Keep veterinary patients warm with rice buddies

To keep patients warm after surgery, we place rice buddies with them in their kennels. To make a rice buddy, fill a tube sock with rice, tie off the end, and warm it in the microwave for two minutes, depending on the appliance. They stay warm for a while and they're an inexpensive way to keep all of your patients warm. You can even place one by the patient before the surgery begins. To keep them clean, we cover them with an OB sleeve for every new patient.

—Crystal Vollmer, CVT

Mankato, Minn.