Dr. Sandra Truli Springer, Holistic Vet House Call Services
Truli Holistic Veterinary Services: 877-DR-TRULI
“As soon as he thinks you’re not looking, he’s going to work at that Gentle Leader until he gets it off.”
“I’m gonna hafta get ridda my dog if he doesn’t stop pulling. I can’t have him pulling when I’m pushing the baby stroller.” Continue reading “Portuguese Water Dog Revenge Chews Gentle Leader”
A dead 6 foot diamondback rattlesnake lay stretched across the truck bed.
The Lady in question was a 9-year-old female German Shepherd mix. She was camel-tan with a black mask. Lady’s rump raised up 2 inches above her tail and had a cute little dimple in it. Basically, she was fat and did not look too fast or self-reliant. She looked like she ate a lot of Alpo and laid around digesting all day.
Boy, was I wrong!
Mrs. Small couldn’t implement any of this advice because she was 100% blind. So what was she going to do?
Talia was a 2-year-old black domestic short-hair cat with a penchant for stalking her mom, wrapping herself around Mrs. Small’s wrist and bunny-kicking her hand. Ouch!
My usual favorite remedies for this sort of cat exuberance include increasing structured playtime. At least 20 minutes twice a day of hard ball-chasing, string-chasing fun (supervised, of course!)
My next favorite remedy if the kitty is already very well entertained with attention and exercise, is a “natural” slightly unpleasant consequence. Not punishment, because that usually ups the stakes and makes the cat gain your attention with more vigorous and inconvenient means. Continue reading “Cat Attacks Owners Hands and Ankles”
This may come as a shock to you, but, in my hospital, no one ever scruffs cats. Never.
Doc Truli is feeling raw and honest today. Enjoy!
1. Here’s 1 practice that probably bothers you, and a veterinarian has probably told you it is normal when you complained or expressed disbelief and a little shock on your face. What am I talking about?
Scruffing Cats.
This may come as a shock to you, but, in my hospital, no one ever scruffs cats. Never. Continue reading “Doc Truli's Top Five Medical Pet Peeves”
You cannot sleep over with your pet. Imagine zoning for a hotel and a pet hospital for the same business.
1. You cannot sleep over with your pet. Imagine zoning for a hotel and a pet hospital for the same business. Hard to imagine, right? Although it would be nice…
2. Drawing blood from the jugular vein in the neck is quickest, safest, least painful, and a good sample for accurate results.
3. If your pet is in an intensive care unit or emergency room, the vet may not have time to answer your calls. It is common for a doctor to oversee 20 inpatients in a local e.r. At 5 minutes per patient, that’s 100 minutes on the phone, instead of caring directly for patients. If you think you’re the only person that wants a special call anyway, rest assured, so does everyone else!
Continue reading “Top 10 Veterinary Practices that are Normal and May Surprise You”
“When Brinkley squats to poop, pee comes out the back of his leg.”
I thought Brinkley’s mom was kidding or lying when she first told me about his little problem.
“When Brinkley squats to poop, pee comes out the back of his leg.” Oh, really?
Continue reading “How I Diagnosed a Fur-Lined Ectopic Urethra in a Golden Retriever”
“My cat is 19-years-old, how could she survive anesthesia?”
Cleo was a skinny orange tabby cat who had not eaten for 3 days. Normally, I’d perform the physical examination, make my testing and treatment recommendations, and that would be that. In Cleo’s case, emotionally-charged decisions abounded because Cleo was born before my new kennel assistant. She was 19 years old!
“I don’t know if we should put her through blood tests. She’s so old,” her mom ventured.
“Old age is not a disease,” I countered. Continue reading “19 Year-old Cat Needs Emergency Dental Surgery”
Top Ten Tips for the Vet Visit: You’d be surprised how easy it is to help your veterinarian give you better advice!
1. Come Prepared. Bring hard copies of previous records, x-rays, passports, and vaccine records. Special Tip: bring food ingredients from pet food, all vitamins or supplements or herbal remedies, shampoo, flea and tick products, and even toys and training treats so you can truly get the vet’s opinion regarding any of these items. Hire a veterinary coach for complicated problems and write down your observations ahead of time.
2. Take your pet to the visit yourself. Or, have the person that knows your pet best be in charge of the visits.
3. If your dog bites, bring your own muzzle, or ask for one right away so your exam gets moving along. If your cat gets nervous, as most do, leave him in the pet carrier until the nurses are ready. Letting a cat wander around the exam room usually encourages self-defense when then veterinary team walks in.
4. If your pet has a skin or ear problem, do not wash or clean the skin or ears before the visit. You might wash away clues the vet needs to diagnose the problem. Continue reading “Top Ten Tips for Getting the Most Out of a Veterinary Visit”
“Before her tooth surgery, she never played tug of war. Now it’s her favorite game!”
Abandoned on Interstate 95, Bella was a surprisingly healthy 2-year-old Maltese in need of a good home. No one had registered her microchip number and the pet shop she came from was out of business.
“She’s yours!” I told her ecstatic rescuer.
Her new mom brought Bella for a check up and we found she had lots of dental tartar. When Bella came for her deep dental cleaning, even though her teeth looked sparkling, her dental x-rays showed a tiny black spot in her jawbone under her premolar. Continue reading “Bella Learns Tug of War”
“Who’s Bootsie?”
A black, orange-eyed Persian named Bootsie came to see me because he couldn’t get up, would not eat, and had not urinated in 24 hours. Of course, you’re thinking he had a urinary tract obstruction and was being poisoned by his own retained urine. And you’d be right!
Bootsie became obstructed in a unique way. Upon examining him, I discovered a scab blocking his urethra. He could not pee at all and it looked like he had been injured. But how?