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Who will win this intense competition? The puppy who comes home with our family in just one week, that’s who. And who will it be? Even we don’t know yet. Stay tuned.
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First in a series Simple Cure? Driving home from Amarillo Richard had his eyes on the road while his wife Diane took in an outrageously beautiful New Mexico sunset. That’s when she saw something moving on the roadside. “Hey, Richard – slow down! That’s a hurt dog!” Rather than a tragic accident this was a blessing, and for more than a canine waif. Diane had suffered with depression for years. Following the death of their dog several months earlier her condition had worsened. She had been diagnosed with depression and was having trouble getting out of bed in the morning. She had tried to power through and “handle it on her own” but she just wasn’t getting better. Her doctor increased her antidepressant medication dose – a necessary adjustment that only partially alleviated her despair. Really? Over a dog? Absolutely. Pets are that important and fully necessary for many people…
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We’ll have our new baby in just 2 weeks – already set up for success.
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Last in a series Who Knew? I fidgeted, I hoped unnoticed, as I conducted a final exam of Lila, the Boxer mama and the qualifying 6 of her original 9. I carried the tired but stable mother to her owner’s semi truck while Ms. Adler lugged the box of puppies. I quickly bid her adieu and hurried back inside. My partner Dr. Virginia Vader and our nurse Bobbi had been hard at work. I just had to snuggle those 3 white orphans. For Gretchen Adler, our Boxer breeder client, this was just business. Had I known when she called, that she expected us to neglect healthy infants of unwanted color, I might not have accepted the case. But could we do that ethically? Morally? We received a gift that night, 3 of them actually. Those little white wrigglers were hungry. We warmed up some Esbilac (puppy milk replacer), broke out…
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These Border collie puppies play well with others but there is more to life than fun and games. There is also hiking, snuggling, and fun and games. One of them gets to be the new Nichol family dog
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Second in a series Caesarians in dogs and cats usually go well. Lila, the Boxer mama on my exam table, was not entirely tuckered out; her vital signs were strong. We started warm fluids IV and administered morphine for gentle sedation and pain control. Lila relaxed and accepted the oxygen mask and gas anesthesia. Once she was intubated and her abdomen prepped she was wheeled into surgery. Gretchen Adler, the owner of this nascent Boxer family, knew exactly what she wanted. Reluctantly donning the surgery cap and mask that I had pressed into her hands she stated unequivocally, with added eye roll, that she had assisted in several C-sections and had “never been required to wear a get-up like this.” Taking a moment to look her straight in the eye, I said, “Ms. Adler, we’ll be glad for your help in reviving Lila’s puppies but I will not risk post…
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First in a series Boxers in the Night Semi Pregnancy Who doesn’t love newborn puppies? Veterinarians get to turn difficult deliveries into real joy but it’s often difficult. In the early years we tried to close the clinic at 6 PM but late night emergencies were common. It was just after Christmas, at about 9:30 – near bedtime. The Rolling Stones, blasting ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ on my stereo, were interrupted by a call from the answering service. A boxer was struggling to pass her first puppy. I scribbled down the phone number of a dog breeder I had never met and made the call. The Stones’ lyrics replayed in my brain later that night. Before I could finish, “This is Dr. Nic—”a hard-edged voice broke through, “My bitch needs a C-section. She’s been pushin’ for 3 hours and nothin’s passed. How soon can you operate?” Who…
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What does it take? The holidays are great fun, aren’t they? Singin’, dancin’, and carryin’ on. For you and me, sure, but badly unsettled pets can engage in some unhealthy behaviors because they’re nervous or scared. Be observant. Tense body postures around visitors or startling at sudden noises, hiding, freezing with ears flattened, the head low, and the tail tucked are important clues. Scared dogs may lick their lips and yawn. Highly stressed cats might over-groom. Worried pets need a break from the action. Hide boxes for cats and out-of-the-way resting areas for dogs can help. A food toy loaded with your dog’s favorite treat will focus her brain on something enjoyable. Consider a Twist & Treat, a Toppl or a Kibble Nibble. Give her the food-loaded toys in another room before your guests arrive and pick them up when they leave so your dog learns that great things happen…
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