Stayton Veterinary Hospital Newsletter / 2024 Issue No. 1

CLINIC QUARTERLY 2024 | ISSUE NO. 1

February is Dental Month See inside for 20% discount!

Your Pet. Our Passion.

F E AT U R E D

Librela: Osteoarthritis Treatment for Dogs Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that is very painful and will affect a pet’s quality of life if it goes untreated. It is caused when connective tissue in joints breaks down allowing bones to rub against each other. Ouch! Osteoarthritis can and will hinder a pet’s ability to get around and do the things they love most.

Pets can’t tell us when and what hurts. This can be one of the most challenging parts of owning a pet. There are some signs you can look for that can be indicators that your pet may be suffering from Osteoarthritis pain.

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Limping after activity Avoiding or having trouble with stairs

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Trouble getting up Reluctant to jump Sluggish on walks

If your dog is exhibiting any or all of these signs, it may be time to talk to your veterinarian about Librela. Librela is a once a month injection that is administered by a veterinarian and controls pain associated with Osteoarthritis. We are excited about this product and have seen how greatly it can impact a pet’s life for the better. It allows dogs to get back to doing the things they love.

See how Librela transformed these the following pets.

View Shiva

View Bella

View Emma

2024 ISSUE NO. 1

A CHANCE TO

SHINE

My heart broke as my eyes took in the mass of tangled kittens. These tiny kittens, around two days old, were tied together with string so tightly that movement was greatly restricted. I immediately set about freeing the babies. As I was snipping the string, I became aware that the string was tied to all the left appendages, mostly hind limbs, and it had been there long enough to cut through the legs and inflict major damage.

Slow progress was made and kitten by kitten they were freed. Two kittens had managed to keep all their limbs, but had open umbilical hernias. Three kittens were going to lose the limb that had been caught in the string.

While I worked at the bundle, I realized that as each kitten was freed, they were acting just as cheerful and robust as any new kitten might, as if they were completely whole and healthy. As the last of the string fell from the final kitten, I decided that I would give these kittens a chance at life—even if it meant some prolonged healing time for each one.

Temporary surgery fixes were performed on each kitten with limb issues to hold them over until they were stronger. The smallest kitten, a three ounce female, and her other four-legged litter mate had their umbilical hernias repaired. I began to bottle feed the kittens and allowed them a few days to adjust to their new routine and environment.

Finn, as I began calling him, was the only kitten that lost his front left leg and it needed surgery promptly.

Within five days, Finn was getting the remaining bit of his leg amputated. Though surgery was a delicate process on a six ounce creature, he came out of it like a champ. Next came Nubs and Stitch. They both needed their hind left legs further amputated. I was a nervous mother as these two were anesthetized for surgery, but they both proved, as Finn had, that they were up for whatever life was going to throw at them and they were going to overcome.

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Days moved into weeks and every kitten tackled each challenge with gusto. Bottle feeding became routine and bodies healed. The kittens naturally moved into two categories: the three-leggers and the four-leggers. The four-leggers (Stanley and Legs) healed quickly and as they grew, were quick to move around their kennel, often pushing the others out of their way. The three-leggers (Finn, Nubs, and Stitch) had another hill to climb as they had to adjust to their off-kilter balance. With a lot of practice, Nubs and Stitch managed to figure out their funky rhythm. Finn, with his missing front leg, had the most challenge. With all the weight from Finn’s head and chest on his singular front leg, he had to develop more muscle and coordination in order to get himself moving like the others.

I consistently marveled at the tenacious attitudes each kitten exhibited. They took every shortcoming and challenge in their own stride.

Over many years of fostering and bottle feeding kittens I have learned that kittens can be delicate creatures and their mothers can often do much better than I can, if given the chance. The first few weeks of a kitten’s life can be precarious and unpredictable. These kittens, however, seemed set on living, even with so much stacked against them.

Continued on next page

2024 ISSUE NO. 1

Before I was quite ready, they were old enough and ready to move on. I felt wholly attached to this litter and it was hard to say goodbye. Thankfully I found some amazing pet owners willing to encompass these kittens into their households. Legs became Ava. Nubs became Peggy. Stitch is now known as Chester.

I am beyond grateful that I still have the opportunity to see a few of these kittens from time to time.

Peggy is surrounded by dogs, cats, and pet pigs and is loving all the commotion. Chester is living with another of my foster kittens and gives Tallulah a run for her money. Ava is a patient here at the hospital and I’ve been able to continue to watch her grow into

a beautiful young adult. Finn is doing well last I heard and is loved most dearly. Stanley is also doing well in his home.

Fostering young kittens is not for the faint of heart.

It takes time, so much energy (lack of sleep), and a realistic mindset that loss is normal. However, I jump into it over and over again with renewed gusto.

With this litter, there was no second guessing my resolve to give them a chance. From the very beginning each kitten’s perky attitude spoke loudly as if to tell me that they just needed a chance to shine.

Written by Amie Gates

Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (Oregon) It has recently been released that 200 cases of an atypical canine respiratory disease have been reported in Oregon. This is a very small percentage and should not be a cause of panic, but rather cause to be cautious. The cause of respiratory disease is unknown at this time, but is being investigated by a number of specialists including the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Oregon State University Carson College of Veterinary Medicine.

Symptoms may include, but are not limited to, coughing, sneezing, nasal/ ocular discharge and lethargy. If your dog is exhibiting any of these symptoms we encourage you to consult your veterinarian.

Although there is not a vaccine to protect against this particular virus, we encourage you to make sure your dogs are up to date on the available respiratory vaccines. Dogs that are vaccinated tend to experience milder symptoms because they have better immune systems.

Other ways to reduce exposure would be to avoid bringing your dogs around other dogs with unknown vaccine status (example: dog parks, boarding facilities) and avoid communal water bowls.

We have a lot of paw traffic in our clinic and want to reassure you that we have protocols in place to reduce the amount of potential exposure to contagious disease.

Any pet that is showing signs of a respiratory illness or any

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other potentially contagious diseases, are asked to stay in their vehicles until an exam room is available.

They are then escorted through a side door to avoid high traffic areas in the hospital. We regularly disinfect all surfaces and floors with veterinary grade cleaners.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have and again, encourage you to schedule an appointment to update your dog’s vaccines if they are not already.

Visit ODA or OVMA’s websites to stay up to date with accurate information regarding the virus.

Learn More Stay up-to-date with accurate information regarding the virus from the following resources.

Oregon Department of Agriculture Oregon Veterinary Medical Association

2024 ISSUE NO. 1

Meet Our New Doctor

FE BRUARY I S

DENTAL MONTH Oral health is an important part of pets’ overall health. Untreated dental disease can lead to life altering problems that may be irreversible.

Mouth pain can cause inappetence and weight loss. Bacteria from the mouth can cause smelly breath, but even worse, can get into the bloodstream and cause heart and kidney disease. These are just a few of the reasons why our doctors recommend annual dental exams and routine dental cleanings.

During a dental cleaning, the pet’s teeth will be cleaned, polished and sealed,just like when we go to the dentist. Your veterinarian will take a close look at their teeth, gums and overall oral health. Dental x-rays may be recommended to evaluate underneath the gum line if the doctor deems necessary.

Dr. Daniel Jackson Dr. Jackson was born in Montreal Canada where he graduated from McGill University with a Major in Zoology.

He went on to study Veterinary Medicine at St. George’s University and attended Washington State University for his fourth year of clinical rotations. Dr. Jackson then practiced at an emergency practice in Alberta, Canada for a little over a year before moving to Oregon in 2016.

To celebrate dental month, we are offering dental cleanings at a 20% discount. These spots fill up quickly. Be sure to call and set up an appointment so you don’t miss out on the savings.

Dr. Jackson’s primary focus is now small animal medicine with focus on internal medicine and ultrasound imaging.

On his days off, his main interests are hiking and fishing for salmon and steelhead in Oregon’s beautiful rivers and bays.

He likes to travel with his wife to new places and frequently goes back to Hawaii where his wife’s family lives. He has two Harlequin Great Dane’s, Huck and Finn, as well as three cats, James, Hippo and Sprout.

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2024 ISSUE NO. 1

Your Pet. Our Passion.

Take a peek at your care team busy at work!

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2024 ISSUE NO. 1

Appointment Reminders & Communication Made Easy with Pet Desk The Pet Desk App is worth the download! It makes staying on top of your pets care easy and convenient. Through the Pet Desk App, you can send us appointments and medication requests. The App also allows you to check your pets vaccine records which can make scheduling grooming and boarding appointments much easier. Clinic specials are often sent through the Pet Desk App. You don’t want to miss out! If you are having trouble downloading the app or have questions, please call us and we would be happy to assist you.

Q&A CORNER

Q: Is pet insurance necessary?

While pet Insurance is not necessary, it is a good idea. As a pet owner, it is important to be prepared for the unexpected. It is likely that at some point in your pet’s life they will be visiting their veterinarian for something other than routine services. Pet Insurance is a great way Michael Reynolds, DVM to be prepared for these situations and the added stress of unknown financial burdens. It is best to get pets set up for insurance early on because any preexisting problems will likely not be covered by insurance.

At Stayton Veterinary Hospital, we recommend Trupanion and Pumpkin. To learn more, visit their websites or call and speak with one of our knowledgeable team members.

Have a question? Email staff@staytonveterinary.com or call 503-769-7387 (PETS).

We are scheduling appointments both in the clinic or curbside for those who prefer the added convenience or peace of mind.

Please notify a staff member which appointment option works best for you.

G E T $ 1 0 OF F V E T E R I N A RY SE RV I C E S

RE FE R A FRI E ND & G E T RE WARDE D

G E T 2 5 % OF F P E T VACCI N E W IT H QUALI FI ED E X AM

Mention the code TAKE10 at checkout on your next visit and get $10 off veterinary services of $40 or more involving a doctor.

Make a referral and receive a $40 Stayton Veterinary Hospital gift card once your friend completes their first visit to our clinic.

To qualify for discount, your appointment must be scheduled in advance during our Vaccine Clinic every Saturday from 11:30 AM–4:30 PM.

Offer can be used once per quarter

We appreciate referrals!

Limited spots available

Questions? Call 503-769-7387 (PETS) today.

ADDRESS

HOURS

VETERINARIANS

Stayton Veterinary Hospital 1308 North First Avenue Stayton, OR 97383 503-769-7387 (PETS)

Monday–Friday 7:30 AM–8:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

info@staytonveterinary.com staytonveterinary.com

SOCIAL

Michael Reynolds, DVM Jeffrey Brubaker, DVM Brittany Hale, DVM Emma Herdener, DVM Daniel Jackson, DVM Megan Neuhoff, DVM Jon Remy, DVM Alanna Wildman, DVM

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