I was about to say, “It’s that time of year again.” But while spring is the time that many of us start thinking about tick prevention, in Kingsville the reality is that we should be thinking about it all year round. Although March is National Tick Awareness Month (#ticktalk), as […]
“Rounds” is my favourite part of the day. Rounds actually used to be my LEAST favourite part of the day … back when I was a student. ‘“Rounds” was when we all gathered around “cage-side” (students, interns, residents and faculty alike) to discuss an ICU case. It was an […]
CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses suicide and suicidal feelings that some readers may find disturbing. This one will be brief and to the point. This one will be to tell you about something I think you should know about. This one is for Andrea. I’ve been thinking a lot about […]
I think a lot of vets have a love-hate relationship with dermatology. It can be very satisfying to make a diagnosis, come up with a plan, and work with a pet parent to put that plan into place. Seeing a previously uncomfortable animal get some relief is what we are […]
Have you ever considered … NOT owning a pet? Considering the forum, and what I do for a living, this may seem like a strange recommendation. You don’t have to sell me on the counter argument: the many documented benefits of pet ownership. As someone who arguably (maybe not so […]
A veterinary appointment consists of three main parts: 1) the history: the owner’s presentation of the chief complaint – their time to explain in detail the problem they have noticed and what has been going on 2) the doctor’s physical examination and/or diagnostic tests 3) the doctor’s discussion of medical […]
Spring has finally sprung! Our windows are open, our walks are longer, and … the parasites are out! While I am here to tell you that, in Kingsville, we should not completely forget about parasite prevention in the “colder” months (with days in December, January and February above freezing), spring […]
Do you brush your cat’s teeth? … and other wild questions I ask everyday Most of my clients look at me like I’ve got exactly three heads when I ask them if they brush their cat’s (or dog’s, but especially cat’s) teeth. I know — it seems like a crazy […]
It’s easy to forget what living with a kitten is like after living with an adult, and then senior cat for many years. But it certainly all comes rushing back at 4 a.m. when they are barreling up and down the hall “like a herd of elephants,” knocking a cherished […]
When I was in veterinary school, there was a group of us that would head down to the UC on Wednesday nights for trivia (I know, I know, we were nerds). Don’t worry, there was also beer involved … so it all balances out, I think? (Shout out to Trivia […]
I’ll be honest, it has been hard to get back to the column lately. For a whole host of reasons … but not the least, the recent focus on vet med in the media over the last month or so. It was weighing heavy on me — whether to talk […]
Aaaaahhh … the sweet smell of the cottage air, the sound of waves crashing on the beach, or the distinctive “clunk” of the landing gear getting tucked away … Whatever you associate with travel, relaxation and getaway, it’s pretty well guaranteed you have been contemplating it lately! Whether actively planning […]
It’s official … it’s foreign body season … I mean, BBQ season! While we all hope to get back to having outdoor social gatherings soon, MY thoughts this week went to all the hazards we will be exposing our pets to with this change. Summer (also known as foreign body […]
I see fleas nearly every day. I see them on indoor cats, I see them on outdoor cats, and I see them on every size and shape of dog. It’s part of the territory. I am up close and personal with the skin and coats of my patients all day […]
Many of us are experiencing a level of “work-life integration” right now that is less than ideal. (Insert screaming toddler during telemedicine consult, answering emails during snack time, and letting Paw Patrol run for a few minutes longer than you should so you can finish editing … ahem … your […]
COVID-19 has changed so many aspects of veterinary medicine. Some will remain changed, improved for the better. But, there are others that I cannot wait to see return to the way they were before — audible, hearty laughs amongst the waiting room chatter, friendly handshakes between new acquaintances, and … […]
The CBC recently shed some light on the state of affairs in veterinary medicine today. We are nearly a year into curbside medicine, but I’m not sure we are used to it yet. That is not to say that we have not become efficient at it — we have found […]
Well, thank goodness it’s 2021. As we all look forward to a fresh start, it is of course a time for resolutions. While I don’t often make resolutions — mostly because I don’t stick to them, and why upset myself with that disappointment? — this year feels different. It feels […]
I recently learned that what ’70s and ’80s kids usually think of as the universal sign for “I’m on a phone call” (you know, where you hold your hand up to your ear with your thumb and pinky out) is no longer in use. Ask the same of anyone under […]
Every October the veterinary world takes some time to appreciate our veterinary technicians. They are too often the unsung heroes of our profession, and the importance of highlighting the role they play in the functioning of our offices, clinics, hospitals, ERs and ICUs is undeniable. Veterinary technicians are very skilled. […]
Kitten, kittens, kittens! We are definitely seeing a lot of new kittens at the vet office these days — and they are certainly bringing a lot of joy and whimsy to our lives at a time of such uncertainty and stress. With the influx of all these bundles of fluff, […]
Some believe that every puppy is a blank slate: that there are “no bad dogs, only bad owners.” What one means by a “bad’’ dog is a whole other topic for discussion. However, regardless, I wholeheartedly disagree with the sentiment of this all-too-common phrase. Over the years, I have known […]
I recently watched a YouTube video by Dr. Tannetje Crocker demonstrating what it’s like to be working in veterinary medicine today. In the video, she used the simple child’s toy Connect 4 — in which each piece fits into its designated open slot — to show how vet clinics schedule […]
Are vets funny? My husband would undoubtedly say NO. However, I beg to differ. While I myself cannot claim to have the wit it takes to be truly funny, there are definitely some vet personalities that fit the bill. There is of course The Original Vet personality, James Herriot, author […]
I just love storms. One of the (many) reasons I enjoy living in the Kingsville area, is the frequency of intense storms. (Yes, I have even contemplated a “storm-chasing vacation” – I’ll let you google that later if you have not heard of this.) With Windsor being one of Canada’s […]
It is a strange time to be practicing veterinary medicine. I have mentioned in previous articles that we are seeing pets without their owners — or pet parents as we call them! All veterinary clinics in Phase I have been mandated to operate with closed doors. That means that pets […]
Vet Clinics in the Time of COVID: We have been here all along. Veterinary clinics, deemed essential services, have remained open during the COVID pandemic. Business, of course, has not been as usual. We, like everyone else, have been trying to manage the whirlwind of constant change. On April 3rd, we […]
These certainly are unprecedented times. Our pets would undoubtedly agree. The direct impact our pets are having on us and inversely the direct impact we are having on them in this climate is incredibly interesting. Our companion animals are providing a huge amount of emotional support during these difficult times. The […]