Testimonials

Testimonials

"Hershey" McMinn

Thank you, Dr. Foote, for the work you are doing with our chocolate lab, Hershey. As you and your staff know, we came to you with a dog whose list of fears was quite extensive. He has made such improvement since we've started working with you. We just came through the Christmas holiday season with lots of activity and lots of company in and out of our house. In the past, we would have had a very fearful dog cowering in the bedroom. This year he was actually comfortable enough to come out among our company and be a part of the family. He isn't 100% over his fears and we still have work to do, but Hershey is a much more relaxed and happier dog. I would encourage anyone who has a timid, fearful dog to not give up. There are definitely things that can help and your clinic is the place to start.

-The McMinn family and "Hershey"

"Spunky" Brandenburg

We have had Spunky for a long time and we were very concerned when he started having trouble walking. One day he couldn't even get up, I tried to pick him up to help he stand and he just fell down. We brought him in to see Dr. Foote. She looked at him and took some x-rays. She said he was in pain because of arthritis in his back. She sent us with some medication. A week later he was walking better and not falling over. We were so happy that Dr. Foote had fixed our Spunky. We brought him in to the clinic again to have her check him over. While we were there, we asked if his toenails could get trimmed. Spunky won't let us cut his toenails at home. But Dr. Foote was able to cut them while we gave him peanut butter. We are so glad Dr. Foote was able to help our Spunky. We love him very much. Thanks so much!

- The Brandenburg family and "Spunky"

"Sashya" and her Vet

I have been bringing my Beagle/Hound mix to Dr. Sally Foote ever since she adopted me. Her first experiences at the office were not traumatic, but she didn’t seem to be happy either. Sashya would cower and get so nervous her hair would literally “rain” off her. Sashya had to be muzzled a couple of times for the safety of all.

Since Dr. Foote has started her “Bella Behavior” program at the clinic, Sashya is an entirely different dog. Sashya is so excited to come see Doc and all the techs, that as soon as we turn the corner that leads to the clinic, she gets “antsy” in the car. When I park the car and go to put the leash on her, she drags me over to the grass area to “see” who has been there and then after leaving her calling card, she drags me inside and can’t wait until Rachael, Debbie or Leeza greet her. She is rewarded with “cookies” at every step of the exam, whether it is for ear infections, allergy outbreaks or shots…..she doesn’t care. Sashya has even jumped up on the exam table on her own and then goes into a “lay and look at my belly” position without being asked.

The really good thing about bringing Sashya to Dr. Foote is, even though she is on a restricted diet because of her allergies, she still gets yummy treats from everyone there. I also have peace of mind when I leave her at the clinic to board, that she is getting consistent treatment because they all know her so well that they can pick up on any health problems and nip it in the bud before she can get too ill.

Taking Sashya to Dr. Foote’s clinic and having a good time has also helped her to socialize with other dogs that are there for treatment. Sashya will even let Ranger walk around the exam room or jump up on the table with her without trying to chase or growl at him. She seems to enjoy interacting with Ranger and any other “client” at the clinic.

- Nancy Snook and Sashya

"Jack" and his Second Home

Jack, our Pug, loves people. But his favorite people are those at the Okaw Vet Clinic. He thinks he is a celebrity that deserves all the attention and treats that are given to him on each visit. He gets so excited it’s embarrassing but the staff has assured me that they love to see him this way.

He loves the Okaw Clinic so much that we cannot walk by it without him pulling us to the entrance. If the office is closed, he will stand at the door and wait until he is told that no one is home. If the office is open and he goes in for a visit, he has to be dragged away by his leash for the next 2 or 3 blocks because he wants to go back.

We have no worries about boarding Jack at the clinic because we know he is getting the best treatment available. The treatment is so good that he’s not even excited to see us when we pick him up to go home. The reason must be because he gets more treats at the clinic than he does at home!

Thanks to Dr. Foote and the Okaw Clinic staff for loving Jack as much as we do!

- Trina Hilligoss and Jack

Thunderstorms and "Audie"

Thunderstorms, heavy rain, fireworks, the NOAA weather radio. These are the things that can turn my sweet-tempered 11-year-old PBGV bitch Audie into a quivering, drooling, panting mess. She won't eat or drink and can't be calmed. She would huddle up next to me or by my feet and drool on my leg. For years Audie suffered through midwestern weather and the Fourth of July, and she'd even start to shake, rattle, and roll on fine days when the NOAA weather radio or TV Emergency Broadcast System would blast an AMBER alert or the community emergency siren would sound for a test. She had learned to associate the klaxon of the alerts with horrible things coming. The symptoms would start with the distant rumble of thunder, flash of lightning, or pounding of heavy rain on the windows (though a rain shower is generally not a problem) and last up to couple of hours after the storm had passed. A few years ago Dr. Foote prescribed Propranolol (a beta blocker) and diazepam (Valium) for stormy days. This drug combo lessened the severity of the symptoms a little bit, but Audie continued to pant, drool, shake hard enough to rattle the bed, and turn into a Velcro dog, never leaving my side. This spring, Dr. Foote recommended a change in meds to a daily dose of Reconcile (fluoxetine hydrochloride, an SSRI, "Prozac for dogs") for the duration of storm season with the addition of alprazolam (Zanax, a mild tranquilizer) up to three times a day on thunderstorm days. Behavior modification training was also added to our routine.

The Reconcile, crushed and mixed into her breakfast, took a couple of months to reach therapeutic levels in Audie's system, but I began to notice a "chilling out" with the daily dose. I moved Audie's bedding and taught her to go to a windowless, interior bathroom--where she would often flee on stormy days when she could peel herself away from my side--and lie on her bed nestled between the tub and toilet. This is her "safe" place, and treats and gentling techniques during behavior training taught her that nice things happen here.

Getting the timing right with the dose of alprazolam was my biggest learning curve. Anyone who's lived in the Midwest knows that thunderstorms can pop up with little warning and that a weather forecast can change dramatically every half hour. I found that the drug has its greatest effect in Audie from about two to five hours after administering it. On days with a good chance (i.e., 30 percent or greater) of storms, I am glued to the Weather Channel online, watching the forecast and the Doppler radar. When the storm is about two hours out, I'll tuck a pill into a spoonful of canned dog food. If I'm going to be away from home or if the storm is forecast for the middle of the night, I'll dose Audie right before I leave or right before bedtime. I have missed the optimum window when a pop-up storm catches me by surprise and have dosed Audie only to have a storm miss us. The alprazolam really mellows her out, but not so much that she doesn't always get excited for walks, and it certainly has not dampened her appetite.

She's been on the regimen for about four months now, and we had some good tests with a series of heavy storms, and Audie did very well. Timely dosage of the alprazolam is key. She still quivers a bit when she hears a clap of thunder or sees a flash of lightning, but the panting, drooling, and Velcro dog have almost disappeared. During the worst of the storms she headed to her safe place in the bathroom, but for the most part she just stayed in her spot on the rug and snoozed.

They say that "music soothes the savage beast." Dr. Foote suggested playing something with a heavy beat on stormy days. The theory is that the strong, regular rhythm allows Audie to hear a repetitious pattern--and dog training is all about repetitious patterns--to counteract the chaos of lightning and thunder. For Audie, the higher the volume the better, which might help drown out those unpleasant booms of thunder to those keen canine ears. I know I can't hear the storm over the strains of "Another One Bites the Dust." Now whenever I leave the house, I tune the radio to a rock station. It does seem to help some mild separation anxiety, and it can't hurt.

- Carol Burwash and Audie

Nervous car rides and "Lotti"

D.A.P. on Lottie's bandana had her settled down and sleeping in the car in 10 minutes. No one should let their pet go on upset about things when there is a product like D.A.P. If your dog has trouble traveling - use it!

- Iva Atwater and Lotti