might be done once a year, or more often. It should be a relaxed visit and a chance to ask about those little things you’ve had questions about since your last visit, such as: “What about these lumps?” “Is my pet


too fat?” “Is it normal for her breath to smell like that?” “How often should I bathe my pet?” “He does this weird thing every so often… is that a problem?” This is also a chance for us to check the teeth for abnormal wear, calculus build up, or worse problems. We will listen to the heart, palpate the abdomen for tenderness or masses, peek into the ears and eyes and under the tail for anything that needs atten- tion that you might not notice.


2. Emergency. True emergencies include, but are not limited to:


ƒ Bleeding that would quickly saturate a Kleenex or something larger ƒ Obvious difficulty breathing ƒ Sudden collapse


ƒ Sudden blindness, dizziness, or unex- plained seizures ƒ Witnessed consumption of poison or suspected poison


ƒ Obvious trauma such as a bad fall or impact by a moving vehicle ƒ Lameness so severe that the pet puts little or no weight on one limb In other words, a problem where waiting even an hour could have a major impact on the outcome. If your pet has a true emergency, take a minute to call ahead, but plan to get in the car and go immediately. Because emergencies by definition are un- expected, it’s a good idea to have important numbers like your vet’s stored in your cell phone for quick access. Generally you will be seen if you don’t call ahead, but if they know you are coming they have time to prepare with emergency treatments.


It may seem obvious, but this is not the


best time to choose a veterinarian. If you are not known to the practice – that is, if you are not an active client there already – they


73-873 Hwy 111 Palm Desert, CA 92260 Best Paw Forward Put Your Dog’s Best Paw Forward


Puppy & Adult Classes • Basic & Advanced Obedience Consultations & K-9 Good Citizen Test Behavior & Aggression Problem Solving Training Through Boarding Or At Your Home


Valerie Masi, Certified Trainer & Behaviorist 4 DESERT PET COMPANION


www.bestpawforwarddogtraining.com 760-885-9450 WWW.DESERTPETCOMPANION.COM


SPRING 2011


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30