Let’s say you’re a conscientious, careful vet. You undertake a routine procedure with the best intentions and excellent medical protocols. Despite your best efforts the patient dies. Though you know your feelings can’t possibly compare to the grief your client faces, you’re incredibly saddened and shocked, nonetheless.

As a vet you took an oath to heal and protect the animals in your care. Yet...

Here’s an ethical dilemma for you: Does a veterinarian doing cat colony work advocate euthanasia for all FIV (feline AIDS) and FeLV (feline leukemia) positive kitties…yea or nay?

In my personal feral feline colony—the one I manage myself with no other individual stakeholders to satisfy—the answer is a resounding “yea.” I euthanize them.

Granted, the vast majority of these cats is not merely...

It’s true that I’ve never considered myself a deeply religious person. Yet I also fancy myself unusually tolerant of others’ beliefs. This past week’s case of a dying puppy, however, put this latter claim to the test. Here’s the story:

A litter of three foundling puppies arrived at the hospital six months ago. Two robust boys with one scrawny girl rounding out the bunch. Sickly though they all...

"Shih-Corgis." Ever heard of ‘em? They’re a cross between a Shih-tzu and a Corgi. As in, all that blowout fuzz and big-dog personality in a smaller package—with less shedding.

Now, don’t laugh. After all, a Shih-Corgi ("Shorgi"?) makes about as much sense as a Puggle—with a less catchy name. (But then, mixing any breed’s name with “Shih-tzu” is bound to be fraught with some difficulties.)

I...

The scenario’s not uncommon: You left an industrial-sized bar of baking chocolate out on the counter. You fed her the leftovers of that spicy oxtail stew. You were careless with an open bottle of Aleve. Or worse…you ran her over in the driveway.

Yeah, sometimes the guilt can be unbearable. It makes you want to do anything to save the pet you’re at fault for having crippled or poisoned—even if...

This is a tough one. And it’s a biggie. How old an animal happens to be makes a huge difference for how the pet’s medical condition is interpreted and assessed as well as for how diagnostic and treatment resources are allocated. But is that fair?

Owners, veterinarians, family, friends and society at large are all responsible for how we see our aging pets. Creaky, rickety older guys are part of...

A coven of nine veterinarians united around a table to break bread and suck down wine is never a too-pretty experience once the evening winds down and talk of veterinary disaster cases overwhelms the menu. (Halibut crusted with Indian spices accompanied by heirloom tomatoes in a spicy yogurt sauce and peppery smashed potatoes—with an almond panna cotta for dessert, in case you’re wondering.)...

Here’s another one of my list-style posts in which I bemoan the many ways in which my clients, colleagues and even random citizens manage to make my life more of a stress-fest than it already is. In case you need a primer, here are ten ways to drive your vet nuts (sourced from last month’s cases):

#1: The drop and run

Leave a box full of nine (!) kittens 10 feet away from your vet’s back door....

#1: Stress!

When clients add stress to our lives in quantities disproportionate to that of the average pet owner, we sometimes initiate divorce proceedings. It usually arrives in the guise of a nice letter explaining that it must be our fault:

“It’s clear to the doctors and staff of X Animal Hospital that we cannot render services at the level you deem acceptable. Enclosed are your medical...

Ever been to your vet and been told your pet WILL be muzzled? Does it sound any better if they ASK if they can apply a muzzle? What if they tell you gently that, “for our safety we’re going to put a muzzle on her, OK? It won’t hurt, I promise.”

In my personal experience, it’s all about the WAY in which the issue is broached. But different vets and different hospitals have different styles and...