WRVC NEWSLETTER
 Spring 2007 Newsletter 14

CANCER IN PETS

I recently read a book by Temple Grandin, who authored “Animals in Translation.”    It is a fascinating book about animal behavior which basically strives to give animal intelligence a lot of credibility, but also repeatedly points out how we under appreciate  how truly miraculous animal are, and how we have failed them as a result. 

          Equally fascinating is the fact that Temple Grandin is autistic.  In addition, it was her autism that gave her the insights into animal behavior that lead to her becoming one of the foremost experts in the world in animal handling.  It was fascinating to see how her love for animals lead to her evolution as a person, scientist, and animal advocate.

I would recommend this book to anyone fascinated by animals, and by stories of triumph of the human spirit.

The Pfizer drug company will shortly be releasing a new weight loss medication for dogs called Slentrol®  Due to the current trend in the rising rates of overweight and obese pets (estimated at 40% of the pet population) it will be interesting to see how this product is accepted by consumers.  The company list the product as safe and effective, but also notes that its use should be part of a comprehensive plan that includes diet and exercise. It is obvious of course, that problems with diet (too much) and exercise (too little) are what leads to obesity in most cases. 

          Like most new products, the acceptance of its use will largely be determined by its cost effectiveness.  I look forward to the availability of this product , and I do believe it will benefit a segment of our dog population.  It may even get pet owners to focus more on diet and exercise, which is not a bad thing either.

The Elderly Gentleman

One day, some time ago, an elderly man came into our clinic with tears in his eyes and inquired as to how much euthanasia for his dog would cost. He seemed like a kindly, gentle man, so I asked why he needed to euthanize his dog.  He responded that his dog had a problem that required surgery, and another clinic had referred him to a specialist who quoted him an unbelievable  sum of money for the surgery.  Since he could not afford the procedure, his only alternative was the euthanize his pet.

                As fate would have it, the procedure the dog needed was one I had performed, not a lot, but enough to be familiar with.  I had him bring his dog in and, upon confirming the diagnosis, quoted him a price I felt I could do the surgery for.  He was ecstatic that he no longer had to euthanize his pet and subsequently the surgery was performed and the dog did well.

                Since then, this kindly old man and his dog have become loyal clients.  Not only do I take care of the dog’s routine healthcare needs, but the owner also stops in on a regular basis to give me updates on how the pooch is doing.  I have come to enjoy his regular stop-bys and his progress reports.

                It is not uncommon for this fellow to mosey into the clinic to chat for awhile and then say something like, “Duke is doing fine, but he is a little gimpy on his front leg today.”  I will then dispense some basic advice, like giving aspirin for a couple of days, after which Duke gets better, probably in spite of my advice.  This scenario has been repeated a number of times for a variety of non-specific ailments, and the dog has come through all of them just fine.  In the eyes of the owner I have always been right, but as I said, I am sure the dog always got better on his own.

                Recently, the owner come in again with his quiet cordiality, and I stopped what I was doing to find out how Duke was doing.  “Fine” was the answer, but he was starting to scratch a lot and was losing some hair around his tail head.  The symptoms were suggestive of a flea allergy, so I gave him a flea comb and instructed him to examine Duke carefully for any evidence of fleas.  With a friendly grin he replied, “When I came here, I just knew that you would know the answer!”  After he left, I felt good about what had happened-not because I was able to offer some helpful advice, but because the fellow had developed enough confidence in me to feel comfortable coming into the clinic to seek advice.

                There are many rewards in my job, the least of which involve money and material things.  Over the years I have evaluated what I do in terms of what provides job satisfaction, and there is no greater reward than knowing that you have a person’s trust.  To hear someone say, “I trust you,” is uplifting, and as far as I am concerned, it is the best way to have a relationship.

                Not all of my days go well.  Some end up being just plain rotten.  Some days you finish, sitting in the clinic alone after everyone is gone, trying to justify your existence.  During these down times you need to fall back on something, and  one of those things that gets me through the rough times are the positive relationships I develop.   I have never felt any comfort in thinking about my salary or my 401K, but I have felt an incredible amount of comfort in my conversations about Duke with an elderly man who randomly stops by the clinic to tell me, in his own way, that what I do is of some value.  For those simple moments of pleasure, I am extremely grateful.

Although the world is full of suffering it is full also of the overcoming of it.                                                                                                                        Helen Keller

People can learn to “talk” to animals, and to hear what animals have to say, better than they do now.  I also know that a lot of times people who can talk to animals are happier than people who can’t.  People were animals, too once, and when we turned into human beings we gave something up.  Being close to animals brings some of it back.                                                                                                                   Temple Gradin

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.  Leo Buscaglia

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