Today was the day I was going to tidy my house and to teach myself social media, to Digg and Stumble my way into the blogosphere and wave at my tech savvy pals via Google. This was not to be. First, I decided that I’d really better take Frankie to the vet. His eye has…
Dental confessions: A brief digression
As those of you who read my blog regularly know, I’ve been writing a lot lately about canine dental care. It started with my New Year’s resolution to brush Frankie’s teeth; I went on to discuss the problems with anesthesia-free cleanings. I plan to continue with the topic, to review dental chews and give instructions…
The cost of dog care: Where do you draw a line?
It’s peculiar and very unpleasant to be sitting and writing an article while listening to the proceeds of your work go down the drain. Literally. It started with a leaky faucet in my kitchen. It would be an easy fix, I figured, an extra expense, sure, but a manageable one. The plumbers came, agreed it…
Why cheap, anesthesia-free teeth cleaning is really costly
Having made the decision that Frankie’s teeth needed to be cleaned professionally, I asked around about a good place to have it done. The veterinary practice I go to seemed like an obvious choice, but they charged $400 — too rich for my budget. “Do you really want to put Frankie under anesthesia?” one friend…
Clean my dog’s teeth? Seriously?
When I first adopted Frankie, I resigned myself to the many things I had to do to keep him healthy and, yes, presentable. Regular checkups, including vaccinations. Keeping his coat from getting matted. Nail trimming to prevent discomfort that can mimic arthritis — and to head off that annoying click click clicking on my hardwood…
A New Year’s resolution with teeth
I mean this title literally. In 2010 I am going to brush Frankie’s teeth. A little background, concerning both New Year’s resolutions and teeth. I used to make sweeping, vague New Year’s resolutions. I would be a better person, I vowed. I would cook more, eat out less. I never stuck to any of these…
Dog Butts R Us
Dog diseases aren’t funny — except when they are. I worry a great deal about Frankie’s diabetes but I also know that collecting pee samples in public can make for some pretty amusing situations; see The Pee Strip Chronicles, San Diego. And anyone who has made a frantic drive to the emergency room with a…
Another contest & a product endorsement
I got an email yesterday from a woman named Annie, the web director at Mambo Sprouts, a site that helps promote natural and organic manufacturers. She asked for my help in publicizing a photo contest on my blog. It’s co-sponsored by Wellness Natural Food for Pets and benefits an animal charity. I said yes, so…
November is Pet Diabetes Month. Oh, the irony!
[Originally posted November 8, 2009] Via my alert pal Constance B. Riggs, a dietitian who focuses on human diabetes at her excellent Eating Soulfully blog, I just discovered that November is Pet Diabetes Month. I’d always wondered who comes up with those designations and now I know: Drug manufacturers who want people to use their…
The Vetsulin Crisis: Cold Comfort
[originally posted November 4, 2009] On November 2, the Food and Drug Administration published the following notice about the drug that I depend on to regulate Frankie’s diabetes: The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health are alerting veterinarians and pet owners that Vetsulin®, a porcine insulin zinc…