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Hard to believe that I have been blogging about pet issues for 9 years. My first blog was July 2016. We had just gotten a new website version for Winterset Veterinary Center. I was told  doing a blog would help our status with google having new material each month. I decided to start sharing information about pets and their health concerns. I have touched on numerous topics over the years. I have shared personal events and experiences on occasion. I have referenced many articles, documents, and topics about a variety of animals. I have even had guest bloggers over the years who have shared their knowledge about a particular subject. I have learned from these blogs right alongside my audience. The wealth of information available at our fingertips is sometimes overwhelming. I have attempted to write blogs for ease of understanding and comprehension. Nothing makes me more excited when people tell me that they appreciate the way in which I explain things to make it easier for them to understand.

I attempted to find some statistics about what blogs have been most popular, but it appears our most recent server update is only giving me information from the last 6 months. It is difficult to make comparisons from 9 years ago with only 6 months of data. Having said that, I decided to just share a few interesting stories that have happened related to our social media presence. Apparently, there is a Winterset Veterinary Hospital in Pennsylvania. More than once in the last 9 years we have had calls from people in Pennsylvania believing they are calling their local veterinarian. The most interesting story was a Friday evening call I got explaining that his dog got hit by a porcupine and needed to come in on Saturday to have them removed. I explained that I would not have time to do that procedure on Saturday.  We could do it now as an emergency visit. He would not agree to that and therefore I explained he would need to go to the emergency facility to have them removed. I had worked in Northern Minnesota and removed porcupine quills before so was familiar with the process. The next day this man never showed up with his dog. I started to think through this scenario realizing that there are no porcupines in central Iowa. I googled Winterset Veterinary facilities and discovered the one in Pennsylvania. I still had his phone number and decided to call him. I explained why I was calling him back and we had a good laugh. He was an over the road trucker and was trying to reach his veterinarian in Pennsylvania at Winterset Veterinary Hospital. He told me if he ever got to Winterset, IA he was going to stop in since I was the only veterinarian he could reach that night. He has never been here, but it was that first call that has prompted me to ask where people are calling from when we cannot find them in our system. It has happened more times than I can count. Guess what? I just had a fax for a prescription and the client was from Johnstown, PA. Crazy!

The blogs that I submit monthly for our website allow us to have a higher rating with social media sites and therefore we pop up often before other practices in this area as well as in other parts of the country with a similar names. I decided to google my name to see what pops up. I have been given an author status for writing these blogs. That was surprising. Affiliation with Winterset Veterinary Center is the first thing that comes up, but it was interesting to see what other things pop up. Times my name was in the newspaper. Times my husband’s name has been printed, and I was mentioned. A college scholarship that I received prior to my 3^rd year of veterinary school. I had not expected to see that. It has also been interesting to see the direct search results for myself and the Winterset Vet. People spell my name in so many ways both first and last name. It is amazing that they still can connect with us through our social media presence. Do not ever attempt use Truthfinder for information….it will cost you something in the end after you have gone through the entire process. Waste of time if you are googling yourself. I already know where I have lived and whom I married. 

I have taken a step back on my hours at Winterset Veterinary Center so I can spend more time with my granddaughters. I am taking the 4 year old to Vacation Bible School in July. I took both of them to Joujou in Des Moines last week so their mom could have some free time. I am also playing pickle ball on my days off. I enjoy helping others and am looking for opportunities to give back. I will be working Tuesday – Thursday consistently going forward. Dr Jim is still available during regular business hours during the week and after hours. If I am gone when you call in to speak with me, leave a message and I will get back to you when I return. I am not retiring but just making opportunities to do more things in my life that bring me joy.

Having said all this today, if you have been reading my blogs for 9 years, thank you. I want to give a huge shout out to Julie Feirer from Winterset Websites for posting these each month. She also finds most of the eye-catching photos to attach to my blogs. She probably has corrected many grammar errors through the year as well. She has been my source of information when it comes to Winterset Veterinary Center’s website.  

Obesity in our furry friends is at an all time high. We continue to talk with clients about the negative side effects associated with excess weight. Yet it seems it takes a medical crisis before owners take this information seriously. I believe I have mentioned this before but for each extra pound of body weight that adds 4 extra lbs. of pressure on the joints. If your pet is 5 lbs. overweight, they carry around a 20 lb. backpack each day. Exercise is not the key. It is helpful to be active, but intake is the only way to achieve weight loss in our furry friends. All food sources must be considered. Royal Canin sent us the following resource to share with clients about feeding pets from our tables. Take a look and decide whether you might be adding to the problem even with those small bites!

Meet our June patient, Java Joe, a cat of unknown age. We first met him in March related to having blood in stool. Discussion about his excess appetite and thirst gave cause for concern for some underlying health issues. She had just received him and was told he was 5 years of age but no records to prove this. On appearance he looked older.  Also was obese based on his body size. She had started to work on weight loss knowing he was heavy.

She agreed to return with him for a wellness exam so we could get some base lines on his bloodwork and urinalysis. Our goal was to see whether we could find cause for his voracious appetite and excessive thirst. Our findings confirmed diabetes since we had glucose in the urine and high levels in the blood. The symptoms matched the diagnosis, so we discussed with the client treatment options. 

In years past this diagnosis was a difficult one for many owners because they had no desire to give their cat or dog injections every 12 hours for the rest of the pet’s life. We coached people using saline on how to give the injections. We would have them give the injections at the time of a feeding to make certain the cat or dog was eating normal amounts of food. No free feeding was allowed, and this often conflicted with every pet in the house. As you can imagine, the success of therapy was unpredictable. So many variables to deal with.

About 3 years ago a new treatment came on the market for cats only. It is called Bexacat by Elanco. This medication is not offered to any cats that are currently on insulin or have been on insulin. It can only be used with cats that are newly diagnosed with Diabetes. The medication is a once-a-day CHEWABLE FLAVORED tablet. Owners break it up with their food and cats eat it.  No force feeding or hiding required to get cats to eat this medication.

We are excited to report that Java Joe recently returned for a recheck and his values had improved. His owner indicated she is seeing less drinking and peeing at this time. He has gained some weight back so we will need to adjust his feeding schedule to prevent further weight gain. We highly recommended they feed Royal Canin Glycobalance and monitor the volume fed and output. We do not want the cats to get heavy again but are willing to allow them to regain the weight and muscle mass they have lost since showing clinical symptoms of Diabetes. The following contradictions are listed on the Elanco website.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

• Do not use Bexacat in cats with diabetes mellitus who have previously been treated with insulin, who are receiving insulin, or in cats with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The use of Bexacat in cats with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or the withdrawal of insulin and initiation of Bexacat, is associated with an increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis or euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis and death.
• Due to risk of severe adverse reactions, do not use Bexacat in cats with evidence of hepatic disease or reduced renal function.

A second drug called Senvelgo has recently come to the market for diabetic cats. This product is a liquid formulated by Boehiringer Ingelheim (BI).  It is for cats only that have not been on insulin. It has similar restrictions as Bexacat but certainly simplifies treatment for owners and their cats.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: 

• Senvelgo should not be used in cats with diabetes mellitus who have previously been treated with insulin, who are receiving insulin, or in cats with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The use of Senvelgo in cats with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or the withdrawal of insulin and initiation of Senvelgo, is associated with an increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA with a normal blood glucose concentration) and death.

It is exciting to be able to offer different options for cats with diabetes that will make treatment easier for their owners. Our focus would be to keep the cats lean and not allow obesity as a prevention for diabetes in the first place. Obese cats have risks of heart and joint issues as well as diabetes. Sound familiar.  Amazing how our furry friends can be impacted by excess weight in the same way as ourselves. Monitor the volume of food offered to your pets daily. Adjust the diet up and down to regulate their weight. Talk with your veterinarian if you feel your furry friend is overweight and at risk for diabetes. This disease is preventable. Weight loss can be achieved if an owner is committed to helping their cat or dog live a longer healthier life. Now who isn’t committed to that!

Years ago, when I began practice, we would see cats with Feline Urologic Syndrome(FUS) multiple times a month. The cats were always in distress and owners reported multiple trips to the litter box with no urine being produced. These cats are usually males since they have a predisposition to urinary blockages based on the smaller size of their urethra. Females can be diagnosed with FUS but they usually are always able to pee but take multiple trips to litter box with small amounts of urine output.

Panda is a 3-year-old-long haired indoor only cat. He started showing signs of discomfort with frequent trips to the litter box. Owners noted that he was not having any urine output. His diet had been switched about 3 weeks earlier which may have led to the change in urine consistency and pH. In recent years many cat food companies aware of this life-threatening condition have altered the ash content of their cat foods to reduce the incidence of FUS. For some cats this is not enough of a change to prevent FUS. This condition takes into consideration many different factors and reduced ash is only one of them. 

At presentation many of these cats are in extreme pain. Some have stopped eating and drinking. Some may be vomiting and lethargic. Abdominal palpation is painful, and the bladder is hard and enlarged. The blood work shows pre-renal azotemia with elevated Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine along with other various changes. Many of the laboratory results will be resolved after the crisis is over.

Anesthesia is required to relieve the blockage by placing a urinary catheter to allow continual drainage as the mineralized crystals are flushed from the bladder. Initially the urine is blood red and gritty in appearance. An intravenous (IV) catheter is placed and Lactated Ringers Solution given in a constant drip to facilitate resolution of the high levels of BUN and creatinine. This also becomes a way to rehydrate the patient. Many of the cats will be vomiting along with not eating or drinking so dehydration is a crucial factor. Panda was hospitalized during this crisis. Many patients can go home within 24-48 hours if the condition is discovered quickly. The tragedy comes when left undiscovered and the bladder ruptures related to the inability to empty. Those cases are complicated and can end in death.

Once Panda was feeling better and had recovered from his anesthesia, he was offered a prescription diet called Royal Canin urinary s/o designed to prevent FUS. There are a few diets commercially available for urinary health as well as multiple veterinary prescription diets. Prescription diets offer other positive aspects for prevention of FUS.  What diet you feed your cats can impact them in ways that can lead to medical issues. Researching your cats’ diets is highly encouraged. Keeping the diet the same and not switching is often recommended as those subtle changes can lead to not only weight gain but also other health issues. Talk with your veterinarian about what would be a good diet for your cat. They are knowledgeable about nutrition and the health issues that come with feeding the wrong diets to your cat. As pet owners you can no longer use the cost of food to determine the quality of the diet. Everything that pertains to pets has a price tag since marketers are aware that these furry friends are now family. We will do whatever it takes to make them live longer. 

Have a great spring. Get out and enjoy the weather but hang on to your hat! It seems the wind is here to stay!

This happens to be a common call to Winterset Veterinary Center. Pets will escape for no obvious reason and cause emotional turmoil for themselves and their owners.  We do not always have a reason for their change of behavior but one thing that I can encourage is you microchip them even if they are strictly an indoor dog or cat. I have had indoor dogs and cats misplaced as often as those that go outdoors. Mainly because when they get outside, they get scared and take off. It can be difficult to track them and waiting for them to come home can be devastating.

Recently we were made aware of a microchip that sells a tag that has a QR code on it. It is called The Buddy ID system. How it works is the microchip is registered as usual, but the tag is unique. As an owner you can place important information attached to the QR code so when scanned it shows up on the phone. This will allow for a faster reunion between owners and their pets. It takes away the need for the pet to be scanned at a shelter or veterinary office. It removes the need to look up the chip number online. Then go online to Microchip Lookup to find a company phone number. Call that company requesting information to find out who the dog belongs to. With this QR code tag anyone with a smart phone can scan QR code and find important information. These days we see QR codes at restaurants, businesses, websites, tv commercials, etc. No longer do we have to wait until the businesses open to scan the lost pet and start the recovery process. The whole ability to reunite owners with their pets is only one QR code away.

These tags are available to anyone who has a microchip. Winterset Veterinary Center has tags available for purchase. Once you purchase the tag there are instructions on how to register the tag with Buddy ID for your pet’s safety. 

This new technology is a game changer when it comes to reuniting pets with owners. The personal information shared is at your discretion. Some people share name and phone number which is adequate.  Your personal information is secure. This just allows anyone who finds your pet to quickly return your pet safely home.

If you have a microchip and are interested in this Buddy Badge feel free to contact the Winterset Veterinary Center to learn more about it. It is a quick process to register your pet’s microchip with your new Buddy Badge. 

With the warmer weather and our ability to spend more time outdoors, this is the perfect time to update your microchip information. This will assure if your pet should get lost they can safely be returned home as quickly as possible. Get outside and enjoy Springtime in IOWA!

Last month I discussed some medical reasons to spay and neuter your pets. This month I want to touch on behavioral reasons to spay and neuter your pets. I am not a pet behavioralist but with over 40 years of experience dealing with pets, I have seen numerous cases of dog-to-dog aggression. I take time in the exam room to discuss concerns with having multiple intact males or females on property related to aggression. Dogs and cats alike have pecking orders within their packs. These pecking orders offer peace and order within the home. The challenge comes when a younger intact dog reaches sexual maturity and the older dog ( intact or altered) has established top dog status to this point. Now the younger dog decides to challenge the older dog for that top dog role. We see the traumatic injuries and even death resulting from that challenge. Sometimes owners will see little outbursts and come to the aid of the younger dog not realizing they are messing with the pecking order. This makes the younger dog feel entitled and more confident in their attempt to take over top dog status. Then one day owners return to a home that looks like a murder has been committed. Crises like these can be avoided by practicing spay/neuter procedures on your dogs. Leaving your dog intact has no benefit when it comes to behavior issues. I had a woman who bred her dog and had a litter of puppies. She then decided to spay her dog and told me that after 3 years she finally had the dog she wanted from the start. I quickly explained that if she had spayed her earlier, she could have avoided all the worldly behaviors she displayed. It is easy to tell when a dog is intact. They cannot stop sniffing when they meet or greet someone new. Their noses go into overdrive taking in all the different smells surrounding them. When they have been spayed or neutered, they can just relax and be a member of the family. They do not always have to be on high alert.

Spayed/neutered dogs settle into a routine much more quickly. Spayed/neutered dogs are better listeners. Spayed/neutered dogs do not mark or wander as frequently unless they started those behaviors prior to the spay/neuter. Once a dog has discovered fun things during their wandering days, they will potentially continue wanting to seek out those activities. Sometimes it is finding another dog or person to play with. Sometimes it was food that they found, and it continues to draw them back again.  Sometimes we do not know what keeps them wandering but it can lead to much frustration and certainly the chance of injury or death when they get off property. I once had a client call me to report their 8-year-old boxer was missing. During the conversation he asked why after 8 years his dog would run off?  That was a crystal ball question. There are no concrete reasons why dogs run off. They are animals and they have their own thoughts and sometimes those thoughts make them do crazy or unusual things.

This month’s case is Nova a 6-year-old intact female. She lives in a home with a younger intact female that is two times her size who recently reached sexual maturity. The resulting injuries were most likely triggered by the younger, larger dogs’ decision to challenge Nova for top dog position. The female-to-female relationship is the hardest to predict. The following quote is from an article published by AVMA about interdog aggression (IDA) within a home. If interested in the entire publication you can follow this link: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/256/3/javma.256.3.349.xml

In households with IDA, female dogs are more likely than male dogs to be involved in aggressive episodes^8–10 and to be more aggressive, which frequently translates into more severe injuries and a greater likelihood for a poor outcome.¹¹ Overrepresentation of female dogs as aggressors in IDA is notable because male dogs are often the aggressors in other behavioral-related diagnoses.^8,9,12–17 Almost 70% of dog pairs with IDA (IDA pairs) involve dogs of the same sex, with FF pairs being the most common.^2,3 Female dogs are often identified as the aggressor in IDA pairs.^3,8,a Results of 1 study³ also indicate that female dogs are more likely to inflict injuries that require medical attention, although the frequency of those types of injuries was not associated with the probability of a poor outcome in that study. Within IDA pairs, the aggressor is frequently younger¹⁸ and is likely to have been acquired or introduced into the household more recently than the recipient,^2,3 regardless of sex. The interaction between FF pairs is less likely to improve following treatment than is the interaction between MF or MM pairs.² When the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire is used, female dogs generally score higher than male dogs on questions related to canine-directed aggression (ie, are subjectively more aggressive).¹⁹ Even though improvement of IDA is less likely to occur when the aggressor is younger than the recipient,³ to our knowledge, the likelihood of improvement in IDA when the dogs involved are the same age or when there is a profound difference in age has not been investigated.

It is wise to consider a dog of the opposite sex when deciding to get a second dog. Our recommendation is to spay/neuter young dogs to potentially avoid IDA in the home. With the recent push to postpone spay/neuter procedures until dogs are fully grown, we are seeing more cases of IDA. I am not talking about an adult dog putting a young puppy in its place when they first come into the home. That is a common scenario and can be managed by allowing the puppy to get a few corrections and then it will accept its place in the pack. The IDA I am referring to comes as the younger dog or newer dog attempts to challenge the leader in your home. If you see that, it is important to spay/neuter as quickly as possible or make decisions about separation, muzzles, rehoming to avoid traumatic events such as this one with Nova. 

Nova did recover nicely from her bite wound but it was unfortunate that it happened in the first place. No one wants to see this happen between their dogs. Be certain to consider these potential issues as you wait to spay/neuter your pet. 

Spring is right around the corner, and we are ready to go outdoors. Time for rain to wash away the grime of the winter. Time for the grass to turn green. Time to leave old man winter behind.

Graduating in 1988, from the college of Veterinary Medicine, came with lots of information and challenges ahead of me in my veterinary career. I embraced those challenges and began finding my rhythm working with clients and their patients. The number of unwanted puppies/kittens was at an all-time high. Shelters were frustrated because a family would adopt a pet, and the shelter would request notification that it had been spayed or neutered once it was old enough for the procedure. Many times, that pet went without being spayed or neutered and ended up having a litter of puppies or the male dog was running around breeding any intact female in season. To curb this problem, it was decided to start spay/neuter procedures at an earlier age. As shelters had success with that practice the veterinary community took note and followed along. Today there has been a shift in thinking. Many breeders and veterinarians are encouraging pet owners to wait until the dogs are full grown before doing spay procedures. There are veterinarians on both sides of this debate advocating for the longevity and health of our furry friends.

Recently we were asked to spay two breeding females a person had acquired. He noted they were coming into heat every 4 months. He did have intact males on property which was causing disturbances amongst the pack. It was suggested to spay both females since he had no intentions of breeding them.  We discussed briefly health concerns for females as they age. The female hormones when left unchecked can lead to infections and cysts. These conditions can lead to poor health and weight loss over time.

A surgery date was set, and he brought in Kimber, an 8-year-old yellow lab. She was underweight at the time of her presurgical exam. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Profile were done to check values.  She had a normal body temperature. The owner had noticed a discharge and felt it was related to her most recent heat cycle. The White Blood Cell (WBC) was elevated at >40,000 (normal is < 17,000) with most of the cells being neutrophils and monocytes indicating long term infection. She also was slightly anemic at presentation. Her profile showed mild dehydration, and the owner was contacted to discuss her case. We suspected that she had a pyometra. The photo below shows the size of her uterus at the time of surgery. It was necessary to proceed with the procedure to remove the infection from her body so she could regain her appetite and body condition. A lactated ringer’s solution was started as an Intravenous drip to rehydrate her and perfuse her kidneys during the surgical procedure. A small mammary tumor was removed alongside the incision at the time of her skin closure. She recovered nicely and returned home the following day when her housemate Suzie came in for her spay procedure.

Suzie came in 2 months shy of turning 11 years old. She was a chocolate labrador retriever. The owner had no concerns about her aside from her multiple heat cycles in a year.  Her weight was normal and her blood work was within the normal range. During her spay procedure it was discovered that her ovaries were cystic and enlarged. She did not have infection in her uterus like Kimber but having this condition would cause her to have irregular cycles and hormonal changes to her mammary tissues. The photo below shows the enlarged ovaries with cysts present in large numbers. No mammary tumors were found on Suzie at this time.

Why not spay to avoid both conditions?  That is the question of the decade. If a dog or cat are spayed before their 2^nd heat cycle their chances of mammary cancer is 0%. That Is a good reason to spay at a young age. We suggest right at 6 months, but it can be done sooner. We like to check for retained baby teeth at the same time as the spay. Right at 6 months all baby teeth should have fallen out. They will still get in molars up until 10 months of age, but the baby teeth should be gone.

I recently found this article from a veterinarian that I thought had some very good information about the debate on what age should sterilization procedures be performed. He included a nice chart with explanations of what he believes would be the best time for these procedures based on the size, sex, and age of the dogs. Give this information much consideration since leaving them intact has its issues as well.  Not only the pathology at the time of surgery, like the above cystic ovaries and pyometra, but also issues to behaviors and other cancers that can be a problem if waiting to do the sterilization procedure.

https://humanepro.org/magazine/articles/deconstructing-spayneuter-debate

I personally have had all large breed male dogs that were neutered before 6 months of age and none of them had any issues with joints related to removing those hormones before they were mature. I did the procedures early to avoid hormonal influences that would lead to marking, wandering, territorial guarding, aggression, etc. I am concerned about the behaviors that will be evident with people waiting to spay and neuter when their pet is full grown. I have experienced that in practice in the 1990’s and believe me early spay and neuter is the way to go. Pets heal so much faster when they are younger. We have fewer complications with incision healing and swelling. The cost is going to be less.

Do your research. Talk to your veterinarian. Talk to your breeder. Then take all this information and decide what is right for your pet. What is right for one pet may be different for your next pet. There is no one size fits all on this topic. Have a Happy Valentine’s Day. 

These blogs have been going strong since 2016. After all these years it can get more challenging to come up with new topics. Then it occurred to me that we always have interesting cases or clients that make our days at Winterset Veterinary Center ever changing.

Why not focus on the array of critters we see daily and the cases that make us scratch our heads or say “wow”, I have never seen that in 36 years! I will attempt to cover as many species as possible in our cases.

First up in 2025 is our little friend Bella. Bella is: 8 years old – female spayed – Bichon Frise mix.

Bella presented because of accidents in the house. They had noticed she would strain at times going to the bathroom. One of the days she had blood in her urine on the floor. She was eating fine and had not had any changes to her behavior except for urinary issues. We collected urine and discovered a large amount of blood in the urine that was not visible just looking at it. Urine color and concentration was normal. Her blood work was within the normal range. A lateral radiograph was taken, and we discovered the cause of blood in her urine. 

Radiographs can be difficult to read with some conditions, but bladder stones show up as white spots in the bladder (red arrow) because they have mineral density just like bone. The stone is in the bladder not in kidneys like many people have reported. These stones do cause inflammation and infection thereby relating to Bella’s accidents with blood in them in the house. Interesting to note on this radiograph is the thin white line (yellow arrow) on the heart. This is Bella’s microchip. They show up extremely well on radiographs because of the metal in them.

Since Bella was straining and having accidents in the house the owner elected to have surgery done to remove the stone.  Some bladder stones can be dissolved with special urinary diets. The process can take weeks to complete but it is an option if an owner does not feel comfortable having their pet under anesthesia.  Bella was put on antibiotics before and after surgery. Her recovery was quick, and her owner reported that she feels better now than she had in a long time.

This is a photo of the bladder stone that was removed. Bella will remain on urinary formulas to prevent issues for her in the future. There is no way to know if your dog will have this medical condition. It is no different than people who report kidney stones. Yes, we may know certain things can predispose us to the kidney stones but not everyone who eats those foods or drinks that soda will get kidney stones. That holds true for our dogs as well. If you suspect your dog is having urinary issues, make certain to contact your veterinarian so your furry friend can get back to feeling great in the New Year. 

Thank you for a great 2024 and we look forward to seeing you in 2025. We are so grateful for your referrals. We grow more by word of mouth than any other form of referral. We appreciate your trust and confidence while we care for your fur babies and those of family and friends. Happy New Year!

The final season of celebrations has arrived. For 12 months I have shared pet holidays that are celebrated each year. I was unaware of many celebrations myself so enjoyed learning right along with all my readers. December has a smaller list of celebrations probably because everyone is so focused on their own holiday gatherings with coworkers, friends, and family.

• National Cat Lovers’ Month
• December 2nd – National Mutt Day (also in July)
• December 5th – Celebrate Shelter Pets Day
• December 9th – International Day of Veterinary Medicine
• December 13th – National Horse Day
• December 15th – National Cat Herders Day
• December 21st – Underdog Day
• December 31st – New Year’s Eve – watch out for fireworks!

Nice to see cats recognized during the month of December as we celebrate National Cat Lovers’ Month. It seems that cats are often overlooked in many different areas from diets, to toys, to medications, to pet celebrations. Cats visit veterinarians less on average than dogs. Many dog households have cats that never see a veterinarian. If you love your cat and it has not had an exam in the last year. Try to set up a well check for them. So often we see cats that no longer are eating, and owners are shocked when they realize how much weight they have lost. Cats are great at hiding illness. It is an instinct that came from their wild ancestors. If a cat showed weakness or illness, they would become a target, so they hide or sleep to avoid being attacked. Our domestic cats hide and sleep because they do not feel well but in a busy household those small changes can be missed. Free feeding cats in a multiple cat household can make it hard to know who is eating and who is not. With new diets and therapies catching these illnesses early can offer treatment that will allow them to live longer lives. Isn’t that our goal to have our pets live longer so we can enjoy them for years to come. Set an appointment today for your cat.  Start them on the road to a longer healthier life and show them how much you love them!

December 2^nd is National Mutt Day. It is also known as National Mixed Breed Day since many do not like to consider their dogs as mutts. The website has some cute photos of mixed breed dogs and then draws attention to a few famous mutts as well. In the past many years, the number of mixed breed dogs has increased tremendously. People claim their dogs are hybrids or pure bred maltipoo or goldendoodles. I am sorry to say that this is not correct. They are mixed breed dogs. It amazes me that people ignore that fact. I am all for mixed breed dogs since they often are healthier. Traditionally less genetic abnormalities and health issues are seen in mixed breed dogs. Poodles are being crossed with many different breeds of dogs to reduce shedding. Many new pet owners do not realize the need to have these dogs groomed frequently. Since the hair does not fall out the dogs need to be groomed. As veterinarians we are seeing more skin issues related to poor grooming techniques. The density of many of these coats requires that undercoat to be removed on a regular basis to allow the skin to breathe. Without grooming, the risk of bacterial dermatitis or fungus increases beneath that heavy layer of hair. Often these dogs must be shaved down to the skin to remove the mats and debris that has accumulated in the hair coat. If you own one of these mixed breed poodle crosses please speak with your veterinarian or a groomer to learn the proper way to care for these hair coats. Start regular care as young puppies so they will know what is expected for their grooming needs as they grow. Since there are more mixed breed dogs in the world they have a celebration on July 31^st as well.  Two opportunities to celebrate our mixed breed furry friends each year.

Shelter pets are certainly important to recognize each year. Therefore, on December 5^th we have Celebrate Shelter Pets Day. With December being the time of giving why not find a shelter to donate food, toys, cat litter, blankets, etc. These shelters do amazing work and often are not recognized for the time and energy they put forth to help find forever homes for these sweet critters. If you have a shelter pet, why not take a picture to post on social media and talk about their “Gotcha Day”. Let’s encourage others to adopt a shelter pet since most dogs these days are mixed breed anyway!

International Day of Veterinary Medicine is celebrated on Dec 9^th each year. This is a worldwide event to honor all people in the profession. To recognize that the field of Veterinary Medicine expands into public health and human welfare also. Keeping our food supply healthy. Protecting our environment to prevent loss of important species of animals. Many people think of a veterinarian as a person that cares for animals. That is one important role but there are so many others. Across the globe veterinarians and their support staff work together to battle cases of rabies. They collaborate to protect the marine species populations from changing water temperatures and levels. When a chemical spill happens anywhere, veterinarians are called in to assist in the care of the impacted marine and animal life. When the pandemic hit, veterinary laboratories were running covid tests to assist the human laboratories with the influx of tests. The following link tells some history of when Veterinary Medicine began. The variety of roles veterinarians and their assistants play are a reason to celebrate December 9^th.

International Day of Veterinary Medicine (December 9th)

These last two holidays are not really about pets. National Cat Herders Day is December 15^th. This has nothing to do with cats. In theory, herding cats can be quite challenging due to their behaviors and natural instincts. Cats tend to be more solitary and territorial, making them less likely to follow a leader or move in unison. Therefore, this holiday was created to recognize people who can remain calm and organized in the face of all sorts of confusion and chaos. The saying, “It was like herding a bunch of cats“ has been used when someone is trying to organize something, and it requires a lot of patience. Also, the task is next to impossible just like it would be to herd a bunch of cats. The third Thursday in December is National Underdog Day and has nothing to do with dogs. It recognizes people who have done the unexpected and achieved something that no one thought they could do. In 1976 Peter Moeller founded this celebration and encourages you to root for an underdog in your life on this day.

As we close out 2024 and Winterset Veterinary Centers 40th year of business, we continue to be grateful to all our clients and their critters, big and small, that remain loyal to Dr Jim and myself. We love to hear that a new client was referred by friends or family since that is the best compliment you can give us. Recently I saw a client from Georgia that had first visited us in 2022. They travel all over the USA in their camper with their 3 kids and 3 dogs. She said they returned to Winterset because they love the city campground and the new all-inclusive playground but also the small-town friendly people of Winterset Veterinary Center. That made our day to hear that we had left a lasting impact on them, and they chose to return. Have a wonderful Christmas Season and we will see you in 2025!

Welcome to the October celebrations which are fewer than what we talked about in September. We have some important events to discuss this month so let’s get started.

ADOPT A DOG MONTH is celebrated all month long. Most of these dogs would be found at shelters so this month also has been called “Adopt a Shelter Dog” month. Our shelters are overcrowded with pets of all sizes with most being over 1-2 years of age. Have you ever asked yourself “WHY?” The why comes from unresponsible owners. They got a dog or cat and had no time or money to care for it properly. When it did something to break the human -animal bond the knee jerk reaction was to turn it over to a shelter or release the cat outside. These pets are not broken. They have not been given a chance to prove their loyalty once you step up and show them how committed you will be to them even if they misbehave. All puppies should come with a puppy class to educate the owners on how to be a responsible pet owner. The importance of spay and neuter before sexual behaviors begin is key. Our pets do not become great pets any more than our kids become great by being raised in our home. It requires lots of training and consistency and of course unconditional love. If you are in the market for a pet, please consider checking in with your local shelter.

Adopt-A-Dog Month

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

• National Animal Safety and Protection Month
• National Pet Wellness Month
• National Pit Bull Awareness Month
• October 1st – 7th – National Walk Your Dog Week
• October 1st – National Fire Pup Day
• October 1st – National Black Dog Day
• October 4th – World Animal Day
• October 10th – National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
• October 11-17 – National Veterinary Technician Week. Sponsored by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America.
• October 24th – National Pit Bull Awareness Day
• October 29th – National Cat Day
• October 31st – Halloween. Fun costumes for everyone!

October 10^th is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day. This is a hot topic around the veterinary circles. A recent study indicated that dogs that are overweight live on the average 18 months shorter than dogs that are of ideal weight. That is a significant time difference. We need to get out of the habit of giving our dogs food/treats as a way of showing our love for them. It is time to use time and exercise to show them we love them. Think how much better that will make us feel as well. It makes me sad to drive by the dog park and see owners just standing talking or scrolling through their phone and their dogs just laying by them. Walk them around the dog park. Play fetch with them. Bring a comb or brush and groom them while you are there. Spend the time interacting with your dogs and helping them exercise. Most importantly we must reduce the amount of food, treats, and people’s food that are offered to our dogs daily. Weight will continue to be a problem if we do not change the volume of intake. No pet can lose weight without changing what amount of food offered. The most recent statistics I could find indicated worldwide dogs and cats overweight percentages are 59.3% and 63% respectively. In 2007 we were at 43% and 53% respectively. Imagine what the next 10 years will look like if we do not change the trajectory. Winter is coming. This is a season when increased weight gain occurs because we are more sedentary. Please evaluate the type of food and volume you are offering to your pet. Make a promise to get active with your furry friends.

National Veterinary Technician week runs Oct 11-17^th. As a veterinarian for 36 years, I would be lost without these trained employees. They keep me on track with appointments and procedures. They handle multiple tasks during any given day. They have as much passion for our clients and patients as I do. When they are unable to be at work because they deserve vacation and sick days also, I really miss them. If you appreciate everything our staff does for you during the year, be sure to thank them. Everyone needs to know they are valued, and these veterinary nurses are no exception.

National Pit Bull Awareness Day happens during National Pit Bull Awareness Month. This celebration was started in 2007 and encourages fans of the Pit Bull to help change the perception of this breed. They are a mix of breeds but recently the DNA test from Wisdom Panel is giving a percentage of Pit Bull on their genetic test. That was surprising to me since we have always said the Pit Bulls are a mixed breed. National Pit Bull Awareness Day shares this link to encourage you to get involved. I have always felt that if an ordinance has been drafted it should target vicious dogs not breed specific dogs. Over 30 different breeds have killed people so why do we focus on Pit Bulls. When a Pit Bull is involved in an incident it gets carried over social media at a higher rate than other dog incidents which is unfair. Often dog bites happen on an owner’s property with their own dogs, so they are not reported. This slants our perception of dog aggression and fatalities. No dog breed is more likely to bite than another. There are many factors that go into dog bite tendencies. It would take many blogs to cover all of those. Just be aware that there are as many friendly Pit Bulls as there are Labrador Retrievers out there. Sadly, aggressive dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Caution needs to be in place whenever approaching a dog, especially if children are involved.

National Cat Day is October 29^th. Share a photo of you and your cat or just of your cat next month in honor of all the joy they bring to your life. We are blessed by our furry friends each and every day. Our lives would be empty without them so let’s celebrate them. They help us live longer and get us through our darkest days. Next month we turn our clocks back so the days will be darker anyway, but our furry friends will be there to brighten our days.