On the third day of Petmas my puppy gave to me:
3 kitties snacking,
and a Sophie in a stocking!
Thank you Darci and crew! We were very fortunate to get a bonus pic for today!
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all are singing this song out loud like I am. 
On the second day of Petmas, my puppy gave to me-
And a wreath on the head of Bro-dee!
Thank you Rwan, Enzo, and Learned!
OK, so to solidify this 12 Days of Petmas thing- these are the people who have volunteered. Please let me know by e-mail or here in the comments if you can’t get a picture up in time and I will get an alternative.
I’m not picky- this doesn’t have to be professional, you can use your phone camera, we don’t care. Just have fun. This is really entertaining to me too since I have no idea what’s going to be submitted; it’s like a little present every day.
I’m going to start these on December 9th, which will give me one post a day skipping the weekends, ending on December 24th.
Details below, which won’t be of interest to anyone who isn’t participating, I imagine.
Our cameraman has spent months, nay, years, stalking the elusive Domestic Jungle Ocelot. His patience has finally been rewarded.
He is usually a nocturnal creature. At night, when the denizens of the day have retired, he emerges from the depths of the garage and stalks his prey. Namely, veterinarians.
Oblivious to her imminent doom, the veterinarian slumbers. She wakes up to the silent kneading on her chest as the ocelot sucks out her her life’s breath and bites her on the forehead. And all she sees in the last seconds of her life are two shiny yellow eyes.
What could lure this retiring creature from his dark daytime sarcophagus?
Birthday balloons needing popping.
A short distance away on the savannah, the archenemy of the domestic ocelot- the Goldenbeast- slumbers.
The ocelot is safe, for now.
Or is he?
The Goldenbeast’s sense of smell is keen.
The ocelot senses the presence of a predator. Does he stand his ground, or flee?
With the sixth sense that has ensured his survival for so many years, the ocelot has divined what we have not.
The Goldenbeast is tethered, unable to leave the confines of the lowlands.
What has brought the Goldenbeast to this lowly fate?
STEALING THE KILL OF THE HEAD BEAST WHILE THE OTHER BEASTIES WERE OPENING BIRTHDAY PRESENTS! THIS IS A BAD, BAD GOLDENBEAST!!!!
(This was a seriously tragic way to learn he could reach the plateau of the tabletop.)
The ocelot cannot help but laugh at the folly of the naive young beast.
He remains, as always, king of the jungle.
Voiceover: Diagnosing a pet is like fighting a battle in the fog. Without their ability to tell you what’s wrong, you don’t know your enemy. Sometimes the fog is a mere hazy gauze, easily penetrated with our exam and our instincts, and other times it sits over the field like a big hairy blindfold.
Well hello there, Miss Blake! What brings you and Lulu here today?
Doctor, Lulu just isn’t herself. I don’t know what is wrong, but something is wrong.
Any changes in appetite or drinking behavior? No.
Any changes in activity level? No.
Any vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, sneezing? No.
What is leading you to think something is wrong?
I don’t know. (cue folksy music) (more…)
I know, I know. Two weekend blog posts. I’m going to run out of stuff to say this week.
I’ve decided to try something out and see how it goes. On Sundays I’d like to take the time to recognize a company, group, or person who is doing something good for animals. It can be something small, something large, or even just something cool that I thought everyone else might like to hear about too. We spend so much time hearing on the news terrible things about chained up neglected dogs and people putting kittens on the grill and other stories so horrible that if I continue to think about them I’ll lock myself in the closet and cry all day, so instead I’d like to send a little goodwill out into the universe in the hopes that others are cheered by the good work that you all do.
Because I’m lazy, I’m also fine with having this spot be a guest post, if you want to toot your own horn or that of someone else tootable. Feel free to e-mail me through the blog at drv@pawcurious.com if you want to submit a story or a link featuring someone doing good. I have no prizes to award other than the thrill of being recognized here, but feel free to lie and tell people I’m Marty Becker if that makes it more exciting.
With that, my very first Inaugural Sunday Shout Out goes to the people at The Honest Kitchen, one of my favorite pet food companies (and local too!) to recognize their efforts to help pets impacted by the massive Southern California wildfires this past month:
Recently, a batch of The Honest Kitchen’s all natural, fresh food was made using white potatoes in place of the recipe’s sweet potatoes – the first such formulation error in our company’s seven year history. Because of this mistake we will of course be unable to supply it to our customers. Rather than destroy the food, we will donate quantities to select Southern California shelters and animal rescue organizations helping to care for pets who have been displaced by the wildfires that have been blazing in the region.
We will cover the cost for all shipping associated with transporting the food from our manufacture facility to organizations that can use it. Any 401c(3) animal rescue organizations in regions affected by the wildfires interested in receiving the food are invited to contact The Honest Kitchen directly…
So instead of trashing a batch of perfectly good food, they have agreed not only to donate it, but to cover the costs of shipping (which are always pretty significant.) There are many rescues in the affected region struggling to make ends meet right now, so the company hopes to get the word out through as many venues as possible. If you know any rescues in the region who could use this, please pass it on!
Although they only asked me to spread the word about this time-sensitive program, I wanted to also point out that they give a substantial amount to many charities, so kudos to Honest Kitchen for all their great work. The site and blog are worth a look- it’s good stuff all around. Brody agrees.
In this episode of On Safari, we follow a curious young Goldenbeast cub as he explores the world around him.
Behold the mighty Goldenbeast. Part Golden, part beast, all hunter.
We first spot the notoriously elusive beast at the water hole.
We sneak in for a better look, trying our best to be quiet.
But our paltry skills are no match for the mighty beast’s superior hearing! He licks his chops in anticipation!
And he springs into attack mode!
Oh no! Tell the cameraman to RUN!
Fortunately he is easily distracted.
Exhausted from this 10 second burst of energy, our predator returns to his nest for an afternoon siesta.
If there is one thing that is ubiquitous in this field, it is dogs with itchy skin. While many vets shudder at the ever present itchy dog, I kind of like it. Lucky for me, since dermatology represents something like one third of all the cases we see. I don’t think it’s boring. I think it’s interesting. That being said, it’s not always the most complicated case on the docket. We’re not talking House, here. There are one or two scripts that play out over and over like clockwork starting every spring. The story arc is as steady and predictable as a poorly written sitcom.
What does this episode bring?
FLEAS: Another Dr. Barbie Presentation (cue laugh track)
Hi Mister Jones! We haven’t seen you for a couple months. How are things going with Betsy?
Well doc, it’s the strangest thing. Yesterday she was fine, and today she woke up and had no hair.
Overnight, you say? OK, let’s take a look. Is she on flea control?
No, but she doesn’t need it. We don’t have fleas. (cue laugh track)
OK Mr. Jones…I’m seeing a lot of scabs here, and actually, oh! Look at that. There are quite a few fleas on her as well.
That’s not possible. She must have gotten them in your waiting room. I’m telling you, those bald patches showed up overnight.
These scabs are looking pretty chronic, to be honest. You might not have noticed them until today, but I bet she has had them for a while. All that black stuff is what we call flea dirt. I actually see a few tapeworm segments as well, which indicates that she has ingested fleas while she is grooming herself. So we should get you an antibiotic for that skin infection, a dewormer, and some Advantage*.
*(product placement)
Can you just tell me what you’d give to her? Maybe write it all down for me? I have some leftover antibiotics from my other dog that died last year, I get dewormer at the feed store and I get Hartz at Costco. So I don’t need anything from you.
…..Or maybe you have some old expired stuff you could just give me? (cue laugh track)
(Mr Jones looks at camera and says witty catchphrase, gives a thumbs up):
I take it from your expression that’s a no.
(cue laugh track)
My license allows me to legally practice medicine on just about anything- except humans, of course. If you really want to make a vet’s hair stand on end, ask them why they didn’t become a “real doctor”. Most people only ask that once, at least to me.
Granted, that’s a hell of a lot of species to know. Sheesh, MDs manage to eke out a living focusing on one organ system of one species- OBs, for instance, or dermatologists- and yet somehow I’m expected to be able to handle a cow dystocia as well as a rat with a mammary tumor.
Truth be told, it can’t be done. Not these days, with the wealth of knowledge out there. It’s hard enough focusing on one or two species, as most vets (at least those in relatively urban areas) tend to do. I see dogs and cats. That is my comfort zone. On occasion, if there is no other choice, I’ll examine a rodent or a rabbit although I’m not particularly knowledgable on them. Seeing a horse would probably be malpractice.
I had one horrific episode when I was working in emergency when someone brought a mostly-dead finch in. He was laying on the bottom of the cage, huffing away. There really wasn’t time to get to an exotics vet, and besides, it was 8 at night. The other vets on duty made themselves immediately scarce, and I found myself staring at the tech with a blank look on my face. “Just give it some SQ fluids,” said my boss, who then also disappeared.
My tech picked up the bird, extremely carefully, and I prepared a very carefully selected dose of appropriate fluids, and administered them very carefully into the proper location- which is nothing like the proper location on a dog. As I finished the injection, the bird took one big huff, and died. Boy, the techs had a field day with that one. “Dr. V is so good she doesn’t need pink juice to euthanize an animal! She can do it with subcutaneous fluids! Hahaha!”
Now I turn birds away at the door. I believe it is in their best interest.
I am actually more confident than ever in telling people to take their animals elsewhere. The more I learn, the less I know. I’m too old to learn about lizards, not when there is a perfectly wonderful exotics vet 10 minutes away.
And since it’s Monday, let’s do it in pictures!
Hi there, Mr. Williams. I’m Dr. Barbie. Nice to meet you. It says here you have a cat with diarrhea.
Ah, well, yes, about that…see, I was in Kenya on a dig, and, well….
This is Chuckie. Say hi to the doc, Chuckie.
Oh my …um, look, Mr. Williams, I’m really not a primatologist. You need to go to an exotics vet. I can’t help you. No. No way.
Are you scared? Don’t be scared. Look, I can dress him up and everything. Can’t you just take a quick look and tell me how much Pepto to use or something?
Frankly Mr. Williams, I am a little nervous here. Haven’t you been watching the news? Did you SEE Grey’s Anatomy last week? These guys are dangerous! How did you even get him here? Chimpanzees aren’t legal in this state.
Oh, you know, I just came back with my dad and he knows some people. Look, his parents got run over by a Land Rover and I just felt so bad for him. He’s so smart, too. You wouldn’t believe how smart he is. Aren’t ya, Chuckie?
Oh, I believe it. Um….hi there, little guy. Oh hey there, will you look at that. So Mr. Williams, I’m leaving the room right now. (backing away) My receptionist will get you the phone number for the exotics vet. And the zoo. Nice meeting you both.
Today is a very big day for Dr. Autumn. I had a Barbie floating around that looked like her, but I couldn’t bear to put her in the standard Barbie vet getup, so in her honor I created a pair of slightly more appropriate scrubs.
Hold on…just a couple more things here…
Ah. Much better.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with her previously, as Autumn, the awesome technician, but today is the Big Day for her: her first day as Doctor Autumn, practicing veterinarian.
I know she knows the basic cardinal rules of veterinary medicine: don’t mix prednisone and Rimadyl, don’t give Baytril to young puppies, don’t let your clients name their pets Lucky, etc, but I thought I would take a moment to pass on a couple other pieces of advice that for some reason they always seem to skip over in vet school.
1. Don’t introduce yourself by your first name. That works when you are distinguished, old, and grey to put people at ease, but when you are young and new, people see that as an invitation to talk to you like their neighbor’s teenage daughter. You are Doctor Autumn, and only Doctor Autumn.
2. Never let your perceptions allow you to avoid offering the best care. True, many people will decline that best care, and you will have to prioritize your choices, but make them make that decision. The second you allow yourself to make that decision for them- oh, this guy will never say yes to x-rays-, it will become a habit, and before you know it you aren’t offering the best care even when the person wants it. You can never tell which client will approve your estimate. (Remember the lady with the flame-red hair?) You’re not offering the best because you’re trying to rack up a bill. You’re offering the best because that is what you would want offered to you. No matter how many times people accuse you of the former, remember that just because they say it, doesn’t make it true. Be compassionate, even if they are transferring their guilt onto you. It’s easier to be mad at you than at themselves.
3. Make sure the back area is well stocked with lint brushes. If you wear black pants, you will see all Persians and Akitas. If you wear tan pants, you’ll see all black dogs. It’s a law.
4. Even when it’s 3 pm and your surgery waiting area still looks like this:
Buck up, at least you have a job, and how wonderful that all their owners trust you with their care.
5. Never fail to treat a euthanasia room with quiet reverence. This is a moment the pet owner will never, ever forget. Especially if they hear you in the back area laughing and joking around before you go in to see them.
6. The last is this: We have a stressful job. An emotional, sometimes heartbreaking, usually frustrating job. It makes it easy to forget that we also have an amazing job, as a surgeon, pediatrician, radiologist, internist, and hospice care worker. We are blessed to be where we are.
Best of luck to you, Dr. Autumn, and may you have a long and wonderful career.
Today we venture to the savannah in search of the elusive Goldenbeast.
His vibrant coat is in stark contrast to the lush greenery. He is better suited for camouflage in his native environment, the leather couch.
He settles down at the edge of the plains with the remains of his latest kill.
But the savannah is a popular destination for wildlife viewing, and it doesn’t take long for the tourists to swoop in to try and steal a hug.
Uh oh. There is a whole busload of them.
The Goldenbeast doesn’t stand a chance.
Truth be told he doesn’t seem to mind all that much, though. It is the nature of the Goldenbeast.
Look! A Poodleot is sneaking in from the side to try and steal the Goldenbeast’s well earned vittles.
He’s small, but canny. First: lure the hominids away from his target. A distracting dance usually does the trick.
Victory is his! The Goldenbeast slinks away to take solace on his couch.
Actually, it's Jessica, followed by a long last name that no one can ever pronounce. read more »
