Unbelievable. If I dared roll my eyes during an interaction with a client, my eyes should have been doing cartwheels during the intake history I was noting on the chart. My patient, an African Grey Parrot named Joe, was lying face down in his carrier, his beautiful red tail inelegantly dragging in the muck and … Continue reading The Parrot Who Ate Caramel Corn / Heart Failure
Veterinary Medicine
Cloning
For roughly $50,000 you can clone your favorite dog or cat. Speaking strictly for myself, I was somewhat startled. Are we there already? Since I’m still sewing up cuts with plain old needle and thread, I find some of this high-tech stuff interesting. And amusing. And disturbing. So while I’m still healing the old fashioned way, … Continue reading Cloning
Dog flu has been reported in the Valley. Here’s what you need to know.
Serious news for all dog owners in recent weeks, folks: Canine influenza, or dog flu, has been documented both in San Francisco and the Bay Area and in Fresno. Up to 50 cases were diagnosed in the Bay Area in mid-January, with a confirmed case in Fresno announced Jan. 24. This dog flu is highly … Continue reading Dog flu has been reported in the Valley. Here’s what you need to know.
Have A Nice Day !
George Carlin, a comedian I’m not much familiar with, found fault with the phrase “Have a nice day,” saying it was “probably unrealistic to expect someone to have a nice day all day long.” I am as guilty as the next person at wishing people I meet to “have a nice day” upon taking their … Continue reading Have A Nice Day !
Reflections Back on 2017 from the New Year
I can’t speak for you, but let me start this by saying that I spent my first night of the new year sleeping on the floor. No, you too? So let our first resolution be to stay home next year! Nothing stronger than water had crossed my lips, we missed the ball drop in New York … Continue reading Reflections Back on 2017 from the New Year
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
Accreditation / Monkey Pox Virus
September 14, 2016 I am going to share with you the Veterinary Accreditation Program through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). What? The USDA-APHIS educate and certify veterinarians to inspect animals for disease prior to writing a health certificate for animal travel. The Center … Continue reading Accreditation / Monkey Pox Virus
Bupthalmia
August 16, 2016 Somewhere along the way your children catch on to you and become very suspicious when you are happy about something. Mine questioned the origin of names I kept pressing upon them for new pets. They obstinately refused to name the new cat “Tenesmus”. C’mon, I begged, it sounds great, doesn’t it? … Continue reading Bupthalmia
The Spleen
July 19, 2016 “Tank” was adorable. An enormous Golden Retriever puppy, he had moved into the long-legged gawky teenage stage most pups go through and was ripe for the adjustments necessary to bond with his foster family, who had volunteered to train and socialize this puppy for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Guide Dogs … Continue reading The Spleen