My first indication that text messaging had gone too far in my household was the afternoon I checked my phone and discovered the following message : “Just wanted to let you know. I thought I might be having a heart attack so I checked myself into the hospital.” It had been sent from my husband’s … Continue reading My Husband’s Hospital Vacation
Emergency Work
World Rabies Day
Several years ago I wrote an article on Rabies (Merced Sun Star, June 2014), a viral disease carried from animal to animal and sometimes from animal to human. For both animals and humans the disease is considered a death sentence. I recently came upon a series of articles in a veterinary journal and was … Continue reading World Rabies Day
The Large Animal Vet
Perhaps the title sounds misleading. A “large animal” vet develops a veterinary practice caring for the needs of livestock such as cattle (dairy or beef), sheep, goats and pigs. A “small animal” veterinarian like me is usually slotted into the care of companion pets such as dogs and cats. So when I examine … Continue reading The Large Animal Vet
Emergency Work
January 14, 2016 Emergency work is not as much fun as it’s cracked up to be. I imagine it’s easier when that’s ALL you do, and staying up all night takes on a kind of rhythm, you adjust to sleeping during part of the day. I am one of those unfortunates who do not … Continue reading Emergency Work
Heatstroke
May 24, 2016 Summer is coming. In Merced that can mean baking temperatures over 100 degrees. Even if the day doesn’t go over the 90’s, the black asphalt paths that line Bear Creek, Black Rascal Creek and many other favorite walking paths will heat up significantly, holding the heat well into the evening hours. … Continue reading Heatstroke
Snap the Cat and the Broken Jaw
October 22, 2014 His name was Snap. He had some Siamese in there somewhere because he had huge blue eyes and a white body with orange fur on his ears, tail and feet, a color we call “flame point”. A stunning kitten, he was all male : big, rangy body with long legs, on the … Continue reading Snap the Cat and the Broken Jaw
A Helping Hand (Corneal Ulcers)
May 14, 2014 “As I was saying, my daughter says that there’s something wrong with her eye. You see it’s kind of mattering and she keeps it closed pretty tight. My daughter gave me some medicine to put in it, but it’s not better, so she said maybe I should see you.” “Ah”, I said, … Continue reading A Helping Hand (Corneal Ulcers)