There, I said it. I’ve actually been thinking it for a long time. I don’t want to hear client stories unrelated to their pet’s visits. I have no desire to understand their family’s tangled web of conflict. Much less take on the task of caring enough to serve as the peacemaker. I’m your veterinarian, I’m… Read More
Blog
My Dog Died When I Was Away on Holiday
Yes, to me the unexpected happened, a pet owners’ worst nightmare. I was going on a 2-week vacation to the Caribbean with my husband. A long-awaited mental break after an exhausting year. Our dog Jack always went next door to my neighbors, literally his home away from home. I dropped him off, gave him a… Read More
The Difference Between Pleasing and Serving in Veterinary Medicine
Hello, my name is Ericka and I’m a recovering people-pleaser. Are you a people pleaser? Have you ever said those words in reference to yourself during an interview? Like most women, I was taught as a child to do as I was told, to act in a way that would please others and to always… Read More
10 Ways to Love Your Dog this Valentine’s Day, Without the Calories!
There is an epidemic going on. It’s an epidemic of high caloric proportions. Holidays are often a time where food is seen as love and the number of calories being given to our beloved dogs can skyrocket. Unfortunately, holiday calories (yes, even Valentine’s) do count for our pups – as much as we wish they… Read More
I’m Allergic to My Patients, But That’s OK
Growing up, I was the kid who was constantly outside – running around in the grass with my dog, eating dirt, rubbing dandelions on the tip of my nose to be Rudolph the Yellow-Nosed Reindeer… and yet, by the time I left elementary school I was allergic to trees, grass, dust and cats. Once I… Read More
Can You Care Too Much? How to Draw the Line So You Can Keep Going
With trembling hands and red eyes, the veterinarian looked at me pleadingly. “I have 12 pets I never even meant to have. There are IV bags that just stay hung up in my bathroom. I work all day, and then I go home and take care of animals I took in because clients couldn’t pay… Read More