Quinn Veterinary Clinic

10/14/2024

Poor Ziggy has been dealing with a very large ear hematoma but thanks to laser treatments twice a week, which he tells us how much he enjoys, the ear has almost healed! His newly adopted little brother Fred gets to come along also, so he can have some “Happy Vet Visits” !

10/13/2024

UPDATE: Aversive tools are NOT banned in Scotland. Thank you to everyone that helped to update the list. :)

“What do Austria, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Quebec, Wales, Italy, and Scotland have in common?’

They have all banned aversive training tools and recognize animals as sentient beings.” - Michael Shikashio

10/09/2024

Written by a friend who has a heart of gold…

I’m a professional dog trainer of 23 years, so here’s a list of things I can guarantee you my dogs are better at than most -

1. Begging for food. That’s right. My dogs 100% know how to turn on the drool and charm when I’m eating or cooking. Does it work? Maybe. Do I always pay cheese tax? Absolutely.

2. Taking over my furniture and bed. Yes. My dogs sleep with me, lay on me, take up real estate on the couch, my lap and anywhere else they find comfort.

3. Getting super excited at greetings. My dogs jump up and hug me all the time. In fact, I don’t ever wear anything I care about. It’s super fun in summertime when I’m in shorts.

4. Chewing stuff that isn’t theirs. Shoes, the corner of a rug, we’ve even lost a chair leg to adolescent teething. Toys? Oh sure they have TONS of them, that I rotate and fill with food and freeze and hide - but what are toys compared to a family heirloom?

5. Ignoring me when it’s really important. Why come back when I’m calling them when it matters most? Why not make me stand in my underwear at 5am for a few minutes. They sure do love to keep me on my toes. It’s even better when it’s in public and I’ve just told people I’m a dog trainer!

6. Getting sick at the worst possible times. It’s not a vacation if someone doesn’t start pooping water or ingest something unknown while I’m gone. Or when I’ve just finished putting the kids to bed and cleaning the house, they are SO good at vomiting right at the bottom stair so I can step in it barefoot on my way downstairs to “relax”.

7. Barking at nothing, and everything, at all times. Leaf fall? Vacuum going? Small creak in floor? We could all die and they keep me safe. Without them, I may fall into the awful spiral of having peace and quiet, and who wants that?

8. Pointing out my flaws. Nothing like an adolescent dog or a drivey shepherd to make you recognize you need more work on your patience, timing and delivery. If it weren’t for them, I’d never have to really work on myself!

9. Leaving too soon. Just as we’ve figured out all of each other’s idiosyncrasies and habits and settle into a friendship of a lifetime, they have to go. We get a few amazing years together, and then my heart gets absolutely shattered, yet I still wouldn’t have it any other way. And THEN, I choose to take the journey all over again.

10. Being my best friends. Long day, feeling gloomy, struggling to see a bright side? They are there through all of it. Making me laugh, keeping me grounded, never taking things too seriously and always ready to try again for me. At my best and my worst they adore me, what better friends can you get than that.

I’m a dog trainer, but I still have dogs. They are not perfect, neither am I. My dogs are still allowed to be dogs as they accept that I’m still allowed to be a human. They are gonna dig a hole in my favorite spot of the yard and I’m going to take away the soggy tennis ball they found in the swamp. They will shred a new bed I bought for them and I’ll ask them to walk politely next to me instead of dragging me down. They will bark at a suspicious plastic bag and I will ask them to perform silly behaviors in front of people. They need to smell a tree branch for 10 minutes and I want to watch this new Netflix documentary. It’s a two way street and I’ve learned to embrace it instead of try to control it. That’s the only way I’ve found for it to be truly fair to them and to myself.

If you want a dog trainer who doesn’t advocate for allowing dogs to be dogs, and humans to be humans, and finding a compromise that’s fair and humane, I’m not your trainer, and that’s okay with me. They aren’t here long enough to make such big deals out of such little things for the level of friendship and devotion we get in return with them. Love your dogs everyone. For them, and for you.

- Helen St. Pierre

10/05/2024

Come visit us at the Huntington Tails and Trails Event at Crestview Middle School until 2:30 and learn all about our clinic, enter our raffle, and best of all meet Marco, the rescue Doberman!

10/04/2024

Not sure if this makes me cry more out of sadness for the disaster or joy for human kindness. Takes me back to the week I spent helping with the animal rescue post Katrina.

10/03/2024

Having a cat that eliminates outside the litter box is stressful for both the cat and the caretaker. The good news is that there are simple ways to prevent this behavior or attempt to fix an already present problem. Below are some tips on how to make the litterbox a safe place for your cat. Remember that the litterbox is not just a toileting area but also a place where your cat establishes his or her territory to feel secure in their environment.

10/03/2024

Preventative care is so important in your pet's health plan and we at Quinn Veterinary Clinic and Behavior Center will always make sure these visits are low stress for both you and your pet!

October is National Pet Wellness Month. Veterinarians recommend regular wellness exams for the same reason your physician and dentist recommend them – if you can detect a problem in its early stages, it's more likely to be treated and resolved with less expense, less difficulty, and better success.

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here's 10 things that you can do to make veterinary visits better for everyone: https://bit.ly/3LYIpXv

09/29/2024

Charlie suggests if you can’t decide which toy to pick, just take the whole bag!!🤣😂 Such a sweet girl!

09/29/2024

The Office will be closed on Monday, September 30th.
Dr. Quinn will be out of town. We can be reached through email or text.

09/25/2024

So if anyone tries to reach me during these times I will be at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, exercising my vocal cords! Boiler up🖤💛

🏠 Defend Mackey.

Entering the year with a 17-game home winning streak.

09/18/2024

Annual exams and lab work are important in diagnosing painful pets. Pain can come on so subtly that its hard for owners to pick up on the signs right away.

09/16/2024

Congratulations to our puppy preschool graduates (and their pet parents)! From L to R: Rose, Sophie, Sadie. All 3 were a joy to have in class and they grew so much over 5 weeks!!

09/15/2024

Scientists have discovered that human and dog brain waves synchronize during social interactions, offering new insights into our unique bond.

09/13/2024

In acknowledgement of Friday the 13th!

09/11/2024

9/11 rescue dogs' best friends were the people who kept dogs safe at Ground Zero .

09/11/2024

09/11/2024

Happy Healthy Cat Month!

09/10/2024

Adolescence occurs between six months and 18 months of age—a time when guardians typically struggle the most with their dogs. Some guardians are so overwhelmed and underprepared for this developmental stage of their dog’s life, they choose to surrender the dog to a local shelter or rescue group. In a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science found that the majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7 percent) ) were between 5 months and 3 years of age (M.D. Salman,John G. New, Jr.,Janet M. Scarlett,Philip H. Kass,Rebecca Ruch-Gallie &Suzanne Hetts, 2010)

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, changing s*x hormones effect the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to process information they are receiving from the environment including the presence of dogs, vehicles, people, or really anything around them. They behave in ways that might feel frustrating or upsetting for the dog’s person.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control. We see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

So what does this mean? This could mean that what was once no big deal to the dog now feels scary; what was once easy to do is now stressful; what once made sense is now confusing. At times, the world can feel like ‘too much’ for the adolescent dog.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, our own frustration and impatience can cause us to act unpredictably. This adds to our puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for our dogs to adjust.

If you have an adolescent dog, what can you do? You can give your dog the time and space to observe what is going on around them when on leash at a distance away from the activity when possible. You can give your dog long walks to sniff and explore in nature, giving their brain time to decompress. You can offer your dog a quiet space to sleep so that they can consolidate memories effectively. You can continue training various skills, breaking them down into easier steps that can be generously reinforced.

By understanding what our adolescent dog is experiencing we gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best adult selves.

09/10/2024

September is National Preparedness Month! Do you know what to do with your pets incase of a natural disaster? The AVMA has some great guidelines to make sure you and you're pets are prepared.

https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/aph-pet-evacuation-kit-checklist.pdf

09/09/2024

Awwww🥲

09/09/2024

At Quinn Veterinary Clinic and Behavior Center we focus on both the physical and emotional health care needs of today's dogs and cats. Whether already dealing with a pet that has anxiety, fear, or has experienced trauma in his/her life, or wanting to prevent these issues, our practice is specifically designed in all aspects to address these concerns. Contact us today to become a client or for more information. Please plan to leave a message and one of us will respond within one business day.

Phone: 260-454-7623 Text: 260-560-2261 Email: [email protected]

09/05/2024

Dog licks are often thought of as doggy kisses. But, it’s actually something to take a step back and notice. And could sometimes be considered a, “Kiss to Dismiss” (more on that below). These licks do trigger some questions that may seem a bit silly to ask in response. Something like, “Describe the licks for me. Fast, slow, and then does the dog move away?”
“Is it a full tongue or a little bit?”
“Full tongue lick or quick flick?”
“Is the child sitting and the dog approaches or vice versa, what level of mobility does the child have, is food present or remnant?

There’s many questions! But, these questions help us gather valuable information to help us understand what the dog may be communicating. At Family Paws Parent Education, we want to help parents consider and recognize that dog licks may not always be what we think they are, “affectionate kisses”, or indications of “love,” but could have other meanings. We refer to this as “Kiss to Dismiss”. If you are curious of these doggy “kisses” and if they are a “Kiss to Dismiss”, ask yourself,
🐶 Is your dog in need of space? (what just happened? Did your baby crawl closer to your dog?)
🐶 Is your dog in need of space and there is a reason they may choose not to move? (example: comfy spot, resource, pain)
🐶 Does this licking deter closeness or lead to an increase in space?

Thank you, Steve Bishop of Bishops Gate Dog Training for this graphic! Steve is also a Family Paws Parent Educator.
We do not recommend baby and dogs interact as shown in these illustrations. Never allow your baby to crawl up to or freely explore your dog in this way.

You can also find him on Instagram at