Owning horses, or animals in general, is not for everyone. Most folks that I know that have horses also have dogs, and of course, the prerequisite barn cats. I have often heard people explain their disinterest in owning animals as an unwillingness to be “tied down”. For me, the blessings my animals add to my …
First things first… The lost horse has been found! Update at the end of this blog! Also VSV updates! I am all about being as prepared as possible in case something happens to go wrong. There is so much in life that you can’t control… why not hedge your bet and take steps to prevent or …
More than once, I have seen a reference in a Facebook group about someone’s “heart horse” or “heart dog”. Have you had a heart horse or dog yourself? I have lived with dogs since I was a baby, and I have many, many incredible memories of incredible dogs. I loved them all fiercely. However, two …
This is the fourth and last in a series discussing euthanasia. The first three installments focused on medical reasons that might result in a decision to euthanize a pet. In this blog, I will discuss behavioral reasons that might prompt this most difficult of decisions. Once before, I addressed the issue of human safety vs. animal rights. …
In human medicine, a patient may receive either palliative care or hospice care. Palliative care often leads to hospice care. For instance, a person with high blood pressure would still receive blood pressure medication under palliative care. In hospice care, a patient no longer receives medication for chronic diseases. The goal shifts from trying to …
In this second installment in a series, I am sharing some of my thoughts on euthanasia. My perspective comes from both sides of the exam table. I am a diehard animal lover as well as a veterinarian. In Part One of this series, I told the story of a client who asked, “What would you …
With few exceptions, most people become veterinarians because they love animals. That certainly was true in my case. I was five years old when I told my parents that I wanted to be a vet. I have lived with at least one dog since I was an infant. Under no circumstances could I imagine my …
In my previous two blogs, I discussed some of the logistics associated with evacuating large animals in the face of a natural disaster. Part One discusses having current vaccination and identification information on all of your horses. Additionally, it discusses the need for a working trailer and an effective method of communicating with neighbors and …
Animals provide incredible enrichment to our lives, but we need to be able to live together safely.
