THE TENNIS BALLS

Racquet Corner is a tennis shop right next door to Gentle Doctor at 120th and Blondo.

One day, one of the owners of Racquet Corner came over with a bag of tennis balls. "Would any of the dogs like these?" he asked.

Our eyes lit up as if we were the dogs receiving such a gift, and together we said, "Yes! Thank you!"

Now the couple who owns Racquet Corner bring once-used tennis balls for all the dogs. Any dog who wants one (or two) can have them. We have not run out in months.

It has changed so many dogs' experiences from a little bit scary to very fun.

The tiny Italian Greyhound chased his ball around the exam room for a while. If it stopped bouncing against the walls, he would hit it with his paw so it would start again and then tear after it, never himself hitting a wall. We all gathered to watch him. He didn't notice. He was having so much fun!

We gave a ball to a Boxer who did not want a treat. He looked like the proudest dog in the world carrying his ball in his mouth out to the car.

"You were very brave. Would you like a ball?" we said to the nervous Golden who had been such a good sport about all of the medical care. She jumped up, laughed with her eyes as Goldens will do and grabbed the ball. For the first time we had seen over her years as our patient, her tail started wagging furiously.

Nigel and Abe play with tennis balls while they are there with their Moms for the day.

Groomer Amy's Nigel showing off his tennis ball

They keep them safe in different corners of the office and treatment room.

Nigel asks, "Excuse me Kelly, have you seen my tennis ball?"

I used Nigel and Abe's tennis balls to show Kelly and Jen how I can juggle (5 seconds! Woo!)

You may have thought you were just dropping off tennis balls, but you have changed the atmosphere of the office from awesome to super awesome. We love seeing our patients so happy. Thank you Racquet Corner!

VET ER! WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY?

This is one strip of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!

The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.

My first job, I worked day time and overnights. No one was there to help, and I often called Russ in to restrain pets who needed fluids or other care. (Team, have I told you lately that I love you? AND YOU RUSS) I loved the cool cases I saw on emergency, but I hated answering the phone!

ONE YEAR AGO

THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 4 - THE FLOWERS

TWO YEARS AGO

I SAW A KITTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME! AGAIN!

OUR BEAUTIFUL PURPLE ASH TREE

This is a picture from last winter of the purple ash tree Dad gave us as a tiny sapling.

We've been steeling ourselves for the dreaded ash borers that are predicted to take out every ash tree in Omaha and the surrounding areas.

So far, so good.

ONE YEAR AGO

THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 3 - THE FOUNTAIN CREEK GENERAL STORE

TWO YEARS AGO

BIRDS DON'T SNEEZE

WAITING FOR THE POWER TO COME BACK ON, STORY 2

I was spaying a puppy. Kelly was running anesthesia. In the flickering moments between light and dark, I thought through every aspect of anesthesia. Some of the monitoring would not work, and the fluids would stop running, but the anesthesia machine, thankfully, would continue to work.

The rest of the team ran to find flashlights. I held the hemostats and the tissues between them steady in the darkness until they returned. They turned on the two flashlights and held them at the angles the surgery lights had just been.

We finished surgery.

It was...otherwise...uneventful. Puppy woke up fine and is living happily ever after, as are all of us who were there that day.

ONE YEAR AGO

THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 2 - GAMBLER

TWO YEARS AGO

THE DOWNSIDE TO KEEPING YOUR PETS SAFE THAT NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT

WAITING FOR THE POWER TO COME BACK ON, STORY 1

The power was out. There was nothing we could do but wait. I wrote in my notebook. I comforted the dogs when they whined.

The cats didn't care. They had their sunlight.

It was quiet. We settled into the dark, the dogs and I. Maybe I needed the pause to be reminded how important writing and comforting are to my well-being. Subtly, so slowly I almost missed the transition, I shifted from waiting for the power to come back on to just being.

ONE YEAR AGO

THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 1 - MARCEL

TWO YEARS AGO

CAN YOUR DOG DO THAT?

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 19

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 19 - Luna is doing well!

I dunno how many of these weekly no news updates you would enjoy. Personally I would be happy with about 500! Luna had another set of IV chemotherapy and is doing great! She jumped on Russ's head when she was discharged, entertaining the whole VCA MidWest Vet team. I'm glad they get to see her as her normal, dorky self!

On the subject of Luna's normal dorky self...Jen Rios gave Joy the Puppy a cardboard roll (Thank you Jen!!) Joy has been playing with it non-stop. Luna found a torn off bit of cardboard from Joy's roll and has been playing with IT non-stop.

So things are pretty normal around here! Everyone is happy and well :)

ONE YEAR AGO

MY RAT WUZZY, PART 5

TWO YEARS AGO

DALMATIANTASTIC

SOMETIMES A PAUSE IS AS GOOD AS AN OPEN ENDED QUESTION

"I hate to see my dog in pain," she said. "And on top of personal problems we've had recently..."

I stopped my exam and looked up into her eyes.

She told me everything.

She could begin healing.

I could begin praying.

ONE YEAR AGO

MY RAT WUZZY, PART 4

TWO YEARS AGO

IT IS ALWAYS IDEAL TO REMEMBER YOUR PATIENT'S NAME

WHAT SHOCK COLLARS DO

I try to post gross pictures here very infrequently. When I do, they are pictures I feel are cooler than they are gross, like Cutie the Cuterebra. The gross pictures I am posting today are not cool, but they are worth showing. I am posting cute (not cutereba) pictures first though so you will have to scroll down if you want to see the shock collar burns. Different patients. Not uncommon. Not cool, just sad.

Okay, are you ready? Both dogs recovered well.

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You can see where the electrodes were on the collar.

This is after cleaning and treating.

Please do not use shock collars on your dogs. At their best, they give your dog an electrical shock to provide negative reinforcement for an action. At their worst, they cause electric burns.

Training can be much more fun for everyone involved.

ONE YEAR AGO

MY RAT WUZZY, PART 3

TWO YEARS AGO

AZIZ ANSARI

RING!

ONE YEAR AGO

MY RAT WUZZY, PART 2

TWO YEARS AGO

ARE YOU OKAY WITH NEEDLES?

RICCO AND REGGIE

Ricco is an adorable Yorkie.

He has been through a lot in his tiny/giant life.

His osteoarthritis and neurological issues have affected his mobility to the point he has almost no use of his left front leg. He has learned to swing that leg forward and land his little paw right side up and use that limb like a tiny little cane to help him take the next step.

And he always takes the next step.

As amazing as Ricco is, he accomplishes all he does thanks to his equally amazing Mom who is right by him every step of the way. His helper. His encourager. His medicine giver and vet visit partner.

Also, he accomplishes all he does thanks to his friend Reggie the Cat.

Reggie has her own health challenges. She is diabetic, on insulin and special food and has frequent visits to her vet tech friend Kelly. (That part is not a challenge. Everyone loves Kelly. But Reggie does get stressed.)

With all of her challenges, Reggie still looks out for Ricco. She sticks close and meows if she is concerned so Mom can come help. If Ricco falls, Reggie yowls until someone has come to help Ricco. Without Reggie, Ricco would not live as well as he does - or at all.I love these two and their family. I love their special friendship most of all.

Good girl Reggie.

RIP Reggie - November 2017

RIP Ricco - January 2018

ONE YEAR AGO

MY RAT WUZZY, PART 1

TWO YEARS AGO

SOMETIMES MY FRIENDS SPEND TIME WITH ME BECAUSE IT IS REQUIRED BY THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION

IN LOVING MEMORY OF JACY FINCH

My Mom in Law Karen and Dad in Law Phill recently said good bye to their Jacy Dog. Here is Jacy's story, written by Karen.

After several years of not having a dog, we decided it was time to have another dog. Sixteen plus years ago the humane society didn't have the nice website to look on, and we lived too far away to go every day. And we didn't know about the the rescue groups or there weren't as many (and Shawn was in CO, so she couldn't help either)

I just watched the ads in the paper, now I understand the risks there! But one day there was an ad for Lhasas, so off we went with some of the grandkids in tow. There were 9 almost identical puppies in the box, all female!! All of us held them all, and we had no idea which was which!! I finally said ok this one! Cute little fluffy ball of brown and white!

Several days of trying to name her were crazy. She was outside playing when a neighbor said oh, she is Just Cute! Phill picked up on JC and thus she became Jacy!

She learned early on to sit flat on her butt and sit that way for a long time. Every one who saw her marvelled that she could do that. and since it was cute, she got treats and thus learned to be a very vocal beggar!!

She was an only dog for 9 years. Which was fine with her, she wasn't very friendly with other dogs.

We could always let her go outside on her own. She wandered around, visited the neighbors and always came back on her own.

We took her camping with us to Yellowstone and all around Nebraska. She really liked that and was very good!

Then one day her world turned upside down when we brought Lucy home. She went with us to a meet and greet, which was tense, but when they both were getting a drink from the same bowl, I took it as a yes from God that it would be ok.

Guess Jacy didn't hear God say that because she was mad for about 6 weeks. Then one day they started to play tug with a sock and it was all ok.

She got more mellow and tolerated other dogs in the house and yard including Tidus the Pit bull!!

She went with us on lots of long motorhome trips, Memphis, California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas and near home camping. But then last winter, in Texas she was really slowing down. Long walks wore her out and riding so far was uncomfortable. She was still pretty playful and would get "the terrors" around the house.

But then one day I saw some bloody spots on her pee pads. Trip to see Dr. Shawn and an ultrasound turned into sad news. Bladder cancer. Since by then she was 15 and there was no cure, we chose to love on her as long as she wasn't hurting.

But as winter was coming and our winter trip to Texas, we knew the time had come. Actually we needed the permission from Russ and Shawn that is was the right thing to do for her. Hardest decision ever! But the right one for sure. We are so thankful for Russ and Shawn who loved us and Jacy through it!

In Loving Memory

Jacy Finch

2002 - 2017

ONE YEAR AGO

JOY'S ROLL

TWO YEARS AGO

CROSSING ITEMS OFF YOUR TO DO LIST

THE THINGS WE HAVE IN COMMON

"Are those pictures of your cat?" I asked. 

"Yes, they are. I loved her so much. She was a wonderful cat," he said.

Abby was getting an industrial piercing, which I learned just this week means a piercing from one part of the edge of her ear to another part of the edge of her ear.

She needed parents there since she is only 15. So there we stood, Abby who fits in everywhere, and Russ and I completely out of our element in the tattoo parlor, watching the large, scary, beautifully tattooed piercer work his craft.

He continued...

"Do you know she had all her claws and never once used them on the furniture? And she never had accidents. She didn't hunt, and she wouldn't hurt anything. She caught a spider under her paw once, and let him go. She was so beautiful. She always wanted me there. I guess it's a good sign I can talk about her, huh? It's been two years."

I said it takes a long time. He said he always knew she would eventually return to the underworld, but he sure missed her.

"Did it hurt? we asked Abby.

"Yes!" she said.

Thank you for taking such good care of our kid. Thank you for sharing your kitty with us. I know it was difficult. I hope it was healing.

ONE YEAR AGO

SIRIUS VETERINARY ORTHOPEDIC CENTER GRAND OPENING

TWO YEARS AGO

FAVORITE QUOTE

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 18

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 18 - An Update in Real Time

Abby and Luna

Luna has now been through four sets of chemotherapy, each about a week apart. The first two were IV treatments at VCA MidWest Vet, the third was at oral medication at home and the fourth was IV treatment again.

Tomorrow will be Luna's next IV treatment, pending good news from her complete blood count and urinalysis today. (Thank you Kelly! For everything.)

Luna at Gentle Doctor after her weekly blood work

Luna does not mind her half day stays with me on Mondays, and she loves her visits with Dr. Clemans and Brandy and the team on Tuesdays. We have gotten into a routine, and none of it seems to be scary to her.

Luna waiting her turn at VCA MidWest Vet

She had a rough couple days last week where she would not eat, but is now eating chicken and rice well. We may have been had in typical Chihuahua fashion, but she really did seem nauseous, and now is all better. We will either wean her back onto dog food or transform her chicken and rice into a balanced diet using the website my friend Dr. Kanne showed me, Balanceit.com.

Luna! That is my blanket from Aunt Pat!

So far, so good you guys! Luna is feeling great and acting onery, just what we hoped! It has been warm enough for evening walks again, so Russ and I have been walking Joy and Luna, sometimes around the block, and sometimes to the elementary school to play. We have all been loving that time, and the whole family has loved our time with Luna.

I will stay on top of getting updates to you! Hopefully they will all be this normal!

Thank you all for all of your support. We love you so much!

Russ-me-Amanda-Abby-Joy-Luna

ONE YEAR AGO

A MOMENT OF RESPITE

TWO YEARS AGO

PETTING PUPPIES AND HOLDING KITTENS

AFTER CHRISTMAS AT NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY

Abby and friends made sure all the dogs and cats had a gift to open Christmas morning! Abby said it matched the picture in her head perfectly.

Thank you from Abby to...

Grandma Finch

Grandma Nelson

Jaime Williams and Ross Nelson

Dr. Adrienne Kanne

Penny and Scott Bell

Kathi Ortmeier

Dr. Pete Bashara

Racquet Corner

ONE YEAR AGO

SOPHIE IN THE SNOW

TWO YEARS AGO

ABBY AND ALLY ARE FRIENDS

CHEWY DOT COM - HILL'S SCIENCE DIET CRUNCHY FRUIT SNACKS

I LOVE Hill's Science Diet.

Good girl Frankie!

So it was very fun to receive Hill's Science Diet Crunchy Fruit Snacks from Chewy.com to review.

Hill's Science Diet Crunchy Fruit Snacks

Luna wasn’t feeling great (she is all better now!), and Joy could not have the treats because she is allergic to chicken. Having just publicly declared my love for Hill's, I feel it is fair to ask, Why is there chicken in a fruit snack?

I brought the treats to work, and my friends helped me gather data.

The subjects:

Whitney's Odin the Goldendoodle Puppy

Yes please!

Jenny's Frankie the Frenchie Puppy

I AM excited.

and Erika's Tiny Taffi Dog

I would love a yum.

The snacks were an overwhelming hit! My favorite reaction was Odin's. He hid the snack under his paws, seemed to forget where he had put it, lifted his paws and jumped for joy. He chewed his treat a bit and repeated the game. Eventually he ate it, but I think he got a good ten minutes of play out of it first!

Oh! There you are!

Oh! There you are again!

Frankie, you are too cute!

Oh my gosh! That face! Frankie may have gotten more than one treat.

This strange thing is delicious!

All princesses like their treats pre-smashed if they have Tiny Taffy mouths! She ate the WHOLE thing.

Thank you Chewy.com! Thank you Hill's Science Diet! Thank you friends and pups!

This was a fun one : )

ONE YEAR AGO

BEUTHANASIA PINK

TWO YEARS AGO

HE IS BEAUTIFUL

YOU ARE NEW!

You Are New! - Guest Colorer!  Emily T. Ramey

ONE YEAR AGO

PEEK-A-BOO

TWO YEARS AGO

I AM VERY BUSY

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 17

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 17 - Back to Normal

"Yes, I believe I own this table."

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Luna is able to jump onto furniture again. She no longer collapses in the hind end on walks.

She has her normal energy level back.

And she and Joy are snuggling again.

I don’t know where we’ll be in a month or 3 months or 6. But this is totally what we wanted from cancer treatment. Luna is happy, and she is Luna.

Luna was a complete <poop> at Christmas. She barked at Mom and Dad's puppies, Oscar and Felix, and had to be held the whole time.

Good to have you back, you bossy little monkey!

Thank you so much VCA MidWest Vet team.

How do you repay an extraordinary group of people for giving time? For giving happiness and normality? I do not think it can be done.

ONE YEAR AGO

MY FAVORITE IGUANA DRAWING

TWO YEARS AGO

OMAHA POLICE K9 KOBUS

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 16

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 16 - Confimation that the Bad News is Bad

Saturday, December 23, 2017

I missed Dr. Clemans’ call yesterday. She left a message. She received Luna’s flow cytometry report. She sounded very sad. I guess it was mostly bad news. She said she would still recommend the course we are on.

ONE YEAR AGO

NEBRASKA ACADEMY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE CRITICAL CARE AND INTERNAL MEDICINE MEETING WITH DR. BYERS

TWO YEARS AGO

DANBEE THE MALAMUTE FROM SOUTH KOREA

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 15

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 15 - I Would Spend All My Time Staring at Your Cute Face if I Could

Friday, December 22, 2017

We are leaving Joy and Luna for a few days starting today and again for a longer trip in June 2018. I am, of course, having a much harder time thinking about the June trip than this one.

That is not to say I am not looking forward to the June trip!

ONE YEAR AGO

A DOG TO GIVE AWAY

TWO YEARS AGO

DON'T TURN YOUR BACK IN THE BARN

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 14

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 14 - In Which We Receive Even More Bad News and Fast Track Christmas

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Today Kelly called for Luna’s flow cytometry results. Flow cytometry is a way to further differentiate cells, in this case, Luna’s blood cells.

Luna has stage 5 (the worst - involving the bone marrow) cancer, B-cell (better than T-cell) lymphoma. 

I do not know what to make of this. I strongly suspect this is more bad news than good. Someone much smarter than me (that is, internal medicine specialist Dr. Clemans) will be have to interpret these results.

It will not change treatment, but more information is usually better than less.

On an equally important note, I really want to give Joy and Luna the rest of their Christmas gifts early.

ONE YEAR AGO

WOMEN'S MARCH ON OMAHA

TWO YEARS AGO

I'M A WINNER!