A Reason for Being Donald H. DeForge, VMD 24May2013 "No one lives on the top of the mountain. It’s fine to go there occasionally —for inspiration, for new perspectives. But you have to come down. Life is lived in the valleys. That’s where the farms and gardens and orchards are, and where the plowing and the work is done. That’s where you apply the visions you may have glimpsed from the peaks." Arthur Gordon Leo Buscaglia wrote a book in 1982- thirty one years ago. The book is called The Fall of Freddie the Leaf ...a Story of Life for All Ages. Somewhere along the way, this book has been lost in the New Millennium. Leo states in his Introduction: "this book is dedicated to all children who have ever suffered a permanent loss and to the the grown ups who could not find a way to explain it." You must read this book. It is a book that is full of visuals for your children and can be completed in about 15-20 minutes. It is not only for kids it is also for you. It i
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Silver Sands Veterinary Pain or No Pain-In Search of a Pet Hero! DH DeForge, VMD 16May2013 “Of pain you could wish only one thing: that it should stop. Nothing in the world was so bad as physical pain. In the face of pain there are no heroes.” ― George Orwell , 1984 Orwell states, "in the face of pain there are no heroes!" As advocates of the companions we love, I would like to revise the Orwell statement. The companion supplies to its caretaker unconditional love in return we can become their heroes by removing pain! Pain exists and it is real in the companions that we love. The pet owner must be knowledgeable about pet pain; anticipate its presence in different conditions and life stages; and most importantly seek help to eliminate that pain. Below is a partial list of pain problems in our companions (i.e. dogs and cats): Orthopedic pain and osteoarthritis/degenerative joint disease Disc slippage; Disc Prolapse Muscle, tendon, and ligament injury Trauma injuries dur
Silver Sands Veterinary Center: DH DeForge, VMD VIOLENCE in AMERICA Winning to Lose or Losing to Win It seems like a day cannot go by without reading about another violent tragedy in America. We have just left behind the Boston Marathon Bombing and each night we read new stories of innocent killing. As a referee, I was saddened by the story that you are about to read. A father and a referee who lived wanting to assure good sportsmanship and fair play has been lost. Each year we here about parents beating up umpires and referees. Youth umpires and referee numbers have decreased because of the fear of being hurt. The pay is minimal and the risk is great. Mentors try to assist in the recruitment of young referees but cases like this have young people asking themselves if they are prepared to take on the task of official. Knute Rockne at a different time in a different place had wonderful ideas and beliefs about sports. His quote below has much meaning but is not seen clearly toda
Silver Sands Veterinary-04May2013 Pet Advocacy: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow DH DeForge, VMD What is a pet advocate? Most dictionaries give the definition than an advocate is a a person who speaks or writes in support of a cause; something that is quite important. Other dictionaries state an advocate is a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; i.e. an intercessor. When speaking about an advocate for a companion animal, I like to use the words true friend! Dr. Leo Buscaglia, my mentor, wrote a poem about unconditional love. He writes about the human spirit; the unconditional love of a pet should be our mirror to return that love without hesitation. Unconditional Love... I will love you no matter what. I will love you if you are stupid, if you slip and fall on your face, if you do the wrong thing, if you make mistakes, if you behave like a human being I will love you no matter. --Leo Buscaglia-- The lines of this quote that are most meaningful to me are:...&q
Silver Sands Veterinary Center-A Zoonosis: Toxocariasis and the Human Animal Bond Adapted from The Center for Disease Control Fact Sheet 01May2013 Donald H. DeForge, VMD We have reached the beginning of Spring 2013 and it is time to enjoy that special bonding between companion animal and pet owner. It is an exciting and happy time of year when pets and people bond to their fullest. Many people do not realize that there is a zoononsis called Toxocariasis that can affect not only their pets but also the pet owners by contact with pet feces. It is a parasitic disease in people caused by infection with a roundworn, Toxocara, found in dog and cat feces. Zoonoses are: Diseases which are biologically adapted to and normally found in lower animals but which under some conditions also infect humans. Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/zoonoses#ixzz2S4xYW4Wz The Center for Disease Control in their FACT SHEET, Toxocariasis, describes in detail how pet owners can develop this disease f