This is a thank you picture I received after giving a talk to children. An iguana friend had come with me to make the talk interesting. I love this picture so much.
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Post from one year ago today...
January 25, 2016
Veterinary technicians Erin Kumm and Allison Parker and I spent the day yesterday at the Scott Conference Center with other members of the Nebraska Academy of Veterinary Medicine to hear Dr. Chris Byers speak on critical care and internal medicine.
A Dog to Give Away by Dr. Dave Perrin - 5 Stars!
The Women's March on Omaha was January 21, 2017.
Abby was at a friend's house, so Russ, Amanda and I headed downtown to march with other Omaha folks. We met up with Dave and the kids. Sara was in DC :) I wore my Sara Jean t-shirt in her honor. We saw lots of friends. Everyone was friendly and so supportive of each other.
It was SUCH an encouraging evening.
Amanda's sign says "Keep your tiny hands off my rights."
The Mounted Police brought up the rear and kept everyone at the end of the March safe. The police were so kind all evening. They directed traffic and kept people clear of the cars. The last officer we saw closed an intersection for a few minutes so people could safely get to the parking lot to head home.
I love this picture. Amanda was in her element!
If you think every single thing was sad today, remember that also today you met Bruce Wayne, Bat Pug, who is a great dog and has a great new home.
I met a Jack Russell Terrier named Bauer.
"Dead bugs don't mutate."
These are books that were stacked on a table in the treatment room of the veterinary hospital at Nebraska Humane Society as we were walking through once.
Gulliver!
Smile puppy!
On Friday September 9, 2016, Sapphire our orange goldfish jumped out of the fish tank.
We had the tank completely set up except for a top. Of course now I would never put fish into a tank with an open top, but then...I had.
I walked into the main room where Sapphire and Ruby's tank is and saw Sapphire on the wooden floor about two feet away from the tank wide-eyed (well, they are always wide-eyed, but this time it was in a bad way...) and not breathing.
I started crying. We had had them days and were already really attached. I picked her up with a paper towel and wrapped her gently. Russ and Amanda and Abby were out shopping together, and I did not know how I would tell them. I decided to call and tell Russ, but asked him not to tell the girls yet.
I opened the paper towel to look at Sapphire - she really is a beautiful fish. I could not believe I had let this happen. On a whim, I filled a small bowl with dechlorinated water and placed Sapphire into it. I knew she had been out of the water too long to survive, but even if she had a slim chance, I wanted to try. I gently brushed off the debris from the floor and let her float to the top.
Sapphire flipped her tail, dove under the water and started swimming slowly around the bowl.
I screamed. Then cried again. Then called Russ and yelled that Sapphire was alive.
I gently tipped her back into the tank. She and Ruby swam in circles together, and I stared at them until the family came back with a tank lid.
Apparently my children are very astute. When I had called their Dad once crying then again yelling, they knew something was up. Now with both fish swimming happily together again, I felt like I could tell them - Sapphire had died, but she had also survived it. All was well again, just as it was when they had left.
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Post from one year ago today...
January 15, 2016
My friends vet tech Shawna and Dr. Amy call me Bird. I can't remember which one wrote me this note, but I love it so much. Do you guys remember?
Peter has had significant health issues that he has overcome due to his resilience and how awesome his family is at home care. That is not the subject of this post.
I recently spoke with Eric Shank, the founder and CEO of a new veterinary company, Petzam.
Petzam helps facilitate live video chats between clients and veterinarians in order to better help diagnose pets.
One of the biggest barriers to veterinary telemedicine in the past has been assuring a veterinary client-patient relationship. In most cases, what is needed to establish this relationship legally is an in person physical exam by the veterinarian of the patient within the previous year. One of Petzam's core values is protecting the veterinary client-patient relationship, which I appreciate.
Have you used telemedicine before? Would a service like this be helpful?
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Post from one year ago today...
January 12, 2016
THE STORY OF THE DAY I MET MY FIRST IBIZAN HOUND
Wrigley and Starla
These are two of my very favorite patients, Wrigley and Starla. They are sisters and littermates.
They belong to the fabulous Kathi Ortmeier, head of Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland.
If you squint, you can see Beagle in them. Just kidding! It was their cute faces that got them in.
Wrigley and Starla survived distemper, parvo and pneumonia as babies.
Starla made a complete recovery.
Wrigley and Starla
Wrigley had tooth enamel damage from the distemper virus. Dr. Kanne and I did dental work on Wrigley when she was young. We sealed the damaged teeth with bonded sealant with the help of Omaha's dentist, Dr. Erich Rachwitz. (Thank you Doc!)
The biggest challenge Wrigley has had to overcome is constant involuntary kicking of her back legs secondary to the distemper infection. When Kathi first brought her in, we talked about euthanasia, we talked about the Finch family adopting Wrigley and we talked about taking her out of the rescue and having her live with Kathi. As you can imagine, it was a very emotional visit for everyone!
I had never before seen a dog with distemper. Wrigley's neurological signs were pathognomonic for distemper (meaning distemper is the only thing that causes a presentation, in this case, Wrigley's leg spasms.)
We were both in love with this tiny Joy-Ebony-looking puppy and her equally adorable twin sister. "Let's give her some time," I suggested. We both were relieved, and Kathi took both pups home...where they are still thriving four years later.
At this most recent visit, for the first time ever I saw Wrigley with NO unwanted back leg motion! I didn't know that could happen after damage done by the distemper virus. She is a bit wobbly in the hind end and still sometimes has the leg kicks, but is doing so very well.
I am so grateful that Kathi took these two "Beagle" puppies in and so happy that they are doing so well!
We love you girls!!
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Post from one year ago today...
January 11, 2016
These dogs belong to my friend vet tech Kelly and her family.
On the left is Shelby Vizsla. She is the boss of everything. She has decided, after five years, that she does in fact like me. I am so happy.
The Dalmatian Puppy is, of course, Pyro. He is easy-going and likes everyone.
Abraham Lincoln is a people- and dog-pleasing Boxer who can find the upside to every situation.
I love how this picture of the three in their beds shows their personalities so well!
I love you dogs!
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Post from one year ago today...
January 10, 2016
When we were planning this website, my brother Dave showed me a phone game called Dots. I've been playing it ever since.
When our family had finished watching the first season of Stranger Things on Netflix, I started watching Criminal Minds from the beginning...by myself...It is too dark for Russ, and we won't let the girls watch it.
During downtime I play Dots or watch Criminal Minds, sometimes almost obsessively.
Dots is super light. Criminal Minds is very dark.
I figured out why they both help me decompress.
Decisions are made, and they have no consequences.
I love that so much.
In the Dots game, you connect dots to clear a board. No matter what move you make, the worst that can happen is losing that round. Against yourself. You don't even lose a quarter.
In Criminal Minds, I can explore the decisions the characters make (the good guys you guys, I'm not a psycho...) and how they deal with the fall out. The results are incredibly rewarding (the bad guys get caught and no one else gets hurt) or heartbreaking (the bad guys get away, loved ones or main characters are harmed or killed.) It is intriguing to watch the main characters deal with and overcome burn out in a career that is so much more stressful than my own. Even so, Criminal Minds, with all its drama and violence and sadness is all make believe.
So is Dots.
I need time in between Real Life events where every decision I make, every decision I see made, blows things up or doesn't or makes or breaks everything that is at stake...but is so inconsequential that it has no bearing on Real Life.
I love Real Life, but sometimes I need to step back. We all do.
What is your decompression strategy?
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Post from one year ago today...
January 9, 2016
Snickerdoodle (Snookie) Jones was my dog-niece. She was wonderful.
Matthew and Snookie - February 23, 2009 - January 5, 2017
Snookie was born on February 23, 2009 in Stromsburg Nebraska. Her Mom and Dad were owned by our cousin Sara and her family.
One week old! Barely bigger than a crayon <3
She was adopted by Russ's sister Kristi and her family - Scott, Matthew, Ben and Jack.
Ben, Kristi, Matthew and Jack visiting Baby Snookie
Jack and Snookie
Kylah and Ben with Snookie
Russ with Snookie
The first time I held Snookie!
I love this picture of Snookie looking around the corner! She looks like she is up to something. She sometimes was :)
Snookie and Oreo Jones
Abby and Snookie
We love you Snookie. We sure will miss you.
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Post from one year ago today...
January 8. 2016
SOMETIMES GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS, AND OTHER TIMES HE SENDS A CORGI
Every January, a wonderful group of pet bloggers gathers and answers a set of blog-related questions together. This is a fun project I did yearly with Riley and James.
Our dogs, Joy the (8 year old) Puppy and Luna Lovegood
Here is this year's set of questions and my answers for FinchDVM...
When did you start your blog and, for anyone who is just seeing it for first time, please provide a description of your site. Would you say your blog focuses more on sharing stories with your readers, or providing a resource for your audience?
I started this daily blog, FinchDVM in September 2015 after blogging since 2006 on my veterinary site, Riley and James. My brother Dave created both sites for me.
This blog was meant to be a continuation of stories from Riley and James, but ended up with a much different feel. I still love it though. Now I post once a day where there it was very random, sometimes only every three months or so.
One fun thing about FinchDVM is that most of the pictures are processed with a red-green color blindness filter to make them similar to how a dog or cat would see them.
Here is a picture in full color.
Here is the same picture in dog and cat vision. The reds are washed out, and the greens would be too. The yellows and blues are about the same. I've noticed that the colors OF dogs and cats (blacks, browns, tans and whites) are unchanged which I found interesting. Do you like the subtle message of the picture? haha!
This is more of a story sharing site, but I try to include some pet care tips as well.
What was your proudest blogging moment of 2016?
I realized I really had posted every day and that this is sustainable.
Which of your blog posts was your favorite this year and why? (Please include a link.)
TOFU'S FIRST STEPS is one of my favorite blog posts from 2016, because it is such a happy one. Tofu is the baby Husky from Taysia Blue Rescue with me in my profile picture that my friend Becky took of us. He is now full-grown and completely healthy and in a wonderful loving home. I love him so much.
Tofu and me
Year after year, one goal that we all seem to share is that we want to reach more people. What one tool did you use or action did you take this year that had the most impact on increasing traffic to your blog?
Daily blogging has helped the most in reaching more people.
Which of your blog posts got the most traffic this year? (Please include a link.) Have you noticed any themes across your most popular posts?
I can track traffic patterns over the past year, but only see popular posts from the past month or so. The most popular recent post is JOJO'S STORY about a sweet Chihuahua mix we treated.
It seems happy posts about individual pets are the most popular stories. They are also fun to write.
What blog do you find most inspirational and how has it influenced your blog? (Please include a link.)
These are wonderful blogs written by wonderful veterinarians. Through the years, these vets and their teams have shown me that this can be done and done well. I admire them both so much.
Critical Care DVM is a blog by a friend here in Omaha, Dr. Chris Byers, who is double boarded in internal medicine and emergency and critical care. His website is very well done and easy to read. It is tailored to pet parents, but I learn so much from him.
Others I love - YOURS :) and Dr. Grumpy who is a human neurologist (I mean...a human who sees humans).
What is one thing your readers don’t know about you or your pets that would surprise them?
I don't know! I am kind of an open book, super private in real life, but I will write anything!
My human family, Amanda, me, Abby and Russ
What is something you’ve learned this year that could help other bloggers?
Remember this is for fun, this is for you and your readers. Details beyond that are counter-productive if they add stress to your life.
What would you like to accomplish on your blog in 2017?
I would like to reach more people, post content that encourages and uplifts and heals (even if it seems like it's about random things like mostly dead plants). I would like to keep enjoying this outlet and share that joy with all of you.
Now it’s your turn! You have the attention of the pet blogging community – is there a question you’d like answered, or an aspect of your blog that you’d like input on?
It is just good to reconnect with all of you :) Here's to a great 2017.
During Camp Kindness at Nebraska Humane Society, campers decorate the adoption packets for newly adopted pets.
Back of the packet
New adopters bring the packets containing all of the pet's medical history to their first well pet visit.
I love the decorated envelopes so much.
Here is a recent one that came with a sweet dog and his sweet 20-something year old Mom.
Front of the packet
"I didn't decorate that," she said. "It came that way."
"We know," we said.
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Post from one year ago today...
January 6, 2016