Continuing with our celebration of Veterinary Technician Week, I wanted to offer all of you a quick and easy 3 ways you can make your tech shine like the top of the Chrysler Building next time you go to see your vet. Because they deserve it. 1. Bring food But make sure you specify those cookies are for the TECHS. Because I have seen it. I have seen plates of cookies come in for the vet, and the vet does not interpret "for the vet" as "for the team" and takes them all home. NOT COOL. This was ... Read more »
Have you thanked your tech today?
This week marks the 20th iteration of National Veterinary Technician Week. I can't tell you just how happy I am to see this group of professionals get recognized for the work they do. They have one of the most ridiculously challenging jobs on the planet for what is, comparably speaking, miniscule pay, high risk of injury, and often emotionally draining work. As so often happens in many professions, vets get all the glory and all the kudos, the cookies at Christmas and the hugs for a job well ... Read more »
It’s Bad Poetry Friday: Emails and spam
This is what happens when you leave me alone in the first rainstorm of the year with a bottle of port, a pile of Dr. Seuss books, and a backlog of emails asking, asking, asking, asking for me to once again be a Nice Veterinary Writer/ Pet Blogger and do some more free work. Mostly, it's just a silly Friday I need to Apologize to Dr. Seuss Once Again kind of post. I dedicate it to all of you who know this feeling all too well. E-Mails and Spam I'm Dr. V. Dr. V is me. That Dr. V! That Dr. ... Read more »
Good thing we didn’t get those chickens
I've made it no secret that I want chickens. A bevy of Bantams. Little fluffy fancy egg layers that would make me feel, in some teensy way, a bit more connected to my food production. Our house is in a rural enough area, and our yard large enough, that a couple hens running around would be no big deal. But my husband said no, and out of respect for all the other times he also said no but I went ahead and did it- whatever it was- anyway, I respected him, this time. But then we sold our ... Read more »
Wordless Wednesday: Happy Place
When the going gets bad, the prey runs. When it comes to fight or flight, I'm a flier. Unfortunately, there are lots of stressful situations- moving, for example, in a mere three weeks with no particular place in mind as of yet and two large dogs to manage in the process- where flight is potentially a less than optimal response. So in those cases, I hold in my head a file folder of Happy Places to which I can retreat, if only for a moment, if only in my head. A Total Recall, if you will, of my ... Read more »
I’ve got a crush
Crushes are a terrible thing, really. I mean, they are fun at first, when you get that wobbly-in-the-knees breathlessness, those daydreaming flights of fancy that knock you off balance. The heady combination of possibilities and "wow, we are SO well matched" wonderment can be downright addictive. But when the object of your affections doesn't reciprocate, those overwhelming feelings can instead be downright painful. Perhaps, one might think, it's better to go with the safe choice instead of the ... Read more »
Super Special Thursday Giveaway: Canine Cool Hipster VIP Red Carpet Bag!
There are blogs that I like, and blogs that I love. There are blogs that I read and think, wow, this person is the bomb and I love what they are doing and I wish I had done some of that too. Those are rare. Joanne's is one of them. The Tiniest Tiger has been a voice for conservation for years. By drawing parallels between our feline friends in the foyer and the majestic cats on the prowl in the wild, Joanne brings home issues that are near and dear to my heart. And because she is smart and ... Read more »
On the eve of a ten year reunion
My ten year vet school reunion is coming up this weekend. I'm not going, not because I don't want to, but because I just couldn't manage to get the weekend away. It kind of stinks because I really did want to go and see what everyone has been up to over the last long decade. I'll admit I wrestled with feelings of inadequacy in the months leading up to this. I have friends in the CDC and friends heading prestigious academic departments at vet schools and friends running huge practices and me, ... Read more »
The start of a beautiful conference
When Mike Arms asked me to speak at the first ACES International Conference here in San Diego last weekend, of course I said yes. One, I always like the opportunity to get to speak about social media, one of my favorite topics. Two, I was honored by the invitation to contribute to a really exciting endeavor. And three, well, I really just wanted to go to the conference. Helen Woodward Animal Center has been running ACES conferences for years, a series of lectures designed to help shelters and ... Read more »
5 Ways to Celebrate National Dog Week
Well what do you know, it's National Dog Week. I know August 26th is National Dog Day, that little factoid is emblazoned in my memory, but I didn't realize that the fourth week of September is Dog Week and has been for 84 years. In a funny little coincidence, the mother is born on Dog Day and the daughter is born during Dog Week. Clearly this is in our blood. :) I am so pleased that I will be spending the next two days in the company of animal lovers from around the world at the ACES ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: Low Odor Bully Sticks from Doggyloot
Welcome to Giveaway Tuesday, where we offer you the chance to win a cool prize for your favorite spoiled pets. Today, we have a 10-Pack of Low Odor Bully Sticks From Doggyloot. (This prize is not affected by the current recall. I checked.) I'm already in a lot of trouble from flash sites: Gilt, the Clymb, just to name a few. A good deal is pretty irresistible. And now there's a new pet flash site to suck up your disposable income: Doggyloot is a flash sales site where you can discover new dog ... Read more »
Not featured in the Martha Stewart Home Fragrance Collection: eau de Koa butt
As you may or may not recall, we've had our house on the market for a while. It has been a horrible experience, if I'm being honest, and it's turning me into an unpleasant person. The last five months of constant chasing around after two kids and two dogs, keeping an immaculate house for strangers to paw through at whim before dismissively walking away, has taken its toll. We've decided that this is the last week, and after that we're taking a break and pulling the place off the market until ... Read more »
Pudgy pups strike again- why the story of Obie bothers me
Why are overweight pets so fascinating to people? The whole 40 pound cat thing, having now been overplayed, is making way for roly poly dachshunds. Obie's all over the news, as you've seen- the 77 pound doxie on his way to health through his foster mom. Although I am glad it has reminded people about the plight of the 50% of US pets who are overweight, I have mixed feelings about the attention he's getting. First, the message here: people who overfeed their animals to the point of abuse ... Read more »
Talk Like a Pirate Pittie Day
Ahoy mateys! Aye, it be Talk Like a Pirate Day yet again, and in honor of the blessed day, me friend Estelle - that's Cap'n Estelle the Mighty to you, ye land lubbers, and we're here to remind ye all it's Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week. Estelle has a soft spot in her heart for pirates- after all, they share an awful lot in common with the types of pets being featured this week. A motley yet lovable crew, misunderstood, maligned by a society that values attributes they have no control over. ... Read more »
SuperZoo- Trends for Fall
Another day, another Vegas conference. I don't what it is about Vegas, but even when I go for work and behave and don't stay out late and don't do anything more titillating than eating nachos at 11 at night in the 24 hour cafe, I still come back feeling like Axl Rose after an all night bender. I guess this is what getting older does to you, when the simple act of walking around a convention floor all day wipes you out. Nonetheless, it was a good show. I have to say, there was nothing ... Read more »
The dog, the barge, and the scars I’m going to have a hard time explaining
Well, we did it. Brody and I survived our first surfing competition. Let me start by saying I never would have dared even show my face there had I not known the local surf dog community previously. They're an accomplished bunch, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars and setting world records and getting on Times Square billboards and the like. They are also really good surfers. Next to them, Brody and I with our handful of goes on the board and our lackluster ability, were total rubes. But ... Read more »
Hi, I’m Dr 3
Man oh man, I have been so remiss on the blog this week. In my defense, I have been running around at SuperZoo all week, checking out new cat and dog stuff and in general thinking and talking about pets for three days straight, but I've had so little time in my room to post about it as the good folks at the convention center weren't in the mood to provide wifi to us writing types. C'est la vie. It was great and I saw some of my favorite people, and got to meet some new favorite people, and I got ... Read more »
Wordless Wednesday: Bonding
Can't complain about living in San Diego. :) ... Read more »
