Here’s a hypothetical for you: You bring your new kitten to your vet for her final well-kitten visit. She’s due for her rabies vaccine, too. The visit proceeds smoothly while the veterinarian performs her physical and answers all your questions. Then you’re done. But where’s the rabies? 

Your vet explains that she gave it while you were discussing things and assumed you saw her give it. You...

This has been a tough week for young felines in my parts. Litters of unwanteds stray into oncoming traffic and fare poorly against backyard dogs. Their eyes drip mucoid tears as they hunch wih backs against one another awaiting their next handout. 

At work we received ten this week: One sweet-as-sugar seven month-old with a litter in her belly. A three week-old litter of three healthy fat...

Got a ferret? Guinea pigs? Fish? Snakes? Goats? Chickens?

Consider that plans are in the works to limit their inclusion into the arsenal of accepted “pet” species. Wild, non-native species are especially targeted. This we know. Some of these rules seem fair. Some do not. And we live with the unfair manifestations of these emerging laws, fighting the regs tooth and nail, if we must. 

Consider...

I have a job so I shouldn’t be complaining. But here comes another one of Dr. K’s “It’s the economy, Stupid!” rants, anyway...

This past week I performed one extensive feline dental (with extractions), undertook a canine spay (with multiple, retained puppy teeth extractions) and treated a dog with severe skin disease...among a multitude of other basic veterinary service offerings.

These...

I refer many of my patients to specialists. I consider them my partners in practice, people who bring more to my patients than I can offer. They’re tools every veterinarian needs to learn how to wield wisely on their patients’ behalf. 

But sometimes, they’re our spouses, friends and lovers, too. Which can sometimes raise eyebrows, along with some very obvious ethical concerns. 

After all,...

It’s been two weeks today since Sophie’s been gone. I’ve been working hard, away for a spell (a weekend vacation I thought she’d attend), and immersing myself in random books and old miniseries.

Though lots of intense work keeps me busy, The Book Thief and The Shadow of the Wind were superb, my cooking time has skyrocketed (all these mangoes) and early Battlestar Galactica has it’s...

I have a great gift idea for someone who wants to make their favorite veterinarian very happy. Find them a ginormous, computerized, veterinary drug interaction program. Best yet, make it one that can fit both in the palm of her hand (ideally on her iPhone) and tie into her office’s computerized invoicing function. 

Anything to keep her from making mistakes. Please. Something to make it easy...

I’ve never been comfortable with this situation (and who would be?):

A client walks in with a pet you haven’t seen in three years. His coat is a carpet of fleas. He’s lost half his body weight. His teeth are rotting out of his skull. The client confesses the pet’s been sick for three months, “but he only just got really bad this week and my wife doesn’t want to pay any money if you can’t...

After reading your comments from yesterday’s post on the cost of routine dentistry, I got to thinking: Do we humans often treat our pets better than we treat ourselves?

Don’t bother answering; I know the truth. Most serious pet people are too willing to put off their on medical issues in favor of their pets.’ 

Since I’m a veterinarian who makes her living from making sure her patients get...

Sometimes things in veterinary medicine have a way of going wrong...very wrong. Want a sampling of human errors and stupid veterinarian tricks? Here’s a bunch for your amusement:

1-The blood bath

Ever seen your vet do this one? Take a large syringe designed to sample a full twelve cc’s of blood. After you’re almost done, pull just a little harder on the plunger...