Doctor Mommy

Dr. Pam Stone telephoned my home to discuss a particular veterinary case, and the phone was answered by my youngest son, John. He was very young at the time. This was a period when the boys were calling me "Doctor Mommy". Dr. Stone asked John, "May I speak with your mother?" John answered, "I don't have a mother." Dr. Stone was floored by his reply.

The following day, she really kidded me about John's reply. I almost never lived that down. In fact, I am writing about it with reluctance in case all the ribbing begins again.

Remembering Sam

Everytime I write a sympathy note to one of our clients about the loss of one of their pets, I think of Sam. And Guinness. And Duncan. And there are others. The spirit and the love of these precious pets are with us forever. Thank goodness, because I could not live without that bond and that closeness. We are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to share our lives with these precious pets. Their love wraps its arms around us like a warm inviting blanket.

The Case of the Disappearing Needle

Years ago, a beautiful white Persian was presented to Northeast Veterinary Hospital because the distraught owner had lost her needle while sewing. The aforementioned kitty was lounging nearby her owner, very interested in the sewing process. This kitty had no signs of sickness. It was the concern of the owner about the missing needle that had to be addressed.

Radiographs solved the problem of the location of the needle. There it was in the kitty's large intestines mixed with a lot of digested food. (That's the nice way to say it.) Since the patient seemed to be in charge of the problem, I suggested the owner watch the kitty litter pan carefully to see if the needle was passed.

The suspense was too much for the owner. Within 24 hours, she insisted upon surgery to retrieve the needle. Fortunately, the radiographs were repeated and to our surprise the needle was missing again. You guessed it--the missing needle had been over looked in the litter pan.

The Art of Diagnosing

Diagnosing is an art form. That is why we talk about the "practice" of veterinary medicine. You must listen carefully to what the owner is telling you. The complete examinination is another important part of the puzzle. The diagnosis is the answer to the "disease" puzzle. Often, patient samples are taken and laboratory tests are performed. Sometimes further patient information is sought in radiographs and ultrasound studies. All the pieces of information are put together implementing knowledge and experience. In difficult cases, all these pieces must be shuffled and re-shuffled to formulate a diagnosis.

These are the challenges we face and meet everyday. These coupled with our love of animals is what makes us tick.