Critter Fixers: Country Vets - General Discussion

[LittleIggy]

I love these guys! They are naturals for TV. Funny too. Love how Dr. Ferguson calls the pets “babies.”

It was sad that those puppies didn’t make it. 😢Fortunately, Sweetie the cat did. Now he gets to live with that nice lady.

I read that Drs. Hodges and Ferguson are Tuskegee alums like Drs. Blue, Ross, and Lavigne.

[nokat]

I loved these guys too.  So funny, personable and caring . Not surprised about the connection with the Vet Life vets, there is that same feel.

I thought it was only one puppy that didn't make it with the cesarean? What a sweetheart that lady is, taking care of the strays.
 

[LittleIggy]

45 minutes ago, nokat said:

I loved these guys too.  So funny, personable and caring . Not surprised about the connection with the Vet Life vets, there is that same feel.

I thought it was only one puppy that didn't make it with the cesarean? What a sweetheart that lady is, taking care of the strays.
 

The other puppy I was referring to was the little failure to thrive puppy with the low body temp that Dr. Ferguson worked so hard to save. ☹️

Edited March 10, 2020 by LittleIggy

[nokat]

@LittleIggy, I'm a fan of all the vet and zoo shows, but I have trouble tracking down all of the shows. Perhaps we could get all of them under one thread? I don't know how to do that. Maybe not the vet shows, but the zoo shows.

[Kelly]

I really liked them too!  I like this show much better than Heartland Docs.

[pasdetrois]

Love these guys, although the shorter one was a little extra, dramatically leaving the building when a puppy died.

Love, love hearing the southern accents. And "babies."

These vets met in college and have been friends ever since. They are originally from Fort Valley and Talbotton, GA. 

 

Edited March 10, 2020 by pasdetrois

[SRTouch]

Finally sitting down to watch the recording. Really liking these guys - they care and teach us without seeming forced. Definitely a show I'll be watching........ 

11 hours ago, nokat said:

I loved these guys too.  So funny, personable and caring . Not surprised about the connection with the Vet Life vets, there is that same feel.

Watching also reminded me of the Vet Life docs. I took Vet Life off my dvr, decided to give them another try after reading some recent comments, but now have added them back on schedule to be recorded......... course, I only have about a gazillion other recorded shows that I may never get time to watch and end up deleting to make room for other stuff I'll never get around to watching 😞

[LittleIggy]

9 hours ago, nokat said:

@LittleIggy, I'm a fan of all the vet and zoo shows, but I have trouble tracking down all of the shows. Perhaps we could get all of them under one thread? I don't know how to do that. Maybe not the vet shows, but the zoo shows.

What I do is do a search for the show I’m interested in. If I find it, I follow it so it will be on my “Follows” pages. Keeps them together. Any reorganization is up to who runs the site.

[LittleIggy]

I really enjoy these guys! Hump daaaay! 😆 They explain things in such an understandable way, too. Having to scrape the ear so it would heal was interesting.

[Rammchick]

Definitely nothing pretentious about them, that's for sure! 

[LittleIggy]

Oh that poor tortoise! That was nasty. 🤢 So glad he is doing okay.

I’m mad at that guy for letting the poor mama dog suffer for three hours with that poor puppy hanging out of her. 😡 

Dr. Ferguson in the fake Mohawk was a hoot.

[SRTouch]

Quickly becoming one of my favorite vet shows, maybe even my favorite.  Only one on right now that I'm watching right away instead of saving the recording and watching 'whenever.'

Did you happen to catch the look on Dr Hodges face when he heard that poor mama dog had been struggling with that stuck pup 3 hours? A mix between horror and desire to whop the owner upside the head while demanding WTH took you so long? He's either a very good actor or that was the first time he was hearing that.

Edited March 22, 2020 by SRTouch

[pasdetrois]

On 3/22/2020 at 11:11 AM, SRTouch said:

A mix between horror and desire to whop the owner upside the head while demanding WTH took you so long?

If you're gonna have pets, you're gonna have to pay vet bills. And you should know the health issues that typically affect your breeds. That poor puppy could have been saved.

I don't understand this opinion that is shared by many vets: "When you cut off a calf's testicles (without pain meds), they only experience discomfort for a little while."

[LittleIggy]

I said “beautimous” today! 😆

[nokat]

On Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 8:11 AM, SRTouch said:

Did you happen to catch the look on Dr Hodges face when he heard that poor mama dog had been struggling with that stuck pup 3 hours? A mix between horror and desire to whop the owner upside the head

Yes, I saw the look.  Probably as much because of breeding a dog that you KNOW will have problems and will probably require a c-section. And then the owner said something about the dog's FIRST litter. Sorry for yelling, but that made me a bit angry.

 

Still love these guys. 
 

[LittleIggy]

Wow! Those poor animals with plumbing issues! Those 3 stones were huge for such a little dog. And that constipated cat...Although I can’t see how sticking a couple of finger’s into a cat’s butt can be any worse than putting one’s arm up a cow’s rear end. 😆

[LittleIggy]

Poor little baby goat. ☹️ I didn’t think it would make it, but I was hoping...

So pigs like Mozart? 😆 I just love these guys. They are so down to earth and funny!

[LittleIggy]

I still just love how Dr. Ferguson calls the animals “babies.”

Wow, dogs will eat anything, won’t they? 
The kittens made it! 🥰

[Rammchick]

Please tell me I didn't hear Dr. Hodges say, " Heil Hitler" when they fist bumped!

[LittleIggy]

2 hours ago, Rammchick said:

Please tell me I didn't hear Dr. Hodges say, " Heil Hitler" when they fist bumped!

What? No way!

[Rammchick]

22 hours ago, LittleIggy said:

What? No

Someone watch it again and see what they said, please.  I reran it a few times and I still heard that.  Subtitles were of no help.

ETA -- I suspect they said "High Five", which was sort of muffled.  No need to answer.  

Edited April 13, 2020 by Rammchick

[LittleIggy]

New episodes begin tonight! Yay!

ETA: Oh, it’s a clip show tonight. Hopefully there will be new episodes.

Edited November 28, 2020 by LittleIggy

[LittleIggy]

A new season begins May 22! 😁

[Back Atcha]

On 3/21/2020 at 9:17 PM, LittleIggy said:

Oh that poor tortoise! That was nasty. 🤢 So glad he is doing okay.

I was especially interested.  My Sulcata tortoise is bigger than that one.  My vet had to make a house call to take care of "overgrown" beak, because I couldn't get him into my car.  Poor Panzer had to be sedated...and it took him 24hrs (not normal) to wake up--but in his own yard.  I was surprised they didn't sedate that poor injured guy.  My vet used a Dremel to fill down his lower "lip."

Edited May 28, 2021 by Back Atcha

[LittleIggy]

Glad they are back! I love how Dr. Ferguson calls the animals “babies.” 
Vernard III the little calf was adorbs. I recorded the second new episode so I’m looking forward to watching it later.

[LittleIggy]

Dr. Hodges’ work on the poor dog’s mauled jaw using tilapia skin was amazing. I remember on Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet there was a badly burned dog who was treated with tilapia skin. Dr. Oakley brought in a specialist to do that, IIRC.  

That silky chicken was so cute.

[LittleIggy]

I’m glad those puppies made it! Dr. Hodges takes it hard when an animal like that poor tiny piglet doesn’t make it. 
I’m constantly amazed at what gets removed from a dog’s stomach! 😳 Riley is such a handsome doggie. 
Those snakes! 😬
Guess there will be another generation of Hodges and Fergusons practicing at Critter Fixers in the future.

[Crochetlady]

Love this show and the vets! That poor piglet.  😞

That dog was so lucky they got all that junk out of him. Wow. 

[LittleIggy]

That fawn was so lucky that he was rescued and taken to that lady’s farm. Wonder is a wonder!
Titan the puppy was so precious. I’m so glad he pulled through. Disgusting that someone sold those people a puppy with Parvo. 😡

[Back Atcha]

On 6/5/2021 at 9:26 PM, LittleIggy said:

I’m constantly amazed at what gets removed from a dog’s stomach!

We had a Great Dane puppy (6mos) who ate a terrycloth bathmat!  I found "evidence" in the back yard and assumed she had passed everything.  She had not.  It was a long, sad, painful (two surgeries*)...that removed more than half.  She was skin and bones when she died at the vet's hospital.  What led to her death was something called intussuspection.  After surgery part of the intestine "telescoped" into itself.  This was the early 70s and I don't know if there was a way to tell that was happening--other than past experience.  Heartbreaking to see her get so sick.  I was going there every day to hand-feed her because the vet thought maybe she was just lonely.

[LittleIggy]

Poor Yoda. 😞 

I wanted to slap Pee Wee’s owner for that joke she made about him saying “don’t neuter me!” That dog is suffering because you haven’t had him neutered. 😡

[AncientNewbie]

I wish these guys had longer or more frequent seasons. I really enjoy their attitudes toward patients and community. 

I feel like I ought to snark for old times sake, but that's what Pol is for, I guess. I just like these guys. 

Edited July 6, 2021 by AncientNewbie

[Bastet]

On 7/3/2021 at 9:35 PM, LittleIggy said:

I wanted to slap Pee Wee’s owner for that joke she made about him saying “don’t neuter me!” That dog is suffering because you haven’t had him neutered. 😡

I recently discovered this show, and my mom watches it, too; she called me the next day to gripe about that owner. 

I really enjoy this show.  I quit watching Dr. Pol, so now this gives me my rural vet fix where I only have owners to complain about, not the vets.  They're great, and I like seeing their kids follow in their footsteps. 

[LittleIggy]

9 hours ago, Bastet said:

I recently discovered this show, and my mom watches it, too; she called me the next day to gripe about that owner. 

I really enjoy this show.  I quit watching Dr. Pol, so now this gives me my rural vet fix where I only have owners to complain about, not the vets.  They're great, and I like seeing their kids follow in their footsteps. 

Drs. Hodges and Ferguson attended Tuskegee Veterinary School like the “Vet Life” vets did. BTW, have you watched “Heartland Vets”? It’s good, too.

[LittleIggy]

Season 3 starts on March 26! 

[Bastet]

Oh, fantastic - this show at 6:00 (I'm in CA and get the East Coast feed on my satellite) and then pop over to Animal Planet at 7:00 for Dr. Jeff; I can get quite the vet show fix after going without for some time since I couldn't handle Dr. Pol's show anymore.  Now I just need The Vet Life back, too; that's my favorite.

[chenoa333]

On 6/20/2021 at 11:53 AM, Back Atcha said:

We had a Great Dane puppy (6mos) who ate a terrycloth bathmat!  I found "evidence" in the back yard and assumed she had passed everything.  She had not.  It was a long, sad, painful (two surgeries*)...that removed more than half.  She was skin and bones when she died at the vet's hospital.  What led to her death was something called intussuspection.  After surgery part of the intestine "telescoped" into itself.  This was the early 70s and I don't know if there was a way to tell that was happening--other than past experience.  Heartbreaking to see her get so sick.  I was going there every day to hand-feed her because the vet thought maybe she was just lonely.

So sad for your loss and such a tragic way to leave this world. Glad you got to go see her every day. My sincere condolences. 

[LittleIggy]

I loved the docs trying to teach the guy from the Virgin Islands to talk Southern. “Fixin’ to” is one of my favorite Southernisms. 😆 

I hope that doggie’s cancer treatments are successful. I would take that wobbly kitten! Loved Dr. Hodges teaching it to eat canned food.

So glad these guys are back! I love Dr. Ferguson calling the pets “babies.”

[Back Atcha]

1 hour ago, LittleIggy said:

So glad these guys are back!

Me too!   Dr. Jeff in Colorado is my first love...but these guys are like my kids: THAT kind of love and enjoyment.

[Bastet]

I'm so happy this show is back.  Of the vet shows I've watched, this and the place on The Vet Life are the only clinics to which I'd actually take my pet.

I grinned the entire way through the Vet For a Day segment; what a great thing to do, and it was wonderful to see most of the kids who signed up are Black.

That was a lot of thick pus in that poor gecko's head; what a relief he must have felt to get rid of that pressure.

Same with all that gas in the bloated goat (loved her having to be dragged in, with her back hooves just sliding across the floor), and the air pockets on the turkey -- lots of cool draining in this one.

[LittleIggy]

As a Dr. Pol viewer, I kept saying “That goat needs a trocar!” Same with the turkey. Dr. Hodges basically did use a trocar on the turkey when he used that needle on the poor turkey.

[Bastet]

Dumplin's mom sticking her face inside his cone to kiss him while he was in recovery was cute.

Max's eye injury looked so bad, it was great that it turned out to be a simple fix.  Dr. Hodges was very sweet with the owner.  

I liked the employee giving Dr. Ferguson a hard time that since she started working there, she's taken home the office cat, and now she's fostering reptiles, which she didn't even know was a thing.

[LittleIggy]

The part about Dr. Hodges accidentally putting the fancy otoscope in the laundry was funny. 
Hooray for the hawk! It would be cool if it stays in the area. That skunk was cute. Poor guy must have really been in pain.
Would that dog be considered a trained service dog if it growls at people? 

[Back Atcha]

2 hours ago, LittleIggy said:

Would that dog be considered a trained service dog if it growls at people? 

It's possible.  No one (no professional) would be expected to go almost nose-to-nose with a service dog.

[LittleIggy]

The stories about the Tegu and the goose were so touching! Those guys really loved their “babies” who weren’t your usual pets. ❤️ When  Chewy the goose laid his head on Dr. Hodges’ chest, I got verklempt. 
That poor bulldog! 😮 Why did the owner let it get in such bad shape?

[Gwendolyn]

On 4/2/2022 at 9:48 PM, LittleIggy said:

Would that dog be considered a trained service dog if it growls at people? 

Sometimes the service is to growl.

When my mother was the office manager for a doctor, one pediatric patient did have a service dog trained to growl. This patient had been the victim of sex abuse and the dog was trained to protect the patient and make people respect their space and bring down their stress levels. Their parent came with and gave the dog the signal for friend, so the doctor could approach.  Otherwise the dog's job was to make sure the patient's boundaries were maintained. But that's a rare one off.

Also when watching these shows do you ever want to shake some of the owners. I realize cost and not wanting the vet to think you're crazy will have you holding off. But the rerun where they did the emergency c-section on the American bull dog that had been labor for 3 hrs with the puppy stuck in the birth canal....why did the owner not come in sooner? If you're going to breed, discuss with your vet the signals for distress!

[Bastet]

1 hour ago, Gwendolyn said:

Sometimes the service is to growl.

When my mother was the office manager for a doctor, one pediatric patient did have a service dog trained to growl. This patient had been the victim of sex abuse and the dog was trained to protect the patient and make people respect their space and bring down their stress levels. Their parent came with and gave the dog the signal for friend, so the doctor could approach.  Otherwise the dog's job was to make sure the patient's boundaries were maintained. But that's a rare one off.

One of the primary manifestations of the PTSD for which last episode's client had a service dog was fear of people, so, yeah, I'd say growling at someone who got that close would be part of good service.

I only watched bits and pieces of last night's episode while getting ready to go to a friend's house, but I liked how nervous Dr. Hodges was about the tegu.

[CrazyInAlabama]

3 hours ago, Gwendolyn said:

Sometimes the service is to growl.

When my mother was the office manager for a doctor, one pediatric patient did have a service dog trained to growl. This patient had been the victim of sex abuse and the dog was trained to protect the patient and make people respect their space and bring down their stress levels. Their parent came with and gave the dog the signal for friend, so the doctor could approach.  Otherwise the dog's job was to make sure the patient's boundaries were maintained. But that's a rare one off.

Also when watching these shows do you ever want to shake some of the owners. I realize cost and not wanting the vet to think you're crazy will have you holding off. But the rerun where they did the emergency c-section on the American bull dog that had been labor for 3 hrs with the puppy stuck in the birth canal....why did the owner not come in sooner? If you're going to breed, discuss with your vet the signals for distress!

Some breeds are well-known for needed to deliver puppies surgically.    If someone has a breed that's like that, they should know all of the implications of breeding the animal, and that surgery will probably be required, and expensive.   However, anyone who has a pregnant dog should know what the signs of distress, and when to go to the vet. 

Edited April 10, 2022 by CrazyInAlabama

[Back Atcha]

On 4/2/2022 at 7:01 PM, Bastet said:

Dr. Hodges was very sweet with the owner.  

Everyone in that practice has a GREAT bedside manner...no matter what kind of bed the animal uses.   I loved my vet SO MUCH...for several years.  I was so happy to learn his son selected a college (out of state), hoping to qualify for their vet school when the time came.  The time came.  He did well, graduated and came home to take over his dad's practice.  He's no DAD...he was no Dr. Hodges...he was no Dr. Ferguson.  He's not my vet.

[Rammchick]

15 hours ago, Back Atcha said:

Everyone in that practice has a GREAT bedside manner...no matter what kind of bed the animal uses.   I loved my vet SO MUCH...for several years.  I was so happy to learn his son selected a college (out of state), hoping to qualify for their vet school when the time came.  The time came.  He did well, graduated and came home to take over his dad's practice.  He's no DAD...he was no Dr. Hodges...he was no Dr. Ferguson.  He's not my vet.

That's not something that is taught in med school or vet school.  It comes from having a great mentor who teaches you that, or you learn it by watching someone great.  Sad that this vet you're describing didn't learn it from his father.