Me: So what did you learn in school today? Daughter: I learned snakes eat mice. Me: And so they do. Daughter: I got to see one do it. Me: Oh....did you watch a movie or something? ... Read more »
On safari: It’s Good to be King
It's springtime on the savannah, and our Goldenbeast is growing up. With his first birthday rapidly approaching, the Goldenbeast is reveling in his newfound authority, standing on the precipice of adulthood just as springtime waits to ascend into summer. He has, for example, taken ownership of prime savannah real estate. ... Read more »
Picture of the Week
This was a little monkey we met at a sanctuary on a trip to Costa Rica back in 2008. By 'sanctuary', I mean 'two expats from the Bay Area who decided to call themselves a sanctuary so they could charge tourists to come to their house and pet monkeys.' I gave them some advice on abscess treatment and my e-mail address, which they never used. We were far to the South, on Drake Bay in one the few remaining areas of contiguous rainforest still left in Costa Rica. I desperately wanted to fly ... Read more »
Things that strike terror into my heart
You all remember the Great Apple the Hamster Switcheroo I mentioned last week, right? It all went down at the home of the resident kindergarten rabble-rouser, a sweet yet entirely Tasmanian Devil-esque bundle of unrestrained kid energy. Let's call him Harold, just because. If you asked me in December who would win the "Most Likely to Accidentally Lose or Otherwise Injure a Small Animal" award I would have picked Harold. He just has that "Ohwowlookabugcoolcheckitout*SQUISH*ohwhoopshahah" sort ... Read more »
Juvenile delinquent
When my daughter's class went to Sea World earlier this week (I know, don't get me started) I was not asked to chaperone. That was OK with me, for several reasons: 1. I got to chaperone the awesome trip to the wildlife preserve in January. 2. You all know how I feel about Sea World. One other reason: I found out that many of the parents invited to chaperone were so asked because the teacher was afraid that without direct parental supervision, their children would end up running around ... Read more »
Call of the day
Receptionist: Hello, thank you for calling. How may I help you? Caller: Hi, I was wondering if you had prednisone? Receptionist: Yes...it's a prescription medication though. Do you need a refill? Caller: Well, I just called PetStore to ask if they carried it over the counter and they said no. Receptionist: Are you a client here? Caller: Huh? Oh, no. I got some from my regular vet for my dog because he had a platelet problem and I ran out. Can I get some more? Receptionist: You ... Read more »
This one’s for the kitties (well, the dogs can come too. And the hedgehogs.)
A few weeks ago, I was approached by Young Again Pet Food to see if I would like a sample of cat food for Apollo. They said, quite reasonably I thought, that Apollo deserved a go at a sample of a high quality food and they thought he might really like theirs. I'm quite sure he would, actually. But as you probably know by now, his incredibly sensitive allergic body rejects a wide array of proteins and grains regardless of their quality, including the chicken found in Young Again's cat formula, ... Read more »
Honorary Hamster-mom
I am not the biggest hamster fan. I admit my experience with them is somewhat scarce- up until vet school my entire knowledge of them was limited to the Hamster Dance site. Having never owned one, my handling time has been brief, but the handful I've gotten to work with have all proven to be hell on hamster wheels. I didn't know a creature so small and round could turn around and bite so quickly- at least until I had to pick one up.* When one comes in to the clinic, I make my technician pick ... Read more »
Picture of the week
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Mother’s Day Gift Guide
Today I put in a few extra hours at my daughter's school in preparation for Mother's Day. Yep, on my day off I went in to help someone else's kids make presents for their moms who also had the day off but aren't the helping types. I was OK with this until one of the little rugrats (there's a paste eater in every class, isn't there?) colored all over his hands with permanent marker while I was working with the other 24 kids in the room. The teacher panicked, "Why did you use permanent ... Read more »
Love and redemption
I think I have mentioned here that I lived in Los Angeles for 5 years. 5 nutty, weird years in La-la land- 4 of them getting a bachelor's degree, and one more trying to figure out what to do with it. That was the year, if you might recall, that I worked for the Beverly Hills erectile dysfunction specialist on the Viagra clinical trials, fielding phone calls from beleaguered geriatric Golden Age actors who simply HAD to be on the little blue pill trial. I learned many things in LA. 1. Yes, ... Read more »
Lola the Underwear Eater
I had no idea National Geographic had an entire television show devoted to the garbage dogs eat. It's called "My Dog Ate What?" And the answer is, their dog ate enough for an entire series on Tuesday nights. Part Emergency Vets, part Dateline (complete with dramatic re-enactments), the show follows the misadventures of a family whose dog ate something they shouldn't have, and the subsequent efforts by the vet to undo the damage. Here's the promo to give you a taste (ha ha): ... Read more »
Blah blah blah posting blah
Any science nerd worth his or her salt is a Gary Larson fan. The guy is a genius. I can't possibly pick a favorite one of his cartoons (though the bummer of a birthmark is up there), but anyone with a dog will remember the famous "Blah Blah Ginger" cartoon: We all know this experience is not limited to conversations with dogs. ... Read more »
Hang 20
Last Saturday, we packed up the whole crew and went to the beach so Brody could take a surfing lesson. I admit it was a bit of an ambitious plan considering I hadn't even taken him to the beach yet, but the opportunity presented itself and I found it irresistible. C'mon, we're talking about a dog named Brody- if ever there was a name fit for a surfer, that is it. The surf lesson was organized by the local Golden Retriever Meetup group, which is really active and puts on amazing events on a ... Read more »
Picture of the Week
Living in San Diego has its advantages. (That is the Hotel del Coronado in the background.) ... Read more »
Fifty Dollars plus Time Served
I spent yesterday morning sitting in a grey carpeted holding pen, breathing stale air and trying not to make eye contact with the sea of humanity surrounding me. The wireless was down, so I was stuck playing Bejeweled on my iphone to pass the time. Despite the best video California's court system could muster up, I couldn't be convinced this was the opportunity of a lifetime. Nor was I buying the assertion that serving on a jury was going to be a bonding experience with my fellow citizens, ... Read more »
Tokens of affection
Today, I saw a very cute little dog who was in for suture removal after an orthopedic procedure. I saw the pet a couple of months ago, diagnosed the problem, and referred him to my boss for the repair. The dog was doing great, and the owners were thrilled. They were chatting with the tech, to whom they have become quite attached over the past month, when the owner reached into her purse and pulled out 2 very beautiful handmade cards. "This is for you," she said, presenting one to my ... Read more »
Clean + Green Giveaway!
When I was in college, majoring in biology up at a small liberal arts university in LA, I spent many hours at the coast studying the noxious effects of human debauchery on the environment. I'd sit at Dockweiler State Beach and admire the 747s taking off from LAX just over my head, inhaling the lovely smell of jet fuel and admiring the rare view of an empty Los Angeles Beach resting in the shadow of the Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant. I'd go home, sob a little about the depravity of man into ... Read more »
