Snake Detector

If you live in an area where snakes are common, you may need this helpful advice one day.

Suppose a snake enters your home, and you are unable to pinpoint its exact location.  Maybe you are not even sure in which room it is seeking a safe refuge.  You turn the house "upside down" looking for the intruder, but alas no luck in determining the hiding place.

Use a "trail" of flour to mark off all the doors and all the rooms.  Allow the house to become very quiet.  If the snake changes its location, leaves a room, you should be able to determine its movement by the disruption of the flour pattern.

You do not have to create a pattern as elaborate as the one pictured above, nor do you have to use organically produced whole wheat flour!

 I hope it works!

Leonard Cohen at The Fox

Leonard Cohen gave an astounding performance at The Fox this weekend.  His deep appreciation of the accompanying musicians, backup vocalists, and technical staff was impressive.  I was touched by his actions because I have seen well known entertainers fail to recognize their musicians.  In fact, one evening in London a noted entertainer who shall remain nameless was booed by the audience when he took issue with the well loved and respected back-up musicians.  I was very proud of that audience.  They let the "star" know that he had to earn their respect, and that it would not be gained by treating their favorite musicians in an off-hand  and rude manner.

My husband was the lead guitarist that night in London, and I have not forgiven that entertainer for his rude actions.  He is not around any more, but that lead guitarist is still impressing audiences night after night.

For All History Buffs

I received a newsletter from the National Veterinary Laboratory today, and it was fascinating.  If you are interested in history or have pets, you may enjoy it as well.  If your curiosity is piqued, I have included a link to the newsletter.

https://www.listbox.com/post/20130219/72B4CC66-074C-11E2-A621-C63FFA52DAFD/21494057-f92be781

Shout Out to Veterinarians at the Inauguration

Did you catch the shout out to veterinarians during the inauguration?  You missed it?
"...suturing the wounds of a unicorn..."  Tell me I did not imagine that line.

In veterinary college, we learned to suture on a foam pillow form.  When I was practicing the different suture patterns, I was not seeing a foam pillow.  I was suturing a unicorn.  She was beautiful- shimmering, absolutely breathtaking.  I did not share this information with any of my classmates.  Did I want them to think me crazy?  I did share the names of the suture patterns we were practicing with my professor.  Not the names as they are known in the veterinary world, but the names as they are known in the embroidery world.

Country Vets in England

I found a great article about Mr. Jack Watkinson's son, a country vet in England.  If you have been following my blog for many years, you are familiar with Mr. Jack Watkinson because I was very fortunate to have been able to work in his veterinary practice in 1979 in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, England.

It seems like yesterday when I accompanied Mr. Watkinson to the BBC set of "All Creatures Great and Small", and assisted with the animals being filmed.  Mr. Watkinson is retired now, as is Mr. Nick Naish, the veterinary surgeon with whom I spent most of my time while "seeing practice " in the Yorkshire Dales.

I want to share the article with you.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/3353239/The-country-vet-a-dying-breed.html

That Yorkshire sense of humor remains to this day.

February is Pet Dental Month

The deciduous canine tooth (baby tooth) has not come out as it should have. You can see in the above picture that the permanent canine tooth and the baby canine tooth are trying to occupy the same space. As a result, the permanent tooth is being forced in front of the baby tooth resulting in possible bite problems. Also, you will notice that food and bacteria are trapped between the two teeth. This problem needs immediate attention to prevent damage to the permanent tooth. The baby tooth should be extracted under general anesthesia. This is a problem that the doctors at NEVH see quite often.

February is Pet Dental Month, and Northeast Veterinary Hospital is offering a Special Dental Package throughout the entire month of February. For details about the dental special, please visit our website.

NEVH Angel Fund

Last week, two pets were recipients of veterinary treatment funded by the NEVH Angel fund. And you are asking,"What is the Angel Fund?"

One of the most difficult situations we, as veterinarians face, is being confronted with a pet that requires veterinary care and the owner of the pet is unable to pay for the needed care. I want to go ahead and provide the treatment. I love pets, and that is why I studied all those years to become a veterinarian--I want to help pets. I want to improve their quality of life and keep them free of pain & discomfort.

Unfortunately, keeping a veterinary hospital open and operating is a very expensive endeavor. Since the hospital is not endowed by wealthy individuals, it must exchange veterinary care for funds to be used to run the hospital, maintain equipment, and pay doctors and support staff. Actually, it is a very good system that functions well until that sick pet arrives and the owner cannot afford treatment .

Sometimes a "good Samaritan" steps in and assists with the pet's care. The Staff of NEVH created The NEVH Angel Fund to help in situations such as this. The money for the Fund is donated by caring individuals and the NEVH Staff sponsors fundraisers to benefit the fund.

This week, two pets received veterinary care funded in part by the Angel Fund. The Staff of Northeast Veterinary Hospital is to be commended for their dedication to veterinary medicine and for their uncompromising love of pets.