veterinarians: June 2010 Archives
There's good news and bad news in all this.
I have the best veterinarian. Ever.
The bad news? He's getting very popular these days and I, along with so many of his long-time clients, may have to learn how to share him a bit.
In the beginning, I sort of "inherited" Dr. Richard Palmquist.
When my mom died unexpectedly 20 years ago, she left behind a couple of dogs that I decided to keep. I remembered how enthused she had been about the young "new vet" who had just recently taken over the local practice she'd been using for some years.
But I really had no intention of staying with Centinela Animal Hospital in Inglewood since I lived probably 30 miles away. I took the dogs there at first simply to check on their records and to get brought up to speed on their medical histories.
So much for that plan. After that initial appointment, I knew we'd be coming back.
I love the personal attention of a small veterinarian office and a staff that personally knows you and your pet.
Dr. Palmquist has literally sat down beside me in the exam room or waiting area as I've agonized over an unexpected diagnosis or when I was stuck in indecision about making that "ultimate" call for a terminally ill pet.
He's called me back on his days off when I've needed advice.
He's coached me through home care for canine diabetes, severe allergies and lymphoma -- and all the stuff that goes with doggie old age.
He's made me laugh when I wanted to cry. With his clients he shares both the grief and the joy that comes with caring for a pet through the years.
Smart with a winsome personality, Dr. Palmquist keeps up with the latest research and literature and isn't afraid to consider something new. But just as important for me, he genuinely loves animals, people -- and his vocation.
Despite a crowded waiting room, he always takes the time during appointments to listen and then explain issues in lay terms that we pet owners can understand. He educates us, encourages us and, when needed, consoles us. He's funny. But with old-fashioned common sense and compassion combined with medical expertise, he also helps pet owners critically think through the myriad of decisions they face.
He has the gift of making you feel like you're his only client when he walks into the exam room.
So the good and bad of it, for some of us, is this: Because of his pioneering work in holistic treatments, integrative medicine, vaccination titer studies and nutrition for pets, Dr. Palmquist is rightfully getting some attention from the wider media world.
Most recently, he was called by the folks at the Huffington Post to do a new blog/column on holistic approaches for pets once a month or so. His first column is on the link.
Late last year, he was featured on the local CBS news for his work with pets with cancer (check out this video of the news clip).
And here's another video on animal nutrition that features Dr. Palmquist with some of his colleagues.
A few celebrities have even found their way to his modest clinic door at 721 Centinela Ave. in Inglewood.
(I want to tell them all to go away, but that wouldn't be very generous or charitable of me, I know.)
Dr. Palmquist, who co-authored a veterinary textbook a few years ago, also has a new book out titled
"Releasing Your Pet's Hidden Health Potential."
He's long been a featured speaker at veterinarian conferences. But now he seems to be getting more attention from those outside the professional circles, and deservedly so.
This is a good thing. Or at least I keep telling myself so.
He posts links of interest in the holistic pet field now on Twitter -- you can follow him at http://twitter.com/DrRPalmquist.
About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.