One of the best feelings in the world is the feeling when a newly adult dog runs across the exam room and jumps into my lap after we have not seen each other for a year.
I asked Facebook friends, "What do you love most about your pet?"
These are the answers I received. Add yours in the comments. I'm not crying, you're crying!
Happy Valentine's Day guys! All my love to you and your pets!
Nicole Everingham
Trisha Rae
Brooke Brady
Jacquie Ruddick-Yeoman
Brenda Bloomfield Tassava
Jaime Williams
Alicia Weiland
Laura Wahl
Laura Wahl
Liz Eckermann
Monica Massengale
Monica Massengale
Monica Massengale
Monica Massengale
Monica Massengale
Nancy Krohn
Erin Holly
Karen Finch
LaVonne Biga
Donna Kay
Leslie McGavin Clifton
Elizabeth Hickerson
Penny Bell
Rhea Lukehart, LVT
Jenny Sutherland, LVT
Jenny Sutherland
Amanda Nichols
Judy Provo-Klimek, DVM
Allison Dokter
Linnette Kramer
Sheila Schoessler
Nicole Dawson
Tammy Brady
Jana Rade
Kristin Robertus
Kristin Robertus
Dani Cusick, LVT
Laura LeVigne
Laura LeVigne
Jennifer Heisler
Krista Schwarting
Katrina Andrews
Lisa Sorensen Kuhns
Cindy Choi
Cindy Choi
Cindy Choi
Cindy Choi
Cindy Kinsler
Amy Burke, DVM
Shawna Soderman
Whitney McKee
Allison Parker, LVT
Remember Toski the Amazing Corgi? Well before Toski's Mom and Dad had Toski, they raised show gerbils. I am not making this up. They are the most amazing creatures you will ever see!
Do you want to see Gerbil Champion Herman on a tiny agility course? Here he is!
Here is Herman staying in shape...
Here is Herman's great-granddaughter Cassie learning to show jump...
Originally written for ENKY...
Ten Tips to Better Take Care of Your Companion Animals
These pet care tips are meant to help new and experienced pet lovers alike!
1 – Know your pet, even before you adopt.
Learn as much as possible about the species and breed you are adopting.
How much attention do they require? How large of a habitat or how much room in the home will they need? What is their expected lifespan? Is there anything else you need to know to make their life and yours as great as possible?
The more you know from the start, the more your pet will thrive.
2 – Commit to the long run.
Will you be able to keep your pet for his or her entire lifetime? If you move, will you be able to move together? If they need more care than expected, can life be rearranged to provide that? Is the entire family on board?
Adopting a pet is a lifelong commitment. Go into the relationship ready to see it through to the last day.
3 – Prepare well.
This is a fun one! Visit a pet boutique or super store – or both! Pick up toys, bedding, dishes and treats. For a dog, pick out a collar and leash.
For a cat, pick out a litter box and litter and maybe some catnip.
4 – Feed them right.
Will you feed canned food or dry food? Homemade or commercial?
This is a step in which your veterinary team can be very helpful. Ask what foods they recommend and why. Ask what resources they recommend to learn more about different diet options.
The focuses of veterinary teams when choosing which diets to recommend are health, longevity and scientific support of a food’s nutritional value. Use their knowledge and expertise to find the food that will benefit your pet the most!
5 - Know your pet’s grooming needs.
Almost all dogs and cats need to be brushed and to have their nails trimmed.
Non-shedding dogs also need regular professional grooming.
Ask your veterinary team and friends and family which groomers they recommend.
6 – Socialize your pets well.
Dogs are most impressionable roughly between the ages of six and sixteen weeks. Even older dogs can successfully be socialized.
Do all you can to teach your new dog that people are kind – mail carriers, groomers, veterinary team members, tall people, short people, people in wheelchairs, loud people, quiet people, people of different races and ethnicities.
Introduce them to cats and other dogs.
Be safe, and let them learn new things and meet others at their own pace.
The more they experience, the more they will be prepared to handle new situations throughout their lives.
Kittens and cats can be trickier, but should still be socialized. Their most impressionable time is a little younger – roughly between the ages of three and five weeks. So by the time you adopt a kitten at eight weeks or older, their most impressionable time has passed.
However, if they have been raised by their mama or in foster care, much of that socialization has been done for you.
From here, make sure they know family members are always gentle and kind. Give the new cat several days before they meet resident pets, then slowly introduce everyone.
Get to know your individual cat. There are such a large variety of cat personalities! They all need different levels of interaction. Usually within a few weeks, you will know how social they would like to be.
Most rabbits, rodents and birds should be gently handled often. Some reptiles and amphibians do not enjoy handling at all while others can be quite social. Again, know your species and breed, and get to know your pet as an individual too.
7 – Train them well.
Training is different than socializing, though they are related.
Make sure your dogs know commands such as “sit” and “stay” and “come” and that they learn good leash manners. Most importantly, this will keep them safe. This will also enhance your relationship, as a well-behaved pet is more enjoyable to be around!
Make sure you and your family and any trainers who help train your pet use only positive reinforcement techniques – only kind, reward-based training – no yelling, no physical punishment (even water sprayers) and no shock, pinch or choke collars.
Frank and Dr. Belfiore
8 – Provide your pet with excellent preventative veterinary care.
If you have pets already or have had pets in the past, you probably already have an excellent veterinary team. If you need to find a vet, ask friends and family whom they trust with their pets.
At your first visit, your veterinarian can tell you what your pet will need in the way of examinations, vaccinations, testing and treatment.
Travis, Tidus and me
9 – Be ready for non-routine veterinary care.
No matter how protective and proactive you are, accidents and sicknesses will occur. Have your veterinarian’s phone number available. Know whom to call after hours. Have a plan, including an emergency fund if possible, ready in case of an emergency.
10 – Enjoy their company.
Whether you have painstakingly researched and chosen the best pet for your family, or rescued a pet with a cute face on a whim, you have learned all you possibly can about their species, their breed, and their individual self.
You have them on a diet that will enhance their life for years to come.
You are actively socializing and training them.
You have found a dream veterinary team and excellent groomer.
Now…enjoy your pet!
Take pictures.
Give lots of treats.
Teach fun tricks like “shake” and “high-five.”
Sit and read together.
Explore your city together on a path you would not have taken alone.
Learn to relax as well as your cat.
Learn to play with abandon like your puppy.
Commit yourself to an exercise program as vigorous as that of your hamster on his wheel.
Above all, enjoy your pet and the unique relationship you share.
Recently, I lost a dear patient to cancer after an extensive work up. On top of the mourning, there was a jarring cessation of follow up.
I also recently had a sweet patient I suspected had cancer recover completely. Besides the celebration, there was a jarring cessation of follow up.
My teammates toasted the life of our cancer patient with the dog's Mom and the bar manager. They talked about Dog as a Baby Dog and Knowing When Your Heart is Ready Again. The story brought tears to my eyes. I was so proud - and happy to know Mom was hanging in there.
And then...nothing.
Kelly called the family of the recovered dog a couple of times to make sure she was still doing well. She was.
And then...nothing.
In the worst of cases and the best of cases, it is a difficult transition to make from almost daily communication and care to none at all.
I miss you both, and I miss your families I pray for new/continued happiness. I look forward to the day I see your families again.
Racquet Corner is a tennis shop right next door to Gentle Doctor at 120th and Blondo.
One day, one of the owners of Racquet Corner came over with a bag of tennis balls. "Would any of the dogs like these?" he asked.
Our eyes lit up as if we were the dogs receiving such a gift, and together we said, "Yes! Thank you!"
Now the couple who owns Racquet Corner bring once-used tennis balls for all the dogs. Any dog who wants one (or two) can have them. We have not run out in months.
It has changed so many dogs' experiences from a little bit scary to very fun.
The tiny Italian Greyhound chased his ball around the exam room for a while. If it stopped bouncing against the walls, he would hit it with his paw so it would start again and then tear after it, never himself hitting a wall. We all gathered to watch him. He didn't notice. He was having so much fun!
We gave a ball to a Boxer who did not want a treat. He looked like the proudest dog in the world carrying his ball in his mouth out to the car.
"You were very brave. Would you like a ball?" we said to the nervous Golden who had been such a good sport about all of the medical care. She jumped up, laughed with her eyes as Goldens will do and grabbed the ball. For the first time we had seen over her years as our patient, her tail started wagging furiously.
Nigel and Abe play with tennis balls while they are there with their Moms for the day.
Groomer Amy's Nigel showing off his tennis ball
They keep them safe in different corners of the office and treatment room.
Nigel asks, "Excuse me Kelly, have you seen my tennis ball?"
I used Nigel and Abe's tennis balls to show Kelly and Jen how I can juggle (5 seconds! Woo!)
You may have thought you were just dropping off tennis balls, but you have changed the atmosphere of the office from awesome to super awesome. We love seeing our patients so happy. Thank you Racquet Corner!
This is one strip of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!
The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.
My first job, I worked day time and overnights. No one was there to help, and I often called Russ in to restrain pets who needed fluids or other care. (Team, have I told you lately that I love you? AND YOU RUSS) I loved the cool cases I saw on emergency, but I hated answering the phone!
This is a picture from last winter of the purple ash tree Dad gave us as a tiny sapling.
We've been steeling ourselves for the dreaded ash borers that are predicted to take out every ash tree in Omaha and the surrounding areas.
So far, so good.
ONE YEAR AGO
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 3 - THE FOUNTAIN CREEK GENERAL STORE
TWO YEARS AGO
I was spaying a puppy. Kelly was running anesthesia. In the flickering moments between light and dark, I thought through every aspect of anesthesia. Some of the monitoring would not work, and the fluids would stop running, but the anesthesia machine, thankfully, would continue to work.
The rest of the team ran to find flashlights. I held the hemostats and the tissues between them steady in the darkness until they returned. They turned on the two flashlights and held them at the angles the surgery lights had just been.
We finished surgery.
It was...otherwise...uneventful. Puppy woke up fine and is living happily ever after, as are all of us who were there that day.
ONE YEAR AGO
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 2 - GAMBLER
TWO YEARS AGO
THE DOWNSIDE TO KEEPING YOUR PETS SAFE THAT NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT
The power was out. There was nothing we could do but wait. I wrote in my notebook. I comforted the dogs when they whined.
The cats didn't care. They had their sunlight.
It was quiet. We settled into the dark, the dogs and I. Maybe I needed the pause to be reminded how important writing and comforting are to my well-being. Subtly, so slowly I almost missed the transition, I shifted from waiting for the power to come back on to just being.
ONE YEAR AGO
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 1 - MARCEL
TWO YEARS AGO
Luna Lovegood - Chapter 19 - Luna is doing well!
I dunno how many of these weekly no news updates you would enjoy. Personally I would be happy with about 500! Luna had another set of IV chemotherapy and is doing great! She jumped on Russ's head when she was discharged, entertaining the whole VCA MidWest Vet team. I'm glad they get to see her as her normal, dorky self!
On the subject of Luna's normal dorky self...Jen Rios gave Joy the Puppy a cardboard roll (Thank you Jen!!) Joy has been playing with it non-stop. Luna found a torn off bit of cardboard from Joy's roll and has been playing with IT non-stop.
So things are pretty normal around here! Everyone is happy and well :)
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
"I hate to see my dog in pain," she said. "And on top of personal problems we've had recently..."
I stopped my exam and looked up into her eyes.
She told me everything.
She could begin healing.
I could begin praying.
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
I try to post gross pictures here very infrequently. When I do, they are pictures I feel are cooler than they are gross, like Cutie the Cuterebra. The gross pictures I am posting today are not cool, but they are worth showing. I am posting cute (not cutereba) pictures first though so you will have to scroll down if you want to see the shock collar burns. Different patients. Not uncommon. Not cool, just sad.
Okay, are you ready? Both dogs recovered well.
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You can see where the electrodes were on the collar.
This is after cleaning and treating.
Please do not use shock collars on your dogs. At their best, they give your dog an electrical shock to provide negative reinforcement for an action. At their worst, they cause electric burns.
Training can be much more fun for everyone involved.
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
Ricco is an adorable Yorkie.
He has been through a lot in his tiny/giant life.
His osteoarthritis and neurological issues have affected his mobility to the point he has almost no use of his left front leg. He has learned to swing that leg forward and land his little paw right side up and use that limb like a tiny little cane to help him take the next step.
And he always takes the next step.
As amazing as Ricco is, he accomplishes all he does thanks to his equally amazing Mom who is right by him every step of the way. His helper. His encourager. His medicine giver and vet visit partner.
Also, he accomplishes all he does thanks to his friend Reggie the Cat.
Reggie has her own health challenges. She is diabetic, on insulin and special food and has frequent visits to her vet tech friend Kelly. (That part is not a challenge. Everyone loves Kelly. But Reggie does get stressed.)
With all of her challenges, Reggie still looks out for Ricco. She sticks close and meows if she is concerned so Mom can come help. If Ricco falls, Reggie yowls until someone has come to help Ricco. Without Reggie, Ricco would not live as well as he does - or at all.I love these two and their family. I love their special friendship most of all.
Good girl Reggie.
RIP Reggie - November 2017
RIP Ricco - January 2018
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
SOMETIMES MY FRIENDS SPEND TIME WITH ME BECAUSE IT IS REQUIRED BY THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION
My Mom in Law Karen and Dad in Law Phill recently said good bye to their Jacy Dog. Here is Jacy's story, written by Karen.
After several years of not having a dog, we decided it was time to have another dog. Sixteen plus years ago the humane society didn't have the nice website to look on, and we lived too far away to go every day. And we didn't know about the the rescue groups or there weren't as many (and Shawn was in CO, so she couldn't help either)
I just watched the ads in the paper, now I understand the risks there! But one day there was an ad for Lhasas, so off we went with some of the grandkids in tow. There were 9 almost identical puppies in the box, all female!! All of us held them all, and we had no idea which was which!! I finally said ok this one! Cute little fluffy ball of brown and white!
Several days of trying to name her were crazy. She was outside playing when a neighbor said oh, she is Just Cute! Phill picked up on JC and thus she became Jacy!
She learned early on to sit flat on her butt and sit that way for a long time. Every one who saw her marvelled that she could do that. and since it was cute, she got treats and thus learned to be a very vocal beggar!!
She was an only dog for 9 years. Which was fine with her, she wasn't very friendly with other dogs.
We could always let her go outside on her own. She wandered around, visited the neighbors and always came back on her own.
We took her camping with us to Yellowstone and all around Nebraska. She really liked that and was very good!
Then one day her world turned upside down when we brought Lucy home. She went with us to a meet and greet, which was tense, but when they both were getting a drink from the same bowl, I took it as a yes from God that it would be ok.
Guess Jacy didn't hear God say that because she was mad for about 6 weeks. Then one day they started to play tug with a sock and it was all ok.
She got more mellow and tolerated other dogs in the house and yard including Tidus the Pit bull!!
She went with us on lots of long motorhome trips, Memphis, California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas and near home camping. But then last winter, in Texas she was really slowing down. Long walks wore her out and riding so far was uncomfortable. She was still pretty playful and would get "the terrors" around the house.
But then one day I saw some bloody spots on her pee pads. Trip to see Dr. Shawn and an ultrasound turned into sad news. Bladder cancer. Since by then she was 15 and there was no cure, we chose to love on her as long as she wasn't hurting.
But as winter was coming and our winter trip to Texas, we knew the time had come. Actually we needed the permission from Russ and Shawn that is was the right thing to do for her. Hardest decision ever! But the right one for sure. We are so thankful for Russ and Shawn who loved us and Jacy through it!
"Are those pictures of your cat?" I asked.
"Yes, they are. I loved her so much. She was a wonderful cat," he said.
Abby was getting an industrial piercing, which I learned just this week means a piercing from one part of the edge of her ear to another part of the edge of her ear.
She needed parents there since she is only 15. So there we stood, Abby who fits in everywhere, and Russ and I completely out of our element in the tattoo parlor, watching the large, scary, beautifully tattooed piercer work his craft.
He continued...
"Do you know she had all her claws and never once used them on the furniture? And she never had accidents. She didn't hunt, and she wouldn't hurt anything. She caught a spider under her paw once, and let him go. She was so beautiful. She always wanted me there. I guess it's a good sign I can talk about her, huh? It's been two years."
I said it takes a long time. He said he always knew she would eventually return to the underworld, but he sure missed her.
"Did it hurt? we asked Abby.
"Yes!" she said.
Thank you for taking such good care of our kid. Thank you for sharing your kitty with us. I know it was difficult. I hope it was healing.
ONE YEAR AGO
SIRIUS VETERINARY ORTHOPEDIC CENTER GRAND OPENING
TWO YEARS AGO
Luna Lovegood - Chapter 18 - An Update in Real Time
Abby and Luna
Luna has now been through four sets of chemotherapy, each about a week apart. The first two were IV treatments at VCA MidWest Vet, the third was at oral medication at home and the fourth was IV treatment again.
Tomorrow will be Luna's next IV treatment, pending good news from her complete blood count and urinalysis today. (Thank you Kelly! For everything.)
Luna at Gentle Doctor after her weekly blood work
Luna does not mind her half day stays with me on Mondays, and she loves her visits with Dr. Clemans and Brandy and the team on Tuesdays. We have gotten into a routine, and none of it seems to be scary to her.
Luna waiting her turn at VCA MidWest Vet
She had a rough couple days last week where she would not eat, but is now eating chicken and rice well. We may have been had in typical Chihuahua fashion, but she really did seem nauseous, and now is all better. We will either wean her back onto dog food or transform her chicken and rice into a balanced diet using the website my friend Dr. Kanne showed me, Balanceit.com.
Luna! That is my blanket from Aunt Pat!
So far, so good you guys! Luna is feeling great and acting onery, just what we hoped! It has been warm enough for evening walks again, so Russ and I have been walking Joy and Luna, sometimes around the block, and sometimes to the elementary school to play. We have all been loving that time, and the whole family has loved our time with Luna.
I will stay on top of getting updates to you! Hopefully they will all be this normal!
Thank you all for all of your support. We love you so much!
Russ-me-Amanda-Abby-Joy-Luna
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
Abby and friends made sure all the dogs and cats had a gift to open Christmas morning! Abby said it matched the picture in her head perfectly.
Thank you from Abby to...
Grandma Finch
Grandma Nelson
Jaime Williams and Ross Nelson
Dr. Adrienne Kanne
Penny and Scott Bell
Kathi Ortmeier
Dr. Pete Bashara
Racquet Corner
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
I LOVE Hill's Science Diet.
Good girl Frankie!
So it was very fun to receive Hill's Science Diet Crunchy Fruit Snacks from Chewy.com to review.
Hill's Science Diet Crunchy Fruit Snacks
Luna wasn’t feeling great (she is all better now!), and Joy could not have the treats because she is allergic to chicken. Having just publicly declared my love for Hill's, I feel it is fair to ask, Why is there chicken in a fruit snack?
I brought the treats to work, and my friends helped me gather data.
The subjects:
Whitney's Odin the Goldendoodle Puppy
Yes please!
Jenny's Frankie the Frenchie Puppy
I AM excited.
and Erika's Tiny Taffi Dog
I would love a yum.
The snacks were an overwhelming hit! My favorite reaction was Odin's. He hid the snack under his paws, seemed to forget where he had put it, lifted his paws and jumped for joy. He chewed his treat a bit and repeated the game. Eventually he ate it, but I think he got a good ten minutes of play out of it first!
Oh! There you are!
Oh! There you are again!
Frankie, you are too cute!
Oh my gosh! That face! Frankie may have gotten more than one treat.
This strange thing is delicious!
All princesses like their treats pre-smashed if they have Tiny Taffy mouths! She ate the WHOLE thing.
Thank you Chewy.com! Thank you Hill's Science Diet! Thank you friends and pups!
This was a fun one : )
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO