NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jon Austin, DVM, with Hutchinson Small Animal Hospital notes that it is important to find a veterinarian you can trust and stick with them for the best care for your pet.
"The practice model that my dad had and that I have continued is to build relationships with people, to be responsible for them, while they are being responsible for their pet," Austin said. "Part of that includes after hours and weekend and holiday emergency care that we offer here in town. If I'm in town, I'm available to my clients."
Austin had an emergency not long ago due to a wild animal attack on a pet east of the city.
"A family put their little dog out, an eleven pound dog out in the yard that kind of lives out east of town in the country and all of a sudden, there was a big commotion and that dog had two pretty significant bite wounds with four fang punctures, one on the top of his back, one under his armpit and one of them penetrated his chest. He was blowing blood and air out a hole under his arm. He had a new breathing hole, from some kind of a predator."
Austin said that the drought has brought natural predators like coyotes and bobcats closer to town.
"They are responding to the change in the life cycle and the change in the ecosystem. They've got to eat. When there's nothing in the country to eat, they come to find something somewhere else. That could include your small pet or your cat. People just need to be aware of that and be cautious. Turn lights on, make some noise, maybe go out themselves and kind of clear the yard, before they send the little guys out."
There’s a really simple way to avoid any potential predation, as much as possible, keep your pet indoors or under your supervision.
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