There’s always been a soft spot in my heart for cheesy action movies. Think: Robert Downey Junior in a metal suit, Bruce Willis in a skyscraper, or Arnold Schwarzenegger anywhere except a political office. I love bad dialogue, implausible situations, and good guys blowing things up. I think anyone who has ever watched that… Read More
All I Need to Know in Vet Med I Learned From Yoda
I live in a Star Wars Fandom household. I’m pretty sure the main reason my Gen-X, Comic-Con loving husband agreed to have kids was that so he would have an excuse to buy every Star Wars Lego in existence and drag his ancient Millennium Falcon action figure out of the garage. He tried, unsuccessfully, to… Read More
Stop Saying Party Hat! Muzzle is Not a Dirty Word
Sometimes when asked how work is going, I answer, “Not too bad. I still have all ten fingers.” It’s my poor attempt at a joke, but I’ve realized that a lot of people unfamiliar with veterinary medicine ask if that’s really a risk of the job. Although we have countless wonderful pets that walk through… Read More
An Open Letter to Perfection
Hello, Perfection. We’re old adversaries, you and me. You’re what I was supposed to be, remember? You bastard. You were what they expected out of me for over thirty years, and I realized eventually that I couldn’t deliver. Lord knows I tried, of course – even as a young child, I wanted to… Read More
Tugs at My Heart Strings
by Robin Dettman, DVM Each day I come to work I think I truly have been blessed To work with dogs and cats and more A joy I have confessed. And though I love my job its true to see God’s creatures well There are those who touch my heart in ways that… Read More
Why ‘Fake It ‘Till You Make it’ Is Terrible Advice
My senior year of veterinary school, an oncology resident I respected a great deal sat us all down and told us his number one piece of advice: “No matter what you tell a client,” he said, “Make sure you say it with utter conviction- even if you’re not sure you’re right.” We all nodded, wide-eyed… Read More