Seville Animal Hospital

Pawprints to Seville

Pet News brought to you by ...... Seville Animal Hospital

When I think of Christmas - Author Joan Rizzo

When I think of Christmas, I think of a scene from the movie It’s a Wonderful
Life, when George Bailey’s daughter, Zuzu, points to a bell on their Christmas
tree and reminds him, “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.”

My angel has four paws and a tail.

Eight years ago, when I first laid eyes on a rescued tri-color beagle named
Sabrina, it was love at first sight. She was fairly young, not quite a year old.
She had bordetella; also known as kennel cough. She was fearful and passive
around the other dogs. Her sad deep brown eyes pleaded with me to get her
out of there. Our rescuers suggested I take her home with me for a weekend
to see how we’d do. One said she was pretty sure I wouldn’t be bringing
Sabrina back. She was right. On the Monday after our weekend together, I
signed the adoption papers.

Sabrina was on antibiotics for the bordetella, but she still had a deep
bronchial cough that sounded awful. She slept with me the first night and
woke me up several times coughing. I held her and spoke softly to her until it
calmed down. We had formed the first bond of our relationship.

Several years later, Sabrina returned the favor, when I was treated for breast
cancer. I had to have four chemotherapy treatments three weeks apart over
three months. Needless to say, it was grueling. After each infusion, it took five
days for the medicine to leave my system. During that time, it was all I could
do to keep the room from spinning. I had bone pain and fatigue and hair loss.
I avoided staying in my bedroom, because it felt too much like a sickroom. I
stayed on the couch, instead. Sabrina’s cuddle bed was on the floor next to
me. She never left my side. Her eyes were on me when I woke up from a nap.
Wherever I went, she followed. I summoned the strength to take her outside.
I live in a condominium, and I can’t have an enclosed area for her, so I walk
her around the grounds. Taking her out required me to get up and move. It
helped enormously. Sabrina’s devotion saw me through a very dark time.

That was three years ago. I survived the cancer. Sabrina and I can enjoy our
time together. Right now, she’s sleeping on a blanket under my desk while I
write. She’s nine years old. We both move slower, but we move together like
two creatures who know and anticipate each other’s every move. When she
trots down the street like she owns the neighborhood, I can hear the metal
tags on her collar jingle—just like a bell.

Joan Rizzo

Joan & her "angel" Sabrina

Ask the Doctor

Question: Really, how dangerous can it be to give my dog and cat holiday leftovers? They lo

ve me when I put scraps in their bowl.

Answer: Even subtle changes in diet may cause diarrhea or vomiting. If you would like to indulge your pet, give low-fat cuts of meat (turkey & chicken are the best choices, staying away from all pork meats) Never feed your dog or cat chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins or any type of fatty food!

Other holiday hazards to keep in mind:

Keep holiday plants and decorations away from curious mouths and do not treat the christmas tree water if your pet likes to drink from it.

Our pets can enjoy the holiday season as well, if the treats and toys that they are given are safe. If your pet has a sensitive stomache or has had pancreatitis they (and you too) will enjoy it more if instead of a food treat, they are given a safe toy and some special time.

Send all "Ask the Doctor" questions to: Seville Animal Hospital, c/o "Ask the Doctor", 175 Center Street, Seville, Ohio 44273. Questions that are chosen for the website will receive a free nail trim for their dog or cat.

Happy Turkey Day!

Refer a Friend

As you may know the success of any business relies on word-of-mouth advertising. To show our appreciation for the referral of your friends and family, we will apply a $20 in-house credit on your account. This credit may be used on any service or merchandise.

Important: Must be new client to SAH and in order to receive the referral credit, the new party must mention who referred them by name.

Our referral program is our way of saying "Thank You" for your trust and confidence in us.

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