Xolani Well don’t you know about the bird? Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word! Our August Pet of the Month is a special b-b-bird by the name of Xolani. She is a 7-month-old Cape parrot with lovely red, gray, and green coloring. Her parents Anita and Scott, experienced bird owners, did their research and decided young Xolani would fit right in with their flock. They were getting her from a breeder in Oregon and after deciding she was the one for them, were told she had a crooked beak (known as scissor beak). Left untreated scissor beak can have devastating effects on a bird’s health and quality of life. Xolani was lucky to have been taken under the wing of such caring parents. Anita and Scott make sure she has what she needs, lots of things to chew, and has her beak trimmed regularly to keep it healthy. They contacted City Pets regarding Xolani’s special issue; Dr. Weinrick looked over pictures to ease her parents mind before she was even a patient. After her initial exam, Dr. Hui started trimming her beak, graciously accepting the role of the “bad guy”. This is no small sacrifice because parrots have long memories and are known to hold grudges. “She loves toys! Her favorites are brightly colored wooden blocks and chunky wooden puzzle pieces. These help keep her beak worn down between trims. Snap peas are relished and kale is refused every, single time. She likes to "talk" and we often hear her practicing new words. Most mornings during feeding she will fly over, look in her dish and ask "what's that?”. Xolani is a wonderful girl and we are so happy she is with our family.” We agree.
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JoJo We took a break from all the Pokémon Go hype to search far and wide for our Pokémon, er…Pet of the Month, and we found one worthy of the hunt! We’d like to introduce JoJo, the crooked tooth bunny. JoJo was adopted by Donna and Hsiao-Wen in June of 2015. Donna and Hsiao-Wen already had an impressive menagerie of animals, but JoJo fit right in. He gets along well with his pit bull, chihuahua, and two cat friends. He even loves his bunny roommate, Coffee Beans, as long as there is a fence between them. He enjoys nice weather outdoors in his playpen and has free run of the house. While we can’t confirm he likes “Razz berries”, his favorite occasional treats are blueberries and blackberries. This is actually what brought him into our clinic.
In September of 2015, Donna brought him in for a wellness exam and because his front four incisors were severely mal-aligned. Donna knew he would probably need a tooth trim because he had a history of dental issues. Doctor Hui was able to trim his teeth back to a reasonable length. Rabbits' teeth are continually growing, but are kept in check naturally by their diet. Due to JoJo's severe misalignment, Dr. Hui recommended removal of all four of his incisors. After some discussion, it was decided regular trimming would keep JoJo the most comfortable with minimum risk. So now whenever he tries to eat his blackberries and they escape his mouth, Donna brings him in to see Dr. Hui. He is doing very well and tolerating his trimming schedule, so for now, his family will keep him healthy with regular visits to City Pets. And even though he doesn’t like being picked up, he appreciates the forehead and cheek rubs he gets when he comes in. Don’t forget to “Like” or “Share” JoJo’s story. You can also find all our other Pets of the Month on our Facebook page or website. Floyd Birds are intelligent, emotional, and can make wonderful pets and our May Pet of the Month is no exception! Floyd is a green Amazon parrot that never fails to make us smile when he comes to visit. His exact age isn't known, but he's between 20 and 30 years old. The average lifespan of an Amazon parrot is between 25 and 50. Floyd was inherited by Tim and Dora Hanks from Tim's brother and he made himself right at home. He spends his days strutting around the house, climbing onto his owner's shoulders, talking, and laughing. His favorite treats are unsalted cashews, potato chips, french fries, and Ritz crackers.
When Tim first walked through our door in January, poor Floyd couldn't; he had sustained a pretty serious fracture in his left leg and was having trouble walking. His leg was in a splint and the break was so severe we weren't sure he was going to be able to use his leg again without expensive surgical repair. Floyd, however, had other plans. We kept his leg splinted and rechecked it several times between January and April. Boy, did Floyd learn to adapt. Tim would always show us videos and pictures of Floyd walking around the house and pulling himself around his large cage with his beak. As time went by he started using his leg more and using his foot to grip. We were very pleased with his progress, and by April 7th we were able to remove the splint! A bony callus had formed between the two fractured ends of the bone. The leg bone will likely never be normal, but it is functional and he is comfortable. Looks like Floyd got the last laugh. Haulie Our April Pet of the Month really lives up to the old adage “April showers bring May flowers”. We’d like to introduce everyone to Mr. Haulie McIntosh and his person, Renee, who has enjoyed the companionship and love of many, many pets throughout her life. So when Renee found herself ready for new furry friends, she planned to adopt two cats, but fate interjected when her co-worker, Debbie, told her about a dog being abused by a group of teenagers who needed a new home. Renee is the type to help those in need, so with sight unseen and no more information than that, she agreed to adopt the dog. Haulie entered Renee’s life like a hurricane.
Renee didn’t realize the trouble she was getting into when Debbie dropped the dog off at her door, hissing and howling. Before she could ask anymore questions, Debbie was running out of the building, jumping in her car, and speeding off. She didn’t even stay for coffee! Renee’s first thought was, “What an ugly dog!” And his behavior wasn’t any prettier. The first week with Haulie was spent with him howling, growling, barking, bearing his teeth, snapping and giving Renee evil menacing looks all day, everyday. And in turn Renee thought, “I have to get rid of this dog,” all day, everyday. It was so bad, the only “good thing” Renee could find about Haulie was that he didn’t have accidents in the house. The bad far outweighed the good and needless to say, Haulie and Renee’s relationship was off to a stormy start. Renee was also concerned because it seemed Haulie could never find joy in his life. He didn’t like to be petted, held, or combed (which is still true) and he never initiated play. Haulie wouldn’t even take treats out of Renee’s hand. Then something extraordinary happened at about six months. One day, while Renee brushed her teeth, Haulie came into the bathroom with his little blue ball and dropped it. He watched it bounce, grabbed it, and dropped it again. Renee watched him for 5 minutes, with tears in her eyes, while her dog played and experienced joy. It didn’t stop there either. Every few weeks there was another breakthrough in trust and play, but Renee knew if she was going to take on this challenge, she would need help. And that’s when our bright orange “City Pets” awning caught her attention. Renee agreed to bring in Haulie after Dorie and Paul reassured her Haulie would be welcomed here and we would treat him with care, dignity, and respect. Renee says she still remembers her first conversation with Dr. Weinrick when she suggested Haulie could be helped with medication. Haulie had a history of seizures and was put on medication to help prevent those. Haulie also continued to make great strides in his behavior, but was still anxious and didn’t like when Renee left him. After another discussion, Haulie was put on an anti-anxiety medication and Renee reports this has made a world of difference. Haulie has become more playful, initiating playtime several times a day, and loves digging up and burying rocks. Haulie has developed close relationships with several new people as well and is finally enjoying life because of Renee’s perseverance and a little help from the staff at City Pets Vet Clinic. Renee sums up Haulie perfectly: “A few days ago, someone asked, ‘Is Haulie a good dog?’ I said, ‘Yes, he is as good as he can possibly be.’ And that is good enough for me!” TillieWe're kicking off spring by featuring one of our floral-named patients as Pet of the Month for March. She was found as a kitten, hiding in a garden under a tiger lily and was henceforth called "Tillie". She has since blossomed into a beautiful 15-year-old feline with lots to say. Tillie and her parents, Daryl and Catherine Hasse, were united 11 years ago; the Hasses were cat sitting for her sister’s multiple cats and after staying with them for a few months, Tillie decided she liked their home so much that she was staying - she's been there ever since.
Tillie is an opinionated little cat with much to say. She will announce her arrival into rooms and isn’t afraid to share her thoughts with her housemates, including her canine sister, Margot. Tillie tolerates Margot, but enjoys her petting time away from her and curling up on the foot stool next to her Dad’s feet during TV time. Visitors are always amused to see Tillie has her own TV table and chair where she takes her meals; the Hasses tell us this is to keep Margot away from her food. Tillie enjoys her seat so much, she can most often be found there while her family is eating at the dinner table. Tillie has been with us at City Pets since 2013 and, like many of our patients, we developed a loving relationship with her because she is a wonderful pet and because we see her often due to ongoing health issues. As a kitten, Tillie faced her first medical hurdle when she needed to have a deformed leg amputated, but rest assured she has no troubles getting around on three legs. She has been battling allergies, diabetes, and thyroid problems for years. Luckily, Tillie’s parents have tried hard to make sure she is taken care of promptly and each condition is managed properly. All three health problems, diabetes in particular, can be controlled with regular monitoring and consistent treatment. Due to this vigilance, Tillie is showing the early signs of diabetic remission. Thanks to the continued care of the City Pets staff, the dedication of her parents, and her can-do attitude, Tillie has been living a full and happy life. |
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