I am a rabid Outlander fan. I’m a rabid book fan in general. I’m almost always delighted to see a favorite book become a movie or TV show. Over the years, I’ve noticed that there are three book...

On a recent trip, I took this photograph of my family’s suitcases. Can you guess which one is mine? Did you guess “the big one”? Why? Maybe because I’m a woman, and so I must bring too many clothes?...

Space movies make me cry. The Martian, Apollo 13, Space Camp (yes, Space Camp – don’t judge me, I grew up in the 80s). It’s not the beauty of space or the analysis of the lives of human beings that...

I’ll tell you two secrets: I hate taking care of my own (including my family’s) pets I rarely let anyone else do it. This isn’t an indictment of my family members, their pets, or my pets. It’s...

In 2016, I lost my dachshund, Muggle, to Cognitive Dysfunction. This brain disease of “doggy Alzheimer’s” is one that steals not only our pets, but our own peace of mind. Just like in human medicine,...

You know how people say that they have a “work wife” or a “work husband”? Well, I have a “work Mom”. My accountant has absolutely no problem hitting me between the eyes with financial truthiness....

I can’t really express in words how much I hate to be criticized. Speaking as a human being, there is little I hate more than being told I’m doing something wrong. Deep down in my heart I detest feedback...

Talking with other veterinarians about hospice is something I do every day. I’m in a Facebook group online called Veterinarian Palliative Medicine, and I can be happy for hours comparing notes and techniques...

Every year at my week-long quilt retreat, I meet up with friends and indulge in my favorite pastime. Even though I am a doctor, and you’d think nothing about quilting could be scary, there are things...

Veterinary hospice and palliative care is my calling. That isn’t something I ever thought I would say, but there it is. I’ve devoted a large portion of my practice to helping pets at the end of their...