<![CDATA[ONE LOVE PETS - Blog]]>Mon, 19 Jun 2023 16:14:08 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Living with Lyme]]>Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:53:29 GMThttp://www.onelovepets.com/blog/living-with-lymePicture
As an organization, we are dedicated to educating people on the importance of preventing parasite related disease in our pets - but these disease are also common in the human population.  In particular, Lyme disease - the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports over 5,000 new cases of Lyme disease in humans EVERY WEEK.  Similarly, even with limited testing we saw nearly 360,000 cases of Lyme Disease in dogs in 2019.  Can you imagine the results if there was regular testing?

Meet Cassidy, a veterinary student who is fighting with Lyme Disease amongst other tick transmitted diseases.  She has courageously offered to share her story to help raise awareness for her humane and animal counterparts.

When I look back at these past five years, I’m still baffled that this is my life. That I’m living with three separate diseases that all came from a tiny tick bite.

I pretty much go through a range of emotions each day- rage, frustration, anxiety, depression, determination, but most of the time? I’m just plain tired.

I’m tired of the symptoms. I’m tired of the myriad of pills I have to take each day. I’m tired of the bills that pile up from treating this illness. But most of all I’m tired of constantly dealing with the lack of education most medical doctors have of tick-borne illnesses and the biases they have when it comes to all of them.
​
This is why I’m so glad there are organizations in the veterinary field that are focused on treating, protecting from, and testing for tick-borne infections for BOTH humans and animals. All of those people advocating and working for change - So many families with loved ones that are suffering from the same thing and wanting relief for them depend on this.
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So while I am constantly feeling those mixtures of emotions, I am also very blessed to be able to be a part of that profession. That I’ve been able to continue on despite my health. That I’ve been able to push through (very stubbornly I might add) all of the muck that is Lyme Disease, Bartonella, and Babesia (and mold/mycotoxins, adrenal dysfunction, mast-cell activation syndrome, Epstein-Barr virus...) and become the veterinarian I’ve always wanted to be.

So I continue trucking along, taking each day as it comes, each symptom as it comes. I’m not going to lie, sometimes it is so tough and frustrating. I’m 30 years old, and I have the body of an elderly woman. My friends even call me their grandma! But going through all of this while chasing my dreams has made me realize how important self-care is, especially in this profession. It’s really the only thing (besides stubbornness) that has enabled me to get this far.

So please, especially during this pandemic, take care of yourself and your body!
These are some tips I have for myself to stay healthy -
  1. Check for ticks after going outside.
  2. Wear tick repellant!
  3. If you’re so exhausted you can’t think, give yourself a break.  It’s okay to take breaks. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
  4. Get enough sleep.
  5. Eat right for your body (most important!) - fresh fruit, vegetables, and grains.  No processed food.
  6. Get active at least 45min a day. Even if it’s just going out for a walk.
  7. Manage stress in a healthy way. Don’t bottle it up. Let it out.
  8. And if you get bit by a tick, get two weeks of antibiotics no exceptions. It’s easy to get bit and infected, not so easy to get rid of the diseases once they have ravaged your body for months.

Take it from someone who knows, ticks are out in full force this summer.
​Protect yourself and your loved ones - pets included.

For more information or to donate to Lyme Disease research in Humans check out the LivLyme Foundation
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For more information on Lyme Disease in your Pets check out the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) and consider donating to One Love Pets to continue efforts of providing parasite prevention to animals in need worldwide!
]]><![CDATA[Brownie - Michigan]]>Thu, 30 Apr 2020 14:44:57 GMThttp://www.onelovepets.com/blog/brownie-michiganPicture
If our animals could talk, how do you think they would tell their heartworm story?

Meet Brownie and how we predict she would tell you about her trip to the vet.

My name is Brownie and I live in Michigan with my Mom.

It was just another vet appointment.  

I hate going to the vet, but I tried to be brave for my Mom.  I was nice to the nurse when she came in and I listened intently while the Doctor talked to my Mom about all of the vaccines, deworming, and bloodwork she would recommend for me.  My Mom agreed to it all, just like she does every year.  

After all the pokes and blood draw, I was ready to leave.  But then, the Doctor came back in with a worried look.  My Mom looked at her with a confused look  - my heartworm test comes back positive.  

"How could that happen?" My Mom asked the Doctor.  The Doctor calmly explained that it only takes the bite of ONE mosquito to infect me and unfortunately I was not on heartworm prevention, I almost forgot about those monthly chewys that I love so much. The next thing I know I’m taken away from my Mom for another blood draw and then into a scary dark room where the nurses took pictures (x-rays) of my heart. 

Finally it's time to go home, but this time it was different.  I have pills that I have to take every day-  I am very sneaky and found a way to convince my Mom that I need extra peanut butter to take them.  I’m a good dog though and don’t give her too hard of time.  I also got my chewy treat, I almost forgot how much I enjoyed them! What a crazy day! Now as I relax from my exhausting day at the vet I'm just happy I don’t have to go back for another year.

Before I know it, I’m headed back to the vet office again.  I was so confused as the nurses came in, talked to my Mom, and then took me away... again. The nurses put me in a cage and told me that “everything will be okay” and that I am “so brave.”  I don’t feel brave, I don’t want to be here at all. I just want to go home and be with my Mom.  A few minutes, that feel like a few hours for me, pass by and the nurses are back. I was just getting comfortable. One of the nurses kneels down and lets me come to her first - she knows I’m scared, but tries to reassure me.  Then another nurse comes in and pinches me in the bum. The next thing I knew, I was getting very sleepy and everything around me started happening in a haze.
The Doctor pet my head and talked to the nurses about how this is the best thing for me.

I heard the clippers, then felt them on my back ... then something cold. 

I felt the Doctor feel for my hip bone and spine and then another big pinch. It hurts a bit, even through my haze.  
Then I heard the Doctor say “1 injection down; 2 to go” - I thought to myself… I have to do this two more times?  It’s too much to think about and my haze makes me very sleepy.   

Before I knew it, Mom was back to pick me up.  I was so happy to see her.  She made an appointment for me in another month and gave me a big hug as we got  ready to leave. I had a feeling things were going to be different at home, but at least I'll be home.


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Brownie finished up her last heartworm treatment being the brave girl that she is and is officially heartworm negative.  Her Mom is now telling all her friends about heartworm disease and comes in religiously for Brownie’s heartworm prevention. 

Although Brownie was scared through her heartworm treatment process, she was brave and never gave the vet team any trouble. 

Heartworm treatment is an intensive process that puts an animal out of their comfort zone.

Share Brownies story to help spread the word for the importance of heartworm prevention.


To help contribute to Brownie's heartworm treatment or the other animals awaiting treatment on our waitlist, please donate!  Any bit helps!
Donate
]]><![CDATA[Ace Update]]>Wed, 20 Nov 2019 21:11:05 GMThttp://www.onelovepets.com/blog/ace-florida3064322You may remember Ace.  This adorable boy was brought into the Helping Hounds Project - a rescue group that specializes in homing working breeds.  Helping Hounds Project also trains some of their rescues to be service animals!

Due to Ace's demeanor and eagerness to learn he was chosen for the service training program.  Unfortunately, his training was put on hold when he tested positive for heartworm disease.  Ace has been undergoing his heartworm treatment and recently had his final course of medications.  

Many people are unaware how difficult heartworm treatment is - not only for the dog but their humans as well.  Heartworm treatment is nearly a year long process that involves pills, injections, cage rest, blood draws and multiple visits to the vet. 

The light is at the end of the tunnel for Ace as he recently underwent his final heartworm injections.  He was a very brave boy through the entire process and received lots of love from the humans that have been by his side since day one - Dr. Erin, Makayla and Dee!  With his final injections complete, Ace is in the final stages of treatment which involves rest and relaxation until his blood tests come back negative for heartworm.
Thank you Helping Hounds Project for rescuing this sweet boy and for giving him a second chance at life!  We are happy and honored to have assisted in his heartworm treatment!  And good luck to Ace on the rest of his recovery and the beginning of his training and placement, we hope you have every opportunity to live your best life!

​To donate to Ace's medical bills or any of the other sponsored animals, please visit the link below.  All donations are used to prevent and treat disease caused by fleas, ticks and mosquitos in dogs and cats around the world!
Donate
]]><![CDATA[St. Kitts Community Outreach Summer 2019]]>Fri, 30 Aug 2019 11:01:41 GMThttp://www.onelovepets.com/blog/st-kitts-community-outreach-summer-2019
We teamed up with People for Animal Welfare St Kitts (PAWS) for another successful community outreach event!  PAWS and the One Love Pets St Kitts chapter are made up of students attending Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.  They volunteer their time between studying and other school obligations to help out the human and animal community that they submerge themselves in while attending school.  It's a way to give back while connecting classroom learning to real life cases.

The St. Kitts community was invited to bring their pets for free medical care including
Physical Exam
Vaccines
Flea and Tick Prevention
Spay and Neuter Sign Ups
Food, Collars, Leashes and other pet supplies
These events are critical in this community where pet care is not always accessible or affordable.  Through events like these, it is the hope that we can make the animal and human community healthier by educating families on proper animal welfare, zoonotic disease and animal husbandry.

Through the hard work of the students and other volunteers the group was able to provide medical care to 239 dogs, 7 cats and 2 monkeys!  An incredible number that we hope will continue to grow as these events become known within the community!


These outreach events however are not cheap!  To continue growing we are always welcoming monetary donations and supply donations! Any little bit helps!

Check out the amazing things that PAWS does and like their Facebook page!
Have supplies laying around the house that you would like to donate?  
Contact us at info@onelovepets.com!
]]><![CDATA[Ace - Florida]]>Thu, 22 Aug 2019 11:06:00 GMThttp://www.onelovepets.com/blog/ace-floridaMeet Ace!

Ace was rescued from a humane society by Helping Hounds Project, a 501-c3 non profit organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and adopting out "working breed" dogs.  Not only does Helping Hands Project rescue these dogs - some receive training to be service dogs to aid people with walking or wheelchair mobility and even emotional support.

When Ace was rescued, he was chosen to be in the training program to become a service dog.  He has been described as loving and affection driven!  Unfortunately, at Ace's medical appointment he was found to be heartworm positive.  Due to this medical condition, his training has been delayed.

Thankfully, Ace is healthy enough to undergo heartworm treatment.  He is well on his way to a healthier life so he can start his service training!

Keep an eye out for updates on Ace!

For more information on the Helping Hounds Project visit their website

To donate to Ace's medical bills or any of the other sponsored animals, please visit the link below.  All donations are used to prevent and treat disease caused by fleas, ticks and mosquitos in dogs and cats around the world!
Donate
]]><![CDATA[Fozzie - Michigan]]>Wed, 03 Jul 2019 10:35:12 GMThttp://www.onelovepets.com/blog/fozzie-michigan
Fozzie's story started in Michigan where he was rescued.  While at the rescue, he was diagnosed with heartworm disease.  Unfortunately, this particular rescue does not treat heartworm disease prior to adoption, therefore Fozzie needed a special family to find him.  Luckily, he did.

Fozzie was adopted by his new family who immediately got him in to their veterinarian to start the process of getting him up to date and healthy which included a discussion on heartworm treatment.  

Heartworm treatment is expensive and does not come without risks for the pet undergoing treatment.  Heartworm treatment can cost upwards of $700 or more, whereas heartworm prevention only cost approximately $150/year.  This obviously all depends on your area and the products used.
Thankfully, we were able to step in and help Fozzie's family, who had already done so much for Fozzie.  Fozzie's heartworm treatment is now complete and Fozzie is just waiting for the all clear!

Animals are suffering from heartworm disease and other parasite related diseases all over the world.  Help us to continue providing prevention to the healthy and treating the sick!

To donate to Fozzie's medical bills or any of the other animals sponsored by One Love Pets, please visit the link below..  No donation big or small goes unappreciated!
Donate
]]><![CDATA[Milo - St. Kitts]]>Wed, 26 Jun 2019 10:51:56 GMThttp://www.onelovepets.com/blog/milo-st-kitts
Milo was rescued by one of our partner's in St. Kitts - PAWS (People for Animal Welfare St. Kitts).

Milo was missing many patches of hair which was later diagnosed as mange.  Mange is the common name for a disease that can be caused by two different types of mite parasite- Demodex or Sarcoptes.  Both of these mites live in the skin and cause hair loss and itching.  Mange is most common in younger animals and mild cases can resolve on their own.  However, in severe cases like Milo's - daily baths with medicated shampoo and other medications may be recommended by a veterinarian. 
After some good ole fashion TLC Milo is in tip-top shape thanks to PAWS and their amazing fosters!

Animals like Milo are suffering from diseases caused by parasites all over the world.

Help us to provide prevention in the healthy and treat the sick!

To donate to Milo's medical bills or any of the other animals receiving sponsorship from One Love Pets please donate below!
]]><![CDATA[Bear Update]]>Thu, 06 Jun 2019 10:44:27 GMThttp://www.onelovepets.com/blog/bear-update
Bear received his 2nd treatment for heartworms yesterday and is finishing up with his third and final treatment today!  According to Bear's owner, Bear did really well following his first treatment!

Bear was rescued by his family after his original owner had passed away.  Read his full story here.

Although Bear is receiving his final treatment today, he still has some recovery time before he can begin his normal everyday life.  Did you know that heartworm treatment is nearly a 1 year process? Thankfully, preventative medications are available and are more cost effective than treatment!  Talk to your veterinarian about what heartworm prevention options are recommended for your area!

​Bears owner says she is "Praying for a successful end to his heartworms and a long happy life for our sweet rescue Bear. He definitely has come a long way. He us a fighter!!! Thankful to your organization and all you do."

We are so thankful to have been a part of getting Bear back on his feet and ready to enjoy the rest of his life with his family.
]]><![CDATA[Merida - St. Kitts]]>Wed, 29 May 2019 23:34:32 GMThttp://www.onelovepets.com/blog/merida-st-kitts
Merida is a 1yr old female dog found as a stray in St. Kitts.  Merida had recently whelped puppies and did her very best to give them all of the nutrition that they needed so that they could be chubby, happy and healthy.  However, she sacrificed her own well-being in the process.

Merida was rescued by an animal rescue group in St. Kitts called PAWS (People for Animal Welfare St. Kitts).  She was emaciated from feeding her litter of pups with little to no nutrition herself.

During Merida's veterinary appointment she tested positive for two tick borne diseases - Ehrlichia and Anaplasmosis.  These diseases amongst the intestinal worms, fleas and ticks also left Merida anemic (low red blood cells).  Thankfully, with a good helping of TLC and appropriate medications to treat her tick borne diseases, dewormer for her intestinal worms and parasite prevention for the fleas and ticks - Merida is starting to climb the long trek up hill.

Merida continues to get stronger each day and is turning into a beautiful dog! 

For more information on Merida and updates check out PAWS on Facebook 

To donate to Merida's care, please click below
Donate
]]><![CDATA[Poppy Update]]>Thu, 25 Apr 2019 10:52:35 GMThttp://www.onelovepets.com/blog/poppy-updatePoppy has completed her heartworm treatment and will slowly be able to get back into her normal routine!

Her family reports that she loved the snow this winter but they are looking forward to her being able to fully enjoy the spring and summer! 

As a rescued puppy mill dog, Poppy has so much to learn about love - but her family is well on their way to making her into a confident and spoiled girl!

We are thankful for Poppy's family for taking her in and giving her the love and healthcare that she hadn't received previously.  And we are thankful to be a small part of her recovery process!
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