Dr. Don DeForge Silver Sands Veterinary

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! Editorial: Don DeForge, VMD 26Dec2013 Reprinted from Opinion: New Haven Register 24Dec2013 Editorial Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial September 21, 1897. History's most printed newspaper editorial.....credited to Francis Pharcellus Church. It begins: DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says: If you see it in THE SUN, newspaper, it's so." Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? Signed, Virginia O'Hanlon-115 West Ninety-Fifth Street-September, 1897 RESPONSE: "Virginia, your little friends are wrong.  They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age.  They do not believe what they cannot see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds.  All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, ar

Animal Doc AM Multi-media: Christmas Danger Zones for Your Pet : Christmas Danger Zones for the Pet You Love DH DeForge, VMD Each holiday season, Animal Doc AM Multi-Media shares with pet lovers ...

Christmas Danger Zones for the Pet You Love DH DeForge, VMD Each holiday season, Animal Doc AM Multi-Media shares with pet lovers the Danger Zones of Christmas.  So many are overlooked or not even considered until the emergency occurs.  If you take a moment to review this blog you will have a wonderful holiday season with the companion you love and not have to make a trip to the Animal ER for emergency care.  This blog is not a replacement for veterinary care.  If you have a question contact your local doctor of veterinary medicine, an Animal ER doctor, or Poison Control Centers for Pets in the United States. Christmas Plants and Trees: Pine needles from fresh Christmas trees can pose many problems if eaten.  They are a local irritant and can cause hypersalivation, vomiting, and diarrhea.  If eaten in large quantities, pine needles can lead to perforation of the intestines. Your pet can then weaken, start to tremble, and actually collapse necessitating immediate ER help and interventio

Bullying There is an Answer! DH DeForge, VMD "The only way to end bullying is to talk about it openly rather than making it a taboo issue. If someone is hurting another person, they will not stop unless someone (either a fellow classmate or someone in authority) stands up for the victim and tells their tormentor to stop. Bullying is everyone’s problem; therefore everyone has to be part of the solution."   Carrie Ann Goodsoil Bullying Definition-stopbullying.gov Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have  serious, lasting problems .  In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include: An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power

Silver Sands Veterinary Center Saying Good-Bye Pet Loss and Children The Human-Animal Bond Series DH DeForge, VMD A child's loss of their first pet is one of the most significant moments in a young person's life.  How the child understands and copes with the loss can change how they perceive a multitude of problems in their lives. Dr. Leo Buscaglia writes in his famous book about life and death for children: The Fall of Freddie the Leaf  the following: "Freddie the Leaf landed on a clump of snow. It somehow felt soft and even warm. In this new position he was more comfortable than he had ever been. He closed his eyes and fell asleep. He did not know that Spring would follow Winter and that the snow would melt into water. He did not know that what appeared to be his useless dried self would join with the water and serve to make the tree stronger. Most of all, he did not know that there, asleep in the tree and the ground, were already plans for new leaves in the Spring.&quo