Thursday, May 15, 2025

Pets & Animals

Visiting Vet: Do dogs get poison ivy?

I dragged the hose across the yard in a halfhearted attempt to start cleaning out our long-neglected shed. Critters have chewed holes in the roof and floor, and made nests in the open bags...

Dogcharmer: George won’t come when called

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Dear Dogcharmer,  We have the cutest little Westy imaginable. His name is George. We got him when he was 3 months old. He's now 4½ months old, and hasn't come to us once when he's...

Animal owners first aid education event

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The Island's shortage of large and small animal vets is critical and well-covered (bit.ly/MVT_VetShortage). Coupled with the steady increases in year-round residents, the number of new pets exceeds the number existing local practices can...

Visiting Vet: Captain Jack

Captain Jack was a bad cat. Even as a tiny kitten, found abandoned in a church alleyway in Worcester, he had cattitude. A little, long-haired tabby, he strutted in his cage at the city...

Dogcharmer: Is it just loud noises?

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Dear Dogcharmer, We recently adopted a mix named Sheila. She's about 2 years old, and acts normal most of the time. However, sometimes she just shuts down all of a sudden. She'll hide under a...

Visiting Vet: Aslan in his old age

When I was in veterinary school, long, long ago, I had a professor who used to say, “Old age is not a disease.” What he meant was that when evaluating senior animals who weren’t...

Visiting Vet: Dog aggression — take it seriously

I’m running late. April 7 was the start of National Dog Bite Prevention Week, a project sponsored by a coalition of the American Veterinary Medical Association, State Farm Insurance, the Insurance Information Institute, and...

Visiting Vet: Vaccines work

The pandemic has taught us many things … from how to “Zoom” to how little many Americans understand science, especially the concept of herd immunity. Now, I know you may not like to think of...

Dogcharmer: Conan’s not calm

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Dear Dog Charmer, Our dog Conan is a one-year-old German Shepherd who is very friendly with people and impossibly aggressive when it comes to other dogs. At 90 pounds, I can't hold him back any...

Visiting Vet: No lilies for kitties

Easter is right around the corner. For religious Christians, Easter is a time for celebrating their faith. For more secular folks, it is still a time of celebration. It’s spring. It’s a time for...

Tails from the heart

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Married couple Cay Piasecka and Heather Mangione moved to the Island in 2019, and are the happy owners of Al Fresco Tails, a dog-walking and pet-sitting company. According to their website, the idea for...

Visiting Vet: Bored cats can overeat

A few years ago at her annual appointment, I mentioned to Augusta’s owner that the cat was a little chubby. OK, maybe I said fat. Having battled my own weight all my life, I...

Dogcharmer: Potcake is great

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Dear Dogcharmer, We adopted a Lab mix named Potcake six months ago. She's now 9 months old, and fine in every way, except for her constant chewing on furniture — wood and cloth. Her favorites...

Visiting Vet: Gemma’s dilemma

Thursday is my day providing “Urgent Veterinary Care” on the Vineyard. Despite the fact that I haven’t taken on new clients in years, for a 24-hour period each week, I try to assist anyone...

Dogcharmer: ‘Go find!’

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Dear Dogcharmer, If I wanted to get a puppy into search and rescue, how would I start? And how great are their noses, really? Your answer to my questions will really be appreciated! Martin Dear Martin, As to...

Visiting Vet: The saga of heartworm meds

In 1977, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first canine heartworm preventive medication. I was just starting veterinary school. The drug was diethylcarbamazine, known simply as DEC, and it had to be...

Visiting Vet: A heart murmur can mean many things

Smurf is a classic example of what veterinarians call an LWD. That’s a Little White Dog. He happens to be a Maltese–toy poodle cross, but LWDs can be any pup fitting the description: bichon...

Dogcharmer: Learn to use your retractable leash

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Dear Dogcharmer, What are your thoughts about retractable leashes? I keep getting rope burns! Scalded Hand Dear Scalded Hand, I've been asked your question many times. First things first — a retractable leash is a one-hand device. Period....

Visiting Vet: On call

I wasn’t too concerned about being short-staffed, even though it was my turn on call for “urgent care.” A small group of veterinary practices here rotate providing basic emergency services the best we can....

Dogcharmer: The Sheltie puppy and the cats

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Dear Dogcharmer: We have a new 3-month-old Sheltie, Michael, we rescued, and while he's a sweet boy, our two cats haven't warmed up to him yet. He seems to think they make great toys, but...