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 »
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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 »
An uneasy truce
I admit it. I am a bad dog mother. I did what every other person on the planet does despite swearing they won't do when they have a kid, and got lazy. Back in 2004, Emmett was a feisty 3 year old, all red and athletic and ready for anything. All of a sudden, I turn around and the kid is starting kindergarten and Emmett is going grey and all the sneaked in toddler food has given him a spare tire that I'm not walking him enough to get rid of. Consider me flogged. I feel pretty badly about it. So ... Read more »
The Amazing Dr. V knows all, sees all
I think some clients truly believe I have a crystal ball squirreled away in the treatment area. With such a mystical device at my disposal, surely there is no need for such silly, superfluous money wasting devices like bloodwork, x-rays, or even a pesky physical exam. I simply see the dog or cat- nay, with my powers I can even ascertain their sickly auras over the phone- run into the back, whip the velvet cover off my ball-box, and gaze into its depths. "O, Great Crystal Kitty Ball," I ... Read more »
The Trouble with Barbie
For arguably the most popular girls' toy of all time, Barbie sure does seem like something concocted by a guy. May I present to you Exhibit A: Barbie Pet Vet. Because I can't help myself, I own several versions of Veterinarian Barbie-excuse me- Pet Doctor Barbie- starting with her 1996 incarnation in chartreuse hot pants. She's gone through some changes over the years, but this is the first one I've seen actually wearing a miniskirt. Make that, a miniskirt that was then hemmed a few ... Read more »
There’s a reason the Marlboro Man doesn’t own dogs
There is a touchy question I have to work in whenever a client brings in a pet with a chronic cough. Somewhere in between the "how long has it been going on"s and the "what medications have you tried"s I have to find a way to tactfully phrase, "Are there any smokers in the house?" Most of the time it isn't really that hard a question to pose. I just ask it, and get either a yes or no. I don't ask if it is them personally who smokes, so that leaves the door open to blame the roommate, which most ... Read more »