Oh, no. I have all sorts of wonderful new people popping over thanks to the Bloggies and what do I do? Write a post about vomit. I can't help it. That is what we are all about here, folks. Dogs, cats, Barbies, and vomit. We like to keep it classy over here. But I'll make it up to you! I've been looking at the questionnaire we give to our new clients, which asks things like number of pets, the food you feed, health history, etc. I think this could be improved upon. In honor of Valentine's Day ... Read more »
Daily Life
I can handle it.
Gross stuff, I mean. *I deal in gross stuff on a day to day basis- diarrhea, blood, bloody diarrhea, and abscesses. Cat bite abscesses, the Grandaddy of Nastiness. It is important that you keep this in mind as I tell you this story. I was very happy when my daughter's kindergarten teacher recently asked me to be one of the chaperones on their very first field trip. They were going to a nature reserve, and as a biology major and lover of all that nature-y stuff I couldn't imagine a more fun ... Read more »
StormWatch 2010
When there's bad weather in Southern California, they always make it sound like the most dramatic event ever. "RAIN WATCH 2009!" "STORM WATCH 2008!" " Expect INCHES of RAIN!!!" I can see how people watching the news in Maine from under a blanket of snow are less than impressed. Trust me, though- this storm was a doozy. Southern Californians aren't mentally or physically prepared for a good drenching, so when it hits we all stand around befuddled as to what the heck we're supposed to do when ... Read more »
Blog pimpin’
When I went over to the 2010 Bloggies award page this week, I wasn't expecting to actually make it to the finals. But I did, and you should have heard me cheer. CHEER I say. Then I realized the blog was nominated for not one but two awards and I really made a scene. This is really exciting for me. I know this isn't nearly as exciting for anyone else as it is for me, so thank you all SO much for taking the time to nominate this little blog with nothing in it for you except making me ... Read more »
There’s one in every office
Well, since you all have been so indulgent about the Hounds for Haiti stuff and are doing so well with filling up the page with bids, let's take a mental break for an episode of Pet Doctor Barbie. What do you say? This episode is entitled, "The Devil Went Down to Omaha." I recently had lunch with a colleague and friend of mine, who for the purposes of this post shall be referred to as Dr. Daisy. Dr. Daisy is a little ray of sunshine, sprinkling good cheer and merriment wherever she goes. ... Read more »
Back in the saddle
Back from Boston, safe and sound! I was NOT expecting to fly home to worse weather than the stuff I left on the East Coast. We got really lucky- we saw snow and had a few snow showers, but none when we were headed out. Landing in the middle of the worst storm in 20 years- not so fun. My daughter had a blast on the trip, as did I. I spent a whole lot of time thinking, "Brody would love this snow." My relatives looked at me like I was crazy when I rushed out into the middle of a show shower to ... Read more »
Call of the day: Context is everything
Receptionist: Hello, how may I help you? Caller: My chihuahua ate half a Hershey's Kiss! Does she need to be seen? Receptionist: Just that one half? You're sure? Caller: Yes, just that one. Receptionist: Let me talk to the doctor. Hang on..............OK, let me go over what she said- Caller (interrupting): I meant to tell you, it's one of those GIANT ones. Does that make a difference? Receptionist: Why yes, it does. ... Read more »
Let’s Work Together
One of the best parts about reading a blog is finding other blogs. Looking at the blogroll of a site you enjoy visiting often leads you to corners of the internet you would never have found otherwise. Soon you start commenting, then you're going back and forth on Twitter, and before you know it it's 11 at night and the dog's still waiting to be fed. Not that I know from personal experience or anything. Point is, it's a community. Certain specialized blog niches- parenting bloggers, for ... Read more »
Vet magic tricks
We're all a little on edge these days, with all the mayhem, destruction and parvo we've been seeing lately. So much so that when any puppy with a peep of diarrhea comes in, my techs have taken to whisking it into the back, shouting "POSSIBLE PARVO! OUTTA MY WAY!!" as they rush by with a little furry ball into the isolation ward. I don't blame them. It's been a long couple of weeks. So when I saw a little furball go whizzing by this morning, I sighed inwardly. I asked the tech to get a parvo ... Read more »
Call of the Day: We’ll get right on that Edition
This call takes place about 5 minutes after I leave: Staff: Hello, how may I help you? Client: I need to talk to the doctor right now. Staff: She's left for the day, how can I help you? Client: Can I have her cell phone number? Staff: I'm afraid not, is there something I can help you with? Client: She gave my dog some medicine two weeks ago and it's not working. The dog is still itchy. (Staff looks up the client: This person had come in one month ago, using a "free wellness ... Read more »
It’s complicated
I haven't even made it all of the way through the book yet, but I'm riveted by Atul Gawande's Complications: A Surgeon's Note on an Imperfect Science. Though the author is a human physician, I think anyone here in the veterinary field would find much in the book that would have you nodding as I was, so engrossed during my after-work pedicure splurge that I failed to notice the tech painting my toenails a distinct fluorescent orange instead of the demure pink I had put aside. It was worth ... Read more »
Not quite the response I was hoping for
I have a little story I like to tell to people who are reluctant to get their dogs spayed. The story varies from person to person, depending on what I think will have the most impact. Sometimes it's the cautionary tale of Sue, the boxer who accidentally got pregnant by her brother, had two puppies die in utero, needed an emergency c-section, then finished the month out with eclampsia. Other times it's Myrtle, the dachshund with a life-threatening pyometra that required a $3000 emergency surgery. ... Read more »
Nominations are OPEN!
Since the Weblog Awards went kaplooey for the year, I decided to make up my own awards specific for that underrepresented segment of the blogging world, the pet lovers. So far I have, like, 5 participants so hopefully I can drum up enough nominees to actually make something fun here and spread the word about some of the fantastic pet blogs out there on the net! These are the categories I have so far: 1. Best Dog Blog -For best blog about our canine pals. 2. Best Cat Blog -For best ... Read more »
Dear Jon
Every December, people start making lists. Best of, worst of, most memorable- everyone loves to make little lists that organize the year's events and data into a nice bite sized chunk. Last week, I stumbled upon CNN's 50 Best Jobs of 2009. I'm not sure what complicated algorithm they used to come up with this list, but I looked out of curiosity and sure enough, there was veterinarian, smack dab in the middle at Number 25. It's above corporate paralegal, but below CPA. Sounds about right. My ... Read more »
On the twelfth day…
Lisa asked to have the 12th day- and when I saw her contribution I was so glad she did. Thank you, and I hope this first Christmas without Bailey is gentle on you. On the twelfth day of Petmas, my puppy gave to me: 12 Years of True Love [flagallery gid=3 name="Gallery"] and, because I couldn't resist: ... Read more »
11 pipers piping
On the 11th day of Petmas, my puppy gave to me: 11 pipes so scary... ...wait, Finnegan says those are really scary and asks is there any way we can try something different..... ahem. On the 11th day of Petmas, my puppy gave to me: 11 pipes of pup-pops! (much better) Thank you Susan and Finnegan!! ... Read more »
If willpower was enough, this dog would already be at home
The days leading up to Christmas, as I have mentioned many times before, are always hard for me work-wise. This year is no exception. It was exactly one year ago that I had the most difficult euthanasia I've ever had to do. It's a long story, one that combines my sadness over Mulan's proximity to her own passing, an elderly woman losing her only friend, and a family whose lack of compassion left me stunned and nearly incoherent. As we speak, a 10 week old puppy lies alone in a cage at ... Read more »
Nine Ladies Dancing
On the ninth day of Petmas, my puppy gave to me: Nine Starlets Dancing Today's delightful picture comes courtesy of Annette from Biscuits By Lambchop, and of course Starlet! Almost done! I'll be sad when this ends- it's been a blast! ... Read more »
