Dr. Jeff, Rocky Mountain Vet - General Discussion

[Bastet]

7 hours ago, raven said:

The little boy being so devoted to Scales the snake and doing what the doc told him was cute.

I have a snake phobia (although they don't scare me to look at on my screen, just in person), but I really liked that segment because of that little boy - he didn't have a snake because he thought it was cool to have something scary and watch it eat live things, he had one because of love, and he was proud of how gentle the snake was, boasting that Scales doesn't even hurt what they feed him.

[LittleIggy]

9 hours ago, raven said:

I am glad Lola Jane recovered.   I was a bit annoyed that the woman's reaction was "they shouldn't have sold us a sick puppy" - which is true - but also should have been "I'm glad we are the ones who got her, so we could get her care".  I realize I am a little nuts on this subject though.  Well, they were caring enough to bring her to Dr. Jeff, so I'll be gracious (grumble, grumble).  Plus we got Dr. Jeff to give a PSA on NOT buying from backyard breeders, though I suspect he's preaching to the choir with his viewers.

Way to criticize people for doing the right thing. 🙄 They could have backed out of the sale and left Lola Jane to die.

[raven]

On 5/27/2019 at 4:50 PM, LittleIggy said:

Way to criticize people for doing the right thing. 🙄 They could have backed out of the sale and left Lola Jane to die.

No, she said Lola appeared healthy when they bought her and then after they had her for a bit, she got tired and wouldn't play.  Then she said she should have known because of how the parents were kept in the yard with no shelter.  She didn't knowingly adopt a sick puppy in order to rescue her or anything.

I am glad they didn't dump her when she became sick and that they obviously bonded with her.  My comment was more because my impression of her first statement was more "how dare they sell me a damaged product" kind of thing then "these people did not take care of this innocent creature" kind of thing.

For last week's episode, Bella surviving the ?coyote attack was one tough little dog.  I was very happy the turtle recovered and found a good home.  

[Bastet]

1 hour ago, raven said:

No, she said Lola appeared healthy when they bought her and then after they had her for a bit, she got tired and wouldn't play.  Then she said she should have known because of how the parents were kept in the yard with no shelter.  She didn't knowingly adopt a sick puppy in order to rescue her or anything.

Yeah, she went to buy a puppy, saw conditions that should have merely confirmed what was obvious all along, and still handed these people her money.  It turned out to be a good thing for the puppy because when Lola turned out to be sick, they promptly took responsibility for getting her the care she needed; another buyer may not have (and the breeders certainly wouldn't have).  So, Lola is happy and healthy and Lola's owner has presumably learned her lesson and won't go this route in future.  Thus it makes sense if she gets some criticism for patronizing a backyard breeder to begin with - when there were numerous, obvious signs this was not the way to get a puppy - alongside being praised for how she took care of Lola once her true condition became apparent.

1 hour ago, raven said:

My comment was more because my impression of her first statement was more "how dare they sell me a damaged product" kind of thing then "these people did not take care of this innocent creature" kind of thing.

It's such an edited portion of her time at the clinic that, from her overall behavior, I think her feelings were rooted in concern for animals.  Her "well, we're definitely getting one now" response upon seeing the conditions was well intentioned, and I don't think her disbelief someone would lie about vaccination history and sell a potentially unhealthy dog was rooted in "dammit, I got ripped off," but in "who would do something like that?"  I wonder what rock she's been living under to be surprised by this scenario, but I don't think she was upset about her pocketbook, I think she was upset about that poor puppy.

Including Lola's story in the show gave Dr. Jeff the chance to remind viewers not to buy from backyard breeders, so that's good.  Hopefully she reported the breeders; that doesn't usually lead to anything, but she should at least take that step.

[raven]

7 minutes ago, Bastet said:

It's such an edited portion of her time at the clinic that, from her overall behavior, I think her feelings were rooted in concern for animals. 

As I said, it was just my first impression and I admit to being a bit wacky about these things.  If she didn't care, she wouldn't have taken her to Dr. Jeff and Lola probably would not have recovered, so I am glad it worked out.   Her daughter obviously loved Lola as well.

I am always glad to hear Dr. Jeff talk about the evils of backyard breeders and to demonstrate that he can provide good care at an affordable cost.

[Bastet]

It is impossible to be in a bad mood watching Watson wheel around.

Poor Sydney with the ruptured disc, but it's good to see she has improved.  Even if she never regains any more mobility, she can have a good life.

Alu's misadventure wound up being a great thing, because those teeth needed to be handled!  I'm glad she was healthy enough to undergo anesthesia, because that kind of bacteria flowing through the bloodstream can cause real problems.

My eyes bugged out of my head a bit at how many seized alligators there were in that neck of the woods!  So many stupid people.  I wish they'd given an update on Elsa.  Right as I was wondering what it would be like to suture alligator skin, Dr. Jeff said it was like suturing the sole of your shoe, so now I know.

[LittleIggy]

Watson was so adorable! What a champ. I kept saying “Show Sydney’s parents Watson”!

Alu was 17 years old, right? Glad that Good Samaritan found her.

I thought for sure the guy with the 2 year old (another GS) was going to keep that adorbs puppy.  

[Bastet]

35 minutes ago, LittleIggy said:

Alu was 17 years old, right?

Yep; the owner was 22 and was five when her family got Alu.  While a small dog, she's still near the end of her lifespan (I got a kick out of Dr. Jeff calling her "old-timer"), but getting those nasty teeth out will buy her some time with all other things being equal -- it helps her overall organ health by eliminating that source of bacteria circulating through the entire bloodstream, and by letting her eat more (and seemingly better) food.  I thought it was a good PSA for oral health - it's not just about the teeth themselves, it's about the systemic effects of bad teeth.  I like that they twice included Dr. Jeff saying it's better to have no teeth than bad teeth.

[LittleIggy]

13 hours ago, Bastet said:

Yep; the owner was 22 and was five when her family got Alu.  While a small dog, she's still near the end of her lifespan (I got a kick out of Dr. Jeff calling her "old-timer"), but getting those nasty teeth out will buy her some time with all other things being equal -- it helps her overall organ health by eliminating that source of bacteria circulating through the entire bloodstream, and by letting her eat more (and seemingly better) food.  I thought it was a good PSA for oral health - it's not just about the teeth themselves, it's about the systemic effects of bad teeth.  I like that they twice included Dr. Jeff saying it's better to have no teeth than bad teeth.

I’m not questioning the value of what Jeff did. I was just checking after her owner said something about hoping Alu would have another ten years. I had an Italian Greyhound who lived to be a few weeks short of 17. When Claudia went downhill it was fast. ☹️

[Bastet]

1 hour ago, LittleIggy said:

I’m not questioning the value of what Jeff did. I was just checking after her owner said something about hoping Alu would have another ten years.

Nor did I imply you were, I simply clarified what was said about Alu's age and went on to talk about the value of her story being included.

[Bastet]

Moses jumping up and down like he's on a trampoline instead of a floor was hilarious, but he needs some training to settle down a bit overall, so it was nice to see he'd done so in his new home -- feeling secure, a little less going on around him, and he's a good boy.  A seizure is scary, because you often don't find the cause, and then don't know if it will ever happen again; good on his adopter for taking that chance.

I diagnosed Wooky with behavioral peeing from the beginning.

Poor Dexter looked miserable, so I was happy to see him perked up on his second visit.  His daddy lying on the floor kissing him was adorable.  Whatever quality time the treatment gives him will be filled with tons of love.

Dr. B. telling Melody to stop petting the squirrel, he needs to remain a wild animal, was cute, because you can tell they have this conversation with every squirrel.  That baby squirrel going to down on the syringe of formula was adorable!

I liked seeing the wildlife rehab center, and that Malia has inherited the family love for animals.  Can you imagine how many kids that age would get bored waiting to see if some squirrels came out of a box, and she thought it was the greatest.  

Work in the Bird ICU must be exhausting.  But obviously rewarding.  It looks like a nice place, and I bet they'll get a few new donors with this exposure. 

Biggie got put back together nicely, and was another one it was very nice to see feeling better after seeing the misery in his eyes before and after surgery. 

[LittleIggy]

My cat Aemon Targaryen started having grand mal seizures about a month after I adopted him when he was six months old. They are controlled by phenobarbital now although he did have one last week. It’s scary to see Aemon in that state. He falls over and literally convulses. ☹️

Nice of Jess and his family to adopt such an elderly dog and give him a good home. 

Moses was so cute. What a handsome guy.

Love Dr. Jeff B. He is funny. What was it he said? “We all like peeing” or something like that re: Bambi the rabbit’s surgery.😆

Good to see Watson again wheeling round the place! I saw a news segment about HS seniors taking engineering courses in a HS school in TX. Their project was to design wheels for two puppies (Will and Grace) born without front legs. They used a 3-D printer to fabricate the devices. The puppies were so cute zipping along. 

[nokat]

1 minute ago, LittleIggy said:

My cat Aemon Targaryen

Hee.
 

[LittleIggy]

2 minutes ago, nokat said:

Hee.
 

Aemon is blind like his namesake. 

[nokat]

Bless you LittleIggy for caring for a pet with troubles. 
 

[SunnyBeBe]

Why does there seem to be so many "beloved" pets who get injured when running off their property?  It just seems to me that beloved pets would be better controlled, since, the owners seem to be aware of the dangers of coyotes, cars, etc.  

In my next life, I want to work in wild animal rescue/rehab/sanctuary.  And, marry Dr. Jeff. lol

Edited June 10, 2019 by SunnyBeBe

[TwirlyGirly]

54 minutes ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Why does there seem to be so many "beloved" pets who get injured when running off their property?  It just seems to me that beloved pets would be better controlled, since, the owners seem to be aware of the dangers of coyotes, cars, etc.  

A couple of years ago, I did a bit of research, trying to find some information comparing the intelligence of an "average" cat to that of a human. I found several articles/studies indicating cats have the intellectual capacity of a two year old child.

I used that information to create a post for my cat's Instagram account about cats who are allowed to roam outside without a leash. The post included a list of all the dangers a cat or a two year old child could face if allowed outside alone, and asked the rhetorical question "If you wouldn't let a two year old child wander around alone outside, why would you let your cat?"

For the most part, people were very supportive of the post. But there were a few who left comments such as "My cats have gone outside their whole lives, and nothing's happened!" and "My cats are miserable when they're kept inside!", etc..

But those same people who left those comments, and I, see at least once a week posts from IGer's whose cats were lost, were killed by cars, were attacked by dogs or other animals, murdered by cruel, cat-hating humans, etc.. And they leave comments on those posts offering those pet's owners prayers and sympathy.

But...they still open their doors to let out their own pets.

I just don't get it.

[walnutqueen]

On 6/8/2019 at 6:06 PM, Bastet said:

I liked seeing the wildlife rehab center, and that Malia has inherited the family love for animals.  Can you imagine how many kids that age would get bored waiting to see if some squirrels came out of a box, and she thought it was the greatest.  

Work in the Bird ICU must be exhausting.  But obviously rewarding.  It looks like a nice place, and I bet they'll get a few new donors with this exposure. 

I loved the wildlife rehab section.  You are right - baby birds season is exhausting.  We often had 100+ baby songbirds to look after, and it was non-stop feeding and cleaning from sunup until well after dark.  The young babies need feeding every 20-30 minutes, so you just start at one end of the incubators & cages, and when you get to the other end, it's time to start all over again.  I've never been so tired in my life!  But seeing them fledge, learn to forage and fly off into the wild when you release them is the most rewarding thing you're likely to experience. As is caring for a sick or injured animal and returning it to the wild.

I hope this segment encourages more people to volunteer with wildlife rescue & rehab places; domestic animals aren't the only ones who need our help.

[LittleIggy]

Here’s a PSA I referenced a while back:

[SunnyBeBe]

Also, with cats that are out roaming in your neighborhood, you could get them hurt because they annoy neighbors.  I know that I would not harm a cat, but, I used to get pretty annoyed when I would see cat paw prints on my new, freshly washed car hood.  They also kill birds and squirrels that your neighbors may love, so, if you let them roam, please put a bell on their collar so birds can escape.  Not all neighbors may be tolerant. 

[chenoa333]

On 5/25/2019 at 6:05 PM, Bastet said:

Jes the vet tech not being able to hit the vein on his own dog was touching. 

Wow...how compassionate and unselfish of Jes to want to be "the one" to be there for his dog.

Read the following at your own discretion:

Many, many years ago while I was working as a vet tech, a pet was rushed in that had been hit by a car. He was crashing and his blood pressure was almost non existent. The owner made the wise decision to euthanize. But since the pets blood pressure was so low I was having a hard time finding a vein. Then the head vet tech comes up to me and says "let me do it. The needle just goes directly in the heart and it's over."  And I said: "GO AWAY. If I can't hit a leg vein on the next try, I'll call you back here." And I did find a vein and the sweet little pet died with me by his side getting love, compassion and kindness. So many people work in vet medicine that have no heart. So thank the powers that be, for "Jesus Jeff"! And for the many other compassionate warriors that dedicate their time and lives to animal rescue/welfare.

ETA: I hope this wasn't a double post. My apologies if it is.

Edited June 15, 2019 by chenoa333

[chenoa333]

Just watching an episode from 7/18 featuring 2 of my absolute favorite critters: the cat "Sasquatch" and the tortoise (forgot the name). I'm a dog lover too but nice to see more cats, tortoises,ferrets etc

And the episode from last week with the baby ducks, baby birds, baby squirrel! Cuteness overload!

Edited June 15, 2019 by chenoa333

[LittleIggy]

I’m so glad they rescued that cute little Shiba Inu from the freeway. 

A cabin with no running water or electricity? Jeff is lucky Petra doesn’t mind roughing it! 😆  

[walnutqueen]

I love seeing the clinics that Dr. Jeff and staff hold in rural areas.  It is cool that he's managed to combine the HS track team he mentors with the volunteering requirements they must fulfill.  He may get another Hector or Deana (?) out of that bunch; if not, he's at least instilling empathy for animals in these young people.

[LittleIggy]

The idea of mandatory volunteering still makes me chuckle.

[SRTouch]

14 hours ago, LittleIggy said:

I’m so glad they rescued that cute little Shiba Inu from the freeway. 

A cabin with no running water or electricity? Jeff is lucky Petra doesn’t mind roughing it! 😆  

Petra and Fred were the stars of first part of he show. Unlike so many "reality" stars, Petra looked like she actually knew which end of the shovel goes in the ground 😉. And LOL at the kitten deballing factory 😂 every time we see Fred I'm reminded just how great a 'throw away' dog can be! Loved Fred on the slide, then Fred following Petra down the second slide.... As usual, love how they slip in PSA's - let's see: importance of getting a microchip... neuter/spay... how ferrets are loads of fun, but also WORK, and not for everyone... though not stated, sort of hinted that exotic cats are not for everyone (not too happy with Seriba's (?) Hoomin Mom for not treating the known problem earlier, but she did once it started affecting quality of life - just question whether she was looking for kitty's quality of life or trying to avoid kitty snot while cuddling that beautiful cat...... all in all, a great episode - almost forgot to mention I love to see the free clinics with the kids volunteers

Edited June 16, 2019 by SRTouch

[Bastet]

I like seeing his cross country kids come out to these clinics, too.  I remember one time he did an all-cats clinic, and most of the members of the girls team showed up to volunteer and none of the boys team.  I'm still irritated, heh. 

The owners of the lab with that excessive jaw tissue growth illustrated how beneficial these clinics Planned Pethood puts on are.  There was no mention of neutering the dog while he was under, and they took him from the neighbor when he was quite young, so it seems they got him fixed at some point.  It was just the extra cost of dealing with this problem they couldn't afford.  And legitimately - these aren't the folks who don't want to skip a few Starbucks runs and movie nights in order to sock money away.  They're both surviving only on disability checks, and found out about this clinic via the food pantry they rely on because those benefits barely keep them going.

Time and again with those segments, we see that Location + Economy = A whole lot of people who love their pets and do the best they can, but for whom veterinary care just isn't realistic.

I can't imagine looking at my yawning cat and seeing there's a big slit in her soft palate and deciding, eh.  For, what, six years?  I appreciate that she brought her in as soon as it started causing a problem, but how is that not something that you, if not make a special vet appointment for, at least mention at the next check-up to find out what it is and how to proceed?

I can only imagine how tough it was to keep the torn ACL dog whose name I'm forgetting from running and jumping as she healed, but they got through it and now she's dock jumping again.  I love the way owner and dog instantly connected at the shelter; that was me with my late cat Maddie.  I'm not a "heart cat" person; I have bonded with every one of my cats equally, even though each individual connection is different in its particular aspects.  But Maddie was my deepest initial connection; as my eyes scanned the cages, she was the one I was drawn to approach first, and within one minute of interaction I knew she was one of the two I'd be taking home; when I closed her cage, I told her, "Don't worry, you're coming home with me; I'm just going to find your sister or brother."  I then stood there and cried at only being able to choose one more; I wanted them all, but knew I could only take two.  But that she would be one of them was an instant and irrevocable conclusion.

We only see bits of each story, so I hope that in addition to chipping the dog who got out, they recommended a collar with contact info (on the collar itself or an ID tag) -- not everyone will bother to, or immediately can, take a found animal to be scanned, so if the info is right there on the animal, they can contact the owner directly even faster.  So it's best to have both - an external ID and then the chip (especially with cats, since breakaway collars can come off during their misadventures).

Dr. Jeff said of the cabin they have some solar, so it sounds like they can temporarily power things that don't use a lot of electricity, but can't run things with motors (thus, no fridge, just the cooler sitting in water).  And no running water at all.  That is not for me, and why I am so grateful my parents bought a motorhome when I was six -- over the course of my childhood (and beyond), I got to spend time in so many beautiful locations like that forest, but with a shower, flush toilet, refrigerator, etc.  But they obviously dig it, so good for them; they work a lot, so I'm glad they have a relatively local place for quick getaways. 

I like all the vets, techs, and staff members we've "met" on this show, but I'm getting to really like Susan, the adoption director, now that we're seeing so much more of her.  She's another good egg.  They didn't say in the update what ferret experience the adopters had, but I'm not worried, because we did see Susan be clear they need the right type of owner who is aware that it's like having a puppy/kitten for life.

Fred on the slide was adorable.

[chenoa333]

6 hours ago, Bastet said:

I remember one time he did an all-cats clinic, and most of the members of the girls team showed up to volunteer and none of the boys team.  I'm still irritated, heh. 

It IS annoying. What is it about cats that men don't like? Maybe it's that cats can't be controlled like dogs? I am pet sitting for a client who has a few cats. I had to have my client call a plumber for a water leak in the garage. As I escorted the plumber thru the house to show him where the main valve was to the water supply he said (after seeing 2 cats and 3 cat towers) "oh wow..so these really are crazy cat people."  I barked right back at him with "since when did it become cool to hate cats? And fyi, I'M not crazy".

It's totally unprofessional to comment on a clients choice of pets/decorating taste/or anything else.  I wanted to tell him to f off, there are thousands of plumbers out there.  But, it's not my home so I have to behave 😁 He was a real dork.LOL

A man with 10 dogs in a 2 bedroom apartment is never called a "crazy dog man". Anyway....I give up.

But I love Dr. Jeff. I fell asleep before the new episode was over. I'll catch it again some other weekend😺

Edited June 17, 2019 by chenoa333

[chenoa333]

SUOMI..thanks for ❤ my above comment! Just had to say I Love your avatar: "Bin Laden, someone's at the door." 😁 

Edited June 17, 2019 by chenoa333

[suomi]

1 hour ago, chenoa333 said:

SUOMI..thanks for ❤ my above comment! Just had to say I Love your avatar: "Bin Laden, someone's at the door." 😁 

You are welcome.

I'm glad you enjoyed the meme. I just noticed that it's not sized correctly, it doesn't enlarge and most of it doesn't show. Oh, well, It's the thought that counts. 

Someone created an online chat screen where OBL says BRB. Someone's at the door, and 6 Navy Seals like his comment. Heh heh, I couldn't resist. 

(BRB = Be Right Back)

[LittleIggy]

Giddy the kitty was gorgeous. When I hear ACL injury, I think of football players. I pictured Giddy chasing a 🏈. 😆

I’m so happy those gorgeous tigers got along. 💕 Maybe “tougher than tiger testicles” should be a slogan for tires or a 4WD vehicle. 😏

[Bastet]

We've seen the woman who runs the rescue taking in puppy mill victims before, unless my memory is deteriorating with age even worse than I think.  Regardless, good on her.  And Hector announcing Andy should be taken into their adoption program and Dr. Jeff reminding him he's the boss was fun.  I also appreciated the explanation of the various household sounds a mill dog must become acclimated to, because it's all foreign to her/him.  And, of course, Andy indeed finding a good home.

Hershel's momma having another tech do the anesthesia and talking about how different it is with your own pet was a touching moment.  And I loved the little conehead going home.

Cheech's poor guilt-ridden owner touched me; what a lucky break (pun) in his young life that the injury was minor and easy to heal.

Carly the young kitten was adorable each time she calmed down upon getting a hiding spot (just having a blanket put over her).  I loved seeing her get to be a proper kitten in a good home.  I had a medium-haired female tuxedo, so I had a real soft spot for her.

I forgot to post about last week's episode and have forgotten many of the stories - other than tiger testicles being tough - but this stuck with me:  I hope Watson regains the use of his back legs and gets a home, of course, but in the interim, I am really enjoying watching him wheel himself around the clinic and doing his water therapy.  That dog is seriously adorable.

[Gam2]

On 7/1/2018 at 12:19 PM, SunnyBeBe said:

Bless you Chenoa333 for your kindness.  Actually, witnessing the neglect of the pets must really get to you over time. 

I think that I disagree with Dr. Jeff on the issue of how anyone should have the right to own a pet, even people who live in cardboard boxes with no money for their own food, let alone a pet. To me, that's just irresponsible and a disservice to the pet.

  Maybe, I'm fanatical, but, I think that all pet owners should have to attend a class of some sort on the responsibilities of pet ownership, guidelines on pet care and grooming and laws regarding pets in your community.  And then, register the pet to ensure proper rabies vaccination. 

I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said. My son is a veterinarian with so many heartbreaking stories about abused, neglected animals brought to him on the brink of death and the owners expecting him to do a miracle. For free!! I give huge kudos to Dr. Jeff and his colleagues. However, I do cringe sometimes when I see how cluttered and sometimes, even dirty his clinic is. My son’s hospital is constantly being cleaned by one or another of his employees.

[chenoa333]

On 6/10/2019 at 12:35 PM, TwirlyGirly said:

A couple of years ago, I did a bit of research, trying to find some information comparing the intelligence of an "average" cat to that of a human. I found several articles/studies indicating cats have the intellectual capacity of a two year old child.

I used that information to create a post for my cat's Instagram account about cats who are allowed to roam outside without a leash. The post included a list of all the dangers a cat or a two year old child could face if allowed outside alone, and asked the rhetorical question "If you wouldn't let a two year old child wander around alone outside, why would you let your cat?"

For the most part, people were very supportive of the post. But there were a few who left comments such as "My cats have gone outside their whole lives, and nothing's happened!" and "My cats are miserable when they're kept inside!", etc..

But those same people who left those comments, and I, see at least once a week posts from IGer's whose cats were lost, were killed by cars, were attacked by dogs or other animals, murdered by cruel, cat-hating humans, etc.. And they leave comments on those posts offering those pet's owners prayers and sympathy.

But...they still open their doors to let out their own pets.

I just don't get it.

Good post. Reverse Darwanism is alive and well in our society. I too hear the dumb$hit cat owners (or dog owners too) professing that it's not natural to keep cats/dogs confined to a fenced in, safe environment. They MUST roam free. Idiots.. All if them. 

Getting back on topic (before I get scolded by a "mod" 😁) I love Dr. Jeff. Haven't seen much of the new season but will be catching up very soon. 

Edited June 30, 2019 by chenoa333

[DonnaMae]

I don't see a dirty clinic.  I just see a very busy clinic.  I'm sure there's a cleaning crew working at night.

[TwirlyGirly]

On 6/16/2019 at 8:07 PM, chenoa333 said:

It IS annoying. What is it about cats that men don't like? Maybe it's that cats can't be controlled like dogs? <snip>

I absolutely believe it's a control thing. You cannot make a cat like you. Often a dog that's been horribly abused and neglected will still run to its abuser when they're offered a treat.

Some men who don't like cats can be turned into "cat daddies," though:

Enjoy!

Edited to add:

FTR, I don't hate dogs. But I think it would be fair to say I don't respect dogs as much as I do cats, for the reason I mentioned above. When I get a cat, I know I have to earn that cat's love and trust. It's not a given just because I feed him or her. And even if I do everything "right," that's no guarantee the cat will ever want the kind of relationship with me I'm hoping for, because every cat has its own, distinct personality. Kind of like people! 

I've been lucky so far, possibly because I've always tried to appreciate every cat I've had for the cat they are, instead of trying to manipulate them into being the cat I want them to be. 

I love my kitties!

Edited June 30, 2019 by TwirlyGirly

[SunnyBeBe]

I guess it's difficult to do a vet show and not portray pets who get injured.  Most of the time, it's due to the negligence of their owner.  It's sad and I notice that the pet owner will always promise to do better in the end, but, I just don't buy it. 

Does anyone know much about dog training? I've watched my fair share of it on tv for many years.  I thought, that you shouldn't praise and pet a dog when they get nervous or act anxious, since, that rewards the unwanted behavior.  You should instead just wait for them to settle down, distract the dog or keep walking with the dog.  But, Dr. Jeff's adoption person/trainer seemed to do the opposite.  Just curious why.  

[walnutqueen]

I love that Dr. Jeff is always clearly stating that spaying and neutering add years to a pet's life - as does keeping them indoors/leashed/safely enclosed.

Cats, and other animals, for that matter, also respond more positively towards women because we usually have a higher pitched, softer voice (as well as a gentler approach).  That's a broad generalization, but often holds true.

Every single animal has it's own personality; I think one reason I get along with them all so well is that I adapt myself and my behavior to their wants and needs. I'm guessing authoritarian dog trainers would have a field day with me, if I'm ever lucky enough to have a doggie find me.

[chenoa333]

3 hours ago, TwirlyGirly said:

I absolutely believe it's a control thing. You cannot make a cat like you. Often a dog that's been horribly abused and neglected will still run to its abuser when they're offered a treat.

Some men who don't like cats can be turned into "cat daddies," though:

Enjoy!

Edited to add:

FTR, I don't hate dogs. But I think it would be fair to say I don't respect dogs as much as I do cats, for the reason I mentioned above. When I get a cat, I know I have to earn that cat's love and trust. It's not a given just because I feed him or her. And even if I do everything "right," that's no guarantee the cat will ever want the kind of relationship with me I'm hoping for, because every cat has its own, distinct personality. Kind of like people! 

I've been lucky so far, possibly because I've always tried to appreciate every cat I've had for the cat they are, instead of trying to manipulate them into being the cat I want them to be. 

I love my kitties!

That video was f'n awesome. Thanks for sharing and I agree with all of your post!

[walnutqueen]

2 hours ago, chenoa333 said:

That video was f'n awesome. Thanks for sharing and I agree with all of your post!

Yes, I forgot to mention that adorable video.  Kittens have a way of melting hearts.  My cold black heart even thawed just a little watching those hater guys loving on the tiny kittens ...

[LittleIggy]

Loved the young girl who spotted the alpaca’s jaw issue. She was really good handling him.

[Gramto6]

2 minutes ago, LittleIggy said:

Loved the young girl who spotted the alpaca’s jaw issue. She was really good handling him.

She's going to make a great vet one day! She has a heart full of love for the animals.

Edited July 1, 2019 by Gramto6

[Gwendolyn]

On 6/30/2019 at 10:19 AM, Gam2 said:

However, I do cringe sometimes when I see how cluttered and sometimes, even dirty his clinic is. My son’s hospital is constantly being cleaned by one or another of his employees.

Having been there, I can tell you it's clean. What it isn't, is cold and clinical like some offices. Everyone there is kind and the clinic has a warm feel (and I've watched them clean while waiting to have my pets seen). Two years ago they did surgery on my cat, saved his life and he healed amazingly well, no infection. Also they were good enough to shave the matted fur from where our prior vet had spilled glucose in little man's fur while treating the dog in the kennel above him. The pristine clean clinical vet not only missed my cat had 2 infections, put off life saving surgery, but left him a sticky mess as well. I'll take PPP clutter any day of the week over that.

[chenoa333]

7 minutes ago, Gwendolyn said:

Having been there, I can tell you it's clean. What it isn't, is cold and clinical like some offices. Everyone there is kind and the clinic has a warm feel (and I've watched them clean while waiting to have my pets seen). Two years ago they did surgery on my cat, saved his life and he healed amazingly well, no infection. Also they were good enough to shave the matted fur from where our prior vet had spilled glucose in little man's fur while treating the dog in the kennel above him. The pristine clean clinical vet not only missed my cat had 2 infections, put off life saving surgery, but left him a sticky mess as well. I'll take PPP clutter any day of the week over that.

Thank you for that awesome post Gwendolyn! No matter how much cleaning is done throughout the day at a veterinary clinic, it will never be pristine, antiseptically clean. 

And most importantly, the kindness, compassion and true heartfelt love from staff for the animals and their owners is more important than mopping with Pinesol every hour. 

[Gam2]

Cleanliness and kind, compassionate care for animals and their families are not mutually exclusive. That’s a paper tiger used to divert what I actually said.

[chenoa333]

2 hours ago, Gam2 said:

Cleanliness and kind, compassionate care for animals and their families are not mutually exclusive. That’s a paper tiger used to divert what I actually said.

I understand what your point was and my comment was not meant to criticize your opinion. So I apologize. 

[Gam2]

10 hours ago, chenoa333 said:

I understand what your point was and my comment was not meant to criticize your opinion. So I apologize. 

Apology accepted. Thanks.

[hookedontv]

I haven’t watched this show in a while but caught tonight’s episode. I have worked in 2 vet offices and I love the care and concern shown by the doctors and staff on this show. I found myself frustrated at some of the owners-

Thank goodness that Waffer the cat turned out OK but really, the owner didn’t bring him in until the day after he ate a toxic packet and started showing symptoms? The owner should have brought him in right away, they would have induced vomiting and after some fluids and observation. that would have been that. Protocol is normally to get poison control involved right away to make sure the correct tests and treatment are done. Dumb owner could have cost that cat his life. 

Omg the dog on the run? Adopted only a few days prior? Dude, I admire you for adopting a dog, but feeding him hamburger meat for a few days “because you had nothing else” and not having a proper harness on the dog doesn’t bode well. 

I’m sorry, I had to vent, I’m such a bitch but I’ve seen way too many things go sideways due to owners’ poor decisions. 

[Bastet]

On 7/6/2019 at 6:44 PM, hookedontv said:

Thank goodness that Waffer the cat turned out OK but really, the owner didn’t bring him in until the day after he ate a toxic packet and started showing symptoms? The owner should have brought him in right away, they would have induced vomiting and after some fluids and observation. that would have been that. Protocol is normally to get poison control involved right away to make sure the correct tests and treatment are done. Dumb owner could have cost that cat his life. 

My mom called me during the first commercial break to vent about that owner.  It sure didn't sound like she only discovered after the fact what had happened; she was clear on when he'd consumed the packets.  And it was "yesterday afternoon" not "last night" (plus, there are 24-hour facilities in the area even if it had happened after hours, and there was no reference - as there often is, given the nature of the clinic/show - to her needing a low-cost option), so I was confused why she waited.  You know your cat has eaten something labeled "Caution: Do Not Eat" AND he's indeed showing symptoms (vomiting and lack of appetite at least; I can't remember if there was lethargy) and you wait until the next day?  I want to think she was a victim of lazy editing, but I don't know.

I can't remember details of the other stories, but I do recall laughing at Oleysa's follow-up, showing how she could get around post-op, concluded with her owner throwing a long ball and her running a few feet before stopping and looking back as if to say, "It was surgery, not magic."  It's sad they only expect to buy her a few years of quality life, given her age, but better than nothing. 

[Gypsy3142]

On 7/24/2016 at 3:03 AM, Bastet said:

Dr. Jeff's ability to provide treatment below cost - yet still employ his staff, keep the lights on, maintain the equipment, etc. - is due to having bought a building (in which he would not just practice, but live) in a crappy area and then sold it after gentrification paved the way for a nice profit, relying on volume to make up some of the difference, cutting some non-crucial corners, cultivating a network of donors who help off-set the non-paying/low-paying clients, and, of course, getting a TV show. 

I think he's a wonderful person and vet, but I don't like the perception created in some by the show that it's a simple matter of compassion for vets to offer services pro bono or at minimal cost; for most vets, if they did that, they'd go under, and then they wouldn't be able to help anyone.  That's why many vets stopped offering payment plans; they kept getting stiffed, and it was jeopardizing their ability to keep the doors open.  There are a lot of things that need to come together to make it possible to offer free/low-cost services with any regularity.

I love his firm stance on not contributing to the homeless pet overpopulation crisis, from his work in spay/neuter clinics that really sparked his passion, to the Planned Pethood clinic name, to the "I'll do it, if you also let me fix your pet" policy.

Great guy, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for his long-term prognosis.

On 7/24/2016 at 3:03 AM, Bastet said:

Dr. Jeff's ability to provide treatment below cost - yet still employ his staff, keep the lights on, maintain the equipment, etc. - is due to having bought a building (in which he would not just practice, but live) in a crappy area and then sold it after gentrification paved the way for a nice profit, relying on volume to make up some of the difference, cutting some non-crucial corners, cultivating a network of donors who help off-set the non-paying/low-paying clients, and, of course, getting a TV show. 

I think he's a wonderful person and vet, but I don't like the perception created in some by the show that it's a simple matter of compassion for vets to offer services pro bono or at minimal cost; for most vets, if they did that, they'd go under, and then they wouldn't be able to help anyone.  That's why many vets stopped offering payment plans; they kept getting stiffed, and it was jeopardizing their ability to keep the doors open.  There are a lot of things that need to come together to make it possible to offer free/low-cost services with any regularity.

I love his firm stance on not contributing to the homeless pet overpopulation crisis, from his work in spay/neuter clinics that really sparked his passion, to the Planned Pethood clinic name, to the "I'll do it, if you also let me fix your pet" policy.

Great guy, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for his long-term prognosis.

It most definitely is a matter of a lack of compassion that other vets aren't more affordable. I took my dog to a vet that was close to me because she had a hot spot, a place she wouldn't stop licking. They shaved the area and treated it with a topical ointment and gave me a bottle of ointment to continue treatment at home. It took 10 minutes, $300. Absolutely ridiculous. A few years later she had the problem again and I took her to a different vet, $50. Now you tell me that the first vet wasn't in it for just the money? 

Over the years when I've needed vet care for a pet, I call around first and the difference in pricing is astronomical, and the vets that charge a decent price are few and far between. Why? Because most are in it for the money, not for love of animals. 

Any veterinary office is more than capable to have fund raisers to help keep costs low, the simple fact is they just don't give a sh*t. It's unbelievable to me how many vet clinics honestly don't care about animals at all. 

A few months ago I ran into a clinic with my cat that was seizing and because I didn't have a $300 deposit to put down towards treatment, they turned me away. I walked out of the vet clinic with tears running down my face and my cat still seizing to have to try and find a vet to see him. Absolutely heartbreaking and completely disgusting. 

The fact that Dr. Jeff cares so much for animals is amazing and TRULY, TRULY RARE.