THE WESTIES

About six months ago, there was a horrible car accident on an interstate on ramp in Omaha.

A semi truck hit a van, overturning and crushing the top of the van.

The semi truck driver was unhurt. Miraculously, the driver and passenger of the van survived with serious, but treatable, injuries. 

The driver of the van is our dear client. What the news did not report was that there was one absolutely heartbreaking fatality. The driver had her only pet, a one year old sweet Westie with her, and he did not survive the accident.

She called from the hospital to let us know her pup had passed away.

We grieved for the small dog we had all loved. We sent flowers and prayed for his Mom. And later, we felt a little bit sorry for ourselves knowing we would probably not see this kind lady again.

Mom healed and came home. Her heart began to heal too. Six months after the horrible accident, she came in smiling with the tiniest of tiny Westie puppies in her hands.

Her new pup is a little girl, and she is just perfect.

Mom was ready. She missed having a wonderful little Westie around. We all miss her previous pup. We all spent this new puppy visit celebrating this precious new life.

Puppy, you are your own little being, not in any way a replacement. You do have some big paws to fill, and you are doing that extraordinarily well. Thank you for healing your Mom's heart and bringing her back to us. We sure love you so.

I AM TRUSTED

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.

I had mixed feelings about doing MORE emergency work, but decided to go with the optimistic view!

SEE THIS SCAR? PART 4 OF 4

Kelly and I were doing a wellness exam on a cat together.

The cat bit my right forearm. Not wanting the cat's Mom to see the nick, I put my arm under the exam table and kept talking.

"We need to go," Kelly said. 

"In a minute," I said.

I looked under the table and saw a rather large pool of blood. "Oh!" I said, "Excuse us please!" Kelly threw a towel over the blood and walked me out of the room.

Kelly sat me down in a chair and went into EMT mode. She cleaned and bandaged my wound and sent me to urgent care.

The nurse at urgent care removed my bandage to reveal what I first suspected, a small nick. She patted my hand and said, "Would you like a bandaid, dear?" I was going to say no, but I saw it was a cartoon bandage so I said yes. I left a bit embarrassed, but truly, cat bites are nothing to mess around with. I was on antibiotics for quite a while, and recovered well.

It was a tiny wound that bled a lot and left an impressive scar. Cat teeth are like that. I like my scar, and am ever reminded of Kelly's kindness and expertise.

SEE THIS SCAR? PART 3 OF 4

This is the saddest story to go with a scar. But I love the scar because it reminds me of Jake.

Jake the Doberman was in for lameness. As I felt up a front leg, I hit a soft part of bone and Jake nipped in surprise, getting my left pointer finger. His tooth had gone through my fingernail. We both immediately apologized, Jake for biting me and I for pushing on a painful area of his leg.

After I returned from the hospital, we confirmed bone cancer, and Jake was euthanized soon after. I loved that dog.

I have a small notch in my left pointer fingernail in memory of Jake.

SEE THIS SCAR? PART 2 OF 4

My favorite scar is a long raised white line on my left thumb. It used to go halfway up my forearm, but has faded.

Angela and I were holding a huge longhaired cat for his nail trim. He got a un-pedicured foot out of our grasp and kicked. His nail went up the length of my arm in a beautiful straight line. We finished his nail trim without further event, and I have the scar to show for it. I love it.

SEE THIS SCAR? PART 1 OF 4

One of my favorite scars is an Airedale canine tooth shaped scar on my left knee.

I was a high school kid shadowing Dr. Rohrig at Rohrig Animal Hospital at 80th and Dodge Streets. I am sure I was too close to whatever procedure was being done. The frightened Airedale turned and ran toward me.

I backed up, but he just barely got me with a tooth to the knee.

I was told to sit on a stool on the edge of the room with a wet paper towel on my knee. I was glad I did not have to quit watching.

I went on to work for Dr. Rohrig in college, and have since worked with him on a case or two as a veterinarian.

THE WHITE CATS OF DUNDEE

A client recently told me that there is a group of white cats that wanders around Dundee together. They call themselves (or at least the people in the neighborhood call them) The White Cats of Dundee.

Have you seen them?

FOLLOW UP

I keep a list of 50-100 patients with ongoing issues. I check half of the cases weekly and half of the cases monthly and update my list daily.

Losing contact with pet parents through death or healing is jarring. Also jarring is losing contact through lack of follow up.

I hate real life stories with open endings like I hate chairs not pushed in, only more deeply. That is my strange quirk to deal with. It is probably why I keep The List.

But you can help.

If your pet is cared for by our team, and we call to check on him or her, please call us back. If things change for better or for worse, please let us know.

Those of you who need advice about your pets, the only thing I ask from you in return is an update on your pet. Let me know how he or she is after we talk.

Knowing how my patients are doing brings peace of mind I can find no other way.

BEST ER DOC EVER

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 boss really used this line, and it really worked on me!

THE REUNION

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.

WE LOVE YOU, OUR PETS!

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

HERMAN THE SHOW GERBIL

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...

ONE YEAR AGO

SOPHIE IN THE SNOW

TWO YEARS AGO

ABBY AND ALLY ARE FRIENDS

10 TIPS TO BETTER TAKE CARE OF YOUR COMPANION ANIMALS

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.

ONE YEAR AGO

MY RAT WUZZY, PART 1

TWO YEARS AGO

SOMETIMES MY FRIENDS SPEND TIME WITH ME BECAUSE IT IS REQUIRED BY THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION

LOSS

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.

THE TENNIS BALLS

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!

VET ER! WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY?

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!

ONE YEAR AGO

THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 4 - THE FLOWERS

TWO YEARS AGO

I SAW A KITTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME! AGAIN!

OUR BEAUTIFUL PURPLE ASH TREE

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

BIRDS DON'T SNEEZE

WAITING FOR THE POWER TO COME BACK ON, STORY 2

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

WAITING FOR THE POWER TO COME BACK ON, STORY 1

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

CAN YOUR DOG DO THAT?

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 19

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

MY RAT WUZZY, PART 5

TWO YEARS AGO

DALMATIANTASTIC