How to Train Your Human

Barry White wasn't his tiny happy-go-lucky self. He was lethargic and vomiting, and his human was worried. We sprang soulfully into action, checking his blood work and giving him fluids to rehydrate him. And then, he tested positive for the lowest diagnosis on our list! We started life-saving antibiotics, decorated his kennel with WARNING: ZOONOTIC signs, and warned his human to take precautions to avoid infection too such as wearing goggles and gloves if she needed to clean up his urine.  I promise not to drink your urine, Maya... We asked Barry White where he picked up the leptospire bacteria, but he just licked our noses with thanks. Barry White may have been infected through a cut or irritated skin by contaminated water or soil or urine, or by eating infected tissue (difficult to resist with a magical dog nose). Leptospirosis can be more widespread after it's rained and lives in the soil and environmental water.   Do you promise not to eat dead things? No? Perhaps we ...

"Is Bacchus inside?" As the coyotes yipped and hunted nearby, our humans scrambled to make sure we were safe. It sounded like rain, but dread crept over my person as she found Mr Bacchus laying on his side in the dark backyard. Had he been attacked?  Realizing the sound was him struggling to breath against the t hick plastic cracker box liner stuck on his head , she tore it off and he fought to get up. His neck was thick with ropey saliva and he had pooped his pants.    Much better! "You literally saved Mr Bacchus' life by asking where he was," she said when they got inside. We snuggled him and told him how grateful we were that he was still with us. He basked in our worship, gulped water, and then snored loudly at the foot of the bed. We love you, Mr B, international dog of mystery! 

We rushed to help Chance's concerned humans as they struggled to move him with a sling under his hind end. They explained that he suddenly couldn't get up or walk, and they couldn't afford an MRI. Was there anything that could be done to help him walk again? We brought in our therapy laser (photobiomodulation) to send regenerative light energy to his damaged tissues to decrease pain and inflammation. Chance's tight muscles relaxed under the warmth of the laser as it created new blood supply to speed healing. It would take many sessions to discover how much mobility he could regain, and if it would be enough for the big guy to get around independently!  Slowly but surely, Chance's hind legs started supporting him again. He staggered around drunkenly, as if he'd been hanging out with those wild dogs on the corner his humans told him to stay away from, but he could get out to the bathroom again on his own!  We're so grateful for his re...

Java stood with her tail tucked and belly tense. Her human told us she had run around at the dog park, and now was reluctant to jump up on the bed and couch, two of her favorite places. Her delicate little face asked for help.  We'll help you! After using a cold therapy laser on her tense muscles, she began to visibly relax. She happily swallowed her anti-inflammatory, and enthusiastically chomped some CBD on a treat.  Java wagged her tail for us and headed home to relax and heal. 

The phone rang at Turquoise Animal Hospital. A sweet calico cat who had been peeing outside her litter box was in our parking lot! A friendly veterinary technician collected her, staying six feet from her human to limit the spread of Coronavirus. Stunt cat photo Once inside the hospital, the veterinarian and cat's human chatted on the phone. Was this a urinary tract infection? A bladder stone? An inflamed urinary bladder? They decided to start with a urinalysis. which came back full of bacteria and white blood cells.  After a long acting antibiotic shot, she felt much better! This cape is surprisingly silky...I will let you live, for now... Thank you to everyone helping to keep us healthy and yourselves healthy by adapting to social distancing! Stay safe and wash your hands! 

Bella Boo Butt slowly and painfully sat on her cushion while Dr Chu gently examined her, found her sore and chi deficient areas, and then came to her rescue with electroacupuncture! This feels nice, woof! Bella stood patiently while tiny needles were placed on top of her head, down her achy spine, her legs, and arthritic hips. Tiny jumper cable-like clips were gingerly attached to the acupuncture needles, and a therapeutic current was slowly increased. The second Bella seemed restless, the current was decreased for her comfort. Unblock my chi, please After her session, once the needles were gently removed, Bella strutted her stuff and wagged her nub tail happily!   

Mr Bacchus walked into the room, and peed on the carpet in front of his dismayed humans for the first time in twelve years. As they sprinted to contain the mess, the phone in our secret lair jangled. We were on the case! An animal is in trouble? I'll be right there! Since Bacchus was an older male dog, infection was less likely but never impossible. Did he have urinary bladder stones? Diabetes? Adrenal disease? Happily, Bacchus' xrays didn't show stones in his bladder. His urinalysis and culture didn't grow any bacteria. However, his blood work was suspicious of one of two things: leukemia or tick disease.  We crossed our paws for tick disease, the least of the evils, even though he was an apparently tick-free short coated house dog. Tick disease, specifically Ehrlichia, is a bacteria that lives inside white blood cells and is spread by tick bites. There are no tick control products yet that kill ticks faster than infected tick bites spread the bacteria. It ...

I woke up and my ear hurt so I flicked it a lot.  I dug at it with my paws.  I rubbed it on things. My goal was to pull a Ferris Bueller, but my humans noticed, and soon I was on my way to the hospital.  They looked in my ear with a plastic cone and I yelped dramatically.  It didn't really hurt, but I wanted to ensure that I'd be coddled for the rest of my visit. While they looked at my ear goop under the microscope, I waited on a comfy bed with a fresh beverage, which I knocked over and wiggled in. Now damp, I flicked water on the hard working technicians as they walked by.  Rudy, one of the hospital cats, really showed me how it was done. Turns out my ear was infected with yeast and bacteria!  Ouch.  Since my ear drum was intact, I was sent home with ear cleaner and medicine.  I shook my head after each treatment, but my ear feels a lot better now. Thank you!