Excerpt From New Book

This is a chapter from my new book that I hope to have published at some point soon.  It is actually a chapter I had to cut from the novel, but thought it might be fun to post here.  Thanks for reading!

Chapter 16

That night he couldn’t sleep. When the first light of dawn peaked through the window, he was tired, but relieved. He slowly made his way to the bathroom. He stood motionless in the shower wondering how he had wound up here. Who was the woman he had barely met, and why was she rattling his brain and emotions so quickly. She seemed to be able to turn him inside out exposing what he had hoped to keep secret. She had the sense of if his truth that each day here was one day closer to getting the hell out of this one horse town.

He stepped out of the shower to find Jasper staring at him. Jasper, the resident donkey had the ability to open the access door between the apartment and the barn. “Jasper, Get Out!” he yelled. The donkey casually stared at him, licked his lips, and slowly sauntered back through the doorway. It wasn’t until Jason began to make coffee that Jason found the surprise on the kitchen floor…

He arrived earlier than normal to work after his disastrous attempt at sleep. The office was quiet as he lay his head back in his office chair, attempting to close his eyes if only for a brief few moments. The office phone rang. He didn’t answer it, but moments later his pager buzzed. 

“Damn,” he mumbled as he picked up the phone to retrieve the message.

When he arrived, Jason found the mare streaming milk and not allowing her foal to nurse. The foal was down and not active. His immediate concern was that the foal had not received the proper amount of colostrum from the mare. Colostrum holds the crucial antibodies for immunity of the foal. Without an adequate amount of colostrum, the health of the foal was at great risk.

He explained the situation to the owner stating that the foal needed to receive hyper-immunized serum via a nasogastric tube placed in the foal’s nose that would then enter the stomach. The serum would replace the colostrum for the foal to ensure the needed immunity. He set to work passing the tube through the nose and into the foal’s stomach. He administered the serum and was quietly excited how smoothly it had all gone, and that he was going to be able to save this baby.

He finished, and removed the tube. Stepping back with a smile and sense pride for having done good work, especially so early in the morning; he turned and saw a woman staring at him from the other side of the stall door, her face expressionless.

The owner interjected that the woman was her daughter, and the actual owner of the foal. Jason introduced himself and stated that the foal had received the needed dose of serum and should be just fine. Waiting for a response, he knew that she was going to be so relieved with this news.

She continued to stare at him and then finally asked, “So with this tube up the nose and all. Is that going to negatively impact her imprinting?”

Jason’s mouthed about dropped out of his head as he struggled to come to words for a response. What he really wanted to say was, “Imprinting doesn’t mean anything when the foal is dead.”

The Gallivanting Goat of Gracin County

As a veterinarian, each day is an interesting adventure; some are more interesting than others...

Horses are my first love.  I have many fantastic horse owning clients, and time-to-time they ask for help with other animals/pets on their farms.  Several months ago I received a phone call from a client who works closely with an animal shelter.  They had acquired a goat that needed to be castrated.  I offered my assistance and looked forward to putting my veterinary goat skills to the test.

I arrived and made my introductions.  A crowd of people began to gather. I nervously looked around, wondering if I misunderstood something, and what I had gotten myself into.

I was escorted to the barn where the little goat was being stalled.  The gentleman in charge looked at me saying, "Well Doc, he's in there!  We will wait for you out here."  I gave him a questioning look before slowly opening the door.  I cautiously entered the dark barn, and as my eyes adjusted, I could see the coat of a creature sleeping in the adjacent stall.  I quietly peered over the stall door.  Staring back at me was the largest boar goat I had ever seen!  His horns were massive, and the look he gave me told me that he was well versed in using them.

I quietly administered the sedative under the stall door into the goat. "This is going to be a piece of cake," I thought to myself before exiting the barn.  The anxious group of people had grown in number,  "Seriously? Had I missed a memo?"

Minutes later, I returned to the barn to see how my patient was progressing.  He was resting quietly, the breathing, slow and rhythmic.  "Perfect," I mumbled.  I again peered over the stall door.  The eyes glaring back told me that the goat was still in need of some "goat goodnight" elixir. I tried once again.

It did the trick.  I gathered several of the "castration groupies" together and made a plan of getting the goat out of the barn.  We decided our makeshift surgery suite would be in a cleaned stock trailer, so that the goat could be transported later in the day.

The castration procedure went as planned, but the during the procedure a local television station arrived.  A reporter, complete with camera man, wanted to film the procedure.  It was to be used as a local news story for the animal rescue.  So...I guess everyone else knew something I didn't as several of the castration groupies began grooming their hair for the camera.

I smiled and went about my work.  The procedure was completed, and I cleaned up, the crowd seemed pleased; however, the goat did not.  

Several weeks passed before I received an email from the animal rescue.  The television report was to run that night on the 10PM news.  That night I quietly was anxious to see my mug on the television, my Andy Warhol 15 minutes of fame, so-to-speak.  The reporter said many wonderful things about the rescue, and then my care of the animal that day.  I was all smiles, until...the reporter gave an update of  the goat.  "At this time,  the goat's whereabouts are unknown,"  she said.  

"Whereabouts unknown?" I exclaimed,my mouth full of toothpaste, as I readied myself for bed.  

The goat, upon transport to a ranch, had escaped.  Many had attempted to capture him, but none had succeeded.  The goat was roaming the countryside of Gracin county.  Each week sightings were called into the local sheriff's office.  The goat appears to be thriving and doing well.  

My wife turned to me saying, "Well, at least you helped to decrease the unwanted wild goat population."  I didn't know if she was serious or not.  So much for my 15 minutes of fame.

And that's almost exactly how it happened....I will keep my day job for now, well, at least until Hollywood starts calling... 

 

A Day in the Small Animal Clinic

I love caring for horses each and every day.  When I attended veterinary school I naively believed that all the students wanted to work with horses; small animal medicine was what you did when you were at the farm and had a barn cat with an ailment. 

I am an equine veterinarian, at least until last Wednesday...

I received a call the month before from a small animal veterinarian needing someone to cover for a day in the clinic.  I had agreed in a flash, a month from now seemed like forever, until the day it arrived.  I made my way to the clinic, and introductions to the staff were welcoming. 

As I settled in, I began to ask myself why hadn't I taken the small animal route more seriously? 

As my dad would say, "Inside work and no heavy lifting."Small animals were really just small horses, right? 

Th day began with a routine vaccination, piece of cake... The exam and vaccination went without incident.  I completed the necessary paperwork and asked the owner if she had further questions or concerns.  She smiled politely and then pulled out a list; she asked if I could also trim the toe nails, heartworm test the dog, relieve the dogs anal gland, and then look at the bump on the inside of his mouth.

Simple enough.  Pulling out my toe nail trimmer, I set to work.  The dog began to growl lifting its upper lip.  The owner had forgotten to mention that "Banjo" was not a big fan of nail trims.  "Oh not to worry, he won't bite," she replied.  As I reached for a leg, Banjo made his move and locked onto my hand.

A scrub, some paper towels, and a few band aids later, we placed a comfortable pink muzzle on Banjo. As I once again got back to work there was knock at the door.  The next two patients were waiting in exam rooms 2 and 3.  The highlight of the exam was relieving the anal glands, which reminded quickly why I love horses.

Th entire day was non-stop, one exam room to the next. I was enjoying the pace...and that the staff ordered out for lunch.  I actually was able to enjoy lunch that hadn't originated from the glove box of my truck.  Small animal vets have it so good...


The client arrived with the large yellow labrador.  Hanging onto the dog's collar for dear life, he looked frazzled, and as I closed the door, he said, "I'll be back with the next one."

The next one?  He arrived moments later with a black labrador, again hanging on for dear life.  He shoved the dog through the doorway saying, "I'll be back with the next one."


The next one?  The scene repeated itself five more times.  As the dogs were dropped off, I continued on with my paperwork until the smell arrived.  I turned to the find the three male dogs each urinating on a separate corner of the exam room.  The small German Shorthair pointer was defecating in the floor and the Springer Spaniel was digging in the trash. 


I hurriedly began attempting to clean the mess, and then the next mess, and then the...As I cleaned what I thought was the end of it, I turned to find that it had started all over again.  I finally gave up when the paper towels were gone.  I wanted to send an "SOS" to someone, but I felt trapped, surrounded by panting and pooping. 


I finally vaccinated all the dogs and collected the paperwork for the owner amid the melee of wagging tails and licking.  The dogs left, one by one, but they left.  The day was finally over.  I said my goodbyes and walked, almost running, to my truck.  I have never been so happy to sit in my truck.  As I headed home the pungent odor of dog feces filled the air.  Apparently I had not chosen my steps carefully enough... I love horses.

Spring Vaccines and Wellness Exams

It appears as if that the only time I ever get a chance to write these days is the month before spring vaccinations and wellness exams begin.  I am not one to make new years resolutions, at least consciously or openly; however, I would like to make a concerted effort to contribute more to the blog in 2011, especially if anyone is reading...

A new horse owner contacted me last week and wanted to learn more about the importance of vaccinations, and more importantly, why she should have a veterinarian administer the vaccines.  She explained that her friend at the barn had informed her that she could easily purchase and administer the vaccines to her horse on her own.

This is a frequently asked question, and one I sincerely continue to enjoy answering.  As each year passes and our world continues to speed along, it is one that I find more and more great examples of the importance of veterinarians' roles in the wellness aspects of horses and their caretaker owners. 

Each spring and fall I enjoy the opportunity to visit clients and their horses for examinations and vaccinations. It is an important meeting for a variety of reasons.  Many horses I may only see twice each year, so these visits allow me time to exam the horse, and address any concerns that the owner may have.  These exams may also reveal other issues that may not be visible to the owner at that time.  It is also a chance to re-visit management strategies including pastures, feeding, and deworming protocols.

In addition to physical examination, I also use these visits to evaluate the horse's teeth.  While this exam is brief, it does allow me the opportunity to discuss concerns related to the teeth.  Many of the horses I look at during these visits do not necessarily need any dental care at that time; however, many could benefit from power dental flotation at some point in a future appointment.

Vaccines are not all created the same.

Vaccines are not all handled the same.

Vaccines may have different results upon administration into the horse, and although rare, some horses may have adverse reactions.  I work very hard to make vaccinating horse a consistent and positive experience.  The vaccines that I administer are available only through licensed veterinarians. They are manufactured to very rigorous testing and purification standards that help to reduce reactions both systemically, and at the injection site.  While reactions do happen, using a vaccine that has been properly manufactured and handled, aids in reducing these issues.  If your horse does have an adverse reaction, the veterinarian is there and able to provide immediate care to your horse. 

I know economics affect all of us, and finding ways to save anywhere we can is important.  I have many great clients that enjoy vaccinating their own horses, and I support owners providing care they feel comfortable administering.  Veterinarians are professionals trained in caring for your horse, and there is tremendous value in allowing your veterinarian the opportunity to assist you in your horse's care. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me, or your veterinarian, with questions regarding vaccinations and wellness examinations.  Take care.

Spring Cleaning Your Horse!

Spring is here and I know I speak for all of you when I say, "Whooopeeeeee"!

Yes, I am pretty excited to see warmer temperatures, longer days, and fewer layers of coats, coveralls, gloves...

Getting our equine athletes ready for the summer starts with spring vaccinations and deworming.  The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has published vaccination protocols depending on the age and gender of your horse.  You can visit the AAEP's website through a link at www.suitvet.com.

The majority of horses I vaccinate are adult horses and are boostered annually.  AAEP's core vaccine recommendations include:

• Tetanus
• Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE)
• West Nile Virus (WNV)
• Rabies

Although not included in the core vaccines, I highly recommend vaccinating show/performance horses and horses in boarding facilities for Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) and Influenza. These vaccines should be boostered at least twice a year to help in reducing the risk of your horse being infected.

In addition to properly vaccinating your horse it is important to consider changes in the realm of equine deworming.  As our understanding and concerns of parasite resistance continue to increase, new studies have revealed that horses may not actually be protected from certain parasites, and other horses may be over-dewormed...

Now, I went to veterinary school to work on horses and the thought of being a small animal veterinarian was never on my professional radar,......wait for it......BUT, the truth is, fecal evaluation, similar to your dog's, is exactly where the science has gone.  Talk about resistance, I was less than thrilled about trying to convince clients that we needed to submit a stool from their horse, but the microsope doesn't lie.

What literally became so revealing was that farms and ranches where I thought parasites would not be a problem, were.  The old saying, "20% of the horses are causing 80% of the problem," seems to hold true in many circumstances when sampled.

Fecal evaluation has allowed me to help design deworming protocols that fit the farm or ranch. This has allowed owner's to better protect their horses, their property, and their wallets!

Well enough rambling for today, but if you want me to confuse you more, please feel free to email me or call.  Enjoy the weather and enjoy the saddle.  Take care.

Great "Foaling" Expectations

Pregnant mares seem to be few and far between these days with the economy on a rocky road. With all of the doom and gloom, several fillies and a couple of colts have arrived in 2009.  One in particular was quite an event, so of course I had to vent!

I received a call last week with a new horse owner who had recently purchased a pregnant mare. The clients had been casually anxious in anticipation of the newborn's arrival and had contacted me several times in the past regarding what to do when the baby was born.   I assured them I would be available when they called, and so we waited, and waited, and waited some more.  Honestly, I waited long enough that I forgot.  Weeks went by until I received the call.  

"Good news! The baby was born yesterday," said the client.  "Our only concern is that she is not moving around a whole lot." After a brief discussion I made a few phone calls to other understanding clients and was on my way to the new little filly.

The client was right, the filly was not moving around if at all when I arrived.  (Not to worry for those of you who are getting worried at this point. It's all going to work out, trust me.) The filly was hanging in there, but mom was less than thrilled about allowing her new little one to nurse.  I was concerned that the baby had not received the all important colostrum (aka "liquid gold") that is necessary for happy and healthy fillies to live strong and prosper.  A SNAP IgG foal test confirmed that she had not.  The next step was to begin quiet negotiations with mom on the nursing angle, and then place a nasogastric tube into the filly in order to pass the much needed colostrum and IgG serum.  

As I set to work I noticed a small crowd of family members and neighbors gathering outside the stall door, and I thought I was nervous when I tried out for the musical, "South Pacific" in high school!  I placed the tube, transferred the fluids, and then, wait for it... YES, baby stood and nursed.  Okay, so I was pretty proud of myself.  With a big smile on my face I turned back to the crowd at the stall door and scanned for a response.  A few smiles, good... smiles are good, more smiles, and then... a scowl on a young woman's face.  A scowl? The client introduced me to her daughter, the actual owner of the mare and filly.  I introduced myself and attempted to say something, anything, that would decrease the frown on this woman's face.  I explained the work I had performed in order to care for her filly and explained that we would need to perform another IgG SNAP test to ensure that the baby had received an adequate level.

She continued to stare at me, finally uttering a few words she asked,

        "How will all of this affect her imprinting?

Wow...  There it is.  For all the talking with clients that I do, this question left me speechless... I took a deep breath and smiled, and smiled some more.  I had two very different versions of what I wanted to say, but I went with the better one.  I explained that unfortunately sometimes care needed to be given in order to preserve the health of the animal.  My hope to her was that the filly would not hold the nasogastric tube up the nose against me, especially the next time I see her. What I really wanted to say was that if it weren't for the tube, there would not be a next time.  

I just checked in with mom and baby, both are doing well.  The client's are happy and excited, and the "imprinting" is underway... Take care.

 

The Castrating Catastrophe!

So...Have you ever had one of those days?  The day that begins with, "Hey Doc, I have a few colts for you to castrate. Can you give me a deal?" Let's just say that this has been a huge learning experience, and for the record, don't ever negotiate in the middle of the road.  

Let me start at the beginning.

The other morning I was sitting at a red light when I turned my head to see a gentleman waving me to roll my window down.  "Hey Doc, how much to cut a colt?"  About that time the light turned green. The next light stopped us again.  "Hey Doc, how much to cut 3 colts?"  I jumped out of the truck and handed the fella my card. The light turned green and my phone rang.  

I agreed to a multiple horse discount and the deal was done.

A few days later I found my way to his place.  It was conveniently located on the Moon up a 6 mile switchback gravel road at a 45 degree grade.  My truck asked me several times why were we doing this?  As I pulled up three horses were anxiously tied to the hitch rail.   The gentleman explained that one had been handled some, good to know.  

The problem was that none of them were interested in being touched, must less castrated!  

I will "cut" to the chase, but needless to say, one castration went fine, one went okay, and one was a complete disaster, complete with a thorough stomping of me, and my equipment.  

My steel bucket will never be the same...

In the end I survived, and so far, so have the "three gelded amigos."  My body is still a little achy, but that too will pass, at some point...

The moral of the story is to never make deals in the middle of a busy intersection, and always ask more questions.