Pawcurious: With Veterinarian and Author Dr. V

Celebrating the truth that pets make people better.

Dr. V

The easiest, biggest FREE donation you could ever make!

by

Special News Alert from the Pawcurious News Desk: I don't know if you all saw this on Facebook- it kind of slid quietly in there on the Be the Change for Pets page- but the Hartz company is donating a pallet of treats to the first 65 shelters to respond. That is SIXTY FIVE pallets of food. Something like 45,000 pounds. Shipping is free. Responding is free. All you need to do is get your local shelter in contact with them. There are still plenty of spots left! Here is the text from the ... Read more »

Napoleon’s Hot Wheels

by

I admit things have been a little, well, extraordinarily depressing around here the past few days. It's the nature of life with animals. But with lows come highs, so let's end the week on a good note, ok? This is Napoleon. Cute, isn't he? He was discovered cowering under a porch of a house in Tijuana, Mexico. The homeowners contacted their friend, a veterinarian, who got him out and realized he did not have the use of his back legs. Tijuana does not have an animal shelter. In most ... Read more »

And then

by

I appreciate all the thoughtful comments yesterday, and especially I appreciate everyone who sent me a picture of their beloved pets to be included in yesterday's video. It was wonderful to see how many people knew what this day would mean, because you all have had this kind of day too. Yesterday was shaping up to be the same type of day I have been (thankfully) having for quite a while lately: simple and uneventful. And then. ... Read more »

Tumbleweeds

by

As I was driving home yesterday, I was thinking about Emmett and how much has changed in the past year. One year ago, I said goodbye. One year ago, I sat 10 feet from where I am now with my head on his neck for the last time, while he sighed into my hands, too tired to even roll over for a belly rub. It was a bad day. I was thinking about how, after he died, our house was the cleanest it had been in years. The tumbleweeds were gone- the ever present little hair balls that found their way into ... Read more »

Vets get jealous too

by

This one's for my fellow toilers in this profession. One of the great things about not owning a practice is that I don't have to worry about a lot of the things an owner would. Payroll, for example. Sick technicians. FMLA. Leases. That sort of thing. One of the bummers about not owning a practice makes itself apparent whenever I find myself at a continuing education conference, walking through booths of shiny bright tools and pieces of equipment I can't buy. The sales rep turns to me with ... Read more »

Be the Change: Dog Days of Summer Shelter Shower

by

I keep changing the name of this Be the Change food drive. Sometimes it's the Be the Change Food Drive, Shelter Supplies Drive, Give them Something I Don't Care What Drive. Today it is "Shelter Shower" because I've been to something like 4 baby showers this month, and no doggie or kitty showers. So regardless of the name, here's the deal: Between TODAY, July 19th, and July 31st, I'm asking everyone- yes, YOU!- to donate something to a local shelter or rescue. It can be a bag of food, an ... Read more »

The scar remains

by

One year ago today, I wrote what turned out to be a rather iconic post. If you aren't familiar with why I keep referring to my undying hatred of Kevin, that post explains it. The anniversary of Emmett's passing is next week, and I am already dreading it. I have lost dogs before, and will, I am sure, go through it again though I am hoping that day is far from now. Over time, the sharp pains of grief turn into more of a dull ache, which in time recedes into the corners of one's mind and only ... Read more »

Blog the Change: Pet Fire Safety Day is today!

by

One of the greatest gifts of being involved in a pet blog is finding a greater sense of cause and community with like-minded people. Whether you are a cat person, dog person, bird person, ferret person- each with their own distinct personalities and interests- everyone is equally interested in improving the lives of animals across the world, and that is something I love. Driven by the desire to bring community-minded bloggers together to make a difference, Kim Clune at This One Wild Life and ... Read more »

Let’s play a game

by

I like this game. It's harder than it looks. You'll get a series of hints. Slam the buzzer when you know the answer. An owner calls and says his dog is itchy. BUZZ! FLEA ALLERGIES! Ah yes, very good guess, but you haven't even seen the dog yet. The dog is not on flea control. BUZZ! IT'S TOTALLY FLEA ALLERGIES! Look, I get that is a reasonable assumption, but we need a little more information to make an accurate diagnosis. ... Read more »

Be the Change is BACK! And easier than ever!

by

People who have been reading my blog for a while know that I am a big proponent of helping animals in whatever way you can. It's easy to be intimidated by big productions and think, "There's no way I'm going to organize a $200,000 fundraiser. All I have is $5/an old towel/5 minutes to spare." This spring, I was fortunate enough to meet some amazing people at BlogPaws- people who felt, as I did, that there is no bottom or top limit on what determines importance. Anything, and everything, ... Read more »

Product Review: Alopaw Hawaiian Dog Treats

by

We recently received a bag of Alopaw Hawaiian Dog Treats for the pups. Founder Shannon created her vegan treats after learning her adorable black lab Kona was born with a liver shunt and would require a very specialized diet. So we receive a bag of treats from a dog named Kona, with a picture of a black lab on the front- is there any question who should get to do the product review? My husband and I were just discussing how Koa deserved to be featured a little more than she has ... Read more »

Double-Dog Dare

by

The dogs and I went for a nice long walk this morning. And by, "we went for a walk," I mean "Koa and Brody dragged me around the neighborhood for an hour or so." Brody and I had been working hard on the heel command for a while there, and for the most part when it's just the two of us, he will grudgingly do it. He has the attention span of a gnat, as, unfortunately, do I. Koa doesn't want to leave my side to begin with, so regardless of what I do with her she is attached to me by an ... Read more »

Call of the day: Short Circuit

by

Receptionist: Hello, how can I help you? Owner: Hi there, this is Slinky's owner. I have a question. Receptionist: Oh, hi! Didn't we just start her on medication for seizures? How is she? Owner: Oh, that's going great. No seizures at all. Receptionist: Wonderful! So how can we help you? Owner: I wanted to know if you think shock collar training would be ok for her. (technician grabs the phone) Tech: Hi there- were you asking if we recommended shock collar training for your ... Read more »

Wheat Thin Theater: Pinocchio Faces Monstro

by

  A scene from Pinocchio, starring Brody, Koa and a tasty Wheat Thin. Upon returning home, Jiminy and Pinocchio find the workshop empty and soon learn from a letter by the Blue Fairy that Geppetto, while venturing out to sea to rescue Pinocchio from Pleasure Island, had been swallowed by a giant whale named Monstro. Geppetto: Pinocchio! Where are you, my boy? Geppetto: Uh oh. ... Read more »

Have dog, will travel

by

We have a little family vacation coming up, and I'm trying to decide what to do with the dogs. Normally, I would either board them or have a housesitter, but this is a destination the dogs would really like, I think. My husband's family owns a little cabin on a lake, and we are going to spend a week or so there in August. There's not much two retrievers would enjoy more than hanging out at a lake in the woods. But, it's a long drive. A long, long drive. Almost-Mexico to almost-Canada- ... Read more »