As is usually the case with me, I’ve fallen behind on regular VIP blog posts. The silver lining is a good one, though—we’ve been busy, busy, busy. That’s a much better problem to have than twiddling our thumbs looking for something to do… like writing blog posts.
Over the past year, VIP has grown tremendously—not just in the number of patients we’ve seen, but behind the scenes as well. I’m especially proud to share that we’ve implemented an employee retirement benefits program so our team can plan for and secure a stable future. We’ve also continued developing our comprehensive hospital protocols as we work toward meeting American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) certification guidelines. This process is intentionally slow and detailed, but it reflects our commitment to holding ourselves to the highest standards of veterinary medicine. Every improvement we make is aimed at providing better care for our patients and a better experience for our clients.
As I write this, it’s hard to believe that the big ice and snowstorm that dumped nearly eight inches across Western Kentucky happened almost two weeks ago. During exams, I often find myself rambling about the weather and asking how everyone’s dogs (and the occasional cat) handle potty time when it snows. As it turns out, my own dogs are firmly in the minority—they hate the white stuff. The moment they saw the snow-covered ground, they turned around and promptly forgot every bit of their potty training. Despite emergency potty pads being deployed, their preferred targets became rugs, stray socks, or—boldly—the middle of the floor.
After clearing the patio and a small patch of grass with a propane weed-burning torch (desperate times), they finally regained their senses—and I regained my sanity. Hopefully, most of you had far fewer challenges in the storm’s aftermath!
Speaking of snow, winter weather is a great time to review a few safety reminders. One of the most common issues we see this time of year is paw irritation or injury from wet sidewalk salt and brine. I recommend using booties when possible, rinsing your pet’s feet after trips outside, and limiting prolonged play in cold conditions. Dogs are notoriously bad at recognizing their own limits and will happily play until their feet are raw.
We also receive many calls about pets licking or ingesting small amounts of sidewalk salt. A quick lick or a few stray crystals generally isn’t an emergency. The real danger occurs when pets gain access to an open bag and ingest a large amount, which can lead to serious—and potentially life-threatening—salt toxicity. While “pet-friendly” ice melts are less toxic than pure sodium chloride products, ingesting large quantities can still cause mild to moderate gastrointestinal upset.
To reduce risk, I recommend knowing what products you’re applying to sidewalks, storing open bags in sealed containers with tight-fitting lids, and rinsing your pet’s feet after exposure to treated surfaces.
I’ll have to wrap this up quickly—I’m being summoned to surgery for a neuter. I hope everyone has a great month ahead. Thankfully, spring is only about six weeks away, and we can all look forward to putting snow, salt, and potty-training amnesia behind us… at least until next year.
— Dr. Jones
