Animal Health Clinic Blackfoot Idaho Animal Health Clinic, Blackfoot Idaho

We all know how cold Idaho winters can get, but temperatures lately have become extremely cold! It’s a common misconception that because animals have fur they can handle the cold better than we can. Not the case. Just like us animals get used to the heat of an indoor building so forcing them to stay outside when they are unaccustomed to it can prove to be very damaging to your pet.

Here are some tips for winter safety:

• Keep your pets indoor as much as you are. If you go out take them with you, when you are ready to head back in chances are so are they.
• Make sure your pet always has fresh non-frozen water. Hydration is critical even during cold winter months, and with no fresh water animals can turn to other alternatives such as antifreeze or other harmful water sources.
• Take care around ice. It’s easy for a pet to run out onto a lake or pond when the ice isn’t thick enough to support their weight.
• Puppies and older pets are especially vulnerable to the cold. Just like humans you need to be very careful with those age categories.

If you happen to notice that your pet has any of these following symptoms call your vet immediately; shivering, appearing anxious, trying to burrow, limping, lethargy, or other unusual behavior. Remember that frostbite and hypothermia are problems for your pet to.

So stay safe during these frigid winter days and if you have any concerns make sure you contact us to keep your pet healthy.

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Local News 6 just did a story on our good friends from Portneuf Animal Welfare Society who have been working closely with the victims of the Charlotte Fire in Pocatello. We have enjoyed our long relationship with PAWS and realize how much good work they have done.

To see the full article complete with video click here.

We are so thankful that people and organizations like this exist, and the animals thank them too.

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Twelve-week-old dog Max undergoes an open heart surgery at the Animal Health Clinic in Blackfoot, while his six-year-old owner with a spine disorder waits patiently for his recovery.

Dr. Jason Moulton of the Animal Health Clinic and Cardiac Surgeon Dr. Jacob DeLaRosa of the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello joined with several other veterinarians and nurses opened a valve from Max’s heart.

“To listen to his heart, it sounded like you were listening to an old Maytag washing machine,” Dr. Moulton said.

Dr. Moulton’s cousin, Travis Moulton and wife Melissa, purchased the dog for their son so that he would have a buddy. They chose Max for his mild manner and quiet demeanor to match the character of their son, Tristan, who has an amazing story himself.

“He was told that he wouldn’t live to be 4 years old and now he is six years old,” Dr. Moulton said, “so Tristan is kind of an anomaly by himself.”

Dr. Moulton at first sent the dog home and said there was only the chance of him living a few weeks, but after discussion with his colleagues and volunteer help from Dr. DeLaRosa, they decided to try the surgery.

“That surgery might be an option, we were totally excited,” Melissa Moulton said, “because we’d be able to keep him longer and Tristan would be able to keep his buddy for a lot longer.”

The surgery took less than two hours and they said the heart was the size of a half dollar.

“He’s so small that the surgery itself was like microsurgery,” Dr. Moulton said. “He (Dr. DeLaRosa) equated doing this type of surgery on a premature baby.”

After less than twenty-four hours, Max can walk around and he returns to his family on April 19.

When Local News 8 spoke with Tristan on the phone he could barely contain his excitement and could only laugh and shout.

All veterinarians and doctors involved say they hope to do a surgery like this again.

Full Story On Local News 8 found here.

Full Video found here.

We will be posting more photos soon on Max’s progress.

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