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Speaking of pets | Animal Care | Animal Diseases | Cats are not little dogs | Creepy Crawly Parasites | Wildlife and exotics | Vet Life and It’s not just a vet life | Out and About | Howlidays
Speaking of pets
Euthanasia Aftermath
I often stay late to catch up on admin stuff during the quiet of the evening, but today the walls of my clinic echo with the heavy silence of loss. It's a silence that reverberates through every corner, a stark reminder of the emptiness left behind by Kibbler's...
Ranger
Eight years ago, I walked in with Ranger for the last time. One of my favorite things is the feeling of walking into Guardian Animal Medical Center in the morning. I park far away from to door to allow clients to park closer. I walk past as the sun is just coming up...
Covid at 18 Months
When I was in the Coast Guard we had a mimeographed cartoon that would periodically circulate through the wardroom. It basically said we have been doing so much with so little for so long that we are now capable of doing the impossible. I feel that now. We are 18...
Animal Care
Pet article: Plastic pollution part 3
What can you do? Based on my past two articles, people have been asking me what they can do to help combat plastic pollution. While the issue can seem overwhelming, there are many simple, effective actions each of us can take to make a difference. As pet owners, we...
Pet Article: Microplastics (part 2 of 3 on plastic pollution)
Microplastics: The Hidden Hormone Disruptors and Their Role in Global Obesity Microplastics have become a pervasive problem in our environment, infiltrating the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. While much of the focus has been on their physical...
Pet Article: Leave the Wildlife In the Wild
As the weather warms up and nature flourishes, it’s not uncommon to encounter wildlife in need. At Guardian Animal Medical, we frequently see well-meaning individuals bring in baby animals and other wildlife that, in most cases, do not require intervention. While your...
Animal Diseases
Cushings
Piper, Max and Fifi were all scheduled for all day cushing’s tests Thursday. Piper and Fifi almost assuredly have cushing’s disease, but Max’s condition is a little weird. I want to make sure he doesn’t have cushing’s. Or at least, that I don’t miss it. Many of his...
Auto-Immune-Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA)
In the exam room, Romeo looked bad. A seven-year-old large breed dog of mixed heritage, he was overweight and superficially (and to his owner) looked in good condition. But on my closer examination, he looked bad. Really bad. On my professional exam, Romeo’s heart...
Kick Cancer’s Butt
Shhh! Don’t tell. We are having cake Tuesday. It seemed appropriate since we are celebrating. We even designed and ordered shirts: green shirts with a wiggly dog butt. The celebration is a tad bittersweet, but it is a celebration regardless. Kick Cancer’s Butt We put...
Cats are not little dogs
FIP Plan
I first met Lola on the kitten plan. She was a Norwegian Forest cat and had come from a cattery in Wisconsin. This was my first experience with a Norwegian Forest cat. Known as the Skogkatt in its native Norway, they are large, semi-long-haired cats with a rugged...
Cat Friendly
I have been working with a new software to create new exam room videos. While I think the animation adds something to it, this is the text of one that I have been working on for the last few weeks. Cats are amazing creatures and they make wonderful pets, but there are...
Ember Update
Remember Ember? Seems she has a fan club. Ember was the cat that was in the house fire and wasn’t found for a couple of days afterward. She has been through a lot. There was more than a week in the oxygen cage. The heat and smoke damaged her lungs and they didn’t work...
Creepy Crawly Parasites
Chiggers
Oh, my, I itch! I got into a batch of chiggers yesterday, and I’m not happy about it! They can be anywhere outside. They love moist, grassy fields, forests, and even lawns. They are often where animals travel like lakes and streams. Chiggers are in the same family as...
Parvo
It is parvo season. One of the local rescues has had a few pups at the vet and it is fall. ‘Tis the season. Parvo is a very common disease year-round, but spring and fall seem to be even worse. Puppies are most commonly hit, but that is only because dogs get it the...
Ticks
After doing a bit of yard work, I am reminded that while ticks are not my favorite animal, they certainly are amazing. Like many animals, ticks start as an egg. The tick that hatches from the egg is a larva and only has six legs. Counting legs is one of the ways to...
Wildlife and exotics
Pet Article: Leave the Wildlife In the Wild
As the weather warms up and nature flourishes, it’s not uncommon to encounter wildlife in need. At Guardian Animal Medical, we frequently see well-meaning individuals bring in baby animals and other wildlife that, in most cases, do not require intervention. While your...
Pet article: The Hidden Lives of Turtles: Rehabilitation and the Importance of Letting Them Be Wild
When a water turtle named Timmy was brought into our wildlife rehabilitation center, it was clear he had been through a harrowing ordeal. Found on the side of a busy highway, Timmy had been struck by a car. His shell was cracked, and he was also suffering from a...
Of Falcons, Quails, and Recovery: A Journey through Unexpected Adventures
Recovery from knee replacement surgery often brings unforeseen challenges and moments of unexpected joy. At three weeks and a day post-operation, my journey to full mobility has been a slower ascent than anticipated. Yet, amidst the hurdles, there have been tales of...
Vet Life and It’s not just a vet life
Pet article: Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a significant concern for both humans and animals, particularly dogs. Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted through the bite of infected black-legged ticks (commonly known as deer ticks), Lyme disease is prevalent in many parts...
Pet article: Heartworm Disease
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition that affects not only dogs but also cats and ferrets in the Kentucky and Ohio region. This disease, caused by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis, is transmitted through mosquito bites and can lead to...
The Cost of Compassion: A Veterinarian’s Perspective
Friday evening, just as the clinic was winding down for the day, a distraught woman arrived at Guardian Animal Medical Center carrying a dying kitten. She claimed her dog had accidentally sat on the kitten, but as we began our examination, it became clear there was...
Out and About
Pet-Friendly Travel: Exploring the World with Your Furry Companion
I’m packing to head to a conference. I am lucky to have a safe place for the fur kids, but we have traveled with them in the past. As more and more people consider their pets as beloved family members, the trend of traveling with furry companions has soared to new...
5K and Busy Day
It is not a typical Saturday for me today. We got up early to be at Guardian Animal for our annual 1-mile paw walk and our 5K race. Some of us were up earlier than others so we had to hustle to get everything in place for the 8:00 am start. It was a warm day even in...
Guardian Animal Medical Center 5K
I think everyone is starting to go a little stir crazy! Things are starting to open up, but it is clear that the world is not the way that it was. Our two teams have reintegrated, but social distancing, masks and curbside will be in our future for a while. To be...
Howlidays
Pet article: Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a significant concern for both humans and animals, particularly dogs. Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted through the bite of infected black-legged ticks (commonly known as deer ticks), Lyme disease is prevalent in many parts...
Pet article: Heartworm Disease
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition that affects not only dogs but also cats and ferrets in the Kentucky and Ohio region. This disease, caused by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis, is transmitted through mosquito bites and can lead to...
Pet article: Baby, it’s cold outside
As temperatures plummet to a frigid 7°F this weekend, it’s critical to ensure the safety and comfort of outdoor animals in your community, including both cats and dogs. Bitterly cold weather can be life-threatening for animals exposed to the elements, but there are...