One of my favorite clients came in yesterday. Let's call him 'The Matador'. Everything about him screams 'machismo'. He struts into the exam room with his chest jutting proudly out, his wife trailing two or three feet behind, and plunks his poodle Beatrice on the table. "HELLO, Doctor!" he booms jovially. "I am here with my best girl! And my wife! hahahahahahahaha!" He loves to make bad jokes. "What's that?" he asks when I give Beatrice dewormer. Beatrice spits it out on the table. "What are ... Read more »
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Blessings be with you, Brother Skippy
Skippy's previous owners told me, when I questioned them, that he did not bark. I have a witness, it was asked during the Great Skippy Relinquisition and answered in the negative. I asked this because the answer was important to me. I don't like yippy dogs. Obviously, those previous owners lied. Forked-tongue demons of the most motivated variety they were, because He Barks. Oh, how he barks. It's not the kind of thing you forget, like "does he scratch his ears" or "drag his butt," the sort of ... Read more »
Something old, something new
I like symmetry. Matching pairs make me happy and fulfill my slight OCD tendencies. For the last few years, I really had it perfect: two cats, two dogs, two kids; one boy and one girl of each. Then Mulan died, and things felt off-balance. I didn't want another dog simply to be balanced, though; my intentions were pure. Zoe missed having a dog to play with; Emmett is very ambivalent about the children. Emmett missed having a companion. The cats and my husband could care less. I was thinking in ... Read more »
Another day, another doody
Warm, sunny, 70 degrees. A perfect day for going out in the yard and scooping poop. Normally, this thrilling job is left to my husband, but with the occasional business trip sweeping him away (get it?) I'm left with the less than savory chores. The culprit, of course, is no help. He creates a lot of work. He's 80 pounds, after all, and he eats a lot of food. He also eats a lot of other stuff. Picking up after him is a voyage of discovery. "What is that- tinfoil? Ugh....dissolved diaper ... Read more »
In other unshocking news…
Anyone out there still thinking the old alpha-rolling-your-big-Rottie-technique is a good one? In the latest issue of Applied Animal Behavior Science, a new study reveals that aggressive training methods result in an aggressive pet. According to the study's author, using "confrontational" methods such as the stare-down, growling at the dog, physical punishment, and alpha rolling not only do not correct the problem behavior, they can make aggression worse. This is not news to most veterinary ... Read more »
When satin lined coffins are out of the question
Mulan's ashes arrived back from the pet memorial park in a very nice cedar box. I took the box inside the house, and placed it on the counter next to my keys, whereupon my 4 year old immediately honed in and asked what was in the box. "Memories," I told her, then whisked the box out of her hands before she tried to open it. Right now Mulan is resting on top of the TV. It is the only place where she is safe from kid-hands and misplacement. I feel badly that I haven't picked somewhere more ... Read more »
Bad ideas, part 10
I just finished reading this story on CNN about a chimpanzee attacking and seriously injuring a friend of his owner. It's so sad, for the victim, for Travis who is now dead, and for the owner who, in desperation, stabbed the pet she loved as a child. I have never quite understood the appeal of primates as pets. The overwhelming memory I have from my time studying primate medicine is that of fear- they can MESS YOU UP. Don't get me wrong- I think primates are amazing and astounding creatures. ... Read more »
Practice Limited to Animals Only
I wonder how many people truly think getting a pet is good practice for being the parent of a human. I know countless people who use this as an initial excuse to get a pet, but I'm talking about people who have actually gone and done both. God knows it seems like a good idea at the time, when you are young and dumb, when you have neither. Taking care of one living thing, and doing it well, should naturally be a good predictor of being caretaker to another, right? The first clue I should have ... Read more »
A Day of L’Amour
My pets don't have a lot of money or material things. They have themselves, and that is about it. But what they have, they give freely and without reservation. Emmett gave me 10 kisses, a fishy burp in the face, and a bunch of fur on my new pants. Calypso (she's the grey one) gave me a dulcet love song at 3 in the morning (it went RAAAORWWW OOOORRRAOWR) plus a hairball she personally created, hacked up on my pillow while I was in the shower. Apollo (the black cat) is my Don Juan. He wooed ... Read more »
This is pretty nerve-wracking
On Sunday, I’m meeting up with Amazing Amber (my favorite tech in the world) and shooting the first videocasts for this blog. Depending on the weather and how well I have my act together (rather grim on both accounts) we are aiming to shoot 4-6 videocasts which will then be uploaded to iTunes. I have no idea how long the post-production will take; this is kind of a learning experience for all of us. I’m going to cover a few basic topics of interest to dog and cat owners, but ... Read more »