I had a very nice new client today who brought his recently acquired puppy in for vaccinations. Tagging along were his roommates, two scarlet macaws. I was, to say the least, a bit apprehensive when I looked into the lobby and saw two large macaws perched on his shoulders like mini-feathered Sphinxes, but as long as I wasn’t expected to actually do anything with them, I was happy to have them visit.
If I didn’t have confirmation from my co-workers that I was in fact seeing this, I would have thought I was hallucinating. The birds, aside from an occasional ‘SQUAWK!’ were pretty silent. The owner didn’t mention or acknowledge them in any way. They were just kind of there, like accessories. We’re in a pretty suburban area, and macaws are a pretty unusual bird to own around here, so this was a first for me.
I kept trying to decide how to broach the topic- “So hey, what’s up with the birds? You auditioning for Pirates IV?” but I never nailed the opener, and by the time I thought I had a good approach, I was done looking at his dog. So off they went, leaving me to wonder from whence they came, and where they were headed next.
Phone rings. My tech answers:
Tech: Hello, this is XXX Clinic, how may I help you?
Kid: Do you have tapeworms?
Tech: ….uh, not personally, no….what do you need exactly?
Kid: So, well, we’re doing a scavenger hunt and we need to find a tapeworm. I’ve already called 12 other vets and no one has one they can give me.
My tech agreed to loan the kid a tapeworm from one of our plastinated displays on the promise of its safe return. When the kid showed up, she asked who the heck would have assigned these kids to find a tapeworm and the kid replied, “My biology teacher.”
I think that teacher is insane. Other than pestering the local veterinary community for help, how the heck are kids supposed to find a tapeworm? Hunting down stray cats and looking under their tails for the telltale proglottid segments? Eating some undercooked pork and hoping for the best? I simply can’t fathom the idea of sending 12 year olds on the loose trying to find something that may potentially infect them with a parasite. I guess that is why I am not a biology teacher. That’s just gross (and I say this as someone who has my bachelor’s in the subject and loves biology.)
I’m concerned word will get out that we have a stash of tapeworms and the rest of the class will come knocking tomorrow.
Have you ever stayed up late at night wondering to yourself, “What is the most common cause of broken bones in dogs?” No? Well, I’m going to tell you anyway. Veterinary Pet Insurance, one of the largest providers of pet insurance in the country, reviewed 5000 claims from 2008 and summarized the most common causes as follows:
10. Car accidents. The truth is, most people don’t securely restrain their animals while driving, and even accidents at low speeds can turn a pet into a projectile.
9. Getting stepped on. This is so common, especially with the little guys!
8. Running into object. The half-blind Lhasa Apso I had growing up had a series of unfortunate collisions with the sliding glass door until we figured out a better system for her.
7. Caught in or between objects.
6. Hit or struck with object. I suppose this includes both intentional and unintentional strikes…
5. Running and slipping.
4. Fight with other pet/animal.
These seven account for about 20% of the claims. The following two make up another 40%:
3. Falling
2. Jumping (these are pretty similar-the only difference is intent.)
And coming in at a solid number one, accounting for 40% of the claims:
1. Hit by car.
Regardless of the cause, once a dog has a fractured bone you are probably looking at a pretty pricey fix. Some situations you can control, others, not so much. One client of ours had a little puppy break both arms in two separate incidents, both while she was at work and her five kids were alone with the dog. Had she chosen a sturdy labrador instead of a teeny teacup chihuahua, things might have gone differently for the little pup, who eventually was adopted out.
