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Southbound sheep made it through Ketchum during Sunday’s Big Sheep Parade—but they couldn’t get out of Idaho without a sneak-preview of winter… Read more
Like it not, we’re stuck with 25-35 billion fat cells, for life. Our immune system breaks down around 10% of fat cells every year, but otherwi… Read more
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a systemic disease of dogs in all of the Americas that can also affect humans. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is… Read more
Fall is a season of cooler temperatures and changing leaves, and it also marks the return of autumn flavor profiles. Root vegetables, roasts a… Read more
Leptospirosis is a multi-organ disease of dogs, livestock and many other animals, as well as people. Various animals serve as reservoirs, incl… Read more
Normally I look forward to autumn: kids back to school and still warm enough to camp on weekends. But this year, fall’s flow is erratic with C… Read more
Elective sterilization is done primarily to prevent heat cycles and unwanted pregnancies. This goal is accomplished by removal of the ovaries … Read more
Hands down, the biggest reason people hire a personal trainer is that they want to be stronger and healthier. To achieve that goal, throughout… Read more
The end of summer, the beginning of the school year and Labor Day, all at once. Looking back to our collective past, when the residents were v… Read more
Gastrointestinal (GI) stasis is the stoppage or slowing of digested food (ingesta) in the intestines. GI stasis is not a disease but is a comm… Read more
Upper respiratory infections in cats are seen commonly, especially when cats live in groups. Getting infected with a respiratory infection is … Read more
As a kid living briefly in Reno, Nevada, I was enamored with the Hot August Nights Festival: classic cars and roller skates, hot dogs and root… Read more
There’s one stellar piece of equipment in almost every gym, hotel, or community center that you don’t want to miss, and that is the lat pull-d… Read more
A luxating kneecap (patella) is an extremely common condition in toy-sized dogs but can be seen in all dogs and even cats. Owners will typically notice a little skip in their dog’s step. The dog may even run on three legs, holding one hindleg up, and then periodically put the leg down, like …
Retired stone mason David Brod recently returned from a five-week stay with his son in Berkeley, Calif. He spent time with his in-laws and visited Yosemite National Park for the first time, but this was not a typical vacation.
Parvo is a very contagious virus and primarily a gastrointestinal disease. The disease can be prevented by vaccination. Parvovirus is highly concentrated in the stool of infected animals. It persists in the environment for long periods of time and can be passed if an animal sniffs the stool …
Hundreds of thousands of Americans venture into the woods or along rocky trails, marvel at alpine vistas, then return to camp to eat… hot dogs and chips. Seriously, we breathe in nature, absorb the elements, then eat convenience food? That’s just not right.
A maggot infestation on dogs, or myiasis, is a parasitic disease that affects thousands of dogs each year. Myiasis happens as flies deposit their eggs inside an open lesion or wound. The eggs hatch and become maggots, which consume the dog’s dying or dead skin tissue, occasionally moving on …
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The Mountain Humane animal shelter recently took in 35 puppies from owners unable or unwilling to care for them, putting pressure on a foster care program designed to fill the gap until animals can be adopted from the “no-kill” shelter.
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The city of Ketchum said goodbye to one of its longest-tenured employees two weeks ago, someone who has helped keep clean, fresh water flowing to residents for nearly 35 years.
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As the sun dropped behind a hazy Bald Mountain on Tuesday night, the scent of fresh-cut grass, wine and perfume mingled with the smell of wildfire smoke.
Too much sitting is hard on our bodies and can add to the prevalence of low back pain. Thirty-three bones make up the spinal column with three gentle curves from top to bottom. For many with low back pain, the cumulative effects of constant or repeated small stresses over time, like sitting,…
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is one of the most common infectious diseases in cats. It affects about 2-3% of cats in the United States. Unfortunately, it is very easily spread from cat to cat. Kittens born to mothers infected with the virus may get it from their mothers by nursing, or even b…
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Have you run into these little guys on the bike path recently? It’s that time of year again, when the sheep are making their way north for the summer grazing season. One of the deepest roots of Blaine County and Idaho history is sheep ranching. It’s said that John Hailey was the first to bri…
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a tick-borne disease. It is found most commonly in Wyoming, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. It is caused by a bacterium called R. rickettsii, which lives in the tick. It is transmitted through the saliva of the ti…
Perusing our local Farmers’ Markets, you may relish in the overwhelming array of spring greens, sprinkled with a few herbs and a side of blushing cherries. Even with the early onset of summer weather, seasonal fruits still are sparse. Have patience! Anticipate the ripening of strawberries an…
Heat stroke can occur when body temperatures rise to 104 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat stroke usually involves exposure to high environmental temperatures and can be precipitated by various medical conditions. We will be experiencing high environmental temperatures in the Wood River valley…
All -star pitcher Pedro Martinez was one of the lucky players to return to the major leagues after a complete rotator cuff tear, typically a season-ending injury. The rotator cuff is made up of muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint. Over time, damage to the rotator cuff can b…
Electrical cord injuries usually occur when animals chew on live cords. Puppies and kittens are affected most often because the cords make attractive play items. Electrical energy is transformed into heat at the point where the exposed wires touch tissue, so a local burn result. Electrical c…
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“Winter Sports Under A Summer Sun” was the tagline created for the late 1930s as part of the publicity campaign created by Steve Hannagan to sell the idea of a winter resort here in the heart of the mountains in Idaho. This image, taken circa 1955, is from the Union Pacific Publicity Photogr…
Giardia is an acute or chronic gastrointestinal-tract disease. It is characterized by diarrhea and weight loss. It is caused by the single-cell protozoan parasite called Giardia duodenalis. Giardia is found throughout the world. Transmission occurs when the cyst form of the parasite is swall…
Natalie “Nani” Smith grew up in Friedberg, Germany, and moved to Texas in 1990, following a boyfriend who wanted to become a bush pilot. She worked as a waitress and studied painting and experimental theater in Dallas. She was far from the town where she attended a school that was built in t…
Kennel cough is an infectious bronchitis of dogs characterized by a harsh, hacking cough that most people describe as sounding like “something stuck in my dog’s throat.” This bronchitis may not last long and be mild enough to not need any treatment, or it may progress to a life-threatening p…
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