A man runs into the vet’s office carrying his dog, screaming for help. The vet rushes him back to an examination room and has him put his dog down on the examination table. The vet examines the still, limp body and after a few moments tells the man that his dog, regrettably, is dead.

The man, clearly agitated and not willing to accept this, demands a second opinion.
The vet goes into the back room and comes out with a cat and puts the cat down next to the dog’s body. The cat sniffs the body, walks from head to tail poking and sniffing the dog’s body and finally looks at the vet and meows.

The vet looks at the man and says, “I’m sorry, but the cat thinks that your dog is dead too.” The man is still unwilling to accept that his dog is dead.

The vet brings in a black labrador. The lab sniffs the body, walks from head to tail, and finally looks at the vet and barks.

The vet looks at the man and says, “I’m sorry, but the lab thinks your dog is dead too.”
The man, finally resigned to the diagnosis, thanks the vet and asks how much he owes.
The vet answers, “$650.”

“$650 to tell me my dog is dead?” exclaimed the man.

“Well,” the vet replies, “I would only have charged you $50 for my initial diagnosis. The additional $600 was for the cat scan and lab tests.”

Lady’s Hoof Abscess

Seeing Lady everyday makes a big difference. I can see her every little movement and see if anything is wrong or has changed.

One day when I was out feeding her and the pony I noticed she was doing what is called “pointing,” which is when she takes her front foot and points it forward so that there isn’t any pressure on it. I was a little concerned because in the past she has done this before and it ended up being a hoof abscess. So I just kept an eye on her to make sure that she was ok and to see if there were any physical changes, I was hoping that she just bruised her hoof and that it wasn’t anything serious.

The days go by and nothing has changed. Lady was hobbling around and it was very clear to me that there was something wrong. I was getting really nervous because I needed to move her to a new place due to some landlord issues. When the pony was scheduled to move to my mom’s house I had my old trainer look at her foot to see what she thought. I knew that it was either an abscess or a bruise. I didn’t want to mess with it if it was a bruise because it would just make things worse for poor Lady.

Malin my trainer said that it was an abscess which I was a little relieved about because I had an idea of how to treat it due to her having one in the past. I remember what the vet did but I still called to make sure that I remembered it completely and that I wasn’t leaving anything out. He told me to pare it out with a paring knife, which I had when I was in school for my farrier class, and get all the nasty goo out and to make sure it is fully drained. Once that is done, then soak her hoof in warm water and Epson salts. This will help any more draining that needs to be done and will bring the abscess closer to the hoof sole. If the abscess does not get treated in time it can form at the top of the hoof where the hair meets the hoof and this causes much more pain and is harder to treat. After soaking her foot for about ten minutes, then wrap it up tight and make sure that there is pressure on the wound to help it close up.

My horse is the best horse to have when a situation like this occurs. She is amazing! I got the paring knife and pared out the abscess, she just stood there. I got the warm water and Epson salts and soaked her foot, and she just stood there. I then got a diaper, some duct tape, and made a “potion” out of Epson salt and bag balm. I put the “potion” on the diaper, put the diaper on her foot and duct taped it on, and she just stood there. She didn’t move and inch! I did this twice a day for a week and she was awesome every time.

The day came to move her to her new place. Her hoof was still ouchy but I had to move her and she did fine. I knew she would. It has been about two weeks now, the diaper booty has been off for a couple of days and she is walking fine. She still has a small limp once in a while but I think it’s just because she is a big baby, but I love her any way!

A Bad Day

I was outside yesterday getting some gardening done. The week had been way too hot for any type of outside activity so I was taking advantage of the cloudy weather. I had the pony out eating some grass as I always do and also had the dogs out just playing around, as I always do.

Over in the garden I was doing my thing, when all of a sudden I heard Dude attacking the pony. I ran over to Dude, who was already in submission mode because he knew he did something wrong. I yelled at him, telling him he was a bad dog and then ran over to the pony to make sure he was ok.

The way that the pony was shaking his head I thought that Dude had gotten his ear. I felt it and it was bloody. I was furious. I walked him into the barn and tried to cross tie him, which he’s not very welled trained with yet. When I was hooking up the cross ties I noticed his eye was rigorously bleeding. I freaked. My day had already been a mess and now I have to deal with this poor pony and the fact that his eye might be severely damaged. I was so upset and shaking. I knew what I needed to do and I usually can handle things like this well but everything was going wrong all at once and I just couldn’t handle it anymore.

The pony finally stood still enough for me to hook him up to the cross ties and I ran over to get something to wipe the blood away. His poor eye was all bloody and dilated and I feared that it was really damaged. I called my mom, because we share custody of him and told her the bad news and of course she freaked which made it even worse for me. But once again I calmed myself down and told her I would call the vet.

By the time I got the vet on the phone the bleeding wasn’t as bad but I still wanted to know what else I could do to help my little man. The vet said to keep pressure on it and once it stops bleeding to flush it out and then cold pack it and give him something to keep the swelling down like bute. I was so relieved! I thought that I would have to have the vet come out and that there was gong to be a huge bill and the pony was going to need some serious attention but it was all ok.

I really have the best pony ever! He was amazing. He just stood there and let me do what I had to do. I knew it had to hurt but he was doing his best at staying still. I took a look at his ear because I wanted to make sure that Dude didn’t get that too. It was bloody but not too bad so I checked the other one just to be sure. Come to find out it was dried blood from the terrible amount of flies that we have. I can’t find the proper fitting fly mask for him so unfortunately he gets eaten.

Once his eye looked alright I let him back out in the paddock. Usually something like that with my other horse I would have put her in a stall but the pony, he would do more damage in the stall than out in the paddock. I felt that he would be just fine in the paddock and he was. I walked up to the house and got a small ice pack and grabbed a towel.
When I got back down to the paddock he was standing in the lean to being a great boy. I placed the ice pack on his eye and that pony just stood there. He rested his nose on my shoulder, letting me do what needed to be done. After a couple of minutes he would move, I think it was getting a little too cold and he was like “ahh it’s cold!” But after a few minutes he let me do all over again.

Once everything that needed to be done was done I walked up to the house and flopped onto the couch and just took a big, deep breath. What a day! It’s a little swollen today but it’s nothing he can’t handle, he’s one tough little man!

Charlie
I woke up to this little black face with big eyes and huge ears. My vision was blurry and I was half asleep thinking to myself, what is this, what’s going on? I sat up and put on my glasses. It was a Chihuahua!

I was living with my friend Stephanie and her family at the time. We both work at the veterinary hospital; in fact we got the job together. We met in college and she always knew that I wanted a dog, a Chihuahua to be exact. My mom had one and I loved her so I wanted one too. They are nice dogs if you train them right. They are mostly a one person dog which is what I wanted. A dog that always had the love in their eyes for me and only me! I had never had that friendship or loyalty. I saw what Stephanie had with her dog and I wanted it too.

I tried at first with a dog named Nabisco. He was a black and white German Shepherd Dog mixed with husky who was at work as a stray and needed a home. I took him home and he was great except for getting out and running away and getting skunked. That was a task, giving him a skunk bath. It ended up that he wasn’t good with cats and Stephanie had a whole litter that she was fostering so I had to find him a new home. I ended up putting him on Pet Finder and he got a wonderful new home where he could run and not get into any trouble. It was very hard letting him go. Stephanie and I cried on the way home but we knew it was best for him and for the kittens.

After a couple of months went by of being dog less I woke up to having the cutest thing in my face. Stephanie had gone over to the neighbor’s house that morning while I was sleeping. She found out that their family from New York had brought a little black, cute as a button Chihuahua with them. She “stole” him and brought him straight up to my room and woke me up without even thinking.

He really was the cutest thing. His big eyes peering down at me. He was so tiny and skinny. I immediately took him from Stephanie and asked where he came from. She told me and I knew I needed to help the poor little guy. When it came to pets and the neighbors things never went well. I looked him over and noticed he had a broken tail and four upper canines due to him not eating right. The baby teeth usually come out when they eat hard food but he obviously wasn’t eating anything at all. He was skin and bones.

For the rest of the week he was all I could think about. I talked about him at work, with my friends and family. I needed him. Finally, I told Stephanie to tell them that I would give them $100 for him and a week later…he was all mine. I was in my glory! At last, a dog that I can handle and is all mine. His name was Blackie but that changed instantly. I had always wanted a dog named Charlie and this was my chance.

Charlie is now a happy normal sized dog who loves life. He runs and plays with my boyfriend’s dog that is ten times bigger. They do great together. Charlie comes with me to work Sunday nights for a toy breed play social. He is one of the stars of the group. And oh man, Auntie Stephy is his love! She saved him and she is his saint. He flips out every time he sees her; it’s a funny sight to see. He is always there for through thick and thin. He is my best friend.

OMG. For those of you who are not versed in “instant messenging” speak, that means Oh My God! I recently had to medicate my cat daily for a week. This is a task that is not for the faint of heart.  Of all the aspects about having cats as a pet, this has to be the worst. It makes cleaning the litter box look like a day in the park.

My vet, knowing that trying to “pill” my cat is about as difficult as trying to climb Mt. Everest barefoot and without a guide, decided to prescribe a liquid antibiotic. When presented with the liquid I was told that the cat needed to have it with food, that it tasted bad and that she would need a full 2 mls for each dose.

I thought. “ok, I can do this.” There are five of us in the house, one who interned at a veterinary clinic.  This can’t be that bad. Miss Kitty needed this medication and she would get it.

We were instructed to give her the first dose that evening. Luckily she was still somewhat stoned from the anesthesia she had earlier in the day, so although it was a challenge, she was more docile than usual and basically we medicated her without too much trauma.
The next night, without the benefit of sedatives coursing through her body, we had to give her another dose. This is where the fun begins.

I probably should have had the taken some anti-anxiety meds or at the very least had a glass of wine before attempting to medicate our cat.  As it was, I went about this chore completely sober and this may have been a mistake. Either the cat or I should have had something because by the time she got the last drop of antibiotic the cat was miserable and hating everyone and the kids and I were a jumble of frayed nerves.

On day 2, after we were sure Miss Kitty had eaten, we set about doing the deed. It took three of us to corner the cat in a room, because even on a good day picking up Miss Kitty is never a good idea. She is extremely affectionate, but only on her own terms.  I tried to “cuddle” her against my chest, while someone tried to pry her mouth open and inject the liquid a bit at a time so that she would get it all but not choke. I wish I had been a fly on the wall to see what this looked like. The cat squirmed, hissed and meowed, although this sounded more like a high pitched wail than an actual meow. I could not keep her claws retracted or her paws from swatting at me. Anyone thinking that it cannot really be that difficult to hold a 7lb animal still for a few brief moments, think again.  This adoring creature that curls up on me, the dog and every member of the household and purrs with content and joy on a daily basis became a hissing, screaming, bundle of frenetic energy that fought me as if I was setting her tail on fire.

She managed to escape my grasp and we had to start all over again. For a while we played a game of catch and release, or rather catch and escape. We would get a hold of the cat and she would manage to get away through a combination of claws and wriggling and ferocious hissing. By now I was thinking “forget the wine, I want a martini.”  Eventually, finally, at very long last, after chasing the cat over, under and around the furniture, we came up with a strategy that worked.  I had to basically sit over the cat, not on her but over her, grasping her two front paws firmly together while someone else held the scruff of her neck, at which point my vet-in-training pried open the cats jaws of steel and administered the life-saving meds as my 11 year old jumped up and down in the background screaming.

That was day two. Five more to go.

There has got to be a better way!

If anyone know of one please share your words of wisdom.

Now, where did I put that martini shaker?
Cat-themed gifts, jewelry and home décor at Whales & Friends.

I have taken my various animals, which have included cats, dogs, ferrets and fish, to several different vets over the years as moving long distance dictated changing veterinary offices. In my experience, there are basically 2 types of these medical professionals.

“The Animal Lover” is a person who has a house full of pets. He or she will sit on the floor to play with your dog until his tail wags with the intensity of jet propulsion and laughs when a nervous pooch accidentally pees on their shoe. They have pockets full of treats that keep your dog’s nose glued to their lab coat. You have the sense that their pockets are always full of treats even when they are not at work. When faced with a terrified cat stuck to the side of a pet carrier with claws bared, this vet will open the door of the carrier, walk to the other side of the room and pretend that the carrier and its hissing contents are not there, allowing the animal to feel a little less threatened. When the  hissing and screeching sounds subside, this type of vet will look into the carrier and speak calmly to the animal.  By the end of the visit, this very put-out pet may or may not be purring, but at least its ears are no longer pinned back in terror and murderous rage, and whatever medical attention was needed has been successfully given.  When taking your vet to “The Animal Lover” you should be prepared to wait a little longer to be seen and understand that you will be there for a while, as this type of vet is frequently running late, not because they are rude or unaware of the importance of time, but because they are conscientious enough to actually spend time talking to you about your pet. They make it a point to answer all your questions without seeming impatient, and do not want you to leave their office until they are sure that you understand your pet’s condition and treatment, and they have answered all your questions.

“Dr. Cranky” aka “Why Did I Become a Vet?” is a person that is having more than just a bad day. They are probably trying to figure out why they spent 7 years in school to care for animals. If they have not questioned this huge life decision then perhaps they should. I have met this type of vet. It was not a pleasant experience for me or my pets, and it clearly was not what the doctor wanted to be doing either. This type has zero patience for a terrified cat or nervous pooch. They run their office in an efficient manner, usually with military precision. They give you and your pet the allotted time scheduled for the appointment and if you still have concerns or questions, well too damn bad, other clients are waiting. When faced with a cat that does not want to come out of a carrier, they turn it upside down and then proceed to reach and tug at the terrified animal until they successfully get it out. That is if you consider it successful when the animal is curled up in the shape of a capitol C with its ears pinned down, its tail puffed up and it’s making noises normally only heard during a Freddy Krueger movie. I shudder to think of the repercussions of an animal peeing on this vet’s shoe. The nervous dog stays nervous the entire time the vet is in the room. Its tail stays between its legs, its head is bowed down and it shakes until your heart breaks watching. The vet appears impatient and put out during the entire visit until the very end. The end of such an appointment can be signaled when the time-share type sales pitch begins as they try to peddle whatever brand of dog food or supplements they are selling. At this point they may actually smile.

If you encounter this type of vet, grab your pet and run, do not walk, out of their office. Tell everyone you know with pets about your experience so that no other pet or owner is subjected to Dr. Cranky.

So you all know about my Riley Roo. Mumblesmom and I have shared some stories with you in previous posts. This time I want to tell you an epic tale about my loveable black lab that exemplifies the personality of this spoiled but amazing pup.  Now I know what some of you are thinking. Suddenly images of the TV show “Lassie” come to mind. You can probably picture scenes from the show where Lassie barks and a character on the show says something like “What’s that Lassie? Timmy is stuck in the abandoned mine shaft you say? Let’s go save him!” Ok the show was hokey, but for all of us in the 40-something age bracket, you probably loved the show as much as I did and begged your parents for a Rough Collie. So this story is of the “Lassie” variety, but the difference is this one is all true.

The winter before last Riley went to work with his dad (his master, not his sire). He was on a construction site at the edge of a lake. He had been going daily to this job and enjoyed sliding around the frozen lake and playing in the surrounding woods. His usual custom was to run around outside for about half an hour and then go back inside and nap near the heater. On this particular day Riley was gone for a little longer than usual. His Dad, getting a little worried, walked outside to look for our wayward dog. From the deck he could see Riley far out on the ice tugging at something on what appeared to be the surface of the lake.  He called and whistled but Riley would not come. Instead Riley began barking frantically (remember from previous posts, this is the dog that rarely barks). No matter how much Dale called, Riley refused to budge and instead continud to alternate between barking and struggling with something. 

Dale, realizing that Riley was not gong to follow command walked out on the ice. The closer he got to Riley, the more frantic Riley got, whining and barking. When Dale reached him he saw that there was another dog soaking wet and hanging over the edge of a hole in the ice.  This mystery dog in trouble was barely breathing, soaking wet and had ice crystals forming on his fur. Dale was able to get the other dog the rest of the way out of the water and carried him off the ice and to the house he was remodeling. He toweled the dog down trying to warm him and increase the poor pooch’s circulation. Riley was whining and crying the entire time. Once Dale was certain that the dog’s breathing was becoming stronger he laid him on the floor near a portable heater in a pile of blankets. As soon as Riley could reach his new friend he calmed down and laid himself across the other dog in what appeared to be an attempt to get him warm. Luckily this particular dog was wearing a collar with tags that included a phone number. Dale was able to reach the owners who were greatly relieved to hear that their precious pet, who had been missing for a few hours, was diabetic and blind, had been found. Riley did not leave this dog’s side until the owners came to retrieve him.

He then slept soundly for the remainder of the day.

Ok. I know Riley is a dog, but I must say, when Dale related this to me at the end of the day, I felt like a proud parent. I do love my dog, but I still don’t kiss him on the lips.

If you have any stories you want to share about your pet I would love to read them!

As I mentioned in my last post, I love my dog. I take him for regular veterinary checkups, just as I take my children for their annual physicals, eye exams and dental appointments.  He receives monthly treatment for flea and tick prevention as well as pills to prevent heartworm. My puppy (yes, he is an adult but I still call him “puppy”) has skin sensitivities, which seem only to bother him in the summer. We give him food supplements and medicated baths using prescription products from our vet, however his sensitivities have lead to hives and hotspots on occasion requiring more medication and treatment. All of this is EXPENSIVE! 

I, like most budget conscious people (with the price of gas averaging $4.00 per gallon, who these days can afford not to pay close attention to their budget?) have researched my pet’s medications to see if I could find them at a lower price than what I pay at my vet’s office. In doing some research, I found some websites online that offered medications with no prescription required. Some asked for a health history with a questionnaire, or offered to review and “diagnose” a health problem in order to determine the best medication for my pet. Honestly, this made me suspicious. How could a vet accurately diagnose my pet’s problem or needs without seeing him? How was I supposed to be assured that it was actually a vet reviewing the answers to the questionnaire? 

I decided to dig a little deeper into the subject. 

I found that the FDA has posted a PDF with warnings about buying pet meds online. This article helps you determine what you should look for when purchasing these medications online or from a source outside your vet’s office.

I’m all for saving money where I can, but I am not willing to risk my pet’s health in order to do so. If you are considering ordering pet medications online, please read this fact sheet so that you can make an informed decision.

Hello Everyone,

Today I want to talk to you about a subject that’s near and dear to my heart. I hope that this touches you in the way it touched me when I first heard about it.

Angel’s Gate, in Long Island, NY is a very special place. It serves as a home and hospice for abused, injured and disabled animals. Some of the animals were born with disabilities, some suffered accidents, neglect or abandonment.

It takes a special person with a heart of gold and a true love of animals to found and run such a place. Susan Marino, the founder of Angel’s Gate, gave up her lucrative career as a registered nurse specializing in pediatrics to create a loving rehabilitation and hospice center for these animals desperately in need of help and a home. Susan has since received her degree as a Veterinary Technician and completed her certification in Canine Rehabilitation. She is also a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator in the state of New York.

At Angel’s Gate there is no fear that animals will be euthanized due to their disability. They are able to live in a happy, safe and caring environment Currently, there are over 200 physically challenged or seriously ill animals living at Angels Gate. Approximately 90% of the canines are from puppy mills. Some of these animals have lived a horrible life with abusive owners and now fear most people. Susan and her team work to provide an environment of trust and compassion.

Angel’s Gate does not discriminate against any animal or any breed and will take them in for whatever reason they ended up in a situation of desperately needing help, including injured wildlife. Many animals are brought in from hospitals around the country, as well as some international veterinary centers. Through Susan’s tireless efforts, Angel’s Gate has developed recognition in the United States and abroad.

Angel’s Gate is a non-profit organization, much like the ASPCA, however they do not adopt out the animals that they take in. Once an animal has become a part of the Angel’s Gate community, they are ensured TLC for the rest of their lives. Susan, her husband and her children, do their best to ensure that these animals are looked at in a different light. This family concentrates not on an animal’s limitations because of disabilities, but instead they focus on what each animal CAN do, providing maximum quality of life.

Angel’s Gate is also an avid part of its community and school systems. Susan visits local public schools and teaches children about how important every life is. Local high school students are allowed to take part in a work/study program and earn high school credits for volunteering at the hospice. Angel’s Gate also works with a local program for emotionally challenged children that have earned the right to do community service. BOCES, a local college in the area, send their recent Veterinary Assistant graduates to Angel’s Gate to obtain further training in their field.

Susan Marino’s determination and steadfast dedication created not only a safe haven for animals, but also touched a community, and a country. Her efforts of combining care for animals in need of help and a home, and educating youth within her community serve as inspiration and a reminder that one person can make a difference. One person’s voice and conviction can galvanize others into action. We can all make a difference.

If you would like to read more about Angel’s Gate, or make a donation, visit their website at www.angelsgate.org.

Summer is fast approaching. I’m excited about the long, warm sunny days ahead. Our pets are sure to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine as much as we are. However, with the glorious days of summer also come some very real dangers for the pets we love so much. Heat.

Animal can suffer from sunburn, dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

While it’s wonderful for your pet to enjoy the fresh air, you must be certain to keep track of the temperature outside and the amount of time your pets spend in the heat . Please make sure that if you chain your pet up outside that they have adequate shade to go into when they get hot, and also make sure they have fresh water at all times so they do not dehydrate. Refill water bowls frequently with cool water. Also, remember that a spot that is shady in the morning may not necessarily be shady in the afternoon or early evening! Check on your pet often.

Another real danger in the summer time is leaving a pet unattended in a car. Often people take their dogs with them in the car thinking it will be okay to just “run in” to the grocery store to grab a few items. Without intentionally meaning any harm, an animal can be left to swelter in a car. Perhaps you had the air conditioner running and the car seems cool. Thinking you will only be a few moments, and that your dog may be fine, you head in to the store. What if there is a long line at the checkout or you run into a friend and begin chatting? Within 10 minutes the inside of your car can heat up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit; and if you think that’s hot for you, just think about how much hotter it is for your poor pet who’s got a very thick fur coat. While you are searching for a hard-to-find item or standing in line, or talking to a neighbor, your pet continues to absorb the heat. This can become a very dangerous situation very quickly. If you plan to run errands and you would like to bring your beloved pet with you, ask a friend or family member if they would like to go with you so that someone can sit in the car with them. This way, if the car starts to get too hot someone can either turn the air conditioning on or just simply open the windows to allow for some air flow in the vehicle. If you have to run to the store alone and must bring your pet with you, the best bet is to park in the shade and have the windows down while providing water to your pet in the vehicle; but understand that this is not and ideal situation and your pet could still very easily overheat.

If your pet is showing signs of heat exhaustion; panting excessively, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, or a loss of consciousness, be sure to poor cool water onto their fur coat and work it thoroughly into the fur. If your pet has lost consciousness this is considered a life-threatening situation, a true emergency, and will require immediate veterinary attention.

Leaving an animal unattended in a parked car in the heat, or chained up outside with little to no shade or water is considered animal cruelty. Should you see signs of this or any mistreatment to an animal, please report it to your local animal welfare agency, ASPCA, or the police.

Taking good care of your pets as well as yourself will help ensure a happy summer for you and your family.

MumblesMom