Make sure your cat isn't stuck inside of it. That is the sort of thing that would happen to me- my cats are always wiggling under the cushions, trying to spelunk into the depths. I can't imagine how that cat managed to get totally stuck inside the couch, though. Fortunately the story has a happy ending, but that poor cat! He wiggles inside his favorite hiding place and wakes up in a new house! There's no way it would have taken 10 days to find Calypso, though. If I am 10 minutes late in ... Read more »
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Pet pick of the week: The Blocky Dog 3 way leash
Walking a big dog can be a big proposition. Without the use of my beloved Gentle Leaders, for instance, getting Emmett down the block without dislocating my shoulder was a dicey proposition. And when Mulan was in the mix? Forget it. So yes, I do love the Gentle Leaders, and that is nothing new. But when I saw my friend the trainer walking her rambunctious German Shepherd on a clever 3-way leash, I had to know what it was. Check this baby out- the Blocky Dog Lock n Lead has two features that ... Read more »
The morning obits
Every morning when I get into work, one of the first things I do is check the fax machine. (OK, I’ll be honest, the receptionist checks it and I just ask her if anything came in. But you get the idea.) There is the usual stuff- requests from online pharmacies, continuing education announcements, Viagra ads- but there are only two things I really care about: labwork, and notes from the emergency hospital. We have a great 24 hour emergency hospital that we refer to after-hours, or even ... Read more »
Rules for a Long and Happy Life: Number Two
Never buy your dog from a breeder in Mexico. Sure, it seems like a good idea at the time. The little fluffy puppy in a super center parking lot needs a home, and what a deal! $400! The ones at the store at the mall are $1200! The dog looks cute, if a little disheveled. Happy little fluffy buddy. So, you take him home, and give him some puppy food. He eats it for a day or two, and then on the third day he vomits it up. Worms, you think. Maybe it is roundworms. You give him a dewormer. He gets ... Read more »
Canine Cuisine, Part One: Name that Food
One of the most common questions I get asked is, "What should I feed my pet?" It seems like a simple question to answer, but it's not. The most basic answer is, "Feed the best food that you can afford." And if you answer the best that you can afford is Ol Roy, I'll try and convince you that no, you can afford better. A lot of time people ask this question but what they want to know is, "What should I feed my pet that I can easily buy at the grocery store/Petsmart/Walmart", which is a different ... Read more »
Stick a muzzle on it
There are some vets out there, my 'mentor' (I use that term loosely) included, who don't really use muzzles very often. I think for some, it's a guy thing- "I don't need no stinkin' muzzle! I am brawny and manly and I can dominate this beast!" And two seconds later they tell their technician to go hold the dog. They get bit a lot. Some clients buy into this too. When a pet is looking scared, anxious, or outright aggressive, I don't waste much time in suggesting a muzzle. Most clients are fine ... Read more »
Pet pick of the week
I live in a pretty warm climate, and it's a common occurrence for me to be in a hot parking lot calling the cops on a dog panting away in a boiling car. Conversely, it's hard for me to forget the story of the dog abandoned in a van in a New Hampshire airport parking lot in the dead of winter, who miraculously survived. It amazes me how many people seem to think non-humans are somehow immune to the effects of temperature. Granted, the types of people who make poor choices like that are not the ... Read more »
PSA for all the women who wanted to be vets at one point
I hope I have fulfilled my public service of convincing all of you who romanticized the life of a veterinarian that your alternate career choice was, in reality, a good one. If not let me summarize my week : Mon: Dudley won't poop. Give him an enema, and some fiber. Tues: Dudley won't poop. Give him an enema, some fiber, and a stool softener. Wed: Dudley won't poop. Give him an enema, some fiber, industrial laxative, and GI stimulant. Mission accomplished. Thrilling, isn't it? ... Read more »
Gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em….
Today, Pinkie arrived for a dental cleaning. Pinkie first came in a few weeks ago for an examination, and in the brief glimpse I got of her bared teeth before having to place a muzzle it was obvious that she had some pretty bad teeth. Unfortunately, when I placed my stethoscope on her chest, in between "grrRRRrrrrRRRRrrr" I heard the classic 'whoosh-whoosh-whoosh' of a heart murmur. Heart murmurs are a common condition in older dogs. There are several causes, but the most common cause in ... Read more »
Rules for a Long and Happy Life: Number One
First in a series. The most famous is: never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Oh wait, wrong topic. Rules for a Long and Happy Life of a pet. Be trite, if it makes you happy. Name your dog Fluffy or Rover or Fido. Be ironic- name your chihuahua Cujo or your bulldog Daisy Mae. Name your cat after your favorite literary character, anime cartoon, or hobbit. If and only if you are homeless, ... Read more »
