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Happy Heartworm Disease Free Year!

Saturday, January 1st, 2011

I should say something profound, on this, the first day of 2011.

Maybe this is SO simple that it is REALLY, REALLY profound.

One of my goals this year is to remind everyone to give their pets their heartworm preventative every month.  (We give the dogs and Max theirs on the first, so that is when reminders will go out!  I am willing to give you personalized reminders on a different day if you prefer…and a hug*, for being as heartworm obsessed as me!)

Today, Joy the Puppy, Ebony Dog and Noodle the Poodle got their oral Wormshield (ivermectin, like Heartgard).  Several excellent oral monthly preventatives are available, as are topical preventatives.  Your pet may also be on the twice a year injectable preventative, Proheart.  Next month, I will post a list of available preventatives, if it would be helpful.  If your veterinarian prescribed it, it is good!

Next month, Joy the Puppy is switching to Proheart.

Max the Cat is on the monthly topical heartworm preventative Revolution.

We have no ferrets, but if we did, they would be on the oral heartworm preventative Heartgard, mostly because it is the only one labelled for ferrets, but also because it is an excellent product.

This post is sort of spur of the moment, as in, I jumped up from dinner and said “Oh yeah, it’s the first!” and Abby and I got the pets their meds.  Next month, I will cover heartworm disease more comprehesivly with links and pictures – NOT of a heart with worms floating out of its valves – that is so gross, and so last millinium! I will also cover whatever aspects of heartworm disease that you would like to hear, so let me know!

These days, it seems most pet owners are very well educated about heartworm disease – If there is a barrier to care, it is convenience of medicating. So we will talk about the monthly preventatives and a bit about Proheart, the once every six month medication, and join hands* and thank God that heartworm disease is preventable and that the preventative medication is no longer only available in ONCE EVERY SINGLE DAY form!

*If you prefer, we can leave hugs and hand holding out of all future medical discussions.  I just thought it would be nice.

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Ham-Rabbit and Friends

Friday, December 31st, 2010

This week, Ham-Rabbit reappeared, became more colorful and obtained all sorts of new friends.  Finally!  An answer to the question everyone has always asked:

“How do I make a costume for my hamster that is both cute and comfortable?”

The answer to the question

(as is true of many of life’s biggest queries)

is:

“Sharpie.”

Ham-Rabbit

Hamosaurus

The Very Scary Ham-Lion – “RAWR!”

Hamster Head Shark

Hamster Peacock

And perhaps my favorite of all…

Hamicorn!

If you send me hamster pictures, I will post them!  If you send me hamster costume ideas, I will meet with Hamlet and Sparks and their boys and see what we can do.  Then we will post those pictures too!

May your 2011 be fun and colorful and overflowing with friends, family and soft, cute pets.  And may those three categories overlap in every possible way.

Happy New Year!

*****

Thank you to my two favorite hamsters in the whole world, Hamlet and Sparks.  And thank you to Hamlet and Sparks’ boys, and Hamlet and Sparks’ boys’ brother and Hamlet and Sparks’ boys’ and Hamlet and Sparks’ boys’ brother’s cousins.

You are my very favorite big kids in the whole wide world.

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Ham-Rabbit

Monday, December 27th, 2010

A few years ago, I was bringing a Robo hamster back to her family after her veterinary visit.  Her cute little round face was peeking out from my closed fist.  I had a Sharpie in my lab coat pocket.  If you know me or have been around the Riley and James website, you probably know where this is going…I drew bunny ears and whiskers on the hand I had around the hamster, and Ham-Rabbit (named by the beautiful and talented Pet Nurse Erika Workman) was born.  SO cute!  The hamster was returned to her family without incident.

However, the next day when I handed the next client’s hamster back, she immediately asked, “Why do you have Sharpie on your hand?”  Wouldn’t you think her first question would be “Is my hamster going to be ok?” or “What medication do I need to give her?” or something like that?  No…she zeroed right in on my sharpied hand!  Some people are just obsessed with Sharpies.

Knowing she would either think it was as hilarious as I did, or completely unprofessional, like most grown-up clients (and doctors) probably should, I sheepishly asked to hold her hamster again, then hopped my hand towards her with her little hamster in it.  She could not stop laughing to say good-bye and was still giggling as she checked out.  *PHEW*

As we were driving home after visiting our family in Ohio last month, Russ said (after miles and miles of silence), “You know what would be REALLY cute?  Hamosaurus!”

We came up with all sorts of awesome hamster costume ideas that night, and this week we finally had Sharpies and hamsters and nephews who could give us permission all in one place at one time.  So now, I am proud to announce…

Ham-Rabbit.  And friends.

Coming to Riley and James New Year’s Eve.

You will love them.

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Thanksgiving

Friday, November 26th, 2010

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

We spent the weekend before Thanksgiving with our family in Ohio, yesterday with Mom and Dad, and the rest of the weekend will be spent catching up with the rest of the family.  I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate Thanksgiving.

My imaginary friend, Dr. Amanda Brown, invited me to participate in Grand Rounds, a forum that is typically made up entirely of human medical doctors (not that we veterinarians are not both human and medical doctors, but you know what I mean…I never know what to call those guys.)

Anyways, this week, Dr. Brown was in charge of Grand Rounds, and I was out of town, but just look at the awesome group of veterinarians and…other guys…she gathered!  Anyways, she gathered a great group of doctors, and they came up with a great group of articles and blog postings about gratitude.

GRAND ROUNDS

first time on facebook, first time to include veterinarians, first time hosted by an imaginary person!

Last year at this time, I posted something for which I was grateful for every day of November on facebook and twitter.  This year, the month got by me…it was full of all of those things I should have been listing!  So here is my “catch up” list.  It’s going to be sweeping and general, random and overlapping so as not to leave anyone or anything out.  What an awesome thing to have to consider…

Thank you that as Creator and Sustainer of the universe you would not only bother with me, which in itself is impossible to wrap my head around, but also love me and save me and walk through this life with me down to the detail and minute and very smallest whisker – I know what breaks my heart breaks Yours – May what breaks Your heart break mine.

Thank you too for…

friends

family

pets

books

the opportunity to write what I’m thinking

people to share it with

the Awesomes of Blogathon 2010

my job

my career

my kids

Mom

Dad

Russ

our house

our neighborhood

the girls’ school

Westwood Church

my baby niece and baby nephew

my big kid nieces and big kid nephews

my brothers

my Family-I-Love (Jodi and I came up with that gem-is that better than sister-in-law Sara Jean?? :))

my extended family…I love that my coworkers say “You are related to everyone!”

our garden

Omaha

America

my kids’ awesome heritage from the Grandparents I miss dearly back to the ancestors I do not even know

Here comes the part of grace where my friend Beth’s little brother would start thanking God for the ketchup and the salt and the napkins…

our bread machine

hardwood floors

the clicking of dog toenails and the creaking of kid feet

Max the Cat’s habit of getting between me and my book or me and the keyboard

my art table

my camera phone

stickers

Sharpies

notebooks and sketchbooks

Petie the Cruiser

walking bridges

and so on…

Happy Thanksgiving All

♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Joy the Puppy

Monday, October 11th, 2010

Last night I was so exhausted from a full week of work, a full day of continuing education and a full evening of dinner and Bible Study with our Super Wicked Awesome Group of friends…

Our Super Wicked Awesome Group of Friends

that I sat down on the kitchen floor by the back door and put my head down and cried.

I tried to explain to Russ that I was just done.  I was not sad.  I was not mad.  I was just so tired.  Yes, it had been an incredibly great week.  Yes, I loved the veterinary meeting and especially the evening with our friends.  But extroversion is exhausting for me, and even good stress is stressful, and I just had nothing left.  He was trying to understand, and even doing laundry and picking up last minute things so I could really be done.  But I just needed someone to really hear me.

Enter Joy the Puppy.  We still call her Joy the Puppy because she has not outgrown ANY of her puppy antics, the cute ones or the exasperating ones.  She bites Ebony’s ears.  She scatters the trash.  She pounces Max the Cat.  She unstuffs her toys, which is super cute, except that she recently decided the bed she and Ebony share is a giant unstuffable toy.  So this week I have been sweeping up fluff every day and shopping for a new bed to replace Joy and Ebony’s very flat bed.

Joy the Puppy walked up to me on the kitchen floor and put her muzzle under my arm.  She waited till I looked up and then licked the tears off my cheek.  I pet her ears and told her all about my day and my week.  She sat with me until I got up and wandered to bed.  She lay down next to me on her (very flat) bed with her chin on her paws and a watchful eye on me.  In the few minutes it took me to “read” myself to sleep, Joy the Puppy stood up and checked on me twice.

I love the stories of dogs who pull people out of rivers and out of burning buildings and off of train tracks as trains scream towards them.  I love service dogs and rescue dogs and hero dogs.  Last night I was “just” tired and I “just” needed my dog, and she was there for me.

Joy, I am writing this so when you tear apart your new bed, we can sit and read this together and I can remind myself how incredible and wonderful you are.  Thank you Joy.  You are the best puppy anyone could hope for and I love you.

See full size image

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National Veterinary Technician’s Week!

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

Happy National Veterinary Technician’s Week!

October 10-16, 2010

Thank you to all the wonderful people in my life who have worked along side me to maintain and restore the  health of pets.  You have been the best of the best as veterinary partners, fellow mourners, fellow learners, friends and coworkers.  You have make my career possible and you have made it the most rewarding one I can imagine.

If you have anyone in your professional life like that, make sure to thank them.  And if they happen to be veterinary technicians, make sure you thank them this week!

And to all pet lovers…If a veterinary technician has stood by you in a medical crisis, loved your pet, or just been there for you and your pets every time you need them, please take time this week to give them a call or send them a card (or even chocolate!) and tell them how important they are to you.

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31 Days to Building a Better Blog

Friday, October 1st, 2010

October 1, 2010 – Day 1 of Building a Better Blog

Today I started to work through ProBlogger‘s suggested tips on “”  Click here for the link to his e-book.  It was brought to my attention by Dino Dogan, who is a wonderful dog blogger.  Darren Rowse (ProBlogger) is awesome in his own field, and is gifted at helping other bloggers improve.  I loved the story of how he helped a bunch of Evangelical Christian bloggers improve.  Now he is working on us pet folks (not that there can’t be some overlap!)

I have had his site bookmarked and have been monkeying with the idea of following his suggestions for quite some time.  Today seemed like a good day to start.  I love October.  It does have thirty-one days.  So here goes.  Should be a fun project!  Thank you Dino Dogan! And thank you ProBlogger! I think you are both great!

October 2, 2010 – Day 2 of Building a Better Blog

For my “first reader audit” I chose my oldest daughter.  My youngest is watching cartoons and every single adult in my family was disqualified because they have all helped me with this blog from the beginning!

Dave, of course, created the website for me.  Russ proofread my earliest attempts and still gives me valuable insight, and everyone else, including those two great guys, loans me cute pictures, gives me great advice, comments, proofreads, and most of all encourages.  (Whispering…You are the *best* family in the world.)

Thank you Kid for giving up a half hour of cartoons and for your wise insight. You are both the best kids anyone could ever hope for, and I love you so much!!

My Not So Little Helper Half a Lifetime Ago!

She is with Ebony Dog – That’s Piggy in the Top Left Corner!

October 5, 2010 – Day 5 of Building a Better Blog

me:  Hi Dave?  How do I get to the ‘About’ page of Riley and James?  Hi Dave, it’s me again.  What does Flash mean?  Hi Dave?  How do I edit this page?  Hi Dave?  Quick question!  Dave?  hmmm…must have accidently disconnected…

(Thank you for everything Dave Nelson!)

October 12, 2010 – Day 14 of Building a Better Blog

I know, I am getting ahead of myself, but an upcoming assignment involves analyzing ten blogs in my niche.  Ten?  It took me years to find one veterinary blog I loved, and now I have to gather ten?

Well, I can tell you they are out there.  Through twitter, #dogtalk and dvm360, I have found all sorts of very fun veterinarians who are also bloggers.  So I listed my ten favorite veterinary blogs, and kept the list open so I can add more as I remember or discover them.  I will, of course, have a similar Veterinary Blog Reviewing Policy as my Leadership Book Reviewing Policy.  (Unless I can say “Great Book!  Five Stars!” I will not say anything.  My Mom taught me that.)

I actually probably will not review the veterinary blogs at all, as it is much simpler for you to click a link to a veterinary blog than to buy or borrow a leadership book!  You do not need me to review the sites for you!  Just read through some of them and see what you think!  I will tell you this –

I think they are all great!  Five stars!

✩✩✩✩✩

October 25, 2010 – Day 25 of Building a Better Blog

Today’s project was to go to a mall and answer a bunch of questions about marketing.  (whine)  I don’t LIKE shopping!  So I grumbled my way to Oakview Mall and wandered around until I landed in the food court.  Then I remembered I DO like Oakview Mall.  And I DO like brainstorming…and sitting by myself with a notebook and a purple pen.  So I had a productive and enjoyable time despite myself.  Thanks ProBlogger.  I will do less complaining and more direction following.

October 28, 2010 – Day 28 of Building a Better Blog

Today’s assignment – create a mission statement for your blog:

To Promote Preventative Care of Pets in Order to Enrich the Lives of Pets and Their People

That’s always been my mission, since Riley and James started as “Riley’s Fan Club.”  It feels good to articulate it, not sure if I’ve ever done that.  I suppose I should put it somewhere more prominent than the end of an ongoing month-long post.  There, I made it bold.  And centered it.

November 1, 2010 Well, I have finished the 31 Day Challenge.  It has been very helpful.  It has stretched me and my computer capabilities beyond what I would have stretched myself.  It has given me tools to continue to use.  Thank you ProBlogger.  I really appreciate your help and your overall helping others attitude.  From your newest fan…

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What I am Doing This Week, Posting Fun Links – Artists for Hope, Generation Vet…

Monday, September 20th, 2010

I thought it would be fun to post links to some fun pet (and not pet) related things I have been reading or working on lately.  Check out as many as you have time for.  Add your own favorites in the comment section if you would like.   My Favorite Things seem very random when I write them out like this, but they make sense in my head!

♪♫ ♪♫ ♪♫ These are a few of my favorite things ♪♫ ♪♫ ♪♫

Artists for Hope You may remember me talking about this wonderful group here and in the Wuzzy Chronicles.  They just returned from another trip to Cazale, Haiti to visit the children and staff of The Real Hope for Haiti Rescue Center, and to continue their work with local Haitian artists.

Photobucket

Thank you Artists for Hope for the kind mention on your website! A veterinary blog and an artist/children’s welfare blog may seem like an odd combination, but in Real Life, it is a very natural fit!

Generation Vet has a thirteenth episode out.  I am still not over the fun of a veterinary comic strip.  It may seem strange to be such good friends with an imaginary veterinarian, but I LOVE Dr. Amanda Brown!

My Cat – My article on Omaha.net about Max the Cat is up.  He is THE best cat in the world.  If you and I are “real life” friends, you have probably met him, but if you have not, meet him here.

Next up on Omaha.net will be an article about dealing with pet loss.  As you know, I prefer writing about happy topics, but covering this subject is long overdue for me.  I think I have done it in a way that will be more helpful than depressing.  You will have to let me know when it comes out in a week or two.  Thank you Mom-Karen for the gentle nudging to address pet loss and grief.

Writing! I am LOVING working with Carefresh!  Still hoping to work with  My Favorite Dog and Cat Pet Food Company in the World and dvm360 (Here’s my Look At Me! blog post about twitter for veterinarians.  May be helpful for non-vets too.)

Being a Vet – I spent all last week at work (usually I work one day a week) and just loved it.  Wonderful staff, wonderful clients, wonderful patients.  This week I am back on Mom Duty (Haha, get it?  We are never off Mom Duty!) and have more time for writing.  And time for feeding Fuzzy Rat, who is still having vestibular (balance) issues.  I appreciate my pets providing me an endless supply of blogging material, but really, boring would be just fine!

Petchat and Dogtalk – One last fun link, in case you read this today…petchat and dogtalk are both tonight.  If you read this LATER than today, they are every Monday night!  Very fun, and I learn so much from other pet lovers.  They are both worth checking out!

My Small Tipsy Rat – I am going to go mix up some Critical Care and peanut butter, and spend some quality time with Fuzzy Rat.  Have a great week!

 

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What I am Doing This Week, Dwelling on Construction Jobs and the Inner Ear of My Rat

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

This week I am working much more than usual!  The kids are back in school full swing and starting fall activities.  Russ’ company (J.T. Builder’s, where he is a carpenter) is closing tomorrow, but he already has some leads on new career opportunities.  God always takes care of us.  I don’t suppose He will drop us now.  I love my crazy, busy life, but it is taking all of my writing time!

Also, I have been providing supportive care for Fuzzy Rat, who has been very sick.  Last week, she was so wobbly she could not walk or even hold food.  I have been bugging all of my poor veterinarian friends to help me come up with a differential diagnosis list that does not include “brain” or “cancer!”

She is on antibiotics and antiinflammatories, and responding well.  She even started walking yesterday!

Still could be bad, but I am hoping she is either dealing with a severe inner ear infection or idiopathic vestibular disease.  Idiopathic means “unknown cause” (same base word as “idiot” – ha!)  The vestibular system deals with balance.  Idiopathic Vestibular Disease is fairly common in dogs, so it would not be unheard of to occur in rats, though I have never dealt with it before.  It is basically a diagnosis of exclusion – if it is not something else, it may be Idiopathic Vestibular Disease.  In dogs, it has a good chance of resolution, so here’s hoping for Old Ratty Vestibular Disease!  I would never wish an ear infection on anyone, but I would be ok with that diagnosis too!

Get Well Really Soon Small Rat!

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What I am Doing This Week: Waiting

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

I am waiting to see what three of my favorite companies have in mind for future projects.  I am hoping for a lifetime partnership of regular writing assignments, with cute pictures of my pets scattered throughout the publications.

That reminds me of one of my favorite lines in August Rush.  Evan’s friend asks him “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” and Evan replies, “No, I’m thinking something else.” Perhaps they are thinking something else.  Who knows?  It could be even better than what I am thinking.  Though, as you know, there is nothing better than cute pictures of my pets.

I am waiting to read another leadership book that I can add to the “What I am Reading” series here.  As you know, I will only review books to which I can give five stars.  So I am getting through the list, but not falling in love with the books.  Seriously, it seems as if the books were all chosen by men!  (They were…not that there’s anything wrong with that.)  Let’s skip the sports and war illustrations guys!  Then we can whip through these life lessons a little faster.

I am waiting to see how my fall work schedule pans out.  I struggle with the same pull with which every mother struggles.

Should I stay home more?  Should I work more?

However, a normal mother makes the very difficult decision that balances her life and family dynamics best, and then adjusts her schedule based on the changing circumstances of her family.  I do that and then obsess.  And second guess.  For a decade.  Literally.  Still, I am blessed to have the choice over which to obsess and second guess. Lately I have become a tiny bit better at enjoying the ride.  See?  I named this post “Waiting.”  Not “Fretting.”  Or “Obsessing.”  Or “Flip-flopping.”  Yay, me.  I’m progressing slowly, but I am progressing.

That reminds me of one of my favorite Bible verses:

“Wait for the Lord; Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

I am waiting for the smell of my perm to dissipate.

I am waiting for my kids’ friend to wake up from her nap so they can all play together.

I am waiting to see how well the Heartworm Disease and Omaha Pets article does on Omaha.net.  Is everyone sick of discussing heartworm, or is it still an attractive topic in its (unfortunate) timelessness?  Maybe I just needed to write it to remind myself to continue to be a strong advocate for my patients’ health.

I am waiting to see how some important things turn out.  Russ, you always proof-read my rough drafts for me.  Thank you for that.  And I don’t write rough drafts of my posts on this website.  I just write what I am thinking.  Since the rough draft step gets skipped here, you may never see this.  If you do, remember that I love you more than writing.  I love you more than being a veterinarian.  I love you more than my (un)naturally curly hair.

Now I am waiting to hear back from only TWO of my favorite companies!  While I was writing this, I received an email from Nina Silberstein, the editor of The Wagging Tail Blog.  She said that she forgot to tell me that the post she had asked me to write a while back is due TOMORROW.

Sometimes it’s good to wait patiently, and sometimes it’s good to get busy.  The genius is in knowing when to do what. I am going to go start on this Wagging Tail Blog post…

Have a great week.

Russ…

 

 

 

 

I love you more than chocolate.

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