight loss that makes them stand out more. Also, dogs’ appetites change for lots of reasons so never assume your pet has cancer just because they are not eating. Malignant cancers are present in our pets and can impact many body functions. Some malignant cancers spread to the lungs where radiographs can show spots. Some cancers have blood changes, but many of the most common cancers show no changes to the blood panels we run routinely. This often surprises clients that we cannot find cancer by running routine blood work. It is still good information to have but our ability to find cancer with it is low. The takeaway is have your pets seen annually at a minimum since dogs age faster than humans. Once they reach their senior years having them seen at least twice per year would be best.

November 1st is cook for your pet day. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS! We treat pets constantly for digestive issues that started with people food in one form or another. It has become a new trend to home cook for pets. What I see is inconsistency in the formulation of the diets and an imbalance of micronutrients. Pet food companies doing ongoing research have shown the positive benefits of these micronutrients. When we home cook all we can provide are the 4 basic food groups. Pets are living longer lives because we have discovered these micronutrients that the body needs. It is common today to see cats between 15-20 years of age. Many large dogs are living over 13 years which was unheard of 15 years ago. Do not buy into fresh or raw or home cooked marketing tactics. Their only goal is profitability and sales. They are not looking at how to extend the lives of our pets.

Nov 4th – 10th is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. Shelters need volunteers, donations, and thank you’s for all their hard work and dedication. Take a bag of food or cat litter or gift cards to say thank you to the local shelters in your area. They deserve our appreciation for helping the lost and surrendered pets in our country. Tell them how much you recognize the sacrifices they make to care for these pets who are waiting for their forever homes. When you go to vote – remember to drop by and donate something to an animal shelter that same week.

Fancy Rat and Mouse Day is November 12th. Who knew there was an organization for this purpose. I visited the site and discovered there are shows for mice and rats just like for cats and dogs. They evaluate their hair type and colors and body compositions. The American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association (AFRMA) has been around in 1983 so it is nothing new. It is part of a non-profit international club. The focus is to promote and educate people about fancy rats and mice. Anyone can be a member so check it out if you have a passion for these pocket pets.

National Dog Show will be held Nov 16 -17th this year. There are over 250 different breeds that will be present. It can be an educational experience to watch the owners/ handlers in the show ring at these dog shows. It is a great place to see various breeds and help in your personal selection of a dog for your family. If you happen to find a breed that you are interested in, please do additional research to find out more about the care, grooming, temperament, size, exercise needs, etc. of that breed. Daily we see people that are mismatched with their dog breed. These mismatches are sometimes based on the time requirements, the energy levels, the size and sex of the dog, or even the location they will live. Do your research prior to purchase and maybe we can help keep adolescent dogs out of shelters.

Since Thanksgiving is in November, we at Winterset Veterinary Center want to thank you for your continued loyalty to our practice. We are grateful for our customers and their critters of all sizes, shapes, and colors. We celebrated 40 years of business in 2024, and we could not have done that without all of you. The original owner, Dr Ken Henrichsen, passed away 10 years ago this month and we are so grateful for his vision. Dr Jim started here in 1988 right after his graduation from the College of Veterinary Medicine and never left. I joined him after Dr Ken’s retirement in 2007. How quickly the years have flown by. As you celebrate this season of Thanksgiving make sure to let your critters know what a difference they have made in your lives. These furry friends bring joy and health to all. Happy Thanksgiving!