By: Tasha McNerney BS, CVT Recently I had the privilege of running the anesthesia on my friend/coworker’s dog, Maggie, undergoing surgery to repair an ACL tear. The anesthesia itself was uneventful and – dare I say it? – even boring. (Side note 1: It’s a good thing when the anesthetic event is boring; that means… Read More
Care
8 Secret Signs Your Pet is in Pain
Since pets can’t just speak up and tell us when they’re experiencing pain, we have to keep a lookout for clues. This week, Dr. Andy shares 8 subtle signs that your fur baby may be struggling. Read More
Are You Loving Your Pet to Death?
In the winter of 2010, I was living in Leesburg, Va., with my wife and our 2-year-old daughter. When a snowstorm blanketed the area, my wife and I decided it was time for our daughter’s first snow experience. First time parents that we were, we bundled her up like a little Michelin man, wrapped in… Read More
Are Annual Exams Really Necessary?
Last year, in a much-discussed New York Times article titled “Let’s (Not) Get Physicals,” a physician reporter named Elisabeth Rosenthal argued that annual physical examinations for human patients are pointless. She cited a Canadian government task force recommendation to abandon annual physical examinations because they are “nonspecific,” “inefficient” and “potentially harmful” (in that they may lead… Read More
Veterinarian Confession: “I Don’t Brush My Dog’s Teeth”
Mrs. Griffith sighed as she gently separated her youngest daughter and oldest Labrador Retriever. She stepped between them and over a discarded pacifier to look me directly in the eye. “Really?” she asked. “Do you brush your dog’s teeth every day?” It was a moment of truth. She didn’t ask me what I recommend. She asked… Read More
Survival Guide to Appointment Pile-Ups
Originally published: Exceptional Veterinary Team, May 16, 2012 It was 11:15 am and my waiting room contained my 10:20 appointment (who had just shown up), my 11:20 wellness examination, an emergency “squinting dog,” and a woman desperate to talk with me about whether I thought her sister’s dog might have Cushing’s disease. If you’ve… Read More