stay active, control portions, consider insurance
Kearney, NE –
It is that time of year to reflect on the past year and look forward to what the future has in store. If you are a pet owner, there are a few ‘resolutions’ Dr. Brandon Beebout of the Beebout Veterinary Medical has for you to consider.
The first. Exercise.
“I’ve been going on a walk down our road a lot with the pets, kind of getting them some exercise because I preach, “Don’t be a seasonal warrior”, says Dr. Beebout. “Of course, we’re going into January, which is going to be a cold month. February? Who knows? Might even last until May so that’s a big one is just getting out there more.”
Dr. Beebout says the second resolution is feeding our pets better. The problem when feeding cats and dogs is portion control. Not necessarily eating less, but saying, “hey, maybe I need to have my veterinarian calculate that dose” and see if we can start that. Because again, exertional stuff decreases in the winter as we’re trying to make a New Year’s resolution to make it better.
“That’s something that’s big in my heart because exercise can be limited, especially for cats that are indoor, and certain dogs due to mobility issues, whatever age, so we want to watch the portion control,” says Dr. Beebout
The third thing to consider is insurance. A lot of puppies are given as Christmas presents and they come to BVMC for their first visit and the number one thing that is recommended set you up for life, is getting insurance. The BVMC staff can have that conversation with you. There are ubiquitous amounts of information on the web out there. Your cats as well, or healthy pets that are 1-,2- or 3-years old that haven’t had preexisting conditions that you say, “hey, you know what? I haven’t been bit by a condition. Now’s the time.” Dr, Beebout says “Let’s get that party started.”
Pastor Clint Cozier moved to Kearney in 2020. He had a family dog, Ali, beloved pet that was already older, and was suffering from arthritis and kidney failure. They needed a vet and Dr. Beebout was the one that they heard about. Pastor Cozier called and developed a relationship with Dr. Brandon and walked with him for the last three years of this dog’s life. BVMC provided great medical care, but more importantly, than the medical care was always a source of phenomenal advice about ways to make sure Ali got to live her best life, and the Cozier’s got to enjoy her.
Pastor Cozier says the Beebout’s encouraged the family to watch for changes in Ali, and when they were noticed, made themselves available. “I mean, you had the regular ongoing medical care, but a lot of trips to the emergency room and accidents and stuff that just happened. But they were always there and always a good source of advice,” Cozier says.
The quality of life the last three years was phenomenal. Ali was the church dog, so people come into the church to talk to Ali. The Beebout’s taught Pastor Cozier how to give the dog injections and ultralight therapy.
What is the outlook of the Cozier’s finding another four-legged family friend? Pastor Cozier says he thought that was off the table because Ali’s death left such a big hole in their hearts, but it’s been a year, and he thinks he is ready.
” We realize there was a part of us that we shared with Ali that we’d like to share with somebody else, so I think in the new year, one of the things we’re looking at is a new pet.” Pastor Cozier says if he learned one thing, it would be pet insurance, which sounds, a little bit out there, but you don’t want those decisions as the dog is going through medical problems to be constrained by cost, and the best way to mitigate that is by doing pet insurance, just like our own health care.
If you wait too late, then, you know, then you’re in a journey that you can’t control anymore.
Beebout Veterinary Medical Center
- 308.236.5912
- 2907 West 37th St.
- Kearney, NE
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