There is a hypothesis, made popular in the book “Born to Run,” that humans evolved to run long distances. You see, around 2 million years ago our ancestors brains grew to unprecedented sizes. Brains use a lot of energy—the kind of energy that comes from eating meat. There is little evidence to support hominid’s ability… Read More
What Grey’s Anatomy Taught Me About Vet Life
In the midst of the emotional trials of the start of my small animal rotating internship, I needed a way to escape on my days off. The siren song of binge watching mindless television was inescapable, and I turned to that old standby Grey’s Anatomy. During vet school, my friends and I watched Grey’s –… Read More
Christmas Miracles Do Happen- Here’s Proof
“Are you sure?” I replied when I found out. Tears rolled down my face. This had never happened in my career. How could I tell Tanner’s family? I could not believe this was happening. It’s one of the hardest parts of my jobs as a veterinary cancer specialist. Clients who want to treat their dog… Read More
The Surprising Reason Pet Euthanasia Increases During the Holidays
Ask any veterinarian when they euthanize the most pets, and they will tell you “during the Winter holidays.” In fact, Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, the nation’s largest provider of in-home end of life care for pets, will see an increase of 20-50% in home visits for euthanasia or hospice care the weeks following both… Read More
December Dumpster Days: What to Do When the Holidays Stink
2015 was the worst year of my life. (Well, until 2016, but hold that thought.) It started innocently enough, with a series of talks about hospice and OneHealth and how working with death in veterinary medicine made us better equipped to handle other deaths in life, then it ended with the old adage of God… Read More
A Python’s Adventure in Midtown Manhattan
The following is an excerpt from the new book Unlikely Companions: Adventures of an Exotic Animal Doctor (or, What Friends Feathered, Furred, and Scaled Have Taught Me About Life and Love by Laurie Hess, DVM with Samantha Rose. “DID I TELL you I found my python?” my intern, Lauren, had asked me. Lauren’s missing ball python, Cecil, had… Read More