Gracie is a gorgeous (and slobbery) 130lb Saint Bernard. Her hallmark quality is her stubbornness. This started at a very early age! Even though she was dressed as an angel, Gracie naughtily failed her puppy class! This definitely foreshadowed some battles of the...

At what cost? And is the problem fixable? I need more information and information costs too, both time and money. And what do we do with that information? I need to intervene, whether it’s surgery or medication, hospitalization, or, in animals, euthanasia. And what is...

Sometimes I am amazed by how phenomenal pet-parents are! Fecal/stool samples are an important part of our health screening in animals, especially since they like to explore the world with their mouths. It’s a triple bag, and it-goes-in-the-trunk endeavor when I...

There is something about the potential that gives us hope. We all know the feeling when a day has something we look forward to. That giddy, “couldn’t sleep” excitement because of a surprise, a gift, or a new job, car, home, relationship, or friendship. At the onset,...

It is rare to see a patient so regularly, and unfortunately, it usually is not a good thing when there are such frequent visits to the vet clinic. With Bella, it was always a bright spot in my day, and it helped mark the time as I often was surprised that it had...

It was his birthday… and he ate a trash bag. Not one with trash in it – no, it was covering his fabric bed. The other furry household member (cat) expresses his unpredictable disdain for Jack by peeing on his bed. When Jack’s parents came home, the bag and a few...

"Your little daughter must be smitten with this kitten; I can just imagine her coming up with the name Ladybug!" said my technician to the approximately 300lb, 6'5", tattoo-sleeved, Harley-Davidson riding man. A little background—this same man took the neighbor's...

I would choose it again. Despite the soul-crushing sorrow, I think many people would agree that the joy of having them outweighs the sorrow of losing them. Our “gotcha day,” June 28th, is stamped on our lives- defining a new season and life stage. He was the first...

Hyde and I have a love-hate relationship. I love him; he hates me. I guess it is actually pretty simple. I’m pleased, however, to report that we are making some really positive progress. Hyde scratched his cornea while trying to get his muzzle off (obviously, this...

I owe it to my professor. A simple extra credit assignment I’ve referenced so many times since veterinary school. The assignment in school was this: “Begin with the end in mind.” – Stephen Covey. Write a career postscript imagining you are at retirement age reflecting...