My tag-line that follows my signature on Veterinary Information Network is “I’m lost, but I’m making good time.” When I am putting a puzzling case up for consultation, I have already done one of two things. One is, I’ve done everything I know how to do, and I’m still stumped. The second is, I’ve reached […]
Category Archives: A day in the life
In a nearby small town, the counselor organizes a “career fair” every two years. She doesn’t call on the same professions each time, as she presents the program to the entire body of middle school and high school students. No point hearing about the same career twice, especially if you didn’t want to hear it […]
If I were just punching the clock, I might think how great it is not to be troubled by the phone. What a great chance to catch up the paperwork… or play solitaire. Unfortunately, we are all here prepared to care for our patients and no way to communicate with them. Being idle is no […]
Lots of flooding in the Caruthersville, Missouri area, even before they dynamited the levee upstream. Many people left and abandoned their animals. Last week the Humane Society of Missouri rescued a horse from a flooded area by putting a sling between two boats. The problem has gotten worse since then. Today, the A.S.P.C.A. is here […]
Well, the Alligator-Man is mending. He still has a lot of bandages on his hands, but seems in good spirits. Big Brownie is feeling well now, eating well now. The homeless shelter has agreed to take in Big Brownie along with the Gator-man, and they will share the basement with five other travelers. So, I'm […]
Big Brownie has got some liver problems: really high bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase. Ultrasound of her liver doesn't look bad. Gall bladder is really full, but you expect that when she doesn't have much appetite. She acts bright and okay, attitude-wise. She is coughing some, despite her good-looking chest X-rays. Today she got a visit […]
Well, I'm down to just Big Brownie, here. Her blood-work has been delayed. I could have run basic stuff here, but I wanted more info, so I was going to send it out to the reference lab. Unfortunately, FedEx decided they had a problem and couldn't make it until tomorrow. So there's a bit of […]
The saga continues. Today some reptile rescue folks came down from St.Louis to take charge of the turtles, tortoises, snakes, and gators. They were surprised to find that the reported "six-foot alligators" were actually six feet long. Usually they find that reports of reptile size tend to be seriously exaggerated… but not this time. Apparently, […]
I haven't heard definite news about the owner of the menagerie yet, but last word was that his burns will require long-term hospitalization. This means that finding foster homes for the livestock is a high priority. After transferring the little gators from ice water to warm water, they have all re-animated. The turtles are all […]
There's a fellow who calls himself "The Alligator Man" who has wintered in Kennett the last couple of years. He lives in a big panel truck with a menagerie of animals: 2 big dogs, 2 little dogs, 2 raccoons, 2 chickens,many small gators, 3 large (think 6-feet) alligators, many snakes (including a 29-pounder), many turtles, […]