A simple gesture continues to touch Mary Taylor years later. Taylor had brought her dog, Aspen, to the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center for cancer treatments. After one treatment the Des Moines resident knew it was time to make an end-of-life decision for Aspen. But it was what happened afterwards that continues to have an impact on Taylor’s life. “The students on the case sent me a condolence card and gave $100 in Aspen’s name to the Companion Animal Fund,” Taylor said. “I thought that was just the sweetest thing anyone had ever done.” In response Taylor started her own contributions to the Companion Animal Fund.

What a difference a few months makes! Since the prior edition of our Compassionate Clients eNews last spring, we are delighted to have you accompanying your animals on their visits to the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center again. There are so many facets to our teaching hospital team, which you can read about here, but please trust me when I say we all missed the wonderful owners who care year-around for the animals we feel so privileged to treat.

To that end, the next couple stories highlight the bonds that often form in the work we do. I hope you also enjoy reading about a handful of surgical care case that illustrate the life-changing and life-saving work in our Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital. And don’t forget our healthful hint about keeping your pets cool no matter how hot things get this summer.

They can be creepy, crawly and carry diseases. Spring weather means an uptick in ticks, along with fleas and mosquitos that can deliver heartworms and more to your furry friends. Ideally pets should be on ectoparasite and heartworm prevention year-round, but if you did stop for winter, NOW is the time to start again.

No one loves Iowa State’s Veterinary Medicine Surgery, Anesthesia and Community Outreach program more than the pets themselves. It’s not only saving their lives; the program is helping make those lives worth living.