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, we tend not to give brain diseases credit for being diseases. Even as a trained hospice veterinarian, I kept thinking… Read More
The Toxic Relationship Everyone Is In Right Now
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. She’s everything I could possibly want in an accountant: wise, analytical, invested in me and my business. But she’s also… Read More
Perfection and Feedback Don’t Mix
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 that is anything but positive. Like most veterinary professionals, I am a perfectionist, and having my… Read More
Why We Should Stop Trying for a Perfect Euthanasia
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 with my colleagues, knowing they will understand my struggles. Recently we had a heartfelt discussion about getting over the anxiety of providing… Read More
What Appliqué Taught Me About Teaching Students
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 I’m reluctant to try. Appliqué (APP-lik-ay) was one of those things. I had made a star quilt for a… Read More
5 End of Life Myths About Pets – BUSTED
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 lives. Along with pets, I also support their people through the worst part of pet ownership. As I’ve… Read More