LEARNING SPANISH

Recently I had a client ask in Spanish if I knew any Spanish.

"No," I said (in Spanish and English). "Do you know any English?" I asked in English.

"No!" she said, and laughed. She was a very good sport about trying to tell me about her dog (who thankfully was in for wellness care, so communicating was a little more straightforward.)

I decided that the next time she and her dog were in, I would be able to say "yes."

Which I have since learned is "sí." And I learned how to make an accent mark with the keyboard!

I have no excuse for living in America - the country with the highest percentage of Spanish speakers other than primarily Spanish speaking countries - and having Spanish speaking veterinary classmates and having Spanish speaking preschool Sunday school students and having Spanish speaking clients and living in South Omaha (for Pete's sake!) and not knowing Spanish.

Thanks to my Spanish speaking client, I now have no excuse and motivation.

I found three fun apps - Rocket Languages, Duolingo and Tiny Cards.

So now I have no excuse, motivation and an obsessive compulsive drive. 

Kristen (who already had the Duolingo app and who is much more multilingual than you would suspect) and Kelly and Hannah and Russ and Karen and I all decided to learn/brush up on languages with Duolingo together. (Team 120!)

So now I have no excuse, motivation, an obsessive compulsive drive...and encouragement.

This has been very fun so far! After a month's study, I can say, "sí, un poco." (Yes, a little). Next to learn will be upside down exclamation points so when my dear client and I meet again, I can say it emphatically :)

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Post from one year ago today...

May 22, 2016

WHY?

THE LONG FLIGHT OF STAIRS

The couple had been in often lately with their old dog. She had surmounted many health challenges with grace, and was now - even on supplements and arthritis medication and back at a healthy weight - unable to climb stairs any more.

Dad said, "you know, she gives me the same look at the bottom of the stairs that she gave me when she was a puppy." I think the look means, "You don't really expect me to do that by myself do you?" 

I said, "when she was a puppy, each stair was probably bigger than her!" She was now, after diligent care from her Mom and Dad, back down from a slightly high weight to a lean fifty pounds.

"Yeah," Mom said. "She was so small. As soon as she was a little taller, she figured those stairs out, and would tear up and down them all the time."

Dad smiled and said, "I carried her then, I'll carry her now."

They left ready to face this next stage as well as they have every one before this. I get a little teary eyed thinking about this dog and her family, but it makes me smile picturing her as a tiny puppy, ready, as ready as she is now, to take on the next challenge.

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Post from one year ago today...

May 15, 2016

RUSS SHOULD SHOW UP FOR BIBLE STUDY MORE OFTEN

LEAVING WORK

Before the road trip for Russ's birthday, I was running on empty. I was putting all of my energy into caring for patients, which usually comes a little more naturally, or at least more easily. I was sleeping all of the time I was at home. Depression and physical exhaustion were doing their damnedest to smash me, and I ran to the point of using sheer will power to function. And I did it. I made it to the last hour of the last work day before our trip with the last of what I had left.

I let Dr. Bashara know I would not have my phone on, but he could get ahold of me on Russ's phone if he needed anything. I let our parents know. Between the five of them, they could get word to friends and family if need be.

I tossed my phone into my nightstand with a exhausted, relieved sigh. I turned it back on Monday morning.

Other than Mom and Dad's puppies eating Mom's medication (!!!), no one needed me all weekend, and all went well. Mom knew she could reach me if she needed (You still could have called me Mom!), but she called VCA Midwest Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, and they walked her through making sure the puppies were safe. (Thank you Midwest. I cannot tell you how much of postponing - and hopefully avoiding - burnout is because you are there when I cannot be. I am forever grateful.) The puppies did not get sick. 

I rested with Russ, Amanda and Abby and the dogs all weekend and recovered.

During the three day weekend my phone was in my nightstand and I was in Kansas City, I received twenty six texts plus calls and emails requesting immediate responses to work related things. I turned my phone back on on the way to work Monday morning. (I pulled over and stopped first!)

Sometimes you guys, I just need to walk away. As much as I love my teammates, our clients and their pets, my profession and my job...when I am off, I need that time. Not always. Sometimes though. If I don't answer right away, keep calling, but if there is anyone else at work or in your circle who can help you, please let them. 

Luna does not have a problem with work-life balance.

I get that this is not a career I can disappear from. Pets are not sick 9-5 weekdays. (Just kidding! I mean not 7:30-6 or 7 weekdays and 7:30-1 Saturdays!) Still, we have an amazing veterinary community at Gentle Doctor and in Omaha at large whose whole (on the clock) goal is to protect the health and well being of our pets. 

You can call. Always call. Always call any time. But please be patient with me and forgive me if sometimes I am not there. I promise to always return, and when I am present, I promise to be present 100%.

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Post from one year ago today...

May 10, 2016

ANYTHING BUT BARIUM

EASTER CANDY!

Here is a typical chocolate case:

Your job as a veterinary team is to turn this pile into the number of ounces of types of chocolate most likely ingested that you can convert to grams of theobromine to compare to the weight of your patient - who is either not saying when he or she tipped the basket/raided the stocking/tore open the Valentine box or is standing before you happy as can be with a chocolate smile and no signs of toxicity - yet? Ever?

That is what you need to figure out!

Also, do not forget to account for any xylitol in sugar free candy and gum and any toys or wrappers or other things that could have been ingested and cause stomach or intestinal damage or an obstruction.

Thankfully, this particular tiny dog, though he ate enough to cause vomiting and diarrhea, had no clinical signs and did well.

Worse case is a danger of neurotoxicity.

Worst case is a fatality.

Thankfully, I have never had a patient die of chocolate toxicity, and the most stressful part of every case has always been turning something as vague as something like this pile of wrappers into a number we can use to help our patient.

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Post from one year ago today...

April 27, 2016

DON'T FORGET TO STOP AND PET THE DOGS

KITTENS ARE OFTEN THE ANSWER

A client adopted two kittens for her terminal dog to cheer him up.

It worked.

Now the three of them are best friends.

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Post from one year ago today...

April 26, 2016

DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT

WHY I LOVE NANCY HINTZ

Kelly and I were driving through an evening blizzard last December to get to one of our favorite patients and her heart broken Mom.

This gentle, beautiful Great Dane had bravely lived well as long as she could with a terminal cancer, and it was time to let her go. None of us, save the dog herself, were handling it well.

As a (huge) favor, two animal control officers from Nebraska Humane Society had arranged with Kelly to meet us at the home after their shift was over (in the same blizzard) to transport our patient's body to the Rainbow Bridge for after care.

When the first officer came to the door, I recognized him as the kind animal control officer we had (unfortunately) seen often lately. I said hi and greeted the officer behind him I had not previously met.

The first officer helped Kelly and me carry the stretcher to their van. The new officer walked with us and guided us around icy patches and made sure no one fell.

The next day, Kelly and I were pretty despondent. We missed our friend. We were concerned for her Mom. After telling a few stories about our sweet patient, we sat in silence for a while.

Kelly spoke up. "You know that wasn't an animal control officer, don't you?" she said.

"Who was it?" I asked.

"That was the new CEO of Nebraska Humane Society. She is doing ride alongs with the animal control officers." She said it just as casually and matter a factly as Nancy Hintz had ridden out in a blizzard with an animal control officer to take care of a grieving community member and her canine companion and make sure we did not fall on our butts on the slick ice.

"Wow. No, I didn't know that," I said. We sat in silence for a while more, then continued on with our day.

To Nancy Hintz, Nebraska Humane Society's new CEO,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness is startling, humble and deep.

Dog Mom, Kelly and I are blessed to have had you and the ACO there with us on that heartbreaking and sacred night. Omaha too is so very blessed to have you.

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Post from one year ago today...

April 21, 2016

ON MEETING NICK NOLTE

THE LAST CAT UNTIL THE NEXT CAT

I saw a cat yesterday.

I mean, not like I have been seeing cats, where I ask if I can pet someone else's patient or a boarder, and all my friends, in an effort to keep me alive, yell "no" or some loud/urgent/profane variation thereof, and I sulk away and take a picture instead.

I had a cat patient. My team did the same life saving heroics they always do, and I insisted on seeing her.

A day later, I am writing this to you coughing and hacking and vowing to be more careful.

Which is a way better place than I was in yesterday. My doctor friend kindly sent me home after I saw the cat. I paused to catch my breath three times on the way home. Russ had rescue medications waiting for me and we decided against urgent care since I could breathe pretty well.

I took some more oral medications which knocked me out (sorry I was crabby family) and I fell asleep still not breathing great.

Tomorrow I should be a little better, and the day after that I should be okay again.

It's my pride. It's my optimism. It's my longing to have our own Max the Cat back, and it's missing my patients. It's my stubborn refusal to listen to the gentle admonition of my allergist who said I need to be done seeing cats. It's wanting to do a good job at work, where the best I can do now seems like doing half my job.

I think this is it you guys. Each time I see a cat is scarier, and I need to step back.

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Post from one year ago today...

April 20, 2017

SOME MOMENTS FOREVER CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEE THE WORLD

SOME MORE WORDS

In my original post on the subject, I asked for comments, anonymous or out loud. I got comments. Here are some.

"Reusing syringes is gross."

"They cost pennies - throw them away!"

"I don't care if you wash and sterilize, it is not okay to draw blood and then inject a medication with the same syringe."

"I have worked in practices that did this as well, and I broke the rules openly too. I don't care what the argument is on sterilizing and saving money, it's a one time use product, and that's how it should be used."

"I used to stand by the trash with the bin of syringes and sneeze them into the trash."

"That's terrible! I have never thought to reuse a syringe/needle."

"At no time can I think of an instance where I would be okay reusing them now."

"If they say dispose, they aren't meant to be cleaned and probably could not be effectively sterilized, so I wouldn't want that used on my fur kids."

"As a client, I am glad you use new syringes on my dogs."

"Wouldn't want used one-time needles used on my girls."

"Sad fact of life, greed usually wins out over care and safety. You are concerned about safety."

"As a pet owner, I am disgusted this is even a thing. It never would have crossed my mind that a syringe would be reused because in my mind, it's common sense that you toss after its intended use."

"Wait, how is throwing syringes away bullying? You're not being mean to that person, nor belittling them, nor harming them. You're practicing quality veterinary care."

"The absolute last thing anybody could ever say about you is that you are a bully. What the hell?"

"Calling you a bully could be considered creating a hostile work environment."

"I am still trying to figure out in what world that would be considered bullying."

"Absolutely not a bully."

"You're not a bully. You support ethics on every front."

"I just don't get the connection. How can this be bullying?"

"You are the least likely person to ever be a bully."

My favorite comments...

"Do you all at Nebraska Medicine reuse syringes for humans?" "Gross, no."

and...

"What. The. Actual. Fuck."

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Post from one year ago today...

April 14, 2015

THE PUPPY AND THE STETHOSCOPE

UPWARD

A list of groups with links to their position statements on reusing single use syringes...

American Society of Anesthesiologists

Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Center for Disease Control

Friend to Friend - a website for IV drug users

Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy

Nurses Service Organization

Safety Vet

UNICEF

World Health Organization

1 800 Pet Meds

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Post from one year ago today...

April 13, 2016

ALL THE GOSLINGS

ONWARD

The reason I did not write for so many days when I had been posting daily is that I am letting a work issue drive me crazy.

It is not my boss's fault, though our run in is what threw me off course.

He has said that we cannot speak of it together and things will not change.

Which I take to mean I can speak and write of it.

I figure whoever is more stubborn will have the last word on if things will change.

In the case of a stubbornness stalemate, the tie breaker, of course, would be the owner of the company.

Also, my boss is one of my favorite people in the world, and I would stop this silliness if it really came to choosing the fight over the person.

Onward...

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Post from one year ago today...

April 12, 2016

WHAT VAMPIRES DO

IN MEMORY OF NOODLE THE POODLE

Noodle the Poodle passed away in the spring of 2016. I wasn't ready to write about how supportive you all were until now. Thank you so much. Now looking back at your kind words and remembering Noodle makes me mostly happy, not mostly sad. That has to be a step in the right direction, right?

Here are some of the things I keep close...

Jaime Williams and Ross Nelson brought me this beautiful stone right after Noodle passed away. I love it so much. At the risk of being punched, I gave Ross an unwanted hug. He either was too slow or was feeling poodle pity because instead of punching me, he hugged me back. Thank you guys so much! You are the best! (((hugs)))

This beautiful handmade card was from my former coworker Jan Green. I still miss you Jan!!

Janie Helt and her family gave us a beautiful Easter Lily and a sweet card.

From work friends <3 The inside reads, "The Arbor Day Foundation has received a donation in memory of Noodle. As a tribute, a tree will be planted and registered in Tahoe National Forest. This memorial was given by Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals. May this living monument to your friend comfort you during this time." Thank you guys. I love you.

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Post from one year ago today...

March 13, 2016

WHY NOAH?

DESTINY'S STORY

My Sister-I-Love is one of my favorite people in the world. Other favorites include our family members mentioned in this story! Read about Epona Horse Rescue and Destiny and more. And stay tuned for more horse stories!

Guest Post from Jodi Finch...

All my life, I have been a horse lover. As a little girl, I spent hours sitting at the feet of my grandpa’s farm horses, never once worrying that they could hurt me. The earliest picture of me on a horse is Grandpa holding me on his big Paint gelding, Chief, when I was six months old. Grandpa got me my first horse – a Shetland pony – when I was 7. His mare, Chica, gave me my first foal when I was 11. Flicka and I were best of friends, until I was 19 and an accident ended her life, way too soon. For years after that, I begged and borrowed every horse I could, knowing some day, I would have a horse of my own again.

In November of 2014, my daughter Kylah and I were killing a boring Sunday afternoon by visiting the Lancaster County Horse Expo. In hindsight, my husband Shane said the $20 he gave us for the admission fee was the most expensive $20 he has spent in his life. On that day, we learned of Epona Horse Rescue, based just outside of Crete, NE. A few days later, Kylah, my younger daughter Madi, and I visited Epona for the first time, and knew we had landed in our “happy place”. I could tell stories for days on end about Epona, and our time volunteering, the friends we have made, and horse stories galore. But one of my favorites, so far (besides the one where I met my heart horse, Freebird), is the story of Destiny.

On a warm Saturday in October of 2015, Lin, our Director, talked me into going with her to the Palmyra Sale Barn Horse Auction. I had never been to the Auction, but I knew it was not somewhere I really wanted to be. Going is never an easy decision for Lin, as there are always more horses than we could possibly hope to save. However "something" kept telling her that day that we needed to go.

When I arrived, I found a bench away from the crowds, and sat down to wait for Lin. A few feet away, there were two young women with tears in their eyes, one on her phone – I could over hear snippets of their conversation… ‘yes, she looks young.” “She’s severely underweight” “She’s got visible wounds and fresh blood”… at that point, I was nearly in tears. Having never been to the sale barn, I wasn’t sure what to do next.

I texted Lin, urging her to hurry, as there was something we needed to take care of urgently. As soon as she arrived, I told her what I had heard.

We immediately went back to the sale pens, stopping on our heels at the very last pen. Standing there, with truly a heartbroken look was a very young mare, nothing but skin and bones, and bleeding from gaping wounds.

The caller on the other end of the young woman’s conversation was the county sheriff, we learned, when he showed up a few minutes after we discovered the mare. He examined her, and apparently had been told we were “those women from the Rescue”. He told us he could not see anything wrong with her, and rather curtly suggested “since you’re the Rescue Gals, YOU do something about it”. At that moment, we knew it was destiny that we went to the Sale Barn that day.

The little mare was the last horse in the auction pen. She was so thin, and very obviously depressed that no one wanted her. Thanks to the generosity of a beloved donor, we were able to win the bid and rescue this sweet girl. We learned from another attendee at the auction that she was somewhere between two and three years old, and has only recently been sold to the individual who consigned her to the sale barn. We immediately went to the pens, and after securing some hay (okay, maybe I pilfered it off the hay cart when the pen attendant wasn’t looking), began to assess her wounds and feed her small bites of the hay. She immediately warmed up to us, nuzzling me as though she was thanking me for helping her.

We took her home to the Rescue that evening, and bedded her in a safe, dry stall, and had our veterinarian come assess and begin treating her wounds. She had several deep cuts on her legs and chest, and an abscessed hoof, along with cuts in her face where her head had outgrown a halter that was left on for months on end.

Within a few weeks of healthy groceries, and good wound care, the girl we named Destiny began to gain weight and heal, not only from her wounds, but from her wounded spirit. Her eyes began to sparkle, and she began nickering greetings to us.

Then, in January, we discovered our sweet girl had apparently met up with a flirtatious stallion at some point. She was pregnant! Without knowing her background, we could only assume we would have a foal sometime between April and September.

Being that Destiny is a walking mystery, it should come as no surprise that she gave us no indication of being in labor in early April. On Monday morning, April 4th, Lin went to the barn to do chores - guess what? Peeking from behind Mama was the sweetest little face you have ever seen. Princess Buttercup was born sometime between 10 p.m. on Sunday, April 3rd and 7:30 a.m. on Monday, April 4th.

After a colic scare with Destiny, we are happy to report Mother and Baby (Princess Buttercup) did quite well, and spent the summer with another mare and filly, growing and playing.

However – the story doesn’t end there! Princess Buttercup is a beautiful buckskin filly. She is happy and healthy – and was adopted by my 13-year old daughter Madi in October! Madi worked diligently over the summer, doing one of the hardest, dirtiest jobs a kid can do – destasseling corn for two seed companies. Early (as in 4 a.m. early) mornings, and long, hot days in the field earned her enough money to donate to the Rescue to adopt Buttercup as her very own! She has big plans for herself and Buttercup in the 4-H and open class horse-show world, and is working to train Buttercup all by herself. You’ll have to stay tuned for more Buttercup blogs in the future!

Destiny is still at the Rescue, and will either remain as a Sanctuary horse, or be adopted by a suitable adopter, one who is able to care for her emotional wounds and understands that she was severely scarred by neglected and starvation.

Founded in 2004, Epona Horse Rescue is dedicated to helping equine that are unwanted, abused, or simply if the owner is no longer able to care for them. Since the beginning, they have saved over 150 horses.

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Post from one year ago today...

March 10, 2017

ARTHUR DAVID NELSON

YESTERDAY AND TODAY

The only thing I regret about the syringe post is that I did not consider if it would hurt Pete's feelings.

I perhaps should have been fired for posting about an internal issue at a business where I am employed, but I was not, and for that I am grateful.

I am not convinced it is not at least in part because there was a giant dog waiting on the other side of the office door yesterday morning to meet me, and if I did not spay her, someone would need to!

But we do make a great team, and neither of us is willing to give up on that dynamic or potential, and I appreciate that too.

I have been challenged to consider other single use products and their place in medicine, and I think that will be the subject of my next Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery article or review, because there is a lot of fascinating information out there.

Today I have been coloring. A lot. And spending time with the dogs and kids.

Abby walked into the kitchen this evening and said to Russ, "Do you have any wire I can bend into glasses to put on a marshmallow?" But she said I had to wait until at least tomorrow to post more about that!

Back to work tomorrow (phew). A couple of very challenging cases to start the day and more than a couple cute dogs I am sure.

I said I would keep you updated, and so there is that. Thank you all for reading my stuff and joining the conversation. I really appreciate it.

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Post from one year ago today...

March 3, 2016

OSTRICH TRAINING

THE SYRINGE BATTLE

Today I was told that my throwing away used syringes could be construed as bullying because the team is told to keep syringes and to clean and sterilize them for reuse and I am doing and advocating the opposite.

Of the years of civil arguing back and forth and bringing it up every once in a while to discuss again and researching and cost analysis and meetings...this is the day that got me.

I am a lot of things...stubborn, hard-headed :) ...but I am not a bully, and I work actively against bullying on a few fronts, so that remark hit right where it was intended.

For the sake of the pets and their people and the team and my own sanity and...not to overstate...the veterinary oath and my own veterinary license, I will continue to not reuse syringes meant to be used one time and discarded. 

Further updates hopefully soon. Please comment here (as you or anonymously) or on Facebook with your thoughts.

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Post from one year ago today...

February 28, 2016

THERE ARE NO ALLERGIES IN WRITING

Bonus Leap Year Post from One Year Ago!

February 29, 2016

A DOG NAMED DOC