Pet of the Month
Every pet and their family have a special story. At Pewaukee Veterinary Service, we love celebrating those stories and the powerful bonds that form because of them. Check back every month for a new story highlighting one (or two) of our patients and clients!
Pet of the Month: Jack
Jack is a super cute Maltese that came to Milwaukee from a ranch outside of Dallas, Texas in September of 2010. Jack left Dallas on a very hot day and his new mom was concerned that he would arrive overheated and lethargic. Not Jack! She could hear him barking, as he was not a happy-camper after his long plane trip!
Jack is a 5 ½-pound, fun-loving, and really sweet boy that is full of energy. He loves to watch TV and play with his toys – especially “Nuts the Squirrel” and “Fox.” He also loves to eat watermelon, cantaloupe, lettuce, peanut butter, and CHEESE! He races from window to window barking at anything that moves, especially the UPS truck and red Jeeps – go figure!
At one of Jack’s trips to the vet, Dr. Jeff Schuett told Jack’s mom not to let Jack jump around because his knee was slipping in and out. “Hah!” Jack said. After 7 years of jumping around in front of the TV, Jack unfortunately paid the price and needed a knee repair. Now he’s fully recovered and back to disobeying Dr. Jeff’s no jumping orders.
When Jack’s away from home, he LOVES to stay at All Pets Inn. Jack’s mom has to drag him out when she returns from her trips. Jack makes everyone smile and laugh!
Pet of the Month: Winston
Winston’s story starts with some sadness. His parents’ beloved dog, TJ—a Eurasier—had died unexpectedly in June of 2016. To heal a heavy heart, his mom started reaching out to find another Eurasier and knew that she would have to go on a waiting list or two. Shortly after, she got the call. A little male pup born on April 15th from the “L” litter was available unexpectedly (his original owners backed out). L should have stood for ‘love’ because he was just what they needed. His litter name was Link and he was in Halifax Nova Scotia. Yes, you read that right….Canada!
Winston’s parents flew to Boston, rented a car, and drove up to Halifax. From the moment they met the little monster, they knew he was meant to be theirs. They spent two days getting to know Winston, his Mom, and the rest of his siblings. Prior to leaving, the breeder asked for some lineage on TJ—Winston’s parents’ previous dog who had passed away. As it turned out, little Winston was related to TJ. TJ was his great-great Uncle on his maternal side—TJ’s Mom is Winston’s great grandmother. Chills… they got chills. It was meant to be!
Winston’s parents made the 30-hour trek back to Wisconsin with their little Winston and they couldn’t be more pleased. TJ was smiling down from heaven because their hearts were full once again. And fundamentally, isn’t that what all dogs truly want for their families?
Winston is an incredibly happy dog and has become the subdivision mascot. When he’s out for walks, you can hear kids from all over shouting “Winstonnnnn!” He gets visitors all the time and is great with people of all ages. At Halloween, he even dresses up just like the kids! This past year he was Hairy Pawter.
Winston, or Winnie, loves to be with people the most. His happy place is any store that is pet-friendly, so he can walk the aisles and greet people with his Eurasier smile, which makes them smile, too. Whenever he sees someone, he pins his ears down, flashes his ‘Sammy smile,” and gently walks toward them in hopes of an acknowledgement or a scratch on the ears. The neighbor kids spend a lot of time with Winston when he’s outside on his long leash. They’ll often come ring the doorbell asking if he can come out and play. It’s adorable! (Mom keeps a camera on him when she’s not out there for safety reasons but also to watch the cute interactions.)
The Eurasier breed is known for its friendly nature. It’s a mixed breed consisting of Chow, Keeshond (Wolf Spitz), and Samoyed. The original “Wolf-Chow” bred in the 60s was half Chow and half Keeshond and then finally mixed with the Samoyed to get today’s Eurasier. It’s a relatively young breed that is just starting to become popular in the US. Originating in Germany in 1972, the breed has gained popularity due to its easy-going temperaments and loyalty to family. Eurasiers are also great with other animals, which is wonderful for the queen of Winston’s household, JoJo (a now 14-year-old Maine Coon cat). They have become best buds!
Winston loves traveling in the car and is super easy going. He gets a bit nervous in strange and unknown places, but as long as he’s with someone he knows, he’s fine. As he gets older, his parents are planning more and more road trips with him! After all, his first road trip was 30 hours from Nova Scotia and he was a total champ at only 16 weeks old!
The single worry that they have with Winston is that Eurasiers, due to the stature of their body, have a higher chance to get bloat, which is unfortunately what happened to TJ. Winston’s parents are managing his diet and exercise accordingly and being mindful of what he eats and drinks and how often. His parents are also having his stomach tacked when he undergoes his neuter surgery to lessen the chances that this will occur. They are hoping that this procedure, along with his diet, will help prevent future life-threatening scenarios for him.
Pewaukee Veterinary Service has been taking care of all of Winston’s family’s pets since they moved to Pewaukee back in 1992. Even after the move to Mukwonago, they still take their animals to PVS because of the quality of care. They think Dr. Jeff, Dr. Randy, and the entire staff have been amazing. Although they said it would be very difficult to select a favorite PVS employee, they would have to say that they are most impressed with the longevity and continuity of Jerry, Amanda B., and Tasha! Their smiling faces have been there a long time and it’s always great to see them! The fact they are still with PVS speaks volumes for the practice and the work environment, and is one of the reasons why Winston’s parents bring him there.
Follow Winston on Instagram: @winston_dog
Pet of the Month: Boyd & Raylan
Named after the main characters in the TV show Justified, Boyd and Raylan (better known as Ray or Ray-Ray) both joined their family a month apart in the fall of 2015. Boyd and Ray are cousins (their moms are sisters), with Boyd being the long-haired version of Ray. The two have grown to be best friends and are never far from each other.
While the boys are related, each has his own distinct personality. Boyd is the laid back, easy-going kitty, while Ray is always alert and borderline obsessive. Both cats began fetching their favorite toys as young kittens, but obsessive-compulsive Ray would play fetch with his favorite toy mouse for hours if he could. This hunting practice has come in handy a time or two, though, as Ray has successfully captured live intruders!
The boys travel with their parents a couple times a year, and unlike many cats, they actually enjoy spending time in their carriers and will often sleep in them if placed high on a counter under a warm light. When visiting Dr. Tom and the Pewaukee Veterinary staff, the boys jump right out to explore the room and patiently await their examination. During the last visit, Ray even gave Dr. Tom a few ankle rubs.
Ray and Boyd will soon be welcoming a new family member—Izzy—a male English Golden Retriever puppy and the family can’t wait for new adventures with all three of their boys!
Pet of the Month: Ollie
Meet Ollie, a 15-week-old English Springer Spaniel! Ollie is one adventurous pup who came to his family from Rock River Kennels in June 2018.
It’s hard for his parents to narrow down everything Ollie likes and loves, but a few of his favorites include going swimming at the lake (with occasional dives to the bottom to fetch those eye-catching rocks), chewing sticks (or really anything he can find), and getting belly rubs and treats!
Ollie also enjoys playing with his four pup cousins who his family visits weekly for a boat ride when the weather is nice. Dad even lets him sit in the driver’s seat occasionally… Ahoy, Captain Ollie here!
Ollie is a quick learner who already responds to “sit,” “shake,” and “dance.” He has also learned how to keep his wonderful parents up all night and make impromptu vet visits by getting into trouble. Dr. Baker has been very patient as they all work to keep “Bub” healthy and keep everything out of his mouth.
Despite the challenge of keeping Ollie from eating things he shouldn’t, his parents look forward to being greeted by his curly, floppy ears, freckled nose, and big brown eyes every day. They love their now 20-pound (and growing) baby boy—he’s part of the family.
Pet of the Month: Moose
Moose is a charcoal Labrador from a small breeder in Elroy, WI. He was the largest of his litter—that’s how he got his name—and joined his new family when he was only nine weeks old. Already at almost 20 pounds and with thick legs, giant paws, and lots of skin to grow into, his mom and dad knew he was going to be one big boy!
He loves to help his parents with chores around the house, including loading the dishwasher (with himself), keeping the vacuum cleaner moving by chasing it around the house, and helping organize his toys (usually by taking them out of the basket as they’re putting them away). In warmer weather, Moose even bathes himself by playing in the water from the sprinkler and hose.
Moose thinks he is much smaller than his 85 pounds (and he’s only nine months old). He still fits in his favorite side chair in the living room, although not as easily as he did just a few months ago. Fortunately, he does not seem to be bothered by it whatsoever and makes himself comfortable here, in the middle of the couch, or any space he THINKS he fits in.
His favorite toy is the “Romp-N-Roll” Jolly Ball, which has survived far longer than the soft toys he loves to rip to shreds!
Although young, Moose is learning to be quite a good boy. He is a good walker, great in his obedience classes, and a welcome face at PVS.
Follow Moose on Instagram: @moose_the_charcoal_lab
Pet of the Month: Lucy & Scout
When Lucy was brought home, she only weighed about 3 pounds and was so small that her parents thought she looked like a Beanie Baby! Lucy is a chocolate brown cocker spaniel with a white patch on her chest and little brown freckles. She also has adorable white patches on the bottoms of her back paws. As a puppy, Lucy attended classes at Best Paw Forward where all the children fell in love with her and would come over to pet her during break time.
Lucy does not like to ride in the car—she shivers and cries the entire ride—but she’ll make an exception to go to Naga-Waukee Park with her owners and 3-year-old golden retriever brother, Scout. She also enjoys barking and chasing after anything that moves: squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and even Sandhill cranes that pass through HER yard…how dare they! Even though she loves to be outside, she absolutely does not like to walk on wet grass (but loves to walk and play in the snow).
Lucy’s favorite spot is on top of the comfy sofa where she can look out the window and keep an eye on her yard of course.
Lucy loves the vet and doesn’t mind the occasional checkup. Her tail wags so fast her mom thinks it might fly right off! She especially loves Dr. Randy and his technicians. That might have something to do with their delicious liver treats, but that’s neither here nor there. Shani, her groomer, is another one of her favorite people. Lucy adores being groomed and coming home decked out in ribbons and bows! Scout thinks she smells great when she comes home and has to give her a good sniff.
Lucy doesn’t eat her food out of a bowl. Instead, her mom has to place it on a mat on the floor. She waits all day for mealtime and stares at her mom when it’s time to make sure she doesn’t forget.
Lucy didn’t always have Scout to pal around with. Scout came to their family when Lucy was 5 years old. She wasn’t too fond of him at first because he wanted to share all of her toys and her bed! He also wanted to play nonstop and Lucy wanted none of that. Now that Scout has calmed down from his puppy years, they are best friends. They love to look out the window, visit the park, and go on long walks together.
Lucy and Scout’s family constantly find new things about their furry family members that make them smile and laugh. The pair is loved tremendously and their family would like to thank Pewaukee Veterinary Service for always taking such great care of their fur babies!
Pet of the Month: Ming
Ming’s mom started searching for a Tonkinese cat (a Siamese and Burmese mix) after her daughter and her cat moved out, leaving her Siamese named Sukie a bit lonely. It took several months, but she found an eight-week-old female kitten from a Wisconsin breeder. Or so she thought. She had scheduled a routine first visit with Dr. Tom Hirth at Pewaukee Veterinary Service and immediately learned that her new kitten was actually a male. He had been named “Ming Su” at first but became just “Ming” after this important discovery. Today Ming is a happy, healthy kitty who is very strong and quite muscular. With beautiful aqua blue eyes and shiny fur that feels like mink, he is quite the handsome boy.
Ming is also a gentleman—when Sukie was still with the family, he would always wait for her to eat before taking a bite of his food. If Sukie was late for dinner, Ming would find her and sit patiently, turning his head back and forth, waiting for her to start.
Ming loves to unroll entire rolls of toilet paper and get stuck in places that are too small for him, like under the kitchen cabinets. He enjoys hiding in closets but will meow when he wants his mom to find him. Ming also likes to pick up rings of keys and hide them! And anytime he can find a ball or a mouse, he brings it to his mom and then flops over on his back when he is done playing fetch.
In the morning, he likes to sit in the bathroom sink, watching his mom put makeup on. He greets her at the door when she comes home for lunch and watches TV with her after work. If guests arrive, Ming is at the door to greet them, then he goes from lap to lap to be admired and petted. At the end of the day, instead of sleeping in his own bed, Ming insists on sleeping by his mom’s side and waking her with kisses after the alarm goes off. When he isn’t watching birds and squirrels by the patio window, you can find him squeaking his mouse toy.
Ming has truly brought joy to his mom’s life. She loves him dearly and can see his happiness, too.
Pet of the Month: Edie
Edie had quite a difficult time before she found her forever home. In November 2012, she was found as a stray in downtown Slinger and taken to the Washington County Humane Society. She was estimated to be about eight years old and in rough shape, with a few broken teeth. She did not have a microchip and WCHS was unsuccessful at finding her owner. A few months later, she was transferred to Elmbrook Humane Society and was adopted, but returned when the owners realized they were allergic to her.
Edie came to her new family after they lost their senior cat, Eeyore, to kidney failure. When they were ready to look for a new “fur-ever” friend, they saw Edie (then called Barbie) on the local shelter’s website and were surprised by how much she looked like a cat their son had for many years. They went to visit her and found her hiding in the litter box in her crate. Understanding that she had been through so much, they held and cuddled the shaking cat and quickly decided to adopt her. Her name was changed to Edie (the second) after their son’s cat and she moved into their spare bedroom.
The next step was setting up an appointment to bring her to Pewaukee Veterinary Service. She was mostly healthy but had a broken canine tooth that needed to be removed. They decided to wait a few weeks to allow her to acclimate to her new home before bringing her in for the dental procedure.
It took some time for Edie to get comfortable and she spent her earliest days there in a storage compartment under a sleeper sofa in her room. Her new parents were scared when they couldn’t find her, but when they discovered her “safe place,” they made her a soft bed of blankets in that compartment. For the next few weeks, Edie’s owners spent time reading and on the computer in her room so she could get used to them. Eventually she started to venture out, playing with toys and spending time with her new family. Thanks to their patience, she was becoming less and less of a “fraidy cat.”
Then it was time for Edie to come in for her dental procedure. Doctors found another tooth that was also broken at the gum line and removed it as well. She recovered from the dental surgery quickly and has been enjoying the good life at home ever since.
Edie’s mom and dad think she has quite a bit of British shorthair ancestry because of her look and personality traits. She doesn’t cuddle but does enjoy sitting on her mom’s lap in the evening. She is very quiet and polite—in fact, she is the first cat her owners have had who doesn’t jump on the tables and counters! She likes to have four feet on the floor at all times and is happy when you join her down there. She considers it her job to get her family up in the morning and will stand by the bed meowing until everyone is awake. She reminds her mom when it’s time to be brushed, which she enjoys (as long as she can lay on the floor while being groomed).
Edie, now about 15 years old, loves to sleep in her chair with her red stuffed bear. She is still a patient of Dr. Kelly and also spends time in the boarding area when her parents go on trips. Edie’s owners love the attention their little girl gets at Pewaukee Veterinary Service and they hope to have her with them for MANY years to come!
Pet of the Month: Bodie
Sometimes the spirit of a beloved pet passes on in another, when a pet parent least expects it. That’s what happened when a special dog Libby lost her long cancer battle, and Bodie came to be.
Shortly after losing Libby, a neighbor asked if these pet parents would take Yoda—a skinny, dirty puppy left to cry outside nearly 18 hours a day. Still grieving from Libby’s loss, they had no intention of keeping this little pup. But once they discovered an open ulcer on Yoda’s tail, they made an appointment with Dr. Baker and knew they couldn’t give Yoda back. They welcomed Yoda to the family and renamed him Bodie.
Bodie has been a blessing ever since. He thinks everyone is his best friend; he doesn’t believe in personal space; and he’ll slather your face with kisses whenever he wants to. Bodie is a snoring pooch who loves to cuddle and sleep under the covers.
What makes life-loving Bodie happiest? Three things: 1) babies (canine and human); 2) balls (he loves chasing them); and 3) belly rubs!
Bodie’s pet mom is so grateful to Libby for sending Bodie to her. She takes great care of Bodie, while he makes her laugh every day.
Bodie loves car rides, especially when he’s heading to Pewaukee Veterinary Service. From the moment they get off the freeway until he’s at the clinic’s front door, Bodie makes a high-pitched bark/cry that could shatter windows. He reserves this special sound for these visits and his Sunday morning playtime.
Bodie adores the Pewaukee Veterinary Service staff—for that alone his pet mom is thankful!
Pet of the Month: Clyde
Clyde has been a great addition to his family, especially for his brother—a yellow lab. At just under 4 years old, Clyde is always the life of the party. He has never seen a bed or sofa that he didn’t test out with a nap, and he’s known to take over the couch and not leave room for anyone else if you let him.
Clyde isn’t shy about telling you when it’s dinner time either—he’ll stare you down until he gets to eat. Besides eating, one of his main life goals is to keep squirrels out of the yard. He keeps watch and will let everyone know if there are any “intruders.”
Clyde is a very gentle dog who gets along with everyone! When he sees people on a walk or in a store, saying hello is a must. He LOVES to make friends. Unfortunately, because he is so cute, he tends to get away with things. Who can resist those puppy-dog eyes?!
Clyde started coming to Pewaukee Veterinary Service because he had been dealing with allergy issues for a few months. His chronic skin allergies and itchy ears and eyes were making him uncomfortable. He also was on a number of medications and a specialty diet that did not agree with his stomach. After his first visit with Dr. Baker and receiving an allergy injection, Clyde was feeling much better and will hopefully keep improving.
Clyde’s family could not have asked for a more loving and loyal goofball! They are thankful to Pewaukee Veterinary Service (PVS) and Dr. Baker for getting Clyde’s allergies under control, and for the care and compassion everyone at PVS provides.
Pet of the Month: Olyver
Olyver’s mom adopted him from HAWS when he was six years old (because old guys need love, too!). Her dog had recently passed, so she went to the humane society “just to look.” When she met Olyver, he crawled right onto her lap and started licking her face. Needless to say, she walked out shortly after with a scraggly dog filled with an insatiable need to give kisses.
During adoption, Olyver’s mom was told that he had bladder stones and that they would dissolve as long as he was fed a specific type of food. No big deal, right? Wrong. The next day she took Olyver to see PVS’s Dr. Baker at his previous clinic for a checkup. It turned out the type of stones Olyver had were not going to dissolve and instead required surgery. So began the journey of Olyver’s medical anomalies.
After surgery, Olyver was given a prescription food to keep his stones at bay. Along with routine urinalysis, Olyver successfully avoided a recurrence. However, about two years later, he started having severe GI issues. It was unusual for him, so his mom took him to the ER. He was hospitalized for a few days, with the assumption that he had a blockage in his stomach and would need exploratory surgery. His mom wasn’t quite on board, so she called Dr. Baker and asked if he would do the surgery. After doing some dye testing, Dr. Baker confirmed Olyver didn’t have a blockage and wouldn’t need surgery after all.
For a while, Olyver had very few stomach issues. He and his mom moved to the east coast for a couple years, and flew back every few months to visit family and have checkups with Dr. Baker. By this time, Dr. Baker had moved to his current clinic, and so began Olyver and his mom’s relationship with Pewaukee Veterinary Service.
The pair moved back to the Milwaukee area in April of 2016, and almost immediately, Olyver began having severe GI issues again. Dr. Baker performed a few tests and confirmed Olyver had pancreatitis caused by the prescription food he needed to keep his bladder stones away. He was hospitalized once again, and after being released, required two-a-day trips back to the vet for medications, since there was no way for his mom to get him to take the medicine.
Because Olyver’s bladder stones never came back, Dr. Baker decided it was best to switch him to a new food that would be easier on his stomach. It worked and all of Olyver’s GI symptoms vanished. He was finally himself again…for a few weeks. When Olyver stopped eating and became very lethargic, back to Dr. Baker they went. Olyver was developing crystals in his urine. This meant he needed another new food immediately. The new food options cleared up his bladder, but were still causing stomach issues.
A year later, Olyver started limping out of the blue, and, eventually, stopped using his back right leg completely. Enter Dr. Morgan. Olyver was diagnosed with a soft tissue injury and began laser therapy and massage treatments with Jill. His leg immediately began improving.
Dr. Morgan also used her holistic treatment knowledge and started Olyver on some natural supplements for his belly troubles. He has been on the supplements for a few months, and is about finished with hydrotherapy for his leg. He currently has no GI issues, his last urinalysis was crystal and stone free, and he is happily using all four legs. His mom said she can’t guarantee it will be like this for long, but for now, they feel very fortunate as getting his GI issues under control has been their priority for the last few years. Olyver still has some medical issues—including blood in his urine randomly with no explanation and kidney stones—which they will deal with as needed.
Despite the rough hand Olyver’s been dealt, you’d never be able to tell by his happy personality. Olyver loves playing fetch (especially with his dilapidated lion, Louie) and will do anything for belly rubs. He LOVES eating and does not discriminate—treats, whatever is dropped on the floor, dead animals, and more. He’s a pro-cuddler, but only when he wants to, and will give you kisses for days if you let him. He loves going to the park, and likes to sleep under his own blankets and on the same pillow as his mom. Sometimes, he’ll generously let her have her own pillow, but then he sprawls out so that she only gets about twelve inches of space to sleep in. He loves dirty laundry, and, if the hamper gets full enough that he can pull something out, she will come home to clothing scattered all over the house.
According to Olyver’s mom, their life is a beautiful mess. He has taught her more about the canine bladder, GI tract, and pancreas than any human not practicing veterinary medicine ever needs to know. And she wouldn’t change one single second—he is her heart.
Pet of the Month: Cowboy
There are no words to describe the sense of loss Cowboy’s mom felt after his passing—she had lost her best friend.
Cowboy brought his mom—and everyone he met—never-ending happiness and smiles. He was a comedic Boxer with a willful attitude (and selective hearing), which he found entertaining, and his mom found both funny and exasperating. Cowboy brought new meaning to the word playful. He was a true athlete—the best hiking and kayaking partner his mom could ask for and he never whined about anything. He was his mom’s daily sidekick at work, crazy for fruit, and an 80-pound lap dog/ bed hog! Cowboy was famous in Delafield for fishing in the Bark River for hours on end in the summer. Though he never caught a fish, he always tried his hardest. One of his favorite places to spend time was his custom “man cave” his mom made in the back of her SUV.
Cowboy was impossibly handsome and sweet, with a heart bigger than any person his mom knew. There is no doubt that she learned a lot from him. His independent mindset taught her to be patient. He showed her how to live without judgement, by showing affection to everyone he met, with a gentle jump and tail wag. He also taught her about unconditional love and how amazing it was to be on the receiving end of it. In return, his mom showered him with endless love and affection.
The bond between Cowboy and his mom is one that will stand the test of time. She feels blessed to have shared 10 years with him, and he will always hold a special place in her heart. He made her life richer, and the memories of his love and friendship are something she will cherish forever.
Cowboy’s mom would like to thank everyone at Pewaukee Veterinary Service—especially Amanda H.—for the exceptional care and love they showed (especially the liver treats, which were always Cowboy’s favorite!)
Pet of the Month: Jack
Jack is a super cute Maltese that came to Milwaukee from a ranch outside of Dallas, Texas in September of 2010. Jack left Dallas on a very hot day and his new mom was concerned that he would arrive overheated and lethargic. Not Jack! She could hear him barking, as he was not a happy-camper after his long plane trip!
Jack is a 5 ½-pound, fun-loving, and really sweet boy that is full of energy. He loves to watch TV and play with his toys – especially “Nuts the Squirrel” and “Fox.” He also loves to eat watermelon, cantaloupe, lettuce, peanut butter, and CHEESE! He races from window to window barking at anything that moves, especially the UPS truck and red Jeeps – go figure!
At one of Jack’s trips to the vet, Dr. Jeff Schuett told Jack’s mom not to let Jack jump around because his knee was slipping in and out. “Hah!” Jack said. After 7 years of jumping around in front of the TV, Jack unfortunately paid the price and needed a knee repair. Now he’s fully recovered and back to disobeying Dr. Jeff’s no jumping orders.
When Jack’s away from home, he LOVES to stay at All Pets Inn. Jack’s mom has to drag him out when she returns from her trips. Jack makes everyone smile and laugh!
Pet of the Month: Winston
Winston’s story starts with some sadness. His parents’ beloved dog, TJ—a Eurasier—had died unexpectedly in June of 2016. To heal a heavy heart, his mom started reaching out to find another Eurasier and knew that she would have to go on a waiting list or two. Shortly after, she got the call. A little male pup born on April 15th from the “L” litter was available unexpectedly (his original owners backed out). L should have stood for ‘love’ because he was just what they needed. His litter name was Link and he was in Halifax Nova Scotia. Yes, you read that right….Canada!
Winston’s parents flew to Boston, rented a car, and drove up to Halifax. From the moment they met the little monster, they knew he was meant to be theirs. They spent two days getting to know Winston, his Mom, and the rest of his siblings. Prior to leaving, the breeder asked for some lineage on TJ—Winston’s parents’ previous dog who had passed away. As it turned out, little Winston was related to TJ. TJ was his great-great Uncle on his maternal side—TJ’s Mom is Winston’s great grandmother. Chills… they got chills. It was meant to be!
Winston’s parents made the 30-hour trek back to Wisconsin with their little Winston and they couldn’t be more pleased. TJ was smiling down from heaven because their hearts were full once again. And fundamentally, isn’t that what all dogs truly want for their families?
Winston is an incredibly happy dog and has become the subdivision mascot. When he’s out for walks, you can hear kids from all over shouting “Winstonnnnn!” He gets visitors all the time and is great with people of all ages. At Halloween, he even dresses up just like the kids! This past year he was Hairy Pawter.
Winston, or Winnie, loves to be with people the most. His happy place is any store that is pet-friendly, so he can walk the aisles and greet people with his Eurasier smile, which makes them smile, too. Whenever he sees someone, he pins his ears down, flashes his ‘Sammy smile,” and gently walks toward them in hopes of an acknowledgement or a scratch on the ears. The neighbor kids spend a lot of time with Winston when he’s outside on his long leash. They’ll often come ring the doorbell asking if he can come out and play. It’s adorable! (Mom keeps a camera on him when she’s not out there for safety reasons but also to watch the cute interactions.)
The Eurasier breed is known for its friendly nature. It’s a mixed breed consisting of Chow, Keeshond (Wolf Spitz), and Samoyed. The original “Wolf-Chow” bred in the 60s was half Chow and half Keeshond and then finally mixed with the Samoyed to get today’s Eurasier. It’s a relatively young breed that is just starting to become popular in the US. Originating in Germany in 1972, the breed has gained popularity due to its easy-going temperaments and loyalty to family. Eurasiers are also great with other animals, which is wonderful for the queen of Winston’s household, JoJo (a now 14-year-old Maine Coon cat). They have become best buds!
Winston loves traveling in the car and is super easy going. He gets a bit nervous in strange and unknown places, but as long as he’s with someone he knows, he’s fine. As he gets older, his parents are planning more and more road trips with him! After all, his first road trip was 30 hours from Nova Scotia and he was a total champ at only 16 weeks old!
The single worry that they have with Winston is that Eurasiers, due to the stature of their body, have a higher chance to get bloat, which is unfortunately what happened to TJ. Winston’s parents are managing his diet and exercise accordingly and being mindful of what he eats and drinks and how often. His parents are also having his stomach tacked when he undergoes his neuter surgery to lessen the chances that this will occur. They are hoping that this procedure, along with his diet, will help prevent future life-threatening scenarios for him.
Pewaukee Veterinary Service has been taking care of all of Winston’s family’s pets since they moved to Pewaukee back in 1992. Even after the move to Mukwonago, they still take their animals to PVS because of the quality of care. They think Dr. Jeff, Dr. Randy, and the entire staff have been amazing. Although they said it would be very difficult to select a favorite PVS employee, they would have to say that they are most impressed with the longevity and continuity of Jerry, Amanda B., and Tasha! Their smiling faces have been there a long time and it’s always great to see them! The fact they are still with PVS speaks volumes for the practice and the work environment, and is one of the reasons why Winston’s parents bring him there.
Follow Winston on Instagram: @winston_dog
Pet of the Month: Boyd & Raylan
Named after the main characters in the TV show Justified, Boyd and Raylan (better known as Ray or Ray-Ray) both joined their family a month apart in the fall of 2015. Boyd and Ray are cousins (their moms are sisters), with Boyd being the long-haired version of Ray. The two have grown to be best friends and are never far from each other.
While the boys are related, each has his own distinct personality. Boyd is the laid back, easy-going kitty, while Ray is always alert and borderline obsessive. Both cats began fetching their favorite toys as young kittens, but obsessive-compulsive Ray would play fetch with his favorite toy mouse for hours if he could. This hunting practice has come in handy a time or two, though, as Ray has successfully captured live intruders!
The boys travel with their parents a couple times a year, and unlike many cats, they actually enjoy spending time in their carriers and will often sleep in them if placed high on a counter under a warm light. When visiting Dr. Tom and the Pewaukee Veterinary staff, the boys jump right out to explore the room and patiently await their examination. During the last visit, Ray even gave Dr. Tom a few ankle rubs.
Ray and Boyd will soon be welcoming a new family member—Izzy—a male English Golden Retriever puppy and the family can’t wait for new adventures with all three of their boys!
Pet of the Month: Ollie
Meet Ollie, a 15-week-old English Springer Spaniel! Ollie is one adventurous pup who came to his family from Rock River Kennels in June 2018.
It’s hard for his parents to narrow down everything Ollie likes and loves, but a few of his favorites include going swimming at the lake (with occasional dives to the bottom to fetch those eye-catching rocks), chewing sticks (or really anything he can find), and getting belly rubs and treats!
Ollie also enjoys playing with his four pup cousins who his family visits weekly for a boat ride when the weather is nice. Dad even lets him sit in the driver’s seat occasionally… Ahoy, Captain Ollie here!
Ollie is a quick learner who already responds to “sit,” “shake,” and “dance.” He has also learned how to keep his wonderful parents up all night and make impromptu vet visits by getting into trouble. Dr. Baker has been very patient as they all work to keep “Bub” healthy and keep everything out of his mouth.
Despite the challenge of keeping Ollie from eating things he shouldn’t, his parents look forward to being greeted by his curly, floppy ears, freckled nose, and big brown eyes every day. They love their now 20-pound (and growing) baby boy—he’s part of the family.
Pet of the Month: Moose
Moose is a charcoal Labrador from a small breeder in Elroy, WI. He was the largest of his litter—that’s how he got his name—and joined his new family when he was only nine weeks old. Already at almost 20 pounds and with thick legs, giant paws, and lots of skin to grow into, his mom and dad knew he was going to be one big boy!
He loves to help his parents with chores around the house, including loading the dishwasher (with himself), keeping the vacuum cleaner moving by chasing it around the house, and helping organize his toys (usually by taking them out of the basket as they’re putting them away). In warmer weather, Moose even bathes himself by playing in the water from the sprinkler and hose.
Moose thinks he is much smaller than his 85 pounds (and he’s only nine months old). He still fits in his favorite side chair in the living room, although not as easily as he did just a few months ago. Fortunately, he does not seem to be bothered by it whatsoever and makes himself comfortable here, in the middle of the couch, or any space he THINKS he fits in.
His favorite toy is the “Romp-N-Roll” Jolly Ball, which has survived far longer than the soft toys he loves to rip to shreds!
Although young, Moose is learning to be quite a good boy. He is a good walker, great in his obedience classes, and a welcome face at PVS.
Follow Moose on Instagram: @moose_the_charcoal_lab
Pet of the Month: Lucy & Scout
When Lucy was brought home, she only weighed about 3 pounds and was so small that her parents thought she looked like a Beanie Baby! Lucy is a chocolate brown cocker spaniel with a white patch on her chest and little brown freckles. She also has adorable white patches on the bottoms of her back paws. As a puppy, Lucy attended classes at Best Paw Forward where all the children fell in love with her and would come over to pet her during break time.
Lucy does not like to ride in the car—she shivers and cries the entire ride—but she’ll make an exception to go to Naga-Waukee Park with her owners and 3-year-old golden retriever brother, Scout. She also enjoys barking and chasing after anything that moves: squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and even Sandhill cranes that pass through HER yard…how dare they! Even though she loves to be outside, she absolutely does not like to walk on wet grass (but loves to walk and play in the snow).
Lucy’s favorite spot is on top of the comfy sofa where she can look out the window and keep an eye on her yard of course.
Lucy loves the vet and doesn’t mind the occasional checkup. Her tail wags so fast her mom thinks it might fly right off! She especially loves Dr. Randy and his technicians. That might have something to do with their delicious liver treats, but that’s neither here nor there. Shani, her groomer, is another one of her favorite people. Lucy adores being groomed and coming home decked out in ribbons and bows! Scout thinks she smells great when she comes home and has to give her a good sniff.
Lucy doesn’t eat her food out of a bowl. Instead, her mom has to place it on a mat on the floor. She waits all day for mealtime and stares at her mom when it’s time to make sure she doesn’t forget.
Lucy didn’t always have Scout to pal around with. Scout came to their family when Lucy was 5 years old. She wasn’t too fond of him at first because he wanted to share all of her toys and her bed! He also wanted to play nonstop and Lucy wanted none of that. Now that Scout has calmed down from his puppy years, they are best friends. They love to look out the window, visit the park, and go on long walks together.
Lucy and Scout’s family constantly find new things about their furry family members that make them smile and laugh. The pair is loved tremendously and their family would like to thank Pewaukee Veterinary Service for always taking such great care of their fur babies!
Pet of the Month: Ming
Ming’s mom started searching for a Tonkinese cat (a Siamese and Burmese mix) after her daughter and her cat moved out, leaving her Siamese named Sukie a bit lonely. It took several months, but she found an eight-week-old female kitten from a Wisconsin breeder. Or so she thought. She had scheduled a routine first visit with Dr. Tom Hirth at Pewaukee Veterinary Service and immediately learned that her new kitten was actually a male. He had been named “Ming Su” at first but became just “Ming” after this important discovery. Today Ming is a happy, healthy kitty who is very strong and quite muscular. With beautiful aqua blue eyes and shiny fur that feels like mink, he is quite the handsome boy.
Ming is also a gentleman—when Sukie was still with the family, he would always wait for her to eat before taking a bite of his food. If Sukie was late for dinner, Ming would find her and sit patiently, turning his head back and forth, waiting for her to start.
Ming loves to unroll entire rolls of toilet paper and get stuck in places that are too small for him, like under the kitchen cabinets. He enjoys hiding in closets but will meow when he wants his mom to find him. Ming also likes to pick up rings of keys and hide them! And anytime he can find a ball or a mouse, he brings it to his mom and then flops over on his back when he is done playing fetch.
In the morning, he likes to sit in the bathroom sink, watching his mom put makeup on. He greets her at the door when she comes home for lunch and watches TV with her after work. If guests arrive, Ming is at the door to greet them, then he goes from lap to lap to be admired and petted. At the end of the day, instead of sleeping in his own bed, Ming insists on sleeping by his mom’s side and waking her with kisses after the alarm goes off. When he isn’t watching birds and squirrels by the patio window, you can find him squeaking his mouse toy.
Ming has truly brought joy to his mom’s life. She loves him dearly and can see his happiness, too.
Pet of the Month: Edie
Edie had quite a difficult time before she found her forever home. In November 2012, she was found as a stray in downtown Slinger and taken to the Washington County Humane Society. She was estimated to be about eight years old and in rough shape, with a few broken teeth. She did not have a microchip and WCHS was unsuccessful at finding her owner. A few months later, she was transferred to Elmbrook Humane Society and was adopted, but returned when the owners realized they were allergic to her.
Edie came to her new family after they lost their senior cat, Eeyore, to kidney failure. When they were ready to look for a new “fur-ever” friend, they saw Edie (then called Barbie) on the local shelter’s website and were surprised by how much she looked like a cat their son had for many years. They went to visit her and found her hiding in the litter box in her crate. Understanding that she had been through so much, they held and cuddled the shaking cat and quickly decided to adopt her. Her name was changed to Edie (the second) after their son’s cat and she moved into their spare bedroom.
The next step was setting up an appointment to bring her to Pewaukee Veterinary Service. She was mostly healthy but had a broken canine tooth that needed to be removed. They decided to wait a few weeks to allow her to acclimate to her new home before bringing her in for the dental procedure.
It took some time for Edie to get comfortable and she spent her earliest days there in a storage compartment under a sleeper sofa in her room. Her new parents were scared when they couldn’t find her, but when they discovered her “safe place,” they made her a soft bed of blankets in that compartment. For the next few weeks, Edie’s owners spent time reading and on the computer in her room so she could get used to them. Eventually she started to venture out, playing with toys and spending time with her new family. Thanks to their patience, she was becoming less and less of a “fraidy cat.”
Then it was time for Edie to come in for her dental procedure. Doctors found another tooth that was also broken at the gum line and removed it as well. She recovered from the dental surgery quickly and has been enjoying the good life at home ever since.
Edie’s mom and dad think she has quite a bit of British shorthair ancestry because of her look and personality traits. She doesn’t cuddle but does enjoy sitting on her mom’s lap in the evening. She is very quiet and polite—in fact, she is the first cat her owners have had who doesn’t jump on the tables and counters! She likes to have four feet on the floor at all times and is happy when you join her down there. She considers it her job to get her family up in the morning and will stand by the bed meowing until everyone is awake. She reminds her mom when it’s time to be brushed, which she enjoys (as long as she can lay on the floor while being groomed).
Edie, now about 15 years old, loves to sleep in her chair with her red stuffed bear. She is still a patient of Dr. Kelly and also spends time in the boarding area when her parents go on trips. Edie’s owners love the attention their little girl gets at Pewaukee Veterinary Service and they hope to have her with them for MANY years to come!
Pet of the Month: Bodie
Sometimes the spirit of a beloved pet passes on in another, when a pet parent least expects it. That’s what happened when a special dog Libby lost her long cancer battle, and Bodie came to be.
Shortly after losing Libby, a neighbor asked if these pet parents would take Yoda—a skinny, dirty puppy left to cry outside nearly 18 hours a day. Still grieving from Libby’s loss, they had no intention of keeping this little pup. But once they discovered an open ulcer on Yoda’s tail, they made an appointment with Dr. Baker and knew they couldn’t give Yoda back. They welcomed Yoda to the family and renamed him Bodie.
Bodie has been a blessing ever since. He thinks everyone is his best friend; he doesn’t believe in personal space; and he’ll slather your face with kisses whenever he wants to. Bodie is a snoring pooch who loves to cuddle and sleep under the covers.
What makes life-loving Bodie happiest? Three things: 1) babies (canine and human); 2) balls (he loves chasing them); and 3) belly rubs!
Bodie’s pet mom is so grateful to Libby for sending Bodie to her. She takes great care of Bodie, while he makes her laugh every day.
Bodie loves car rides, especially when he’s heading to Pewaukee Veterinary Service. From the moment they get off the freeway until he’s at the clinic’s front door, Bodie makes a high-pitched bark/cry that could shatter windows. He reserves this special sound for these visits and his Sunday morning playtime.
Bodie adores the Pewaukee Veterinary Service staff—for that alone his pet mom is thankful!
Pet of the Month: Clyde
Clyde has been a great addition to his family, especially for his brother—a yellow lab. At just under 4 years old, Clyde is always the life of the party. He has never seen a bed or sofa that he didn’t test out with a nap, and he’s known to take over the couch and not leave room for anyone else if you let him.
Clyde isn’t shy about telling you when it’s dinner time either—he’ll stare you down until he gets to eat. Besides eating, one of his main life goals is to keep squirrels out of the yard. He keeps watch and will let everyone know if there are any “intruders.”
Clyde is a very gentle dog who gets along with everyone! When he sees people on a walk or in a store, saying hello is a must. He LOVES to make friends. Unfortunately, because he is so cute, he tends to get away with things. Who can resist those puppy-dog eyes?!
Clyde started coming to Pewaukee Veterinary Service because he had been dealing with allergy issues for a few months. His chronic skin allergies and itchy ears and eyes were making him uncomfortable. He also was on a number of medications and a specialty diet that did not agree with his stomach. After his first visit with Dr. Baker and receiving an allergy injection, Clyde was feeling much better and will hopefully keep improving.
Clyde’s family could not have asked for a more loving and loyal goofball! They are thankful to Pewaukee Veterinary Service (PVS) and Dr. Baker for getting Clyde’s allergies under control, and for the care and compassion everyone at PVS provides.
Pet of the Month: Olyver
Olyver’s mom adopted him from HAWS when he was six years old (because old guys need love, too!). Her dog had recently passed, so she went to the humane society “just to look.” When she met Olyver, he crawled right onto her lap and started licking her face. Needless to say, she walked out shortly after with a scraggly dog filled with an insatiable need to give kisses.
During adoption, Olyver’s mom was told that he had bladder stones and that they would dissolve as long as he was fed a specific type of food. No big deal, right? Wrong. The next day she took Olyver to see PVS’s Dr. Baker at his previous clinic for a checkup. It turned out the type of stones Olyver had were not going to dissolve and instead required surgery. So began the journey of Olyver’s medical anomalies.
After surgery, Olyver was given a prescription food to keep his stones at bay. Along with routine urinalysis, Olyver successfully avoided a recurrence. However, about two years later, he started having severe GI issues. It was unusual for him, so his mom took him to the ER. He was hospitalized for a few days, with the assumption that he had a blockage in his stomach and would need exploratory surgery. His mom wasn’t quite on board, so she called Dr. Baker and asked if he would do the surgery. After doing some dye testing, Dr. Baker confirmed Olyver didn’t have a blockage and wouldn’t need surgery after all.
For a while, Olyver had very few stomach issues. He and his mom moved to the east coast for a couple years, and flew back every few months to visit family and have checkups with Dr. Baker. By this time, Dr. Baker had moved to his current clinic, and so began Olyver and his mom’s relationship with Pewaukee Veterinary Service.
The pair moved back to the Milwaukee area in April of 2016, and almost immediately, Olyver began having severe GI issues again. Dr. Baker performed a few tests and confirmed Olyver had pancreatitis caused by the prescription food he needed to keep his bladder stones away. He was hospitalized once again, and after being released, required two-a-day trips back to the vet for medications, since there was no way for his mom to get him to take the medicine.
Because Olyver’s bladder stones never came back, Dr. Baker decided it was best to switch him to a new food that would be easier on his stomach. It worked and all of Olyver’s GI symptoms vanished. He was finally himself again…for a few weeks. When Olyver stopped eating and became very lethargic, back to Dr. Baker they went. Olyver was developing crystals in his urine. This meant he needed another new food immediately. The new food options cleared up his bladder, but were still causing stomach issues.
A year later, Olyver started limping out of the blue, and, eventually, stopped using his back right leg completely. Enter Dr. Morgan. Olyver was diagnosed with a soft tissue injury and began laser therapy and massage treatments with Jill. His leg immediately began improving.
Dr. Morgan also used her holistic treatment knowledge and started Olyver on some natural supplements for his belly troubles. He has been on the supplements for a few months, and is about finished with hydrotherapy for his leg. He currently has no GI issues, his last urinalysis was crystal and stone free, and he is happily using all four legs. His mom said she can’t guarantee it will be like this for long, but for now, they feel very fortunate as getting his GI issues under control has been their priority for the last few years. Olyver still has some medical issues—including blood in his urine randomly with no explanation and kidney stones—which they will deal with as needed.
Despite the rough hand Olyver’s been dealt, you’d never be able to tell by his happy personality. Olyver loves playing fetch (especially with his dilapidated lion, Louie) and will do anything for belly rubs. He LOVES eating and does not discriminate—treats, whatever is dropped on the floor, dead animals, and more. He’s a pro-cuddler, but only when he wants to, and will give you kisses for days if you let him. He loves going to the park, and likes to sleep under his own blankets and on the same pillow as his mom. Sometimes, he’ll generously let her have her own pillow, but then he sprawls out so that she only gets about twelve inches of space to sleep in. He loves dirty laundry, and, if the hamper gets full enough that he can pull something out, she will come home to clothing scattered all over the house.
According to Olyver’s mom, their life is a beautiful mess. He has taught her more about the canine bladder, GI tract, and pancreas than any human not practicing veterinary medicine ever needs to know. And she wouldn’t change one single second—he is her heart.
Pet of the Month: Cowboy
There are no words to describe the sense of loss Cowboy’s mom felt after his passing—she had lost her best friend.
Cowboy brought his mom—and everyone he met—never-ending happiness and smiles. He was a comedic Boxer with a willful attitude (and selective hearing), which he found entertaining, and his mom found both funny and exasperating. Cowboy brought new meaning to the word playful. He was a true athlete—the best hiking and kayaking partner his mom could ask for and he never whined about anything. He was his mom’s daily sidekick at work, crazy for fruit, and an 80-pound lap dog/ bed hog! Cowboy was famous in Delafield for fishing in the Bark River for hours on end in the summer. Though he never caught a fish, he always tried his hardest. One of his favorite places to spend time was his custom “man cave” his mom made in the back of her SUV.
Cowboy was impossibly handsome and sweet, with a heart bigger than any person his mom knew. There is no doubt that she learned a lot from him. His independent mindset taught her to be patient. He showed her how to live without judgement, by showing affection to everyone he met, with a gentle jump and tail wag. He also taught her about unconditional love and how amazing it was to be on the receiving end of it. In return, his mom showered him with endless love and affection.
The bond between Cowboy and his mom is one that will stand the test of time. She feels blessed to have shared 10 years with him, and he will always hold a special place in her heart. He made her life richer, and the memories of his love and friendship are something she will cherish forever.
Cowboy’s mom would like to thank everyone at Pewaukee Veterinary Service—especially Amanda H.—for the exceptional care and love they showed (especially the liver treats, which were always Cowboy’s favorite!)