Take a Paige from Dr. Wallace
April 1, 2022
The Danger of a Break Up …And Skipping the Parvovirus Vaccine
Dr. Paige WallaceBreak up isn’t the only thing brewing this time of year; it’s parvo season. The weather is warming up, the snow is FINALLY melting, and people and pets are itching to get out of the house. Of course, we worry about ice breaking here ...
March 28, 2022
What to Expect in the Emergency Room at Tier 1 VMC
Dr. Paige WallaceNot all animal hospitals handle their emergency services the same way, but this is how we function at Tier 1. On any given day at Tier 1, there are between 1 and 6 doctors seeing patients. This number includes specialists, primary care, ...
January 26, 2022
Checking Off the Recheck: When & Why Rechecks are Important
Dr. Paige WallaceOne of the most common messages I find on my board is that an owner wants a refill of a medication. Slightly less frequently, it’ll have written underneath that the owner does not want to come in for a recheck.”Why do I need a recheck? W...
January 26, 2022
Straight to the Core: Recommended Vaccines for Dogs
Dr. Paige WallaceLately, so much of our news stream and media focus on vaccinations and boosters — how many and how often. So I might as well use this opportunity for a plug on the canine core vaccinations. Many people are actually unsure what vaccines...
November 28, 2021
CBD for Pets: A Budding Medication
Dr. Paige WallaceWe use a wide variety of medications in veterinary medicine. Many of them overlap with human medicine but are prescribed at different dosages and for different conditions. In the last few years, CBD has made its way into veterinary medic...
November 28, 2021
High, How Are You? THC Toxicity in Pets
Dr. Paige WallaceMarijuana, THC, pot, grass, 420…by any other name, it is no friend of pets. Dogs don’t dab, cats don’t chill, and no hot-boxing allowed. Veterinarians and our staff don’t care what your personal choices are; marijuana is legal in many s...
September 28, 2021
Bringing Up Two Points
Dr. Paige WallaceEar cropping is an elective surgery currently implemented in approximately 20 dog breeds, including Dobermans, Great Danes, Boxers, Schnauzers, and many others. This procedure involves the surgical removal of most or all of the flappy po...
September 28, 2021
Going for the Golden Years: Helping Your Pet Age Well
Dr. Paige WallacePets, just like the rest of us, inevitably age. As much as we would like to, even vets can’t fight the aging process. However, we can share a few tips to help you add quantity and — more importantly — quality to your pet’s golden years. ...
August 24, 2021
A Sticky Situation
Dr. Paige WallaceIt may be a difficult point to continue hammering home for your pup, but sticks do your dogs no favors. During the spring, summer, and fall, I see 1-2 dogs weekly who have accidentally impaled themselves while playing with sticks. We get...
July 27, 2021
Not Always Greener: Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?
Dr. Paige WallaceWhy do dogs eat grass? A question vets get every day with no definitive answer. There are many theories on why your dog may be going green, including instinct, dietary deficiencies, boredom, and underlying illness. Regardless of the caus...
July 21, 2021
E-Collars: Short Range Shame
Dr. Paige WallaceA cone or E-collar is one of the most benign-looking torture devices we vets like to inflict on pet parents and their furry friends. Veterinarians have invented many different types of these torture devices: calming collars, bite-nots, d...
March 29, 2021
A Final Goodbye: Knowing When “It’s Time”
Dr. Paige WallaceHow do you say goodbye? Or maybe more aptly, when? Having to decide when it’s time to say goodbye to your pet is the single most difficult decision any pet owner will ever have to make. The truth is that there is no easy answer, and th...
March 15, 2021
Prepare to Dock
Dr. Paige WallaceThere are very few breeds that are born with docked tails. If a puppy is to have its tail docked, similar to dew claws, they are usually removed within the first 5 days of life. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, like illness or in...
February 21, 2021
Dew or Don’t? Considerations for Removing Dew Claws
Dr. Paige WallaceDew claws used to be a forgone conclusion; breeders removed them within the first few days after birth, and you never knew what you were missing. Dew claws that made it through the initial round of removal were commonly removed as young ...
February 15, 2021
More Than a Mani/Pedi: The Importance of Trimming Your Dog’s Nails
Dr. Paige WallaceTrimming dogs’ nails is very important for more reasons than just avoiding the annoying clicking on the floor. When your pup is young, overgrown nails can lead to broken nails, especially in a drier climate. With mature dogs, untrimmed n...
January 28, 2021
On the Hot Foot: Preventing & Treating Canine Pododermatitis
Dr. Paige WallaceOne of the more common lesions I see in hunting dogs, outdoor explorers, and even the good ole couch companions with all the snow and ice on the ground is pododermatitis: red, swollen, itchy feet. The causes vary widely, but for hunting ...
December 19, 2020
When to Make a Short Cut: Spaying & Neutering Pets
Dr. Paige WallaceWhen to spay or neuter your pet is a common question for every pet owner, not just first-timers. Recommendations have changed over the years; it used to be as soon as they are big enough for anesthesia to be safe. The decision is not qui...
December 15, 2020
Keep Your Pet Safe by Avoiding These Holiday Follies
Dr. Paige WallaceAs we prepare for our Christmas and holiday celebrations, there are our 4-legged revelers to bear in mind while planning our festivities. Here are a few precarious party stoppers to avoid, so you keep your holiday merry and bright. Pois...
November 27, 2020
Home for Christmas: Traveling with Pets
Dr. Paige WallaceThe holidays are when people travel more than any other time of year, and many are taking their pets with them. Here a few tips for traveling with pets and things to consider before you hop on the road or head to the airport to make the ...
November 18, 2020
What Not To Gobble: Don’t Let Your Pet Try These Holiday Foods
Dr. Paige WallaceThe season of gratitude is here, and Tier 1 is so thankful for our patients, clients, and community. We want to share a few holiday precautions with you that will hopefully keep your pet out of the hospital for anything except coming to ...
October 30, 2020
Pain Management: When Good Intentions Don’t Cut It
Dr. Paige WallaceDogs get hurt. It happens, and vets understand. We also understand your desperate need to help your pet when they are hurting, but I implore you: Do not allow yourself to make the situation worse. Avoid the temptation to reach into your ...
October 14, 2020
A Prickle of Fear: The Danger of Porcupine Quills
Dr. Paige WallacePorcupines seem to be particularly plentiful this year and are coming into frequent contact with people, pups, tires, and even cats in surprising numbers. Alaskans have to be watchful for moose in our yards, when out for a walk in the wo...
September 27, 2020
Bland Diet: A Calm in the GI Storm
Dr. Paige WallaceDiarrhea and vomiting: as much havoc as they wreak on your carpeting, imagine your pup’s gut. Vomiting and diarrhea are some of the most common ailments that we see pets for at an emergency hospital, and they may be accompanied by a la...
September 19, 2020
Quite a few bugs in your ear
Dr. Paige WallaceAs duck season approaches and we spend more time on water retrievals, I am battling an ear infection in my lab Colt. Colt has had a few major ear infections before, and part of that is because he is a lab mix. Labs have naturally narrow ...
August 27, 2020
Giardia: The Bane of Water Dogs
Dr. Paige WallaceAs many of you gear up for hunting season, I know your 4-legged hunting buddies are chomping at the bit to join you. Whether you’re heading out to moose camp, gearing up for waterfowl, or adventuring in the mountains, the call to go is i...
August 23, 2020
Choosing a Diet for Your Dog
Dr. Paige WallaceChoosing a diet for your dog can be a difficult and daunting decision. There are so many different choices for makers and brands, flavors, protein and micronutrient make-up, treatment/age-focused foods, and prescription diets. Your pet...
July 30, 2020
Chew on This: Dental Health for Pets
Dr. Paige WallaceWhat can you do at home to care for your pet’s teeth and set them up for dental success? Simple answer: the same as you do for your own — brush their teeth twice a day. However, very few people have the time or dedication to brush their ...
July 13, 2020
Pet Insurance: Under Cover-Age
Dr. Paige WallaceOne of the most underutilized resources available today in veterinary medicine is pet insurance. I find that less than 15% of my clients have insurance for their pets. Why do so few people invest in pet insurance? Because most people ar...
June 25, 2020
GDV: What’s the Big FLIPPING Deal?
Dr. Paige WallaceMost dog owners are familiar with “bloat,” which is a piece of the GDV (gastric dilatation and volvulus) scenario. Unfortunately, that is not the whole story. A GDV involves gaseous distension of the stomach, which then completely tw...
June 16, 2020
Hot Weather Precautions: Heat Stroke & Contact Burns on Paws
Dr. Paige WallaceDuring the first few warm weeks of summer, we are all eager to get outside, soak up the sun, and enjoy the warmth. Our dogs are just as eager, however, during these first few weeks of hot weather that I have always seen more heat-related...
May 13, 2020
Working Dog Anxiety: Itching To Get Back To Work
Dr. Paige WallaceRetrievers, collies, pointers, springers, shepherds, huskies, sled dogs, and many other breeds of working dogs were bred to do just that: work. Working breeds have accomplished amazing feats throughout history, from a team of sled dogs r...
May 4, 2020
Parvo: A Real Toilet Paper Emergency
Dr. Paige WallaceParvovirus, parvoviral enteritis, parvo, the puppy killer… By any name, parvo causes fatigue, lack of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea Diarrhea DIARRHEA. Coronavirus has brought the world to its knees with a worldwide 3.4% mortality ra...