Ah, fall. The leaves are turning, the air is getting chill, and people everywhere are assembling the assorted holiday regalia that autumn brings. Now we all know chocolate is bad for pets, right? I don't need to tell you about that. Don't leave it on the counter. Here are a few others, some well known, some less so, that many of us run into this time of year and may not realize how dangerous they are. 1. liquid potpourri Little old ladies the world over take note: Sure, it makes your house ... Read more »
Blog
When mom’s away…
I've been on vacation this week. A much needed, long awaited break from the grindstone of work. I had fully intended on having a week's worth of posts in the queue, but I only got as far as two before I realized we were leaving in 12 hours and I hadn't packed a single thing. So I've been trying to get some stuff done at night on a less than reliable wifi network, rushing such things as picking images for posts- which may or may not get you in trouble when you accompany a post about an ... Read more »
The good news is, it’s not a tumor…
When a client tells you a pet is rolling over and acting really out of it, they get priority in the queue. That is how I found myself in the exam room with a small, middle aged grey terrier and a small, middle aged bespectacled owner. "When did this start?" I asked her. "This afternoon," she said quietly. "Georgie just started listing to one side and kind of stumbling." The list of differentials start running through my head as I instruct the owner to place Georgie on the exam table, ... Read more »
When being right doesn’t matter
"$150," the woman insisted. I squinted at her. "Really?" "In Italy," she said. "Full mouth extraction on my cat." She paused. "And the vet didn't even use anesthesia." Now I was extremely skeptical. How do you pull every tooth in a cat's mouth without anesthesia? "They were falling out anyway," she added helpfully. "He just kind of twisted and out they came." "OK, so that is pretty end-stage disease," I told her. "I'd like to try and avoid that in this cat-" gesturing to the current ... Read more »
Top 5 Nutrition Myths
OK, I don't know if they are myths so much as long-held veterinary standard talking points, but it was a lot easier to type "myths" than "standard procedures and protocols with which I disagree." 1. Feed your pet the same food every day or they will get sick. This is true in some cases, namely if you have a pet on a prescription diet or a pet with dietary sensitivities, but for most healthy pets, there's no reason not to switch it up. You have to be careful if you are watching your ... Read more »
The Phantom of the Vet Clinic
I've had a nibble or two in my career, but I've been fortunate to never have any serious bites. Some of it is luck, I'm sure, and a lot of it is planning. If I don't feel comfortable around a pet, I'll muzzle it. It's not an option, it is the condition on which I will complete an examination. Which is why I was so rattled when a husky tried to bite my face off the other day. He was nervous, in the way most huskies tend to be. He was an intact 8 month old dog who had zero training or ... Read more »
On safari: Ocelot vs Goldenbeast
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 ... Read more »
The in-laws think I’m weird
My daughter turned 5 this weekend, and with it came the requisite pomp and circumstance and party debauchery. Both grandparents come from modest homes, and both my husband and I were raised modestly. A couple of presents on your birthday, a few bucks from grandma slipped into a card, that sort of thing. I try really hard to rein in stuff with my kids and resist the temptation to go overboard, because as we all know, that usually doesn't end well. I don't want spoiled kids (I save that for the ... Read more »
Call of the Day: Shady Surgeons R Us
Receptionist: Hello, thank you for calling. How can I help you? Person: I have a 4 year old cat and I need all 4 paws declawed. How much is that? Receptionist: Well, we only do the front two paws here. And that runs about $250. Person: Are you @$$!!%%$# kidding me??????!!! Receptionist: ...I'm sorry? Person: That is just @#$!!# ridiculous. Receptionist: I'm sorry. Person: Isn't there some back alley declaw vet you know of? Someone who does it for like, 50 ... Read more »
Tim and Sunny’s Big Adventure
I try to avoid answering the front door when I can, but the knocking was insistent. I grabbed Brody, still attached to his permanent lead as insurance against his naughty behavior, and go to the door. It's the woman who lives two doors down. "Hi," she says, eyeing Brody nervously. "I, um, have a dog in my backyard," she said in the tone one might say, 'I have a land mine in my yard,' or, 'I found Charles Manson hanging out by the pool.' " I was wondering if it was yours?" "Nope," I said. ... Read more »
