Colby and Bleu make the sprint for dinner again and again in this great time lapse video that starts when they are 9 weeks old.
Watch Out! Dogs and Home Improvement
One of our viewers has some home improvements coming up and wants to know what to be aware of to keep her dog safe. Here’s my response:
Also, here are a few more you might want to be aware of: Working on Home Improvement Projects? 7 Pet Hazards to Look Out For
General Veterinary Hospital: Dog Gas
If the drama from this episode doesn’t leave you with a red face, sniffles and tears then the subject will. We’re talking about gas and what you can do to survive if your pet seems determined to happily chase you out of your own home.
You won’t want to pass on this installment of… General Veterinary Hospital!
(And if you missed previous episodes, check out the doc’s take on Reverse Sneezin and Tapeworms!)
Jurassic Weenie
In this groundbreaking new summer blockbuster, science goes TOO FAR! SEE the horrifying adorableness. FEEL the ground tremble as the front legs approach, then some quiet time, and then again with the back legs. EXPERIENCE the wee-on-the-floor-inducing excitement that is… Jurassic Weenie!
How Do I Keep Cats Off The Counter?
Sometimes it seems like the whole concept of cat obedience is an oxymoron. Training cats is tricky, and it requires patience. Still, you can convince your cat to change certain behaviors like jumping up on counter tops. Here’s how:
I hope that helps with any feline counter surfers you may be dealing with. If you want to read more about keeping cats out of places they shouldn’t be, my friend Dr. Marty Becker has a great article on the subject. Good luck!
The Passing of Our Colleague Dr. Austin Ayars
On Sunday, June 7, veterinarian Austin Ayars died in an accident on his family farm. I’ve never even met him, but I have struggled with his death ever since I heard about it.
Dr. Ayars was only 34 years old when he passed away. One of my good friends went to veterinary school with him and says he was a wonderful man. He laughed a lot, sang goofy songs, and was passionate about two things: his wife (a veterinary technician) and veterinary medicine. His two children are both under the age of 5, with a third due to arrive in July.
By all accounts, Dr. Ayars was deeply happy being a vet, a husband, and a father. He was one of the “good guys” who give veterinarians the great reputation we all enjoy. Our world seems a little bit darker without him in it.
To be honest, his death has affected me so profoundly because it lays bare a lie that I tell myself all day, every day. Maybe you do the same. The lie goes like this: “I will live until I’m ready to die.”
Dr. Ayars could have been you or me. He was blessed with so many gifts, relationships, and accomplishments. His tragic passing is a stark reminder that nothing in this life is guaranteed.
So often, we act as if our “real life” will begin in the future. We tell ourselves, “When I retire, I’ll be happy,” or “When I pay off this debt, I’ll have it made,” or “When I have kids, I’ll be fulfilled.”
No matter how compassionate or gifted or happy or loved we are, all that is certain is this moment. No matter how bright our future is, the one thing we have right now — the thing we must not take for granted — is the present.
As we all reflect on the passing of a kind, generous, young family man, there are two things I hope you will consider.
First, A YouCaring campaign has been set up to raise money to help Dr. Ayars’ family after his passing. Any donations will be passed directly to Dr. Ayars’ wife, Adrienne, to help with expenses in the coming months and with the burden of suddenly being a single mother and young widow. If you would like to give, you can do so here:
Second, you owe it to yourself to be happy today. There is great truth to the saying “Life is what happens when we’re busy making other plans.” Too many of us — myself included — live our lives feeling that we are preparing for the future rather than embracing the present. Let’s all take a moment to count our blessings, be grateful for what we have, and enjoy those we love and care about.
Every day is a gift, and nothing about the future is certain. In keeping the Ayars family in our thoughts and prayers, we pay respect to our colleagues and we remind ourselves that life is happening right now, today, for all of us.