2023_NorthStarVets_Pets_Digital_Issue

More documents

Recommendations

Info

REAL PETS, REAL PEOPLE had nowhere to go with that. And especially at that time, it really wasn’t socially acceptable to take days off for this, even though you’re saying goodbye to your beloved fourlegged friend or mourning the loss of your pet. Thankfully, as society has progressed, it’s more understood and it’s more supported. And that is why I wanted to start a petloss support group. We met twice a month. I was able to get enough donations to hire a therapist who specialized in bereavement. Before I left at the end of my senior year, I was able to get a lot more donations to keep it going, because I feared that, once I left the university, it would fold. And I am told that it is still in existence today. One of the things I always try to think about, or at least acknowledge, is that we all want our pets to live a whole lot longer than they do, but that’s just not their natural life span. But I firmly, firmly believe that dogs, and this could apply to other animals as well, but my book is about dogs—that dogs are placed in our lives at just the right moment, when we perhaps need to learn a lesson or perhaps need help. And a lot of times we maybe don’t even realize that there is something missing. I believe that dogs have this magical quality, and I know that I have been blessed by having a few or many dogs in my life that have all taught me different things. What lessons have you learned about life and loss from your dog? I believe the overriding lesson of the entire book is that dogs are not just incredible support or companions, but I think that they are fantastic guides for when we struggle. And we all struggle at times with so many different things. ...One of the things I learned about dogs is that they are pack animals, and that’s how they survive in the wild. They do better because they’re together. They need each other to help hunt for food, and they rely on each other for security. They even lay on each other for warmth. If you remember a couple of Christmases ago, the gift was the weighted blanket. So everyone rushed to the mall to get the weighted blanket—but dogs are their own weighted blanket. And if you’ve ever had a really hard day and come home, maybe you’re sitting on the sofa and your dog is lying alongside you or, even better, is lying on you—it is just the best feeling. And I think if we take that viewpoint even a step further, it’s that we as people are better off as pack animals rather than “…dogs are placed in our lives at just the right moment when we perhaps need to learn a lesson or perhaps need help.” trying to exist just individually or alone. And that we truly are better together. Other lessons: Dogs are not judgmental...and dogs live in the moment. They mirror for us what mindfulness should be. Dogs show us the sanctity of self-care. ...You know, the proverbial, 'Dogs lick their own wounds.' Clearly, we shouldn’t do that for ourselves, but we should tend to ourselves if we have sore muscles, or—I know for me, when I was going through chemotherapy, I still tried to do things instead of resting and letting my body heal. How did your dog and the other dogs that you’ve treated help you deal with your own diagnosis of cancer? They set the bar higher for me. They were actually my recovery role models. I think that, a lot of times, animals, especially dogs and cats, are better patients than we are. What I’ve tried to allow dogs to show me, and cats as well, is that because they live in the moment, they don’t fret. Before I would go to the cancer treatment center, I would fret about the what ifs. Am I going to get sick? How sick is sick? Will I lose my hair? Will the nurse be able to put a catheter in me? And when a dog is going into the veterinary clinic, they’re pulling on the edge of the leash. They are eager to sniff anything or look for a biscuit. I know that when we treat dogs with chemotherapy, after they’re done, they hop right up and they’re looking for a treat or to be scratched behind the ear. But not me. I would lament that it took the nurse two tries to get the catheter in me and worry about what was going to happen the next time. And I believe that all that negative energy just circled in my head, and circles in all of our heads, but it only serves to bring us down. Dogs and other animals don’t have that. They use their energy for positive thoughts, and I think that’s so much healthier. Can pets help with healing? Absolutely! Just take a look at how dogs are used for people with PTSD after they have come back from being in the military service. Just the act of having a dog or a cat, something warm who loves you right back, that you take care of, is so helpful. Because even though we feel we’re responsible for them, they feel they’re 100 percent responsible for us. We know that people who have fish tanks and look at fish in the tank have an increased level of endorphins. And this goes for having any pet, not just having a fish tank—they have decreased levels of cortisol, which is a stress hormone. They have warmer skin temperatures because it helps dilate their blood vessels. They tend to be happier. Dogs have been shown to help people and children with autism and ADHD. There was even a study where children with diabetes that had a pet and helped take care of the pet then took better care of themselves. Dogs and pets in general just make us happier. And they have therapy dogs on college campuses to help students experiencing stress during exam time. How did your dog help you get better? I’d been battling cancer, and then, one day, I was on the sofa convalescing from my treatment and feeling lousy, and I reached out for my dog, Newton, a boxer who was my diligent nurse mate. He never left my side. He didn’t care if I was in my pajamas from four days ago or had chicken soup stains on the front. He always saw me for me. I reached down one day to pet him, and I felt an enlarged lymph node. It turned out that he had lymphoma, which is the most common cancer that we see in dogs. We get pets because we want a companion... but we never think that our four-legged companion is going to be going through chemotherapy simultaneously. And that’s what happened. But in the beginning, he just kicked cancer’s rear end. He would come home after his treatment and race to his food bowl, eager. He was a role model for my recovery. —Jacqueline Mroz 10 NorthStarVETS ® .com
REAL PETS, REAL PEOPLE SAFETY TIPS HALLOWEEN COSTUMES Sure, it’s cute to dress up your pet on Halloween, but is it safe? Here are five tips for making sure your pooch not only looks great, but has a great time with you on Halloween. 1. Tune into your pet’s body language. You know your pet best, and if their head is down, they’re pawing at their costume, or are exhibiting other signs of discomfort or distress, they are likely uncomfortable. 2. Put comfort first. A pet costume should be lightweight and comfortable. It should not constrict the head or neck, or restrict movement, hearing, eyesight or breathing. 3. Prevent choking. Inspect the costume prior to wearing for any small parts or pieces that could be a choking hazard for your pet. Made-to-order veterinary medications to meet your pet’s specific needs Proud Provider of Epicur Pharma’s manufactured products Precision Compounding - Nationwide. 800-754-5222 | stokespharmacy.com 6000 Commerce Pkwy, Suite A, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 ® 4. Do a test run. Don’t make Halloween the first time your pet wears their costume. Try on the costume in the days leading up to Halloween to make sure your pet is comfortable, happy, and ready to have a barkin’ good time. 5. If all else fails, accessorize. If you determine that a full costume isn’t right for your pet, pick out a festive bandanna or a collar charm to get into the Halloween spirit. PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK Morristown Montville Warren (coming soon) 973-539-0377 973-263-9060 COME. STAY. PLAY. MorrisAnimalInn.com Pet Perspective 11
Page 1 and 2: YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE FOR KEEPING PET
Page 3 and 4: YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE FOR KEEPING PET
Page 5 and 6: RealPets, RealPeople ■ Amazing re
Page 7 and 8: REAL PETS, REAL PEOPLE SUCCESSSTORI
Page 9 and 10: REAL PETS, REAL PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHS:
Page 11: SUPPORT SYSTEM Veterinary oncologis
Page 15 and 16: 5 3 WITH YOUR PET IN NJ O T S G N I
Page 17 and 18: 10 GET CLEANED UP There will be no
Page 19 and 20: 22 GO WHALE WATCHING Jersey Shore W
Page 21 and 22: PHOTOGRAPHS: (RED HORSE) COURTESY O
Page 23 and 24: GIFTS FOR PETS 6 The Name Game Hous
Page 25 and 26: can also help improve symptoms of a
Page 27 and 28: HAPPY HEALLTHY PETS To try and iden
Page 29 and 30: HAPPY HEALLTHY PETS Comprehensive C
Page 31 and 32: NIBBLES & BITS your dog away from t
Page 33 and 34: NIBBLES & BITS FETCH PET BAKERY Mul
Page 35 and 36: MY SHELTER PETS ARE MY BEST FRIENDS

2023_NorthStarVets_Pets_Digital_Issue

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?