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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
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...
Pet Festival
“Having a party, dancing on the ceiling” was playing on the radio the other morning and it is still running through my head as I try to write. Having a Festival (apologies to Sam Cooke) We're havin' a festival Celebratin’ the wildlife. Rehabbed by Guardian At the Med...
Animal Care
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: Snuggling
Snuggling with your pet is a common and cherished activity for many pet owners. This article explores the benefits and downfalls of this practice, with a special mention of Foxtrot, your best snuggling Labrador. Snuggling with your pet significantly strengthens the...
Emotional ER shifts
As a veterinarian, my days are often a roller coaster of emotions, challenges, and occasional triumphs. Working at the Animal ER on Memorial Day was a poignant reminder of the extremes this profession can reach, filled with both heart-wrenching lows and joyous highs....
Animal Diseases
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...
Coprophagia
My yellow lab, Whiskey, eats poop. Technically is it known as coprophagia, the consuming of fecal matter. And it is a frequent complaint of dog owners. It can cause gastrointestinal (GI) upset, intestinal parasitic infection, transmission of infectious disease and...
Cats are not little dogs
Ember
I have a new roommate. She purrs. Actually, she has been here for almost two weeks and it is the first time that she has been in my office. The first week she spent in an oxygen cage while it was touch and go. Perhaps I should start at the beginning. I was...
Cat Fights
Saturday morning, nine A. M. There are two appointments scheduled. Both are cats. Buddy was just neutered four weeks ago, so we see him first. Besides Mow Mow’s parents are new clients and still filling out their paperwork. Buddy had gotten loose a couple of times and...
Cats Are Not Little Dogs
In veterinary medicine, we have to treat many species. There are too many variations and too many species to learn each species separately. Veterinarians are taught what the similarities or differences are so all of the knowledge can be stored to use....
Creepy Crawly Parasites
Heartworms
The recent rains will produce swarms of mosquitos. Getting the pups out of the truck, I paused and slapped my arm. A mosquito died from the single slap. As I removed them from my arm, I thought it would be a banner year for mosquito born diseases and heartworms. But...
Vaccines
I had a shingles vaccination Saturday. My shingles vaccine reaction started that afternoon. A vaccine is a weak or small part of the disease that trains the immune system. The idea is that it prepares the body to fight the disease without the disease symptoms. I do...
Vaccines
Last week, Matt drove me to Charleston to get a yellow fever vaccination. I need a booster vaccine, because this fall, I am going to northern Uganda in Africa to vaccinate and neuter village dogs, and yellow fever is one of the vaccines that I needed to...
Wildlife and exotics
Exotic Con
Katie and I just got back from Denver at Exotics Con. Leading exotic veterinarians from all over the world get together to advance veterinary medicine and surgery in exotic animal medicine. In the early years of exotic medicine, the organizations met at separate...
Galapagos Raptors
Yes, I went to the Galapagos and wanted to see blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas and giant tortoises, but I also really hoped that I would see some raptors or birds of prey. I was lucky to see a few. I saw a Galapagos hawk nesting on the first island. It is closely...
Marine Iguanas
The first animals we saw in the Galapagos were the up close bright orange crabs and sea lions, but I had gone hoping to see blue-footed boobies, Galapagos tortoises, marine iguanas, and perhaps if I was lucky a Galapagos hawk. The sea lions and crabs seemed to be on...
Vet Life and It’s not just a vet life
Pet article: Cavern diving
I just got back from a short trip to Mexico. I was in Tulum, where a famous set of Mayan ruins are located. I didn’t have time to see the surface ruins, but I did explore some of the caverns where Mayan artifacts and human remains have been found. In role-playing game...
Pet article: The Trip
After an incredible week in Belize, I returned home this past Sunday, feeling both fulfilled and exhausted. The journey back was not without its hiccups, as my flight from Houston was delayed. With little choice, I opted for a last-minute, budget-friendly hotel and...
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...
Out and About
Blue Green Algae
I am camping this weekend. Although camping with a kitchen, bathroom and air conditioning does seem like cheating, I am old enough to have earned it. It has been a busy week! Major medical cases, intensive care cases, taxes, employees headed to college, new employees...
Found Dog
I was talking to my best friend when I pulled in the driveway and saw ears and a tail. It was dark and the front of the truck blocked the body, but I was pretty sure, but not positive, it was a medium to large dog. We are a bit off the road and away from...
GA5k
Two weeks to go! Guardian Animal Medical Center is hosting a 5K run and 1-mile dog walk on Saturday, May 18. This will be our fourth year. We decided at our roles and goals meeting at the New Year that it would be an annual thing. When the talk of...
Howlidays
Pet article: Christmas at the Animal ER
Christmas is often envisioned as a day of joy, filled with family, gifts, and warmth. For those of us working in emergency veterinary care, however, it’s another story—a mix of heartbreak, resilience, and the determination to help those who need us most. This year,...
Pet Article: Behavioral Euthanasia
Behavioral euthanasia—a term that often evokes a deep and complex emotional response—is one of the hardest decisions a pet owner or veterinarian may ever face. As veterinarians, we deal with life and death daily, but certain cases cut deeper than others. These are the...
2024 November Gratitude
As the holiday season envelops us in its warm embrace, it’s a time for reflection, connection, and celebration. Christmas has a unique way of uniting communities, bringing families closer together, and reminding us of the beauty in giving—not just presents, but our...