Life lessons taught by a dog

I hope you enjoy this tip shared by a fellow veterinarian.

A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old).
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.'' Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live. He said,''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily..

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Spring Has Sprung

Spring is in the air and so are a host of allergens and parasites that directly affect our pets. Seasonal allergies and parasites can cause serious medical problems and unnecessary veterinary bills. Prevention is the key. I would love to see you soon, but lets see if we can prevent a veterinary visit by just following some simple steps.

1.) Always keep your pet on a flea and or tick prevention monthly. These monthly applications can be topical or even oral but will ensure that your pets do not get bit. Allergic reactions such has scratching, hair loss and skin infections can come from something as simple as a flea bite. Ticks can actually cause serious and sometimes fatal blood borne diseases. So be mindful and do not cut corners, get the best veterinary product because they are guaranteed and you don't want to take a chance on having an infestation on your pet, in your home or even on you!

We have found that over the years, fleas are starting to develop a resistance to certain products. If you find that the product you have used on your pet is not working as well, switch to another. I have found that "Comfortis" has worked excellent for resistant flea cases although you must use a separate product for ticks. You can purchase any of these products on our online pharmacy,visit our home page for details. Many of these parasites lead to other parasites that can be transmissible and harmful to you. Pets with fleas are predisposed to tapeworms which you can get. So keep the prevention on monthly and if there is a problem, call Pet-Fixer for the Fix.

2.)During the spring and summer pets are outdoor more often and may swim more or even need baths more often. Frequent baths or swimming can lead to skin problems and or ear infections. If you must bath your pet more than once a month use something mild like baby shampoo but avoid getting water in the ears. This and swimming are the main cause of ear infections. As prevention you should clean your pets ears out weekly but especially after water exposure. Please only use an approved pet ear cleaner. (Water based products, vinegar, alcohol, or peroxide can damage the ear canal) Most ear cleaners have a drying agent in them and facilitate keeping a dry ear environment.

3.) Pets that have seasonal skin allergies start having problems as soon as spring and summer arrive. Be mindful of this and call Pet-fixer for an evaluation for preventative medicated shampoos, and medicinal therapy. Many of these pets can benefit from a short hair cut during this season to allow the skin to breathe.

I hope these three spring tips were helpful to keep the vet away. If by chance you need the best mobile vet in town, give us a call we will happy to serve you and your pets curbside.

Dr. Dani

Pet-Fixer Inc.