Visiting Vet: Diabetes in cats
I’m an old dog. There’s no denying it. I like to do things the way I have always done them. But I also like to keep current on the latest practices, and veterinary medicine...
Visiting Vet: Old, loud cats
It’s five am. My 15-year-old cat looms over me where I lie in bed, pretending I don’t see her. “Meow,” she says plaintively. I gently shrug her off. “Meee-oooooow,” she insists. She is the...
Dogcharmer: Building trust
Dear Dogcharmer,
We have a 9-month-old pit mix named Crackers, whom we got at 7 months of age, and whom we often refer to as Crackhead. He's the first dog for both my wife and...
Visiting Vet: Adventurous veterinarians
I was just flipping through a few veterinary publications looking for inspiration for this column. Yes, I still get the occasional printed professional journal, as hardcopy seems to be the only way I remember...
Helping animals find their people
The Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard has matched furry friends with loving human companions since 2009. They have helped almost 2,000 kittens, cats, dogs, guinea pigs, and rabbits find their forever homes.
Greeting me at...
Visiting Vet: Overgrooming
Jigsaw is a young adult cat who has been having a problem. He is literally tearing his hair out. Okay, technically cats have fur, not hair, but it just sounds more dramatic using that...
Visiting Vet: Hypoglycemia or insulinoma?
Lulu, a sweet 9-year-old setter, came into my office recently. “I think there might be something wrong with her hind legs,” her owner said. A week previously they had been out for a walk...
Dogcharmer: ‘I shall not pass’
Dear Dogcharmer Tom,
Our 2-year-old Dalmatian, Lara, suddenly developed a crazy fear of going out the door to our two-acre fenced yard. And it's not the yard; she'll enter at either of the two other...
Visiting Vet: Feline intestinal parasites
“I just found two worms on the floor by Savoy’s food bowl,” the woman on the phone said, clearly upset. We’re used to that. I have had people page me late at night because...
Dogcharmer: Reharmonizing with dogs
Dear Dogcharmer readers,
Some thoughts about responsibility: In the Bible’s Book of Genesis, God gave us dominion over all living things. In the U.S., we kill more than 600,000 dogs a year in shelters. “When...
Visiting Vet: Avian influenza is near
Sigh. I have been avoiding this in hopes that it would go away. But no. It’s here, and it will almost certainly get worse.
I’m not talking politics (though don’t get me started). I’m talking...
Visiting Vet: Leptospirosis vaccines
When I was a child, I don’t remember there being anti-vaxers. I do remember the early equivalent of robo-calls, when the John Birch Society barraged our town with their anti-fluoridation campaign. Although I am...
Visiting Vet: Why was Wolfy not eating?
I had known Wolfy most of his life. He was a feisty old Pomeranian mix, and when his family said he wasn’t acting like himself, I wasn’t too worried. At least not at first....
Visiting Vet: Holiday hazards
It feels like all the stories I have to tell right now are sad stories. It’s the “holiday season” — a time when veterinarians traditionally face many hard situations. Families who want to keep...
Dogcharmer: Pet me, pet me, pet me
Dear Dogcharmer,
I have a 2-year-old Airedale named Winston. He’s loving, smart, and a pleasure to live with, except when anyone comes to visit. Then he’s really annoying, a real pain in the ass. It’s...
Visiting Vet: The good new days
I probably spend too much time on social media, but I really enjoy connecting with veterinarians all across the country, or even around the world. There are Facebook groups for vet moms, Jewish vets,...
Misty Meadows: Humans, horses, connections
Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center’s website home page proclaims, “Changing lives, one horse experience at a time.” The program on this Center’s breathtakingly beautiful property offers transformative experiences that go far beyond learning how...
Dogcharmer: It’s mine
Dear Dogcharmer,
I have a three-year-old PBGV and a three-year-old Lab mix, Gina and Phoebe, both females. They were adopted as puppies at the same time, and are as close and happy with each other...
Visiting Vet: Acid reflux in dogs
Fifteen years ago I had a patient named Bianca — an exceptionally nice Portuguese water dog with an exceptionally dedicated owner. I was at that point in my career where I was confident of...
Engaging with our kitties
I’ve had cats my entire adult life, and Sprout is my current lovebug. I adore her. I pet, brush, and feed her. Although she likes scrunched-up, brightly colored pipe cleaners, her favorite toy is...