I knew we were in for a long morning when I saw Elvis's name on the schedule. A fearsome and mighty miniature pinscher who thought he was a Great White, Elvis held the reigning title of 'most challenging dog to vaccinate' I had ever seen. He had the unique ability to turn himself into a Tasmanian Devil on demand, a whirling, 360 degree tornado of teeth, claws, and anal gland secretions. And today he was coming in for a cough- one of the first signs of heart disease in dogs. The ECG is one of ... Read more »
technology
Is your hard drive safe from your cat?
It's a Tuesday, close to midnight. I've just gotten back from Africa and the animals have patiently waited their turn for face time, making way for the kids to get their snuggles in first. I sit at the computer, downloading the first of several memory cards of priceless photos, the documentation of the punda trip of a lifetime. Apollo is on my lap, drooling. I nudge him aside to wipe my hand. He waits a minute, then comes back. "Apollo, stop," I say. He bites my finger, a love nibble ... Read more »
There’s an App for That: Top 6 iphone/ipad apps for pet people
We are an Apple family. Between the iphone, the ipad, and the Mac, I'm constantly on the lookout for the next great app. I love Angry Birds as much as the next guy, but given my background I'm also always hunting down good pet-related products. They've been a little slow to come out compared to other categories, but I'm finally starting to see some quality apps on iTunes that I deem worthy of the bucks. For Back to School Week Wednesday, we're going high tech: Here are my top 6 iphone apps ... Read more »
Tagg Pet Tracker: Another ruffolution
I've spent the last two weeks feverishly snapping up shoes, backpacks and pencils trying to get my kids ready for school. I forgot how much thought your average six year old needs to put into deciding what kind of lunchbox she wants for the year. That is pressure, man. In the meantime, since I'm in a consumer state of mind, I decided this was the perfect week to do some Back to School reviews and previews of stuff your star pet might be interested in this autumn. So welcome to Back to School ... Read more »
Behold the power of the internet
I've spent a lot of time rubbing my temples in frustration at the things people pull off the internet and read as gospel- everything from "How To Assemble a Home Bloat Kit at Home Depot" to "Drug Dosing for your Cat" including, of all things, deadly Tylenol. The DIY instructions out there run the gamut from the harmless-but-useless to the downright killer. On the flip side, the internet can also be an absolute godsend. I say this not only as a medical professional, but as a patient and a ... Read more »
How do you pick a vet?
What a deceptively simple-sounding question. I got an e-mail the other day from a friend asking me if I knew any good vets in her area for her new puppy. I responded with the name of a vet I knew in the area, a vet who practices good medicine and knows his stuff. Had she not had me to ask, how would she choose? I doubt she'd pick up a Yellow Pages. Maybe Google the vets in the area, check out Yelp reviews, go from there? Look for a clinic with a Facebook account or website to check them ... Read more »
Virtual Vets: A Guest Post from VetLive.com
You Google your pet's symptoms. I know. Everyone does. Sometimes you get a helpful nugget of info, other times you find yourself dousing your pet with kerosene or Lysol spray, all because you read it on the net and it seemed like a good idea at the time. The internet it here to stay. Any vet who thinks their entire client base is going to rely on them to be their sole source of veterinary health information is either sadly misinformed or has an incredibly trusting group of clients. There's ... Read more »
Wired
One thing that I've learned over the years, despite all our drooling over newfangled shiny toys and the latest in technology, when it comes down to it the medical professions are fairly resistant to modernization and change. It happens, but very very slowly. Think I'm kidding? How many of your vet clinics are on Facebook? I rest my case. The last conference I went to was BlogPaws, where every lap held a laptop and the speakers looked out onto a sea of head crowns, bent over the keyboard, ... Read more »
Be careful where you’re rubbing that thing
I absolutely, positively adore the Veterinary Information Network. It is a subscription-based website open to veterinarians with a whole wealth of specialists, bulletin boards, news bits, and resources. I can check the dosing on a rarely-used medication, see the prognosis of a particular type of cancer, or ask my colleagues for an opinion on an odd case, all without leaving the treatment area. In an office where I am by myself 99% of the time, it gives me real-time access to a group of like ... Read more »
Behold the power of the internet
I love the internet. Trust me, I do. I find nothing wrong with a client who goes and pokes all over the net in search of information about their pet, because I do the same thing for myself. The internet is nothing short of miraculous in helping people become empowered. But. But.... (fade to black) The scene: A typical exam room, inhabited by a typical patient: a labrador with an ear infection. Me: Has Freddy had ear infections before? Client: Off and on for most of his life, ... Read more »
