Grassy Creek Veterinary Services, PLLC

16/06/2022

TIPS TO HANDLE CATTLE AND HEAT STRESS by Jason Garrett, UT Extension Agent

Hot temperatures are here and beef producers need to be aware of the heat stress their cattle are under. When it’s extremely hot, cattle accumulate a heat load during the day and it lowers at night when cooler temperatures set in. Cattle cannot dissipate their heat load well during the day and rely on respiration to cool themselves being they don’t sweat effectively. Cattle under severe cases of heat stress will not perform well, be subject for sickness, decreased appetite, reduced breeding and milk production and in some instances death. Here are some tips to manage heat stress in your herd...

•Water consumption is driven by environmental temperatures. Make sure cattle have plenty of cool, fresh water.

•Cattle must have shaded areas they can access to reduce heat loads.

•Work cattle early in the morning, not during the day or evening when heat loads are at peak.

•Transport cattle early in the morning.

•Cull unruly or high headed brood cows. They generally are the first to show signs of heat stress, especially if having to pen or work them in hot weather.

•Control flies on cattle. Cattle fighting aggravating flies in extremely hot conditions don’t help with heat stress.

•Try not to wean calves in hot weather. This will add more stress to the cow, not to mention the calf.

•Remove bulls from herd after spring breeding season. This will prevent bulls from running open cows and building more heat stress. Also it’s a recommended practice.

•Watch cattle closely with past health problems.

•Dark colored and heavier cattle are more susceptible for heat stress.

•If cattle are confined, make sure the structure is well ventilated.

For more information, please contact your local Extension agent.

01/06/2022

As of tomorrow, June 1, 2022, Grassy Creek Veterinary Services is no longer providing Veterinary services to the East Tennessee area outside of existing appointments that have already been scheduled with Dr. Matlock. This is closing a chapter of our lives as we progress toward our move to South Dakota. Thank you all for 4 years of memories taking care of your critters and for the many kind words and messages we have received over the past few weeks.

30/04/2022

Dear Clients,

Life comes with many changes and, as most of you know, I have been scaling back Grassy Creek for the past year since my move away from Knoxville. Life has taken another, rather unexpected, turn and we will be relocating to South Dakota in July. I will be making my very last trips to the Knoxville area in the near future. If you would like to be placed on the farm call list, please contact us as soon as possible. The University of Tennessee remains my ER referral and they will also take regular large animal clients. For those near Athens area, I will be referring my clients to Rolling M Veterinary Clinic with Dr Lesley Moser.

Thank you for 4 wonderful years of serving as your veterinarian. Please let me know if I can help you during this transition.

Dr Jessica Matlock

11/09/2021

From an American flag one year to a POW tribute the next, Wilber Meyer's field artwork has grown. And for the 20th anniversary of 9/11, this year's tribute is by far the biggest, extending beyond the Ohio farm field.

https://www.drovers.com/news/industry/field-art-ohio-farmers-life-size-tribute-9/11-planting-seeds-unity-20th-anniversary

20/08/2021

The Mississippi Poison Control Center has received increased calls due to livestock or animal formulations of ivermectin taken to prevent or treat COVID-19 infection. Animal drugs are highly concentrated for large animals and can be highly toxic in humans. Do NOT take drugs made for animals in any form. If you need help, call the Mississippi Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

16/08/2021

Why is there a stick on a string in the water trough you ask? It's a critter escape ramp! In this hot, dry weather we have all kinds of wildlife looking for water, and they are fond of our nice, clean horse troughs. Birds, squirrels, and other rodents especially. But without a way to escape, they can drown in those same troughs. A simple piece of lumber (NOT pressure treated) with a hole drilled in it for a string to tie on the panel (or a fence post), and our wild friends have something to climb out on. For like $2 worth of supplies, saving lives is easy!

05/06/2021

This. So much this. The emergency contact for Grassy Creek has, and always will be, UT Large Animal Hospital as is stated on our voice-mail. The vast majority of our regular clients are fabulous and understanding and respectful. And for that, we are so grateful. We do this because we love helping. Not for any other reason.

Last night I stumbled upon a thread where someone had taken to Facebook to help their animal who was in need of emergency medical intervention. While we know well that social media is a great place to obtain genuine knowledge it has also become a place where keyboards become weapons of warfare. We know well the positives and negatives to social media... that’s nothing new.

The person’s regular mobile vet was unavailable for whatever reason. Maybe that was a family emergency, another client, or hell maybe that veterinarian was on their once a year vacation they deserve. For whatever reason, they were unavailable and this person was panicking for the welfare of their animal (understandable). The conversation from people on the thread quickly took to name calling of veterinarians that couldn’t be there every time they called, couldn’t figure out their animal’s issues, or trashing the one that made a human mistake in “misdiagnosing” Fido 10 years ago. It broke my heart.

Did you know veterinary medicine has one of the highest su***de rates for career paths? Perhaps it’s because they leave vet school with over $150k in student debt on average and the industry does not have job opportunities reflective of this debt to income ratio. Perhaps it’s because they want to save them all but sometimes the financial capabilities of the animal’s owner do not make life saving measures an option - forcing them to end the lives of animals that COULD possibly survive. Perhaps it’s the constant demand for availability to clients 24/7 - 365 - and if they aren’t it’s become socially acceptable to take to the internet and post negative reviews and create mobs of like minded people for these doctors and technicians to read online. Perhaps it’s that becoming a veterinarian or technician means you are at least somewhat of a empath and you feel bigger for those around you than yourself. Regardless of the above “reasons” there is no excuse for the high su***de rates that WE the clients can do our part in preventing.

First: There are 85 million or so animals in the USA - of those animals - 2 million are insured. Insurance may be costly up front but think about the heart ache it would save you if you animal gets sick and the freedom it gives your veterinarian to do all they can to help. If insurance is not something you are interested in make a deliberate savings account specifically for the animals you are the care taker for so that in the event of emergency you are prepared.

Second: Communicate with your veterinarian. Ask them who they recommend if they are for whatever reason unavailable. Write down those back up contacts and have them ready in the event that you need them. It is not the veterinarians responsibility to be there at a moments notice for every animal the render care to - it’s just not humanly possible. Make a PLAN! Work together! Communicate about your budget clearly up front and have them help you understand the levels of treatment options there are and costs involved.

Three: Only YOU know your animal. If you don’t feel like you are getting the answers you need during treatment and diagnoses tell your veterinarian how you feel and tell them you are going to seek a second opinion. Almost all of them will agree it’s a good idea especially when it comes to hard cases or animals in need of specialists. That second opinion does NOT need to come from social media or google. It needs to come from another DVM.

Four: Do NOT participate in the social media witch hunting of veterinarians. It’s disrespectful and disgusting. You don’t know the whole story of the animal/client relationship in question - it’s not YOUR animal. Do NOT blame veterinarians you don’t know - don’t call them as****es, terrible, or worthless. I promise you those doctors and their techs want nothing more than for your animal to be well.

Five: Understand that their time is valuable too. Their time with their family is not worth any less than time with yours. If it can wait ‘til morning do that. Please don’t call them on a Sunday for a 3 day old laceration or a colic that you have been doctoring yourself since Thursday. If it can’t wait call the emergency line not their cell because they gave it to you that one time. They have staff for a reason - it’s so that they can take better care of your animal when they need you - rested and focused.

Six: Say THANK YOU - say it too much. If it wasn’t for them and their selfless sacrifice we wouldn’t be able to do what we do, provide care for our furry friends, or have treatment options available to us any day of the week. Send them flowers. Send them sweets. Send them to dinner. Send them to the spa.

For the love of veterinarians.... Please don’t continue to encourage others to bad mouth our docs and their techs over the size of your bill, call times, lack of answers, “missed” symptoms, and anything in between. I promise they are doing the very best they can. They are human just like me and you.

✌🏼💞🦄‘s
-WhoaZone Equine-

28/05/2021

The Riderless Horse: one of the oldest and most moving military traditions in a full honor funeral is the riderless, caparisoned horse. The horse is led behind the caisson wearing an empty saddle with the rider’s boots reversed in the stirrups, indicating the warrior will never ride again.

Let’s all join in this Memorial Day weekend to remember the heroes we have lost and the families they leave behind.

Thanks to the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) for this portrait of the Riderless Horse. Photo by Shelli Breidenbach Photography.

05/05/2021

Tis' the season for (muddy) puppies! Dr. Matlock loves the LGD babies ❤ Millie and Lola are learning from Big Brother Nash 🐶🐶🐶