Recently in veterinarians Category

Check out our story today about a delegation of 18 veterinarians and researchers from China who toured Advanced Veterinary Care Center in Lawndale on Thursday. It was part of an exchange that gave the overseas vets a close-up look at how sophisticated veterinary care has become in some corners of the U.S. 

 

 

For real -- $20 veterinarian visit vouchers being offered online (click our link) by Bayer HealthCare. Available from Feb. 16-28.

Log in between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. eastern time for your chance at one, they're giving 80 vouchers per hour.

The site also features money-saving pet care tips.

 

 

 

My vet told me once about how when veterinarians get together they have a grand old time comparing X-rays of the weirdest things pets have swallowed (see my earlier post Vet Tales).

Now for the real-deal illustrations:

Here are some X-rays of strange things dogs have eaten .

My favorite? The toy engine. Can you say indigestion?

 

 

Many of our South Bay readers probably knew Dr. Christine Omoto Beezley, a much loved local veterinarian who died last year at the age of 56.

She owned and operated PV Village Pet Clinic, 201 Palos Verdes Blvd., Redondo Beach, in Riviera Village, but also worked with police K-9 units.

I never met her, but I was impressed by the outpouring of love and respect for her when she lost her battle with cancer in 2007. One of our Daily Breeze photographers and his wife took their dogs to her and told me at the time they'd be at a loss to find a vet they liked as much.

From 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday (Oct. 4), Dr. Chris's many friends and admirers are hosting the 2nd annual Chris Omoto Beezley Dog/Pet Walk as a way to raise awareness for the many animal clinics that operate in the local area.

Participants meet at MIramar Park, 201 Paseo de la Playa, Torrance, and walk to the PV Village Pet Clinic. Bring your pets -- or not. All are welcome.

 

 

I took Cowboy to my vet (Centinela Animal Hospital) yesterday, he was due for his annual check and some shots (although Dr. Palmquist does vaccine "titers," a blood test to see if the previous vaccination is still active, in order to avoid over-vaccination).

Most of my dogs have been well behaved at the vet's. But not all of them.

Pilgrim, the Australian shepherd I lost about a year ago, was always quite anxious (and he had to go to the vet's A LOT). He'd whine and fidget in the waiting room and was known to take a nip at the doctor once inside the examining room. His chart bore a bright orange sticker: "CAUTION."

The dogs I have now, Cowboy and Tess, are so good they make ME look good. But they're both just incredibly low-key, submissive, quiet, and friendly.

The vet's office, which is tiny, was crowded yesterday after a couple emergencies backed up the afternoon appointments by close to two hours. Cowboy and I wound up in the parking lot, where some extra chairs had been set out for waiting clients.

But I don't really mind waiting, it's always fun to talk with other pet owners. Yesterday I spent quite a bit of time talking with Mrs. Williams who was there with her Shih Tzu who had allergy problems. I liked Mrs. Williams because she told me how much she liked reading the Daily Breeze.

There were a couple of cocker spaniels, a Bouvier Des Flandres (which you don't see every day), a poodle and several cats in their carriers. Several folks commented on Cowboy's eyes, which are a color mixture of blue & brown, marble like. (That's why his eyes look sort of spooky in the photo above.)

Cowboy, despite being as good as gold (he even reluctantly rolled over for the vet to do a tummy inspection), was glad to leave when it was all over. Dr. Palmquist sent us home with a prescription for an antihistamine. It is allergy season and Cowboy has had a hot spot and some skin discomfort.

I think the hardest part for Cowboy was leaving Tess behind at home. They've been pretty much inseparable since I adopted Tess last spring, so both dogs seemed confused when I had to tell Tess to "stay."

If your dog has behavioral issues going to the vet or groomer, here's an article on how you can help your animal prepare for the sometimes intense experience.

And do tell us: Does your dog like going to the vet? Or not? How do you help your dog or cat get through the experience?

 

 

 

 

Who says vets don't know how to have a good time?

When I had Tess in for her checkup earlier this week, the conversation in the office at one point turned to the weird things dogs can eat.

Well, turns out that there are these in-house contests veterinarians like to hold to see who can report the strangest things ingested by a pet.  Submitting X-ray entries, they all gather together and vote for the winners. Two of this year's standouts: 

 

• The boa constrictor and the frozen rabbit: The owner of a boa constrictor was thawing out a frozen, dead rabbit for his "pet's" dinner. When he returned, everything was gone. An X-ray shows the side profile of a crouching rabbit -- sitting on a heating pad complete with wires still attached -- all perfectly intact inside the happy snake's stomach.

 

• But here's my favorite: The Best Hiding Place: A family dog, a golden retriever I think they said, was experiencing repeated ear infections. No one could figure out why the flare-ups kept returning and were so persistent -- until the family vet peered deep within and discovered, smiling from way inside the dog's ear, one of these:                           The family's preschooler had apparently found the perfect hiding spot for her tiny Mighty Mite doll. And it worked. Her little brother never did find it. Problem is, she forgot where she'd hidden it, too -- until she gasped in surprise when the vet told the family what she'd found. So: Mystery solved, ear infection = gone..