Vet Connect

Well my resolution of keeping up with my blog seems to already be faltering. On the good news side, my resolution to get more fit and healthy is still intact. Hard to believe the first quarter of the year has come and gone and Spring is already here. We are gearing up for National Pet Health week in May and plan to host an open house in celebration on May 10th. This year’s theme is “What difference pets make”. This of course has me reminiscing about past pets. There have been numerous, as I have always been surrounded by 3-4 at a time. Each cat, dog, horse, turtle and bird is remembered fondly and each has had an integral part in shaping who I am today, both as a veterinarian and a person.
My first “my” pet was a calico kitten I found in kindergarten. My dad was out of town and I was so afraid he wouldn’t let me keep her and I would have to give her up on his return. As it turned out, she got along fabulously with the family dog and my dad didn’t really “hate cats” as he proclaimed. Fluffy was typical of a temperamental calico and would cuddle only on her terms. She hated noise and if my brother and I were screaming or fighting she would seek us out and bite the offender. She had a litter of kittens and we kept one, naming her Duchess. Duchess had incredible patience and would let us dress her up in doll clothes and wheel her around in a carriage. Both cats died of geriatric diseases while I was in college but each holds a special place in my heart, they did after all grow up with me and teach me the importance of the human animal companion bond. There were many more cats to follow over the years but the impact of your first pet is strong and often shapes our desire to surround ourselves with creatures that provide companionship as well as unconditional love.
We want to hear other’s stories of how pets make a difference in their lives and so we are hosting an essay/ poster contest for kids. We will come up with some cool prizes and reveal winners on May 10th at our open house. Have your kids start writing and check back here or stop by the clinic for more details.

Like everyone else I have the resolution to get in shape. It’s not exactly a new resolution as it has been a ongoing process I started last summer and have struggled with it in the past. You know the usual exercise more, eat right, lose weight. So far I’m staying active and have done Ok with the diet but it seems once you’re over 40 this process is slower and harder then in younger years. My daughter and I went to Port Aransas the weekend before New Years and tool lot’s of long beach walks. We saw lots of dolphins and birds and the weather was great. My whole family went hiking New Years day and we scattered Kirby’s ashes at a frequent haunt of hers, Bull Creek. I’ve also recently hiked the Barton Creek Green Belt and paddled around Lady Bird Lake (a.k.a. Town Lake). Sunday I rode the new and improved bike trail from North Austin all the way to the lake. I love living in Austin and the Hill Country for all the nice parks and trails and the perfect weather we have year round to enjoy them. I have my current companion “Rika” who also enjoys these parks and one of my teenage children or husband often join me on these excursions. If you enjoy these sort of outings you might want to get a copy of Melissa Gaskill’s book Best Hikes with Dogs: Texas Hill Country and Gulf Coast Guide book. Melissa is a personal friend and client here, she also is a freelance writer for Texas Highways magazine and other travel publications. Her book is a great referrance for dog friendly parks and camping. So next time your in, ask me if I’ve been hiking, it keeps me on my toes.

Okay folks…I am starting this blog. Stay tuned for updates.
12/26/07 It’s the day after Christmas and all through the clinic we are all hustling and bustling and waiting for things to calm down. Doesn’t look like that will happen any time soon. The holidays are such a busy and stressful time for most folks, myself included. We have welcomed several new “Christmas” puppies and kittens and got to share in the joy of adding a new furry family member. We have also lost several of our geriatric, long term patients which is sad and adds to the stress of the season. Having lost my own special Chocolate Lab “Kirby” this year I know how much we reminise and miss our special 4- legged family members during the holidays. Kirby was my stress reducer, always good for a long hike to take your mind off life. Her pal, Eureka, misses her terribly and although we still walk and hike a lot, Kirby was the leader, the adventurer and will forever be missed. What a special job we have at the clinic to be entrusted to the health care of such beloved family members and to learn the personalities of each. We miss them almost as much as their families when they have passed. No critter can ever replace the loss of another but there will be others and each comes to us with his own particular personility and loves us unconditionally and wins a place in heart next to the memories of ones that passed before. I hope everyone has had a good holiday season and is looking forward to great happenings in 2008!