SH>   I found him back 20 years ago when he was the only vet who stayed
 SH> late on a Saturday when Princess was acting crazy.  (She was 16 years

Now that's devotion. :) Did you  ever read James Harris "ALl creatures
big and small (and the sequel). I have the double tome .. from a book
sale for only 7 bucks.. (a steal !).. It's really great.. and so
informative. The auto bio of a welsh vet;  in the early 20th C.

There's one event he tells of (one he learned a big lesson from) where
while lambing, he passed the stall of a ewe who had been left for dead
after giving birth. She wasn't moving at all.. etc. He couldn't stand
to see her suffer.. there wasn't enough time to consult the farmer so
he gave her 'something' to help her 'go' faster... A few months later
checking on the new lambs - that ewe was in the pasture alive and
well! The farmer winked at him.. "looks like somebody her
something" or such words to that effect. The vet was amazed. The dose
he had given her had not been strong enough yet gave her the rest she
needed to recuperate! The lesson was sometimes all that is needed in
recuperation is rest. But the pain killer helped.

Here's another really good one! When people started keeping dogs as
pets instead of work animals, vets started seeing them too. Small
dogs. He treated a small dog for what the dogs owner said was vomiting
(in heavy Welsh dialect). So he recommended a change in diet. This
didn't work Then when the owner mentioned how far the dog could chuck..
the vet realized this was projectile vomiting and examined the dog for
obstruction (xrays)... sure enough yup that is what it was! It counts
to describe symptoms accurately and for the vet or doctor to ask for
details on such symptoms as well. (Was it just throwing up or was it
hurled)... can make a big difference.
.....................

 SH> old and started to do what looked like the funky chicken).  He took
 SH> one look at her, knew it was an alergic reaction injected her and she
 SH> was fine within 5 mins.   She lived another two or three years after


Experience is a wonderful thing. I was reading a story where in a very
busy doctor is passing through ER when he overhears two newbies
discussing a case they've never seen the symptoms of before. He took
one look at the patient and told them what the problem was right off.
Saved that person's life no doubt.

........


 SH> that, and I've never gone any- where else since.  The practice has
 SH> grown but the quality of care to our pets hasn't changed.  Besides
 SH> with a name like Dr. Hogg you know he was BORN to be a vet. ;)

 :) Sure sounds right!
.........

 SH>   I think you just have to interview your vet's much the same way you
 SH> interview your bankers.  I put all profecionals through an interview
 SH> process, and if they are not willing to talk with me they don't get my
 SH> business, If they spend 5 mins to talk to me and I like what they say
 SH> I'm loyal for life.

 We are wiser for the wear now. Much wiser. One tip that helps is
remember what is best for the dog. The dog's needs come first. IF it
seems like they're just fishing for dollars, find anther vet.

A brief: If your vet says your dog has a problem... RESEARCH IT before
agreeing on treatment. If a problem is terminal, you should NOT be
conned into having the dog's teeth de glazed during xray exams.

If your dog has neurological problem that can't be cured, and his
pupils don't dilate/constrict the way they should : research this. If
you find as we did the hard way that pupil apnea can not be treated
you'll save yourself a whole sock lot of money! The vet  sent us to a
specialist who told us what the problem was  and there you go.

((BTW there's a very posh up scale Animal Medical Center not far from
us and you can bet they're making huge bucks off people ...  like us.
:( .. never again. Research first. ALways. And that goes for
ourselves too.

.........................

 SH>   I've made quite a few over the years for dogs (Toys that is) and
 SH> made scratching
 SH> posts and boing boing toys for the cat. (Spring with a puff ball on
 SH> top, we call them boing boing toys and the cats go nuts for them!)

 :) I like your creativity. It's like when you buy a kid a fancy toy
they're often happier playing with the box.

........

 SH>   I just keep the lid on the crapper closed for the most part unless
 SH> he wants to

 We got a dog accessories catalogue recently. There's this gadget you
put in the ground. It's a dog poop septic tank. You just have to keep
buying the chemical to put in it. .. hmm. (Enviornmentally safe they
say)). Ever hear of that?

In the AIRMALL mag you'll find a doggie stroller. We actually saw one
at Petsmart recently. It would be nice for our old Cosmo but Tom
thinks they're silly... I have to agree. If the dog can't move on his
own there's really no fun in it for him to be stuck in the stroller.
may as well leave him home.

.................

 SH> play with it for a bit. :)  He also loves to jump on the tub and crawl
 SH> between the 2
 SH> shower curtins when Andrea is in the shower.  Looks at her like he
 SH> can't believe she
 SH> would tourture herself that way. ;)

LOL! That sounds like great fun! Playing. Or he thinks 'is she crazy?


Did you see the email going around of the Cat Spa? I think it's on
Yourtube online. Your torn between feeling sorry for the cat and
laughing your head off.
................


 CH> Speaking of toys at the pet store. I've never met a dog who wants to
 CH> chew on vinyl. Have you? I'll ask this again iN Doghouse.

 SH>   My dogs always played with (Probably politically incorrect but I
 SH> dont know the proper name) indian rubber balls, and rawhide bones and
 SH> that was all they were interested in.

 Mine seem to like the soft toys (I like the ones that aren't fuzzy
though. Abbie loves to tear the stuffying out of stuffed toys. I got
her the kind that's harder to rip open. She has some hunteress in her.
:) I have watched her play with a toy, it's not aggressive really,
she's playing But I HAVE noticed if I don't get her out for a good walk
every day she gets rammy and attacks her toys more.

Cind

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