How to Deal with a Lamp Shade on your Head

We've all had to wear one...

  They're known by many names: the Elizabethan collar, the "satellite dish", the "lamp shade" and even the "cone of shame".  

  And believe me; the times that I've had one on, I haven't been happy.

 

  But, sometimes the Doctors say we have to wear them after a surgery, injury or even excessive licking.   Without it though, licking or chewing can cause irritation and infection.

   Chewing at or licking an incision is a sure way to slow down healing too. The tongue, especially in cats, is so rough that it can destroy healing tissue and delay healing.   

 

  Licking can lead to nibbling and chewing, especially when nobody is around to watch us. Let's face it, sometimes we just can't control ourselves. And our families can't keep their eyes on us ALL the time.  

  Wearing and E-Collar, especially for the first time, can literally be a really bumpy ride! So here are some tips you can pass on to your parents to help you through it:

1. Be slow, comforting and patient with your dog. Be extra careful helping him/her get in and out of the car without bumping things. 

2. Make sure your dog has full access to their bed without bumping a wall or crate door. Move it away from walls or other objects she might bump.

3. Make sure water and food bowls are smaller than the collar area so he can eat and drink with the collar on. Put the dishes on something that elevates them so the collar doesn’t bump the floor when he tries to eat or drink. 

4. Keep the dishes away from the counter, wall or anything that s/he would bump into. You may have to move them as much as 6 to 8” away from a wall or counter.

  The good news is, here at the Hospital, we have different types of collars for you to try! Ones those are soft. Ones that you can see through. Even ones that blow up like a life preserver. Those are my favorite!

  So, hopefully this helps.  And you might even score a few "sympathy treats"  My Mom always gives me goodies when I have to wear a collar.... Especially when I give her the "sad eyes."

I know they're for my own good and I get used to it every time I have to wear one.

But, still. No one really wants to walk around in a lamp shade...

Speck

Speck the Blogging Dog © Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved

Something To Smile About!

 

Hi Everyone!

  I just wanted to tell you about a cool new product we have in our Pet Store:

OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews! 

  

  While other products may remove plaque and tartar, OraVet Chews are the first plaque prevention system. It’s a completely safe and drug-free product that adheres to teeth even through brushing.  

  Our great-tasting dental chews not only clean teeth, they create a barrier against plaque, calculus and bad breath!

  All you have to do, is ask your Mom or Dad to give you one chew each day. And that's it! You get a yummy treat and your teeth will be super happy!

  Like people, we need regular dental check ups and cleanings to remove plaque and tartar buildup. But if chewed daily, OraVet Chews make a big difference in your dental health.

 

And don't worry! There's a box of OraVet Chews for every size dog!

 

 

 

  So come on in and check out the new dental chew that will protect your teeth and take care of that bad breath!

OraVet chews are really something to smile about!  


Speck

                              Speck the Blogging Dog © Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved 

Welcome Doctor Cassidy Jackson!

This week I've got a really exciting announcement! 

Dr. Cassidy Jackson has joined our team of Doctors!

  I've know Dr. Jackson since I was just a pup. She was a Veterinary Technician here at the Hospital, then went away to  school. Now she's back with us as a Veterinarian! 

  I spent the day with her and learned some pretty cool stuff. I thought I'd share some things about her, so you guys can get to know her too: 

• Dr. Jackson was born and raised in Southern California.

• She Graduated in 2011 from University of California Irvine with a Bachelor of Science Degree, with a strong focus interest in genetics.

• Dr. Jackson received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree in January 2016 from Ross University School of Veterinarian Medicine.

 •She completed her clinical of year training at Virginia Maryland School of Veterinarian Medicine.

• Dr. Jackson competed with her Dalmatians in a variety of American Kennel Club events such as Conformation, Obedience, Agility and Junior Showmanship. 

• In her spare time, she loves to go to Lake Havasu and water ski, play beach volleyball or soccer.

• Dr. Jackson worked at LHAH from, August 2011 to September 2012 before leaving for Veterinary school.

• She is also interested in preventative medicine, genetic health testing, theriogenology and strengthening the human animal bond.

I couldn't be happier about Dr. Jackson joing us! 

  She gave me a good looking over, and I did great! I'm usually nervous about things like that, but she snuggled me and made me feel safe, comfortable and cared for!

  So come in and meet Dr. Jackson. I promise she'll take the same amazing care of you, that she did with me!

Speck

                              
 Speck the Blogging Dog © Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved

What Am I Weighting For?

  It's the New Year and time I made some resolutions. I got on the scale today and..wow!

  I've been thinking about going on a diet. I've been putting it off for a while and I could totally befit from losing a couple of ounces.

 

  I know it's really hard. I've tried and it didn't work out too well. I came up with every excuse in the book. And I can't even say that I'm just "fluffy"!

  But being over weight can really have some long term effects. I know that being a Chihuahua, my knees can only take so much. So keeping extra weight on can really hurt over time.

  The first thing you always want to do, is get a check up. There may be a medical reason you're overweight. My brother was very obese when we adopted him. Thanks to our Veterinarians and some tests, we found out he had a thyroid problem. After a few months and medication, he lost 20 pounds! Now he can run around, he's healthy and he feels great!

 

So here's some weight loss tips that can help us all:

Get Going!: Exercise is an awesome way to keep fit. Tell your Mom or Dad to take you for a walk! My sister loves to swim in our pool. That's great exercise! And for those Kitties out there, playing with toys like battery powered mice, chasing stuff and even chasing those laser pointer toys are fun too!  

 

 

Get a Grip On Your Cravings: Many of us beg. I'm not proud of it, but I totally do it. I'll basically do anything for a treat. I'll wine, pout and ever give 'em the "sad eyes". But, I guess I have to be stronger now.... 

Check Out What's In Your Bowl: Try adding some pet friendly veggies to your meal. They provide nutrition and can make you feel fuller without all of those extra calories!

Watch Those Treats: Even though we love treats, they should only make up 10% of our diet. A really good idea is to enjoy a treat with less calories. Like chopped up carrots for us dogs. Or dried shrimp for cats.

Weight Loss Diets: Here at The Hospital, we have special diets just for weight loss. It can make it a whole lot easier to get started and keep with it, with a tasty diet. 

Be Patient: Remember to gradually make diet changes. If you do switch to a weight loss food, do it gradually over a week or so, by mixing it with your current food until you're completely "switched over".

  If you need any more help, just call us at The Hospital. We're here to help. So, let's get healthy together!



Speck

                    Speck the Blogging Dog © Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved