EverLoved Veterinary

26/08/2024

You're not rich until you have something money can't buy. Happy National Dog Day!

23/08/2024

Kind words...

Dr. Crocker provided truly the most compassionate care we could have ever received. She did not Ruch but considered our feelings and also the feelings of our little fur baby. 💜

21/08/2024

At 3 years old, I have a house, two passive incomes, a personal chef, and a maid. Follow me for financial advice.

14/08/2024

Dr. Weber and her team are outstanding. We used Dr. Crocker for an in home euthanasia for our senior female dog last fall which we were able to do outside in her favorite place. We met with Dr. Weber at her facility for acupuncture for our senior boxer for several months before we had to say goodbye this summer which we were able to do in home. Every experience we had was perfect. Both our babies got to go peacefully at home with their loved ones loving on them. Our senior boxer had severe arthritis and I believe that the acupuncture extended his quality of life, which gave us more time with him. I highly recommend using their services. We will be forever grateful for their services and the peace they gave not just our pets but our family as well during such a difficult time. Thank you for all that you do.💜

05/08/2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I used you guys when my Nanna of 17.5 years passed. I wanted her to pass in the comfort of her own home and bed with my arms wrapped around her. Y’all were amazing and made the hardest day of my life a little bit easier. I really appreciated the sweet sympathy card you guys sent me shortly after as well. Nanna passed peacefully and I got to spend the time I needed saying goodbye. Thank you for what you do. I know it can’t be an easy job.💜

04/08/2024

Checking in — how are you all doing?

03/08/2024

Chattering Cats: What's the Deal with That Funny Noise?

Ever caught your kitty making that quirky chattering sound? You know, that rapid-fire jaw movement that looks like they're shivering with excitement? This adorable little quirk is actually pretty common in our feline friends.

Most of the time, it's just your cat's inner hunter coming out to play. Picture this: your fluffy companion is perched by the window, eyes locked on a bird fluttering just out of reach. Suddenly, the chattering begins! It's like they're saying, "Oh boy, oh boy, I want that bird!" It's especially noticeable when they can see the 'prey' but can't get to it – talk about frustration!

But here's the thing: as our furballs get older, chattering might take on a new meaning. Your senior kitty might start chattering when they're feeling scared, annoyed, or even in pain. Some cat experts even compare it to how we humans might mutter under our breath when we're not too happy about something. It's like kitty swear words! 💜

If you notice your older cat chattering and it comes with some drooling or excessive salivation, it's time to pay attention. This combo could be a red flag for something more serious. If you see this, it's best to get your furry friend to the vet for a check-up, just to be on the safe side.

Remember, keeping an eye (and an ear) on your cat's chatter is just another way to show them how much you care. After all, we want our whiskered pals to be happy and healthy for all nine lives!

01/08/2024

In Memory Of Grumpy Clarence 💜

We are so very happy you found us Clarence! You definitely adopted us — not the other way around. Such a random meeting that changed our world for the better. Our time with you was not enough. We love you and miss you Grumpy Little Man!
-Sarah and Joyce

30/07/2024

Signs Your Pet May Be Nearing the End of Life

As a veterinarian specializing in end-of-life care, I've observed many cats and dogs in their final days. While every animal is unique, there are common behaviors that may indicate your pet is nearing the end of their journey.

One of the most noticeable changes is a significant decrease in activity. Your once-playful pet may become lethargic, spending most of their time sleeping. Dogs might struggle with mobility, while cats often avoid in quiet, hidden spots.

Appetite loss is another crucial sign. Your pet may refuse their favorite foods or stop eating altogether, leading to weight loss and dehydration. You might notice their fur looking dull and their skin losing elasticity.

Changes in bathroom habits are common. Some pets may become incontinent, while others might stop using their designated areas entirely. Difficulty breathing, characterized by rapid, shallow breaths or open-mouth breathing, can also indicate declining health.

Cognitive changes may occur as well. Your pet might seem confused, disoriented, or unresponsive to your presence. Dogs often become needier, seeking constant companionship, while cats may withdraw and seek solitude.

Species-specific signs exist too. Cats might purr more as a self-soothing mechanism or press their heads against walls. Dogs may develop a glazed look in their eyes or exhibit nesting behaviors.

If you notice these signs, it's essential to consult with your veterinarian promptly. While these behaviors can indicate the end is near, they may also be symptoms of treatable conditions. As pet parents, our role is to ensure our companions are comfortable and pain-free in their final days, making decisions that prioritize their quality of life.

19/07/2024

Understanding Cognitive Decline in Older Pets:
A Compassionate Approach

As our beloved pets grow older, we often notice changes in their behavior and abilities, much like in humans. One common issue in aging pets is cognitive decline, often referred to as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) in dogs and Feline Cognitive Dysfunction (FCD) in cats. Recognizing the signs early can help us provide the best care and support for our furry friends in their golden years.

Cognitive decline in pets can be characterized by a range of symptoms. You might observe disorientation, where your pet gets lost in familiar places or struggles to find their way around the house. Changes in sleep patterns are also common; your once energetic pet might become restless at night and sleep more during the day. House training accidents may increase, and you could notice a decrease in their interest in playing or interacting with family members.

Additionally, older pets with cognitive decline might develop anxiety, showing increased vocalization, pacing, or clinginess. These changes can be distressing for both pets and their owners, but there are ways to help manage the symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Regular veterinary check-ups are crucial for early detection and management of cognitive decline. Your vet may recommend dietary changes, supplements, or medications that can support brain health. Environmental enrichment, such as puzzle toys, regular exercise, and maintaining a routine, can also help stimulate their minds and keep them engaged.

Remember, patience and understanding are key. While cognitive decline is a natural part of aging, with the right care and attention, we can ensure our pets remain happy and comfortable throughout their senior years.

It’s essential to approach these changes with patience and compassion. Our pets have given us years of unconditional love, and it's our turn to provide them with the care and support they need during their golden years. Cherish every moment, and remember, you're not alone—we are here to help guide you through this journey.

💜

17/07/2024

Welcome to Gulf Coast’s only veterinary Goodbye Center.

Our center was created for those families preferring the feel of an in-home goodbye without having the memory at their home.

From the lobby to our comfort rooms, our center provides a warm, comfortable home-like feel. We give our patients and their families the same careful, gentle experience as our in-home goodbyes. Every family is welcome to take their furry loved-one home to be laid to rest or we can provide cremation arrangements for you.

Saying goodbye is hard enough. It’s our honor to help you through the process.

08/07/2024

Raise Your Eyebrows!

A Japanese study published in the September 2013 volume of Behavioral Processes found that dogs raise their eyebrows – especially the left one – when greeted by their owners. Using a high-speed camera, they scrutinized the facial movements of the dogs when seeing their owners vs. seeing strangers.

When the strangers came along to greet them, the test dogs displayed far less facial activity and most of it was right-sided. The significance is that the right brain controls the left side of the face and is tied to emotion, while the left brain controls the right side of the face and is tied to analytical behaviors.

💜 The more facial activity you display when greeting your dog, the more they know they are loved. If you are able to raise one eyebrow (sadly, I cannot) then make it the left one. Your pup will really feel special!

05/07/2024

Book Share! Happened upon this one about helping children with the loss of a pet... many reviews say it's good for adults too!

Big Cat, Little Cat by

There was a cat who lived alone.
Until the day a new cat came . . .

And so a story of friendship begins, following the two cats through their days, months, and years until one day, the older cat has to go. And he doesn’t come back.

This is a poignant story, told in measured text and bold black-and-white illustrations about the act of moving on.

"Most comforting book about the death of a pet I have ever read -- The death of a pet is one of the most heartbreaking events in life. This book, in a remarkably simple and beautiful way, touches on the emotions we and our surviving pets feel after a loss. It is honest about loneliness and sadness, and it ends with a message of love and acceptance. As someone who has experienced this many times, I highly recommend for any one of any age."

01/07/2024

In Memory Of My Man Chase 💜

"Chase was Beautiful, Smart and Loving and our best friend. Will be truly missed. “My Man” miss holding “Pretty Paw”. We will play again. I know you and your sister (and brother) are playing chase right now!! Love🐕"

-Greg and Barbara

21/06/2024

3 Diet Tips for Cats With Arthritis

( 💜 In addition to acupuncture! Contact us... Lucy, our Care Coordinator, is happy to provide information and facilitate an appointment with Dr. Lydia or Dr. Kristin 💜)

Managing arthritis in cats is difficult. The drug class that is the mainstay of treatment for both dogs and people is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). Veterinarians may prescribe NSAIDs for short-term pain management in cats under certain circumstances. When used appropriately and prescribed by a veterinarian, they can be safe and effective. However, arthritis treatment is almost always long-term.

Buprenorphine is an opioid pain reliever for cats that is safe and effective but addictive to both humans and cats. It’s relatively expensive if you are using it day in and day out for the rest of your cat’s life. Veterinarians might recommend it for short-term use when other forms of treatment are no longer able to keep your cat comfortable, but they may reserve it for late-stage arthritis.

Thankfully, dietary modifications have proven to be an excellent way to help treat arthritis in cats. Here are some ways you can change your cat’s diet to support their joint health:

→ Keep Your Cat Lean
→ Feed the Right Amount of Quality Protein
→ Try Joint Health Supplements

Visit the EverLoved Blog for full article with details on how to implement these diet tips.

Article shared from: petmd.com

19/06/2024

In Memory of Sweet Rocko 💜

“My sweet Rocko, you are indeed the sweetest, craziest, and most loyal dog we have ever had the pleasure of sharing our life with. You have stood by our side and helped us by being the best big brother to our tons of foster animals. You have seen them all, some for short periods and some for over a year. We could not have asked for a better dog than you. When we adopted you from ARF years ago I knew it when I first seen your picture. I said, “He’s the one!” and the girls agreed. Thank you for all the love and great memories you have given us. Thank you for being by my side every day at work. I know we will see you again. Have fun chasing Bruce & Molly and playing with Tank, and your sisters you never met, my sweet Roxie girl & Maggie May. I know you will be well taken care of by all our relatives that have passed. We love you “Rock”, until we meet again sweet boy. Special Thanks to everyone at EverLoved Veterinary for everything ya'll did. It means a lot.”

-The Phillips Family

17/06/2024

Good Article from PetMD.com

https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/care/common-ailments-for-senior-dogs?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=PETMD_HealthAdvice_7CommonAilmentsInSeniorDogs_02212015

14/06/2024

Gaze Deeply Into Their Eyes 🐶💜

Dr. Brian Hare, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Duke University topped the NY Times bestseller list with his book, The Genius of Dogs. In an interview with Anderson Cooper he told the dog-loving newsman that when your dog stares at you he is “hugging you with his eyes.”

This doesn’t mean you should stare deeply into the eyes of the dog that guards your local junkyard! Direct eye contact is still considered a challenge or threat in many situations. But with your own, trusted pet, try gazing into his eyes when the two of you are calmly relaxing.

Speak softly, stroke him gently, and maintain eye contact. According to Hare, these quiet moments stimulate the release of Oxytocin in the canine brain – the same hormone that bonds mother and child.

How do you tell your you love them?

12/06/2024

If you have the opportunity to browse this book -- Beautiful photography, wonderful stories.

"A stunning and indelible collection of portraits and stories that capture dogs of a certain age in all their patchy, scruffy, jowly, and devoted glory—an homage to man’s best friend, based on the popular international photography project.

The dogs in are well worn, well loved, and well on in years. After his grandmother’s 100th birthday party, photographer and dog lover Pete Thorne found himself taking photos of elderly dogs. In their aged, imperfect faces, he saw a depth of life, joy, and wisdom missing from more youthful subjects. He gathered these rich and powerful portraits into a web series he called “Old Faithful.”

The reaction was instant—and astounding—from media outlets as diverse as Huffington Post and BuzzFeed to Esquire and ABC, to thousands of people around the globe who reached out to Thorne with their heartwarming stories of their own faithful companions. The photos triggered a wide variety of emotions, eliciting smiles and tears, and unleashing a flood of anecdotes and memories. “Old Faithful” became a shared platform for dog lovers all over the world.

Based on his web series, Old Faithful features dozens of color photographs that bring these dogs vividly into focus, accompanied by poignant descriptive sketches that capture the spirit and personality of each, illuminate his life and experiences, and celebrate the shared relationship with a beloved human companion.

A sweet and moving keepsake, Old Faithful demonstrates that aging can be beautiful, and offers profound lessons for all of us, no matter our age."

11/06/2024

Another good article:

Finding the right words isn't easy.

10/06/2024

In Memory of Snuggly Toby 💜

“Toby came into my life 17 years ago as a rescue. 20 lbs of pure muscle. Small body, long legs - sort of Italian greyhound and terrier mix. Run like the wind, leap 6 ft in the air for the frisbee, and play water fetch forever. He and Maggie, my lab, became best of buddies - always together. Toby was the best snuggler - oh how I miss that. Hated to be in the car, but he tolerated camping trips to Canada and elsewhere. Fell 10 ft off the deck and jumped right up. Fell in the pond 3 times and survived. Tough cookie, but hated thunderstorms! Blind, deaf, failing back legs at the end - then cancer. Still determined and my Best Buddy Forever. No words can express how much I miss Toby.”

-Edie

07/06/2024

I just can't say enough good things about Dr. Lydia. We contacted three vet offices and each one said they highly recommended her service for at home euthanasia. Her service was beyond our expectations.
She was patient, kind and very compassionate. We had to say goodbye to our 13 year old American bull dog and I can't imagine him leaving us any other way. He left us very peacefully thanks to Dr. Lydia. 💜

06/06/2024

Impromptu share... let us know your thoughts!

Pet loss grief; the pain explained | Sarah Hoggan DVM | TEDxTemecula Here's the link:
https://youtu.be/TkJGhQANjZo?si=ZNfPeO6XKW7wQozi

05/06/2024

In Memory Of Sweet Steve 💜

This is a hard one! My Sweet Stevie, my best buddy, I haven't wrapped my head or heart around you not being with me. All the books we read, all the pints of ice cream we shared. All the fluffy blankets and scary movies. I love you, Stevie.

03/06/2024

What to Say To Someone Who Has Lost a Pet

Losing a pet is a tragic part of life that affects all pet lovers are some point or another.

For some people, losing a pet has the same emotion to it as losing a human in their life. This may have been a pet that they have grown up with or is part of the family.

Really, anything you say with good-intentions is appreciated, but here are some ideas to help if you're stuck on words.

• Tell them you’re sorry and you’re thinking of them
• Say something nice about their pet
• Talk about a memory you have with their pet
• Tell them what you will do to help in the coming days
•Remind them that they gave the pet a great life and good home
• Assure them that they did the right thing and it’s not their fault
•If religious, give them hope they will be reunited with their pet

31/05/2024

Purring. Are they happy?

When most people think of a purring cat, they will instantly assume that this means that the cat is content and perhaps enjoying some much-needed attention from their owner. In the main, this is true, and purring is your cat’s way of letting you know that he is happy.

But it is important to remember that as cats get older, their purr might mean something more than feeling happy and relaxed. For more senior animals this could be a sign of illness. Whilst cats do use a purr when they are content, they may also use it as a form of comfort if they are in pain.

A lot of cat owners will mistake continual purring for something far more positive than it is, so it is important to see your vet if you notice your cat is purring more frequently than usual. You might also pay attention to when the cat is purring. If it happens when they are getting some fuss from you, this is likely normal, but if they are doing it at obscure times, it could be a sign of discomfort.

There has even been evidence to suggest that in cases where the cat needs help, he will alter his purr slightly to attract his human. This type of purr is seen to be more urgent and can have a cognitive effect on humans in a similar way to that of a crying baby.

(Image from Pinterest.)

30/05/2024

In Memory of Mighty Earl 💜
- The Boone Family

29/05/2024

Common feelings after euthanasia

Some people experience a strong sense of peace, of having chosen a final kindness for their pet after euthanasia. We often talk about putting an animal ‘out of their misery’ and this can be the case when a pet has been very unwell or badly hurt.

But, for others, euthanasia can raise a whole host of difficult thoughts and feelings that are extremely traumatic for the bereaved caregiver.

So often, people worry that if they’d have done something different, their pet might still be alive. In the pain and fog of grief, it can be hard to reflect objectively on the reasons for choosing euthanasia.

My point in discussing these thoughts and feelings is to reassure you that there is no such thing as a ‘right’ response to euthanasia or bereavement. You are not alone.

The most important thing to remember is that, whatever led you to the decision that euthanasia was the best option for your pet, you were trying to do the right thing for them. Vets do not recommend euthanasia lightly and will always advocate for an animal if they think there is an alternative.

If you are struggling with life after euthanasia, please do reach out for support. There are some wonderful pet bereavement counsellors out there and many, many people within the community who understand your feelings.

27/05/2024

Dr. Lydia is wonderful. She was so kind, caring and gentle as she helped our sweet Bailey ease into eternal rest. She explained everything clearly and told us what to expect. She reassured us every step of the way that our pet was comfortable and not in distress. I pray I never need her again, but if so, I would not hesitate to call on her. I highly recommend her. 💜

24/05/2024

What exercises are “right” for seniors?

The short answer is low-impact, low-impact, and low-impact. Every dog is different, so before trying any of these suggestions, make sure you speak with a veterinary professional about your dog’s limitations and any exercises you should avoid or focus on.

● A leisurely 30 minute to an hour walk, every afternoon or morning, is enough for most breeds to maintain a healthy weight. (And it's good for you too!)

● As counter-intuitive as it may be, teaching these commands, then having your dog perform each a set number of times is a phenomenal way to keep the range of motion in her joints, work muscles that walking doesn’t, and build a trust-filled, loving relationship at the speed of light!

● For an old dog, we recommend indoor fetch with his favorite toy. A toss across the room, every now and again, keeps the blood flowing and our sweet pup’s metabolism guessing.

● Hide-and-Seek! This is just as entertaining as it is good for your senior dog. The idea is simple. You hide a few treats around the house when your dog is in a stay(in another room, where he can’t see you). When you’re finished, tell him to come in and find the treats! This is also really good for our pup’s mental health. Keeping him from getting bored or lethargic in his golden years.

● Keeping with the theme of exercising our senior’s brain, as well as her body, invest in an interactive toy for feeding time. There are so many good ones on the market, pick your favorite and switch Red with the dog tornado interactive toyfrom her old bowl to the toy for feedings. Having to figure out the toy and work for her food will provide a fun, low-impact exercise for both her body and brain.