One of the techniques taught by behaviourists for dogs that are not under control is to put a long lead on them. Then you have something to grab a hold of but not the dog which when you touch them is a form of reward.
Some dogs have a long lead left on when their owners go out so when they come back they can grab the lead as the dog hurtles out the door and/or grab the lead to get the dog under control.
This seemed like a good idea, however after seeing what happened to a dog that had a long lead on l am now weary and always warn owners to be extra careful if they are not there to keep an eye on the dog.
In this case the lead had wrapped around the dog. From the outside the dog’s prepuce looked normal, this wasn’t the case though. When the dog was under GA and the penis was extruded by the vet it caused a sharp intake of breath and an immediate crossing of legs and wince from the male vet. The penis had been almost cut in half and there was just a thread holding it together. Luckily for the dog the urethra was undamaged or things would have got very complicated but it all healed well.
Showing posts with label Behaviour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Behaviour. Show all posts
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Shootings, Chocolate and Work
Sorry it has been so long since l wrote or replied. I have been on the good old work treadmill but covering 2 different practices, several days going from the day shift to the emergency job to cover part of the late evening shifts. That means that l have only really glanced at the computer to tired to bother.
Then this week l got hammered with this bug that is going around and have had about enough energy to get me from shift start to shift end with nothing left over.
High temperatures and hacking cough is not my idea of fun. I may as well have lived in a sauna l have been so sweated out.
All l want is to get fit, l have just got over my last problem of 3 weeks cold and laryngitis but it seems health must wait.
Food has been on my list of l can’t face much and l have had so much chicken broth l am about to start to crow.
On the work front the feeling of good will seems to as usual be lacking to many animals. There has been a lot of older abandoned dogs appearing needing veterinary care, mainly for cold and arthritis. Stray puppies are doing the odd guest appearance but they won’t really start to hit till Xmas day and beyond.
Last week we had a cat in that was owned. It looked to have been attacked by a dog and was full of holes. We gave a quick x-ray to check for ruptured diaphragm (from being shaken) or any other x-ray obvious injuries and lo some scum had shotgun’ed the cat.
I lost count at 35+ pellets, it is not easy to count them your eyes tend to get confused.
He was quite bright considering the holes in him. His tail will probably have to come off as that has been fractured in what’s called a high tail base fracture, thankfully his urination isn’t affected.
He had a pellet removed from his stomach and a couple from his intestine. Some may need removal from his legs but the majority will be left as it is better than going aimless hunting and if they are not causing a problem then they are left.
The same night we had a small terrier in. His owners had gone out and come back to find their house broken into and the dog stabbed once into the chest.
Air had leaked under the skin and he was very blown up. His skin felt like bubble wrap as the air rippled under it in the fat, not a nice feeling. He was stabilised overnight and a thoracotomy sorted him out.
Parvo dogs have been pouring in. One night we had 4 in isolation and one stray with kennel cough. The small day practice l have been at has also had several parvo dogs in.
Good old Xmas poisonings are starting to make their way in as well, raisins, grapes and chocolates top the charts at the moment.
I am not a fan of American Bulldogs. The ones l know have all been darn right nasty. That has changed and l have fallen for a big lump of one.
He came in because he had eaten a tea-towel, socks and a few other items, apparently the breed is as bad as Labradors for scavenging. All l have known the AB to scavenge though is human body parts, whichever its teeth can close on. The socks and other items reappeared, tea towel hadn’t.
What a sweet dog, stood there while dripped just trying to give sloppy licky kisses. Post op he was in a walk in on a duvet and then l wrapped him like a big sausage roll in a flower duvet. All you could see all night was his nose, even awake he snuggled in.
A couple of days later he came into the small day practice l am at for an op check. He was a bit subdued still but gave me a nice welcome. I chatted to the owner while Bruno (not his name) sat on my lap trying to give more sloppy kisses while l sat on the floor in reception. Apparently his sister had a pair of pyjamas removed from her not long ago.
2 days after that Bruno came back in for another check and he bounded in. He heard my voice as l came round the door to greet him and almost knocked me over.
His long suffering wallet….sorry owner, said he had removed some newspapers from Bruno that day so he was on the mend.
They do try and keep him separated from items but with kids on hand l don’t think it is too easy.
The American Bulldog is a very powerful breed and needs to be line checked carefully for temperament especially and health. I had a history lesson on the breed in the UK and it was the usual. Bad lines brought over from USA and bred with garden breeders for money.
Then a few dogs carefully chosen and brought over from USA by a breeder and bred but a higher price and carefully checked potential owners. Bruno comes from the careful lines and it shows, too many do not.
The emergency hospital is part of a corporate setup and they have upset the whole night shift. There was an Xmas party H/O said they would pay £25 they were quids in. It was to difficult for the majority of us to get to and day shift were going enmasse, and quite frankly was not really anyone’s on nights cup of tea, a drunken night out with non work friends. Not that we do not like them just they are a different world and most day and night shifters do not really meet.
We wanted a nice get together, chat laugh and just unwind so we organised our own, although l am a locum l am included as l spend so much of my life there and doing stupid shifts and getting them out of the brown stuff.
This split party had been done other years. There is a whole setup of night shift starting at 13:00 in the afternoon and ending at 8am, collection drivers, vets, veterinary nurses, receptionists, auxiliaries. Some staff were not going to go to bed, others missing a couple of hours of shift and going it at about 15:00 not 13:00 (day shift were fine about that) Some of us due to work that night and forgoing a full days sleep. It meant we could all get together and have a lunch time gathering. The place chosen was an all you can eat pub. £5.99/head.
The practice manager rang up H/O on Tuesday to get final clearance and was told tough they should have gone to the night meal. The fact it meant that out of 20 who put their name down for the day meal about 5 could have gone to nights was not their problem.
A letter signed by a lot of us has been sent in not that we expect it to do any good. Night shift is a set group of people who only do nights and unsociable hours. There is bank holidays and weekends and all those family gatherings they miss. If their normal work pattern falls on a weekend they do not get extra. They get less holiday than days and less for covering bank holidays. Yet again night shift has been shafted.
Then this week l got hammered with this bug that is going around and have had about enough energy to get me from shift start to shift end with nothing left over.
High temperatures and hacking cough is not my idea of fun. I may as well have lived in a sauna l have been so sweated out.
All l want is to get fit, l have just got over my last problem of 3 weeks cold and laryngitis but it seems health must wait.
Food has been on my list of l can’t face much and l have had so much chicken broth l am about to start to crow.
On the work front the feeling of good will seems to as usual be lacking to many animals. There has been a lot of older abandoned dogs appearing needing veterinary care, mainly for cold and arthritis. Stray puppies are doing the odd guest appearance but they won’t really start to hit till Xmas day and beyond.
Last week we had a cat in that was owned. It looked to have been attacked by a dog and was full of holes. We gave a quick x-ray to check for ruptured diaphragm (from being shaken) or any other x-ray obvious injuries and lo some scum had shotgun’ed the cat.
I lost count at 35+ pellets, it is not easy to count them your eyes tend to get confused.
He was quite bright considering the holes in him. His tail will probably have to come off as that has been fractured in what’s called a high tail base fracture, thankfully his urination isn’t affected.
He had a pellet removed from his stomach and a couple from his intestine. Some may need removal from his legs but the majority will be left as it is better than going aimless hunting and if they are not causing a problem then they are left.
The same night we had a small terrier in. His owners had gone out and come back to find their house broken into and the dog stabbed once into the chest.
Air had leaked under the skin and he was very blown up. His skin felt like bubble wrap as the air rippled under it in the fat, not a nice feeling. He was stabilised overnight and a thoracotomy sorted him out.
Parvo dogs have been pouring in. One night we had 4 in isolation and one stray with kennel cough. The small day practice l have been at has also had several parvo dogs in.
Good old Xmas poisonings are starting to make their way in as well, raisins, grapes and chocolates top the charts at the moment.
I am not a fan of American Bulldogs. The ones l know have all been darn right nasty. That has changed and l have fallen for a big lump of one.
He came in because he had eaten a tea-towel, socks and a few other items, apparently the breed is as bad as Labradors for scavenging. All l have known the AB to scavenge though is human body parts, whichever its teeth can close on. The socks and other items reappeared, tea towel hadn’t.
What a sweet dog, stood there while dripped just trying to give sloppy licky kisses. Post op he was in a walk in on a duvet and then l wrapped him like a big sausage roll in a flower duvet. All you could see all night was his nose, even awake he snuggled in.
A couple of days later he came into the small day practice l am at for an op check. He was a bit subdued still but gave me a nice welcome. I chatted to the owner while Bruno (not his name) sat on my lap trying to give more sloppy kisses while l sat on the floor in reception. Apparently his sister had a pair of pyjamas removed from her not long ago.
2 days after that Bruno came back in for another check and he bounded in. He heard my voice as l came round the door to greet him and almost knocked me over.
His long suffering wallet….sorry owner, said he had removed some newspapers from Bruno that day so he was on the mend.
They do try and keep him separated from items but with kids on hand l don’t think it is too easy.
The American Bulldog is a very powerful breed and needs to be line checked carefully for temperament especially and health. I had a history lesson on the breed in the UK and it was the usual. Bad lines brought over from USA and bred with garden breeders for money.
Then a few dogs carefully chosen and brought over from USA by a breeder and bred but a higher price and carefully checked potential owners. Bruno comes from the careful lines and it shows, too many do not.
The emergency hospital is part of a corporate setup and they have upset the whole night shift. There was an Xmas party H/O said they would pay £25 they were quids in. It was to difficult for the majority of us to get to and day shift were going enmasse, and quite frankly was not really anyone’s on nights cup of tea, a drunken night out with non work friends. Not that we do not like them just they are a different world and most day and night shifters do not really meet.
We wanted a nice get together, chat laugh and just unwind so we organised our own, although l am a locum l am included as l spend so much of my life there and doing stupid shifts and getting them out of the brown stuff.
This split party had been done other years. There is a whole setup of night shift starting at 13:00 in the afternoon and ending at 8am, collection drivers, vets, veterinary nurses, receptionists, auxiliaries. Some staff were not going to go to bed, others missing a couple of hours of shift and going it at about 15:00 not 13:00 (day shift were fine about that) Some of us due to work that night and forgoing a full days sleep. It meant we could all get together and have a lunch time gathering. The place chosen was an all you can eat pub. £5.99/head.
The practice manager rang up H/O on Tuesday to get final clearance and was told tough they should have gone to the night meal. The fact it meant that out of 20 who put their name down for the day meal about 5 could have gone to nights was not their problem.
A letter signed by a lot of us has been sent in not that we expect it to do any good. Night shift is a set group of people who only do nights and unsociable hours. There is bank holidays and weekends and all those family gatherings they miss. If their normal work pattern falls on a weekend they do not get extra. They get less holiday than days and less for covering bank holidays. Yet again night shift has been shafted.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
The Next Generation.
The other day a young female came into work with her 8week old puppy. The puppy was due it’s first vaccination, great, she was being responsible. No not exactly she was walking the puppy. Her record stated she had been warned not to walk the puppy until 7-10 days after his second vaccination as he was at risk.
The svn explains she should not be walking the un-vaccinated puppy on the pavements but especially not in a veterinary surgery.
The client looks blankly at her and says “wot you mean?”
The svn tries to slowly explain “wot she means” but the blank look shows she isn’t really getting through.
Client sits down slowly pondering the information, puppy sits on the floor, because it is on the floor already and it can have a nice sniff and lick at all those smells and whatever.
The vet calls the client in and client’s first words as she is walking through the door… “Wot do they mean l shouldn’t walk him” vet can be heard repeating almost word for word what the svn and receptionist had warned the client about.
Client goes home with puppy they are due back in 2 weeks. I stuck my head around the door to make a sarcastic comment to the vet.
She cuts me off shaking her head in despair “The puppy is 8 weeks old, and she is to scared to pick up it’s bloody food bowl, the puppy growls at her. And the best part is, she is pregnant”.
The betting is closed on what age it will get put down for attacking the child or dumped for attacking the child. The betting is also closed on what future child she is bringing into the world. We are reckoning by 10 it will be known to the police as an out of control delinquent.
The svn explains she should not be walking the un-vaccinated puppy on the pavements but especially not in a veterinary surgery.
The client looks blankly at her and says “wot you mean?”
The svn tries to slowly explain “wot she means” but the blank look shows she isn’t really getting through.
Client sits down slowly pondering the information, puppy sits on the floor, because it is on the floor already and it can have a nice sniff and lick at all those smells and whatever.
The vet calls the client in and client’s first words as she is walking through the door… “Wot do they mean l shouldn’t walk him” vet can be heard repeating almost word for word what the svn and receptionist had warned the client about.
Client goes home with puppy they are due back in 2 weeks. I stuck my head around the door to make a sarcastic comment to the vet.
She cuts me off shaking her head in despair “The puppy is 8 weeks old, and she is to scared to pick up it’s bloody food bowl, the puppy growls at her. And the best part is, she is pregnant”.
The betting is closed on what age it will get put down for attacking the child or dumped for attacking the child. The betting is also closed on what future child she is bringing into the world. We are reckoning by 10 it will be known to the police as an out of control delinquent.
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Chalk and Cheese
Chalk and cheese refers not to names but temperaments.
We had a small cross breed Jack Russell size in for a stitch up. Pre op we had to use a double dose of domitor to get near him (a very strong sedative) We managed to then muzzle him and drip him. When we anaesthetised him his blink reflex went and his bite stayed ... crazy situation!!.
Post op we put him in an incubator for recovery, he was so evil when he came round that we couldn't get near him, to the degree that walking into critical care had him attacking the perspex to get to us. He had to be moved to a proper kennel as the incubator was only temporary and we needed it for other patients. We had to anaesthetise him to move him over, luckily he had a drip on so we put the propoflo down that.
He had been on a 24hr critical sheet but needless to say the only stats he was going to have done were injections through his drip line and visual checks... "yup, he's alive"
As he is only about a year old he is going to be recommended to a behaviourist. We often have nasty dogs in but this one was unreal.
We had another cross breed in that had a blood transfusion he was so critical on thursday. Friday it was a like playing with a ball in a tumble dryer sorting him. All he wanted to do was play. I swear he kept wetting his bed so we had to change it and he got a cuddle and game.
Doing his stats was "fun" he kept trying to wrap his paws round the stethoscope and yank it off or stick his head up and pull it out off my ears. No point feeling for a pulse he was to fat and bouncy.
When the door was opened he would jump in and out of his kennel only taking 2 steps to tease then sitting down and grinning at you as he got a big reaction ie vetnurse yelling stop and grabbing at him. He was attached to a drip and so to far would pull it out, however he knew the exact length and stayed within range.
We had a small cross breed Jack Russell size in for a stitch up. Pre op we had to use a double dose of domitor to get near him (a very strong sedative) We managed to then muzzle him and drip him. When we anaesthetised him his blink reflex went and his bite stayed ... crazy situation!!.
Post op we put him in an incubator for recovery, he was so evil when he came round that we couldn't get near him, to the degree that walking into critical care had him attacking the perspex to get to us. He had to be moved to a proper kennel as the incubator was only temporary and we needed it for other patients. We had to anaesthetise him to move him over, luckily he had a drip on so we put the propoflo down that.
He had been on a 24hr critical sheet but needless to say the only stats he was going to have done were injections through his drip line and visual checks... "yup, he's alive"
As he is only about a year old he is going to be recommended to a behaviourist. We often have nasty dogs in but this one was unreal.
We had another cross breed in that had a blood transfusion he was so critical on thursday. Friday it was a like playing with a ball in a tumble dryer sorting him. All he wanted to do was play. I swear he kept wetting his bed so we had to change it and he got a cuddle and game.
Doing his stats was "fun" he kept trying to wrap his paws round the stethoscope and yank it off or stick his head up and pull it out off my ears. No point feeling for a pulse he was to fat and bouncy.
When the door was opened he would jump in and out of his kennel only taking 2 steps to tease then sitting down and grinning at you as he got a big reaction ie vetnurse yelling stop and grabbing at him. He was attached to a drip and so to far would pull it out, however he knew the exact length and stayed within range.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Out of Control
Had a situation the other evening when we left seeing my dad at the care home of how people do not train their dogs or know how to read their body language.
As we came out the carer’s were going home. One of them walked out part way across the car park with us when a guy sitting on the fence let a big chocolate lab go. He was about a year or two old and came hurtling across towards her all legs, lolling tongue and overweight happiness. Somehow chocolate labs seem to specialise in this behaviour.
We all stopped as he did take up rather a lot of room. He had a quick hello with the carer then bounced off her and ran to me. I said hi and he ran off bounced off the guy on the fence and came bounding over to me again. I managed to take his weight as he whammed into me. I tried to grab his lead but was unable to as he was so bouncy.
Off he went again on another round.
His owners watching and making no attempt to stop him l was worried he may see my mum standing behind me, she is in her 80’s and an onslaught from this elephant was going to mean trouble. He was not nasty just very heavy and stupid.
He headed for me again, l watched him like a hawk and l saw his body change, l had not taken my eyes off him so assume my mum moved. His thoughts were as open as a cloudless sky ”Ohhh a new friend ohhh gonna play with her!”…
He started to go wide around me to get to her and l flung myself at the dog, grabbed his dog lead and spun round with his weight and kept going arse over elbow as he pulled me over. I spralled in a rather undignified mess in the middle of the car park but held on and managed to stop him. This took his mind off my mum and he assumed we would have a game instead so he bounced back to me.
Finally the carer made a move and took him from me, mumbled a sorry and she, boyfriend and overexcited dog left.
I had a word with management the next day and they tried to say that they had nothing to do with the car park. I made my point that had the dog hit my mum at his speed and weight she would have been in hospital. Had there been a child or other person scared of dogs again who knows what situation would have arisen. I stressed the dog was nice just stupid, very overweight and not under control he did not have a nasty bone in him. Just learn to control the dog. The nurse said she would try and find the carer and have a word whether she did or not l don’t know.
As we came out the carer’s were going home. One of them walked out part way across the car park with us when a guy sitting on the fence let a big chocolate lab go. He was about a year or two old and came hurtling across towards her all legs, lolling tongue and overweight happiness. Somehow chocolate labs seem to specialise in this behaviour.
We all stopped as he did take up rather a lot of room. He had a quick hello with the carer then bounced off her and ran to me. I said hi and he ran off bounced off the guy on the fence and came bounding over to me again. I managed to take his weight as he whammed into me. I tried to grab his lead but was unable to as he was so bouncy.
Off he went again on another round.
His owners watching and making no attempt to stop him l was worried he may see my mum standing behind me, she is in her 80’s and an onslaught from this elephant was going to mean trouble. He was not nasty just very heavy and stupid.
He headed for me again, l watched him like a hawk and l saw his body change, l had not taken my eyes off him so assume my mum moved. His thoughts were as open as a cloudless sky ”Ohhh a new friend ohhh gonna play with her!”…
He started to go wide around me to get to her and l flung myself at the dog, grabbed his dog lead and spun round with his weight and kept going arse over elbow as he pulled me over. I spralled in a rather undignified mess in the middle of the car park but held on and managed to stop him. This took his mind off my mum and he assumed we would have a game instead so he bounced back to me.
Finally the carer made a move and took him from me, mumbled a sorry and she, boyfriend and overexcited dog left.
I had a word with management the next day and they tried to say that they had nothing to do with the car park. I made my point that had the dog hit my mum at his speed and weight she would have been in hospital. Had there been a child or other person scared of dogs again who knows what situation would have arisen. I stressed the dog was nice just stupid, very overweight and not under control he did not have a nasty bone in him. Just learn to control the dog. The nurse said she would try and find the carer and have a word whether she did or not l don’t know.
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Furry Exocet
Furry Exocet's AKA Police Dogs. You are big strong and when you walk into a room it doesn't matter if your partner is the worlds greatest sex god/goddess you are the one every stops doing whatever they are doing and looks at.
You work with smaller cousins who are like little fire crackers going off called springer spaniels, generally sweet tempered but can be slightly ditzy. You are the heavy duty dignified brigade.
So when you go into the vet's to have a vaccination what happens to your dignity courage, that tough dog exterior. All the vet did was lift a big fold of skin on your neck so he could give you a little injection. You have hammered it more jumping in and out of vans, over walls and being pushed and pulled about by life. The vet advanced his hand holding a syringe with a small very sharp needle on and you went to pieces. He got to about 6" of your neck and you started to scream in terror. Your partner tried to hold you but you preceded to do the "doggie break dance"
Scream in terror and fling yourself down onto your back on the assumption that what is really about to happen is someone is going to hammer a 9" hole in your back with a blunt pickaxe. Push yourself across the floor as best you can lying on your side/back... screaming, realise that your handlers arm is now not holding you and he is rubbing it. You stop leap up and kiss everyone you also kiss the evil vet(who is actually very sweet).
Round 2 firmer grip from your partner and evil vet moves in nervously. Start to scream again and leap upwards launching in a spectacular leap that smacks into the vetnurse and mashes her into the wall, quick lick in apology in passing, or was that just a tongue lolling out mid scream. Hauled back by handler and start to shake and try to run in a circle.... screaming. All stops while everyone gathers their breath. Everyone gets sloppy kissy licks and you bark happily to tell all the dogs that you have survived.
Round 3 start to get the hang of tying it all together now. Scream so no one can hear anything, fling on you back and push in a circle with hind legs attempting to trip up whoever is daft enough to have their feet there, leap up and outwards in one movement but get hauled backwards. Spin to face evil vet and walk backwards. Continue screaming no snarling as that would not be nice. Evil vet with syringe and tiny but sharp needle is becoming very unnerved. Ignore comments from bystanders and hysterical laughter and rude comments from vetnurse at wussy behaviour - vetnurse is not the one being threatened by a needle!. Break free from partners grip and try to run away but get grabbed. All break as human and furry exocet are becoming fragile.
While all having a rethink on tactics all round vetnurse suggests a muzzle as evil vet is now not happy to come to close even though you never threatened him once. Muzzle placed and white flag is raised. You lie there eyes almost closed and very tense groaning and shaking. It takes 2 goes of your partner asking "Well are you getting up or what?" to realise that you missed the injection going in and it was all over and the muzzle was being removed.
Then a quick sloppy lick to all in reach including the evil vet who is now back to being a good buddy vet. Then back to barking happily to continue the conversation with the dog with the broken leg who is giving you the story of what happened to him, and you think a vaccination is tough.
You work with smaller cousins who are like little fire crackers going off called springer spaniels, generally sweet tempered but can be slightly ditzy. You are the heavy duty dignified brigade.
So when you go into the vet's to have a vaccination what happens to your dignity courage, that tough dog exterior. All the vet did was lift a big fold of skin on your neck so he could give you a little injection. You have hammered it more jumping in and out of vans, over walls and being pushed and pulled about by life. The vet advanced his hand holding a syringe with a small very sharp needle on and you went to pieces. He got to about 6" of your neck and you started to scream in terror. Your partner tried to hold you but you preceded to do the "doggie break dance"
Scream in terror and fling yourself down onto your back on the assumption that what is really about to happen is someone is going to hammer a 9" hole in your back with a blunt pickaxe. Push yourself across the floor as best you can lying on your side/back... screaming, realise that your handlers arm is now not holding you and he is rubbing it. You stop leap up and kiss everyone you also kiss the evil vet(who is actually very sweet).
Round 2 firmer grip from your partner and evil vet moves in nervously. Start to scream again and leap upwards launching in a spectacular leap that smacks into the vetnurse and mashes her into the wall, quick lick in apology in passing, or was that just a tongue lolling out mid scream. Hauled back by handler and start to shake and try to run in a circle.... screaming. All stops while everyone gathers their breath. Everyone gets sloppy kissy licks and you bark happily to tell all the dogs that you have survived.
Round 3 start to get the hang of tying it all together now. Scream so no one can hear anything, fling on you back and push in a circle with hind legs attempting to trip up whoever is daft enough to have their feet there, leap up and outwards in one movement but get hauled backwards. Spin to face evil vet and walk backwards. Continue screaming no snarling as that would not be nice. Evil vet with syringe and tiny but sharp needle is becoming very unnerved. Ignore comments from bystanders and hysterical laughter and rude comments from vetnurse at wussy behaviour - vetnurse is not the one being threatened by a needle!. Break free from partners grip and try to run away but get grabbed. All break as human and furry exocet are becoming fragile.
While all having a rethink on tactics all round vetnurse suggests a muzzle as evil vet is now not happy to come to close even though you never threatened him once. Muzzle placed and white flag is raised. You lie there eyes almost closed and very tense groaning and shaking. It takes 2 goes of your partner asking "Well are you getting up or what?" to realise that you missed the injection going in and it was all over and the muzzle was being removed.
Then a quick sloppy lick to all in reach including the evil vet who is now back to being a good buddy vet. Then back to barking happily to continue the conversation with the dog with the broken leg who is giving you the story of what happened to him, and you think a vaccination is tough.
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Police Dog Antics
We had a police dog in with gastro enteritis. She was so sweet but that hid a neurotic interior. She stood for her drip just kept trying to give sloppy kiss licks to the nearest person but at least she did not try to eat us, she just wriggled a lot.
Then into her kennel which we figured as a walk in would be nice and big for her. After about 20 min. l went in to do some bits and pieces. She had pulled her drip out by walking in circles and it was twisted up on the floor. Stop work, rude comments used and a redrip. Continue other stats get to her and the bag has a huge hole in the kennel is soaking.
Very nasty language used, new bag on and drip stand placed outside the door and the line fed through gap.
20mins later and her drip stand is lying on the floor drip line pulled out. Calling all the gods to flame her and getting big doggie grin and sloppy kisses does not improve things. She could at least look contrite.
All back and working walk off and pretend to go out to see how she took out the drip stand. Under the door comes 2 paws and she bashes around at the wheels. I got the stand just as it went. I swear l heard her mutter “dammit caught” I glared at her muttering very dark thoughts, if she could just stop being so sweet that would help.
Bitter spray on bag and tied back onto her kennel door, inside and her eager grab rebuffed when she aimed for it left her spitting a horrid taste out of her mouth, l got on with work. Having decided she had taken up enough time. 30min. later the same aux that was with the BF situation marches out.
“Didn’t you hear me shouting for help?” she snapped
“Help, No what happened?”
“That stupid, neurotic bloody tit tried to climb into the other kennel l grabbed and pulled it back in but she was bloody heavy and flattened me, then tries to lick me all over the face!”
I didn’t need to ask who she meant. Quick council of war and we put the police dog into a normal large hospital kennel, put the former occupant in the walk in.
Screams and hysteria hit the dog room. There was no way she was being locked in a “tiny kennel” the whole kennel rattled as she hit the doors with paws and teeth and flung her body at the doors. Ignoring her for 5mins while she settled was not going to work. The worst behaved prisoner could have learnt lessons, or maybe she had from them… FFS back to a walk in.
Come 2am and l am doing the stats of the dog next door, a head appears over the top of the wall. Could almost hear the comment “ello there what’s up with him?” I bellowed in frustration and the head and body disappeared backwards with an apologetic scramble and crash as she toppled backwards and knocked the door.
Another council of war and we tie her to the table in prep so she is with us more, not locked in a kennel. Oh no that’s not good enough she does the table walk. Around and around and opps look l pulled my drip line out.
Yet another drip placed and the auxiliary sat, for about 2 hours, on the floor in prep area on a nice thick duvet. Almost hidden under a huge police dog snuggled up on her lap and snoring happily and mug of coffee to hand until she went home.
By then the patient had decided that she would behave. Well apart from the fact that as the aux. walked off the drip was chewed out. We called quits at that stage I left the drip out and she lay down and just moved her eyes around to watch whatever room l went into to make sure l came out again. Thankfully she went home that day.
Then into her kennel which we figured as a walk in would be nice and big for her. After about 20 min. l went in to do some bits and pieces. She had pulled her drip out by walking in circles and it was twisted up on the floor. Stop work, rude comments used and a redrip. Continue other stats get to her and the bag has a huge hole in the kennel is soaking.
Very nasty language used, new bag on and drip stand placed outside the door and the line fed through gap.
20mins later and her drip stand is lying on the floor drip line pulled out. Calling all the gods to flame her and getting big doggie grin and sloppy kisses does not improve things. She could at least look contrite.
All back and working walk off and pretend to go out to see how she took out the drip stand. Under the door comes 2 paws and she bashes around at the wheels. I got the stand just as it went. I swear l heard her mutter “dammit caught” I glared at her muttering very dark thoughts, if she could just stop being so sweet that would help.
Bitter spray on bag and tied back onto her kennel door, inside and her eager grab rebuffed when she aimed for it left her spitting a horrid taste out of her mouth, l got on with work. Having decided she had taken up enough time. 30min. later the same aux that was with the BF situation marches out.
“Didn’t you hear me shouting for help?” she snapped
“Help, No what happened?”
“That stupid, neurotic bloody tit tried to climb into the other kennel l grabbed and pulled it back in but she was bloody heavy and flattened me, then tries to lick me all over the face!”
I didn’t need to ask who she meant. Quick council of war and we put the police dog into a normal large hospital kennel, put the former occupant in the walk in.
Screams and hysteria hit the dog room. There was no way she was being locked in a “tiny kennel” the whole kennel rattled as she hit the doors with paws and teeth and flung her body at the doors. Ignoring her for 5mins while she settled was not going to work. The worst behaved prisoner could have learnt lessons, or maybe she had from them… FFS back to a walk in.
Come 2am and l am doing the stats of the dog next door, a head appears over the top of the wall. Could almost hear the comment “ello there what’s up with him?” I bellowed in frustration and the head and body disappeared backwards with an apologetic scramble and crash as she toppled backwards and knocked the door.
Another council of war and we tie her to the table in prep so she is with us more, not locked in a kennel. Oh no that’s not good enough she does the table walk. Around and around and opps look l pulled my drip line out.
Yet another drip placed and the auxiliary sat, for about 2 hours, on the floor in prep area on a nice thick duvet. Almost hidden under a huge police dog snuggled up on her lap and snoring happily and mug of coffee to hand until she went home.
By then the patient had decided that she would behave. Well apart from the fact that as the aux. walked off the drip was chewed out. We called quits at that stage I left the drip out and she lay down and just moved her eyes around to watch whatever room l went into to make sure l came out again. Thankfully she went home that day.
Monday, 4 May 2009
BF
We have had a stray ferret in for about 5 days now. She has an eye infection so is down in isolation in that time she has been very well behaved.
This was l discovered because she has been plotting on a scale that in WW2 would have earned her a place of honour at Colditz.
I went down to iso to do the 4am obs on the stray (dog) with haemorrhagic gastro enteritis (HGE/The bloody shits). As l was bending over l felt eyes on me. I stopped stood up and looked round, nothing. As l turned back a little shadow moved. I went out the walk in and there is the Bloody Ferret (BF) looking at me. Before l could do anything she legged it into the kennel to see the dog.
Swearing at her for her behaviour and myself for obviously not shutting her kennel door at 2am when l sorted her water (as it turned out l was not the culprit) I tried to grab her but she shot out and went under the sink unit. I had my mobile on me so rang the auxiliary for reinforcements. We decided to move BF from the small kennel to the big one so she could have more toys. I assumed it was boredom and an open door had enticed her out.
The aux. stood guard as every time we relaxed she shot in to visit the dog, not sure why we bothered actually, l mean how long had she spent in there with him before l found her? The dog did not seem to mind and she found him fascinating.
Finally new kennel prepared we made several not to successful attempts to grab her. If you opened the kennel you could hold and cuddle her, if we wanted her now she got her teeth ready.
The aux. then had an idea and laid a bicci trail to the new kennel and BF followed it in. Great, except that as she turned round to have a laugh about fooling the bloody animal she forgot to shut the door… so BF shot out again, spare biscuit in mouth, why waste food was her motto.
Back to plan B and more bribery. After another 10minutes and greed won out, only this time as she went in, the door was slammed on her. Lights out and we went back to the other side of the building.
About 20minutes later we had a quick 5 minutes sit down to unwind. I glanced at the CCTV and this shadow sort of undulated across the iso. monitor. My jaw dropped the BFF (work out the middle F) I grabbed the auxiliary’s arm and dragger her up, saying “BFF is out”
She had been about to take a bite of her own biscuit, there was a crack as her teeth met with nothing between, ooops a bit hasty there, made mental note that next time will let her bite her bicci first. “How do you know it is out” she asked as we headed into iso. I told her and she was a bit upset she hadn’t seen it. Made second mental note let her see the ….? then drag her off post bicci bite.
Round 2:
BF was sitting on the sink, bowls in the water and the sink top in disarray. She spied us and dropped onto the floor and under the sink. The door was firmly shut on her kennel. Ok so first look for something other than the kennel to put her into. I had no luck, often we have large parrot cages but of course, not when we need one. So escape proof the kennel. I put the kennel divider sideways so that it totally blocked one door and taped it solid. The aux found some tiles and made a barrier along the bottom of the unprotected door and we got towels ready to stuff into the door.
Beady little eyes stared at us around the corner from the dogs kennel, would you get out of there you stupid animal (the polite version of the wording used), but we had given up on chasing her out of the walk in.
Start of the chase and this time BF ran across to the far set of kennels and under them. I chased her out with a broom handle and I tried to reach over and get a hand on her. She was so fast my hand hit her back and by the time my brain closed my fingers, all l got was fresh air, as she whizzed back to the sink.
There was a scrabbling noise as she climbed between the wall and the sink top. The aux and l started at each other. I opened the cupboard door, no BF but more noise and l wish l could have got my camera out in time. This head hung down from under the sink as she dripped through some hole from higher up. I did not want to grab her in case she panicked and hurt herself on anything sharp, so waited till she was in the cupboard. I made a move to get her but she was back up out the hole by the time my hand was half way in.
She then clambered onto lowest shelf of the trolley sliding over from between wall and sink unit so we couldn’t reach in for her.
Ferret biscuits were not good enough now so l grabbed a tin of id (food for dogs with poorly tummies.) that was on the side and stuck a bit onto a fork to bribe her out.
BF was a greedy little soul and l was not risking fingers. Sure enough she quick silvered out, grabbed the chunk and ran back. I then knelt in wait with a towel while the aux. muttering “Here you are you sweet little s**t come on… OHHH YOU” as yet another chunk was grabbed before we could make a move. Finally after a good deal of bait l got lucky and flattened BF under the towel as she made her grab and had her firmly around her tummy. Into the kennel, door slammed and all BF anti escape set in motion.
BF spared a look of what l thought was disgust at us and stalked off to bed, little sod even burped once. We really should have known better. It was not disgust it was pity, pity that we could be so naiveté to think that she could be kept in anywhere.
6:25am and the aux who had stayed late was just going and l was heading to iso to do my 6am stats. A little head peeked at me from under the kennel. I stepped back to the main kennels bellowed down to the vet who was hanging around after seeing a client could he listen for the phone. The aux. hating to be beaten by BF joined me.
Round 3 was a rehash of round l and 2 except she was not going to be bribed so easily. She now went between the sink unit and the wall by her kennel. A space of about 3 inches wide, the kennel was on breeze blocks and we couldn’t pull it out so l had to try and chase her out with a broom handle. But of course l couldn’t use it easily as the gap was so tight the broom head made handling difficult, as it required the whole of the handle pushed in to get to her and the head wouldn’t get near the gap.
She made use of cover that an SAS would envy and we spent another 15 minutes of bribery, crawling around on all fours and using language that is frowned on. We stopped for a few minutes knee rest. She was getting tired so she climbed into her kennel and lay on her bed. The aux and l leapt up and slammed the door snarling at the innocent little sod.
We escape proofed(ish) the kennel (again) I had double taped the tiles so she couldn’t push them out the way. We pushed towels into the bigger gaps, as hard as we could jam it. I put surgical tape on wider door areas, sticky side in so she would stick her whiskers and back off. It was 6:55 and l was due off duty at 8am.
I warned the day shift about her antics and when l left she was fast asleep curled up after a good nights exercise and now due for a longer stay in iso before sending her on to ferret rescue to ensure she does not get HGE off the dog. Although l doubt she will and as of Monday morning was doing fine and had chosen not to escape again, she is plotting though l am sure.
Just as well l tided up for you humans.
Peek-a-boo
BF beady eye shinning at us between the wall and side of the kennel during round 3
God you lot are noisy... BF looking innocent, at end of round 3.
This was l discovered because she has been plotting on a scale that in WW2 would have earned her a place of honour at Colditz.
I went down to iso to do the 4am obs on the stray (dog) with haemorrhagic gastro enteritis (HGE/The bloody shits). As l was bending over l felt eyes on me. I stopped stood up and looked round, nothing. As l turned back a little shadow moved. I went out the walk in and there is the Bloody Ferret (BF) looking at me. Before l could do anything she legged it into the kennel to see the dog.
Swearing at her for her behaviour and myself for obviously not shutting her kennel door at 2am when l sorted her water (as it turned out l was not the culprit) I tried to grab her but she shot out and went under the sink unit. I had my mobile on me so rang the auxiliary for reinforcements. We decided to move BF from the small kennel to the big one so she could have more toys. I assumed it was boredom and an open door had enticed her out.
The aux. stood guard as every time we relaxed she shot in to visit the dog, not sure why we bothered actually, l mean how long had she spent in there with him before l found her? The dog did not seem to mind and she found him fascinating.
Finally new kennel prepared we made several not to successful attempts to grab her. If you opened the kennel you could hold and cuddle her, if we wanted her now she got her teeth ready.
The aux. then had an idea and laid a bicci trail to the new kennel and BF followed it in. Great, except that as she turned round to have a laugh about fooling the bloody animal she forgot to shut the door… so BF shot out again, spare biscuit in mouth, why waste food was her motto.
Back to plan B and more bribery. After another 10minutes and greed won out, only this time as she went in, the door was slammed on her. Lights out and we went back to the other side of the building.
About 20minutes later we had a quick 5 minutes sit down to unwind. I glanced at the CCTV and this shadow sort of undulated across the iso. monitor. My jaw dropped the BFF (work out the middle F) I grabbed the auxiliary’s arm and dragger her up, saying “BFF is out”
She had been about to take a bite of her own biscuit, there was a crack as her teeth met with nothing between, ooops a bit hasty there, made mental note that next time will let her bite her bicci first. “How do you know it is out” she asked as we headed into iso. I told her and she was a bit upset she hadn’t seen it. Made second mental note let her see the ….? then drag her off post bicci bite.
Round 2:
BF was sitting on the sink, bowls in the water and the sink top in disarray. She spied us and dropped onto the floor and under the sink. The door was firmly shut on her kennel. Ok so first look for something other than the kennel to put her into. I had no luck, often we have large parrot cages but of course, not when we need one. So escape proof the kennel. I put the kennel divider sideways so that it totally blocked one door and taped it solid. The aux found some tiles and made a barrier along the bottom of the unprotected door and we got towels ready to stuff into the door.
Beady little eyes stared at us around the corner from the dogs kennel, would you get out of there you stupid animal (the polite version of the wording used), but we had given up on chasing her out of the walk in.
Start of the chase and this time BF ran across to the far set of kennels and under them. I chased her out with a broom handle and I tried to reach over and get a hand on her. She was so fast my hand hit her back and by the time my brain closed my fingers, all l got was fresh air, as she whizzed back to the sink.
There was a scrabbling noise as she climbed between the wall and the sink top. The aux and l started at each other. I opened the cupboard door, no BF but more noise and l wish l could have got my camera out in time. This head hung down from under the sink as she dripped through some hole from higher up. I did not want to grab her in case she panicked and hurt herself on anything sharp, so waited till she was in the cupboard. I made a move to get her but she was back up out the hole by the time my hand was half way in.
She then clambered onto lowest shelf of the trolley sliding over from between wall and sink unit so we couldn’t reach in for her.
Ferret biscuits were not good enough now so l grabbed a tin of id (food for dogs with poorly tummies.) that was on the side and stuck a bit onto a fork to bribe her out.
BF was a greedy little soul and l was not risking fingers. Sure enough she quick silvered out, grabbed the chunk and ran back. I then knelt in wait with a towel while the aux. muttering “Here you are you sweet little s**t come on… OHHH YOU” as yet another chunk was grabbed before we could make a move. Finally after a good deal of bait l got lucky and flattened BF under the towel as she made her grab and had her firmly around her tummy. Into the kennel, door slammed and all BF anti escape set in motion.
BF spared a look of what l thought was disgust at us and stalked off to bed, little sod even burped once. We really should have known better. It was not disgust it was pity, pity that we could be so naiveté to think that she could be kept in anywhere.
6:25am and the aux who had stayed late was just going and l was heading to iso to do my 6am stats. A little head peeked at me from under the kennel. I stepped back to the main kennels bellowed down to the vet who was hanging around after seeing a client could he listen for the phone. The aux. hating to be beaten by BF joined me.
Round 3 was a rehash of round l and 2 except she was not going to be bribed so easily. She now went between the sink unit and the wall by her kennel. A space of about 3 inches wide, the kennel was on breeze blocks and we couldn’t pull it out so l had to try and chase her out with a broom handle. But of course l couldn’t use it easily as the gap was so tight the broom head made handling difficult, as it required the whole of the handle pushed in to get to her and the head wouldn’t get near the gap.
She made use of cover that an SAS would envy and we spent another 15 minutes of bribery, crawling around on all fours and using language that is frowned on. We stopped for a few minutes knee rest. She was getting tired so she climbed into her kennel and lay on her bed. The aux and l leapt up and slammed the door snarling at the innocent little sod.
We escape proofed(ish) the kennel (again) I had double taped the tiles so she couldn’t push them out the way. We pushed towels into the bigger gaps, as hard as we could jam it. I put surgical tape on wider door areas, sticky side in so she would stick her whiskers and back off. It was 6:55 and l was due off duty at 8am.
I warned the day shift about her antics and when l left she was fast asleep curled up after a good nights exercise and now due for a longer stay in iso before sending her on to ferret rescue to ensure she does not get HGE off the dog. Although l doubt she will and as of Monday morning was doing fine and had chosen not to escape again, she is plotting though l am sure.
Just as well l tided up for you humans.
Peek-a-boo
BF beady eye shinning at us between the wall and side of the kennel during round 3
God you lot are noisy... BF looking innocent, at end of round 3.
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Carrying a Grudge
Had a fairly chunky cat in a couple of nights ago with FUS, he weighed about 7kg. Often the FUS cats can be grumpy as they are uncomfy so we always tend to move carefully with them. This one was a bloody minded sod. You could stroke the top of his head with a finger but 2 fingers was not allowed as you may try to grab him, he wasn't daft. No stethoscopes to listen to his heart. If you did manage to get one close enough all you heard was the growl in the chest and your hand got damp with his hissing with fangs rubbing on your hand in warning. The fangs were big, sharp and ready for use.
We needed to give him a bolus of fluid every hour as the vets wanted precise fluid and the pumps were in use. This meant we had to put an extension set onto his leg catheter so we could do things from a distance. To get the extension on he had to have a sleep because we were no way in hell getting near him awake.
I dropped a blanket over him, avoided teeth and nails that were coming through the material and pinned him. The vet worked out where the backside was for his snoozy juice.
The extension was attached, his bladder checked and expressed as we had him asleep and his first bolus given then his snooze was reversed. The whole thing took less than about 10minutes.
An hour and next bolus due l carefully opened the door farthest from him. The extension was near this door (nice long extension l wasn't daft) to give him his next bolus. At this point he was in the far corner of a double kennel, we try and give FUS cats double kennel so they have space. He had climbed into his litter tray not cause he wanted to pee just it was where he wanted to sleep. As l lifted the extension and put the needle in he watched.
When my attention was off him as he was just lying there he moved. Up on the back legs, front out stretched and all claws out he hurtled at me, l slammed the door just as he hit it and tried to swipe me with the claws while hissing and snarling. He then grumped, turned round and went back to his litter tray pulling the extension back in around him.
We often have cats that are nasty if you try handle them but he was not doing this. He initiated and brought the attack to me. Not something cats do often, they prefer swipes at being handled and vocalising to warn.
5 mins later when he had settled l had to use the door nearest him this time to get the extension, as it was now about 2 inches from his front leg. I managed to get it and pulled it out the door, he kept hissing and grumping but no attack, he had made his point there. I slowly closed the door and gave him his bolus leaving the extension hanging out. It was able to pull under the kennel door as there was a big gap but at least we could now do bolus until he moved and pulled it back in a few hours later.
Last night he was a lot better and just hissed l even managed to slide the scope under and hear a heart amongst the background growling.
We needed to give him a bolus of fluid every hour as the vets wanted precise fluid and the pumps were in use. This meant we had to put an extension set onto his leg catheter so we could do things from a distance. To get the extension on he had to have a sleep because we were no way in hell getting near him awake.
I dropped a blanket over him, avoided teeth and nails that were coming through the material and pinned him. The vet worked out where the backside was for his snoozy juice.
The extension was attached, his bladder checked and expressed as we had him asleep and his first bolus given then his snooze was reversed. The whole thing took less than about 10minutes.
An hour and next bolus due l carefully opened the door farthest from him. The extension was near this door (nice long extension l wasn't daft) to give him his next bolus. At this point he was in the far corner of a double kennel, we try and give FUS cats double kennel so they have space. He had climbed into his litter tray not cause he wanted to pee just it was where he wanted to sleep. As l lifted the extension and put the needle in he watched.
When my attention was off him as he was just lying there he moved. Up on the back legs, front out stretched and all claws out he hurtled at me, l slammed the door just as he hit it and tried to swipe me with the claws while hissing and snarling. He then grumped, turned round and went back to his litter tray pulling the extension back in around him.
We often have cats that are nasty if you try handle them but he was not doing this. He initiated and brought the attack to me. Not something cats do often, they prefer swipes at being handled and vocalising to warn.
5 mins later when he had settled l had to use the door nearest him this time to get the extension, as it was now about 2 inches from his front leg. I managed to get it and pulled it out the door, he kept hissing and grumping but no attack, he had made his point there. I slowly closed the door and gave him his bolus leaving the extension hanging out. It was able to pull under the kennel door as there was a big gap but at least we could now do bolus until he moved and pulled it back in a few hours later.
Last night he was a lot better and just hissed l even managed to slide the scope under and hear a heart amongst the background growling.
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Guessing Game
So how about a quick guessing game... what's this picture of an x-ray .... hint it is to do with a dog.
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If you said ball you guessed right 2 dogs want the same play item so one wins by default and cheating, well what else do you call swallowing the item in question? Oh and the squeaker still worked post removal.
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If you said ball you guessed right 2 dogs want the same play item so one wins by default and cheating, well what else do you call swallowing the item in question? Oh and the squeaker still worked post removal.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
A Broken Heart
Back in Tenerife, Elsie and l had gone up to Adeje the main town in the council area. I have forgotten what the reason was but this lovely little brown bitch trotted up to us.
I asked Elsie to ask people around if she belonged to anyone. The answer was no she is just a street perro (dog) well not any more l said she comes with us.
Bella settled in very quickly she was so loving and just wanted love in return. She had spent the first week with us when a family turned up, took one look and fell in love.
Bella went off to her new life, for a week when they turned up again.
“She is dirty, she steals food, she is smelly”
I said l had been through her history with them. I had explained all possible problems, that she had only known the streets and they had accepted and understood what l had told them. I said that l would be happy to help train her up and so she could stay with them.
“No” said the woman “l do not want her… we will have that one” pointing at one of the other dogs and treating Bella as though she did not exist.
I left them in no doubt that they would never have one of my rescue dogs, they are not disposable and to get off the property.
Bella struggled in my arms as they drove off. When they had gone and l shut the gate she ran up to the gate digging and crying. I carried her back her cries were heartbreaking. I put her in with a couple of quiet but loving Podenco’s l had in to see if she would settle with them she just went flat and stared at the door. When she got out at playtime she went straight to the gate digging and crying trying to get out.
Within 2 days l was force feeding her with food and water. Her weight fell off her and she went from chubby to a skeleton in what seemed like a day.
If a car came to the gate she perked up looking for her family. As soon as she saw it wasn’t them she collapsed again, silent.
I thought of taking her home to help her but then l would have put her hopes up again and then have to wean her off and l couldn’t do that. I couldn't not get her on an emergency flight to Germany for a couple of weeks. Assuming she survived.
My guilt looking at her was and still is so deep l will always carry it.
Tony came out a few days later and l went straight up to see him. He did not actually believe me until l got there. While we were talking his wife and a friend of hers came towards us out of sight, their voices and footsteps carrying.
Bella jumped up and yipped, saw Wendy and collapsed again in despair.
Tony looked at me, then at Bella. “She won’t make it you know. I would never have believed a dog could die of a broken heart but she does not want to live without those people"” he said quietly.
I knew that but lived in hope he may have some magic cure for her even though in my heart l knew he didn’t.
“I know l told him, she won’t even survive the trip to Germany and even then….”
I carried her into his consult room and she slipped quietly away. She loved to death a family that had no doubt forgotten her within days. I know she has found the peace and love that was denied her on earth.
I asked Elsie to ask people around if she belonged to anyone. The answer was no she is just a street perro (dog) well not any more l said she comes with us.
Bella settled in very quickly she was so loving and just wanted love in return. She had spent the first week with us when a family turned up, took one look and fell in love.
Bella went off to her new life, for a week when they turned up again.
“She is dirty, she steals food, she is smelly”
I said l had been through her history with them. I had explained all possible problems, that she had only known the streets and they had accepted and understood what l had told them. I said that l would be happy to help train her up and so she could stay with them.
“No” said the woman “l do not want her… we will have that one” pointing at one of the other dogs and treating Bella as though she did not exist.
I left them in no doubt that they would never have one of my rescue dogs, they are not disposable and to get off the property.
Bella struggled in my arms as they drove off. When they had gone and l shut the gate she ran up to the gate digging and crying. I carried her back her cries were heartbreaking. I put her in with a couple of quiet but loving Podenco’s l had in to see if she would settle with them she just went flat and stared at the door. When she got out at playtime she went straight to the gate digging and crying trying to get out.
Within 2 days l was force feeding her with food and water. Her weight fell off her and she went from chubby to a skeleton in what seemed like a day.
If a car came to the gate she perked up looking for her family. As soon as she saw it wasn’t them she collapsed again, silent.
I thought of taking her home to help her but then l would have put her hopes up again and then have to wean her off and l couldn’t do that. I couldn't not get her on an emergency flight to Germany for a couple of weeks. Assuming she survived.
My guilt looking at her was and still is so deep l will always carry it.
Tony came out a few days later and l went straight up to see him. He did not actually believe me until l got there. While we were talking his wife and a friend of hers came towards us out of sight, their voices and footsteps carrying.
Bella jumped up and yipped, saw Wendy and collapsed again in despair.
Tony looked at me, then at Bella. “She won’t make it you know. I would never have believed a dog could die of a broken heart but she does not want to live without those people"” he said quietly.
I knew that but lived in hope he may have some magic cure for her even though in my heart l knew he didn’t.
“I know l told him, she won’t even survive the trip to Germany and even then….”
I carried her into his consult room and she slipped quietly away. She loved to death a family that had no doubt forgotten her within days. I know she has found the peace and love that was denied her on earth.
Monday, 2 March 2009
FUS Cats
There is a very high incidence amongst cats of FUS (Feline Urinary Syndrome) at the moment, unusual, we normally have a big collection around fireworks night.
Females have a much larger urethra and do not usually get FUS they do get cystitis though.
FUS generally affects male cats. Males have a very tiny penis that blocks easily. However if your cat (male or female) can not urinate or keeps going and passing small amounts or it is bloody, anything out of the ordinary see the vet as soon as possible.
FUS is rather an innocuous term but it is actually a life threatening condition. The cat is unable to pass urine. Due to crystals or urethral spasm which is often stress related or idiopathic reasons. The bladder backs up as it can not empty, the cat goes into renal failure and if not corrected and the bladder emptied the cat WILL die.
My cat Ginger got FUS in Tenerife. I went to the best island vet as Tony was not out in Tenerife at that point, the vet refused to empty the bladder as it was not full enough. I was ignorant of the dangers and agreed to go back the next day. I wish l had known what to do and was going to happen. There was also no vet available in the night.
I sat up with Ginger and in the middle of the night he started to fit. I sedated him and went over to see a friend in another block. I had lodged a trainee German vet with her. I asked the trainee to come and put Ginger down for me l would supervise but couldn’t do it myself, trying to put my own pet down was not something l thought l could do.
The lass came over but wouldn’t put Ginger down and begged me not to. I agreed to give him one more go but any fitting and l wanted her to put him down. About 30minutes later Ginger had another fit. I sedated him down again and she refused to put him down saying wait, l refused and despite her protestations put him down myself. She went home sulking, l was emotionally screwed up, going between disgust at her behaviour and pain and guilt in what l had done to Ginger. I next did the second hardest thing l have done, l put Ginger in a plastic bag and put him in the dustbin outside.
When l went back to bed l finally crumbled and l burst into tears which woke hub up, I hadn’t wanted to as he had had a hard day. He was upset at what had happened as he loved Ginger as well and was horrified l had not woken him up with all the drama. I pointed out that l knew he would have struggled to cope with the situation it was easier for me and what with the bloody trainee stressing l couldn’t cope with 2. He understood.
This made me very aware of the danger of FUS. And the fact that the bladder does not have to be very big there may have been a series of short term blocks, possibly un noticed or as they seemed to clear un worried about. In Gingers case he had the short term blocks that cleared l had noticed but did not realise the danger. These probably damaged the kidneys.
Under normal circumstances the cat is admitted and bloods run straight away. This will give an idea of what is happening with his kidneys and other system values. He is put onto fluids appropriate to the blood results.
As soon as possible the bladder is emptied. Sometimes a cysto will be carried out. For this their side is clipped and cleaned over the bladder area (some vets prefer to do this with the cat on their back not their side) A needle is inserted into the bladder and the urine drawn out. This helps take some of the pressure off the bladder.
A cat urinary catheter is then inserted, a cats penis is tiny and insertion can be difficult. Sometimes an eye flushing catheter needs to be placed and saline is flushed along it (retro flushing) to try and push debris (crystals and sediment) back to the bladder.
Finally with luck ok and skill the main urinary catheter is inserted and the bladder is flushed out. Usually a sample is kept to check for crystals type and size.
The urine can be very bloody especially as if there is crystals they have been rolling around and damaging the bladder lining.
If the catheter went in easily then practices vary but the one l was at tend to remove the catheter after a good flushing with several hundred ml of saline. If it is badly blocked then the catheter is sewn in and the cat has to put up with the catheter for several days having it flushed every few hours to help clean the bladder out. Some crystals if large may need an operation to remove them.
If it is impossible to place a urinary catheter then vets will discuss operation choices with the owners to bypass the blockage but this is for extreme cases.
Food changes are indicated for some crystals. The food correcting the body’s Ph and stopping the crystal type forming. In Gingers case it was crystals, the water in Tenerife is very high in calcium and l did not realise how common FUS was there.
One of the biggest factors in UK FUS cats is weight. The amount of obese cats that have it is huge and probably the biggest factor.
If stress related then reasons are discussed about what is going on. Sometimes basic suggested changes can help with a bit of common sense. Other times a good behaviourist can help.
Once a cat has had FUS they may be prone to reoccurring bouts and it can get very expensive. An owner needs to be aware of future ramifications of the condition which their vet should discuss in detail with them. Another good reason to have insurance. And my good old chant go via petplan
Placing the urinary catheter
The bladder is flushed with saline and the urine is often very bloody
The catheter is sutured in place and a line placed on to drain the urine away from the cat, sometimes the line is left off if the cat is restless so he does not twist it.
If they are worried the vet may take an x-ray of the bladder with a "contrast medium" the white oblong is the bladder. Any leaks would show a white explosion or line out of the bladder. In this case all is normal.
Females have a much larger urethra and do not usually get FUS they do get cystitis though.
FUS generally affects male cats. Males have a very tiny penis that blocks easily. However if your cat (male or female) can not urinate or keeps going and passing small amounts or it is bloody, anything out of the ordinary see the vet as soon as possible.
FUS is rather an innocuous term but it is actually a life threatening condition. The cat is unable to pass urine. Due to crystals or urethral spasm which is often stress related or idiopathic reasons. The bladder backs up as it can not empty, the cat goes into renal failure and if not corrected and the bladder emptied the cat WILL die.
My cat Ginger got FUS in Tenerife. I went to the best island vet as Tony was not out in Tenerife at that point, the vet refused to empty the bladder as it was not full enough. I was ignorant of the dangers and agreed to go back the next day. I wish l had known what to do and was going to happen. There was also no vet available in the night.
I sat up with Ginger and in the middle of the night he started to fit. I sedated him and went over to see a friend in another block. I had lodged a trainee German vet with her. I asked the trainee to come and put Ginger down for me l would supervise but couldn’t do it myself, trying to put my own pet down was not something l thought l could do.
The lass came over but wouldn’t put Ginger down and begged me not to. I agreed to give him one more go but any fitting and l wanted her to put him down. About 30minutes later Ginger had another fit. I sedated him down again and she refused to put him down saying wait, l refused and despite her protestations put him down myself. She went home sulking, l was emotionally screwed up, going between disgust at her behaviour and pain and guilt in what l had done to Ginger. I next did the second hardest thing l have done, l put Ginger in a plastic bag and put him in the dustbin outside.
When l went back to bed l finally crumbled and l burst into tears which woke hub up, I hadn’t wanted to as he had had a hard day. He was upset at what had happened as he loved Ginger as well and was horrified l had not woken him up with all the drama. I pointed out that l knew he would have struggled to cope with the situation it was easier for me and what with the bloody trainee stressing l couldn’t cope with 2. He understood.
This made me very aware of the danger of FUS. And the fact that the bladder does not have to be very big there may have been a series of short term blocks, possibly un noticed or as they seemed to clear un worried about. In Gingers case he had the short term blocks that cleared l had noticed but did not realise the danger. These probably damaged the kidneys.
Under normal circumstances the cat is admitted and bloods run straight away. This will give an idea of what is happening with his kidneys and other system values. He is put onto fluids appropriate to the blood results.
As soon as possible the bladder is emptied. Sometimes a cysto will be carried out. For this their side is clipped and cleaned over the bladder area (some vets prefer to do this with the cat on their back not their side) A needle is inserted into the bladder and the urine drawn out. This helps take some of the pressure off the bladder.
A cat urinary catheter is then inserted, a cats penis is tiny and insertion can be difficult. Sometimes an eye flushing catheter needs to be placed and saline is flushed along it (retro flushing) to try and push debris (crystals and sediment) back to the bladder.
Finally with luck ok and skill the main urinary catheter is inserted and the bladder is flushed out. Usually a sample is kept to check for crystals type and size.
The urine can be very bloody especially as if there is crystals they have been rolling around and damaging the bladder lining.
If the catheter went in easily then practices vary but the one l was at tend to remove the catheter after a good flushing with several hundred ml of saline. If it is badly blocked then the catheter is sewn in and the cat has to put up with the catheter for several days having it flushed every few hours to help clean the bladder out. Some crystals if large may need an operation to remove them.
If it is impossible to place a urinary catheter then vets will discuss operation choices with the owners to bypass the blockage but this is for extreme cases.
Food changes are indicated for some crystals. The food correcting the body’s Ph and stopping the crystal type forming. In Gingers case it was crystals, the water in Tenerife is very high in calcium and l did not realise how common FUS was there.
One of the biggest factors in UK FUS cats is weight. The amount of obese cats that have it is huge and probably the biggest factor.
If stress related then reasons are discussed about what is going on. Sometimes basic suggested changes can help with a bit of common sense. Other times a good behaviourist can help.
Once a cat has had FUS they may be prone to reoccurring bouts and it can get very expensive. An owner needs to be aware of future ramifications of the condition which their vet should discuss in detail with them. Another good reason to have insurance. And my good old chant go via petplan
Placing the urinary catheter
The bladder is flushed with saline and the urine is often very bloody
The catheter is sutured in place and a line placed on to drain the urine away from the cat, sometimes the line is left off if the cat is restless so he does not twist it.
If they are worried the vet may take an x-ray of the bladder with a "contrast medium" the white oblong is the bladder. Any leaks would show a white explosion or line out of the bladder. In this case all is normal.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Jaguars and Kids
When people go on holiday with kids they often leave them in children’s clubs. They feel safe in the knowledge that the kids will receive the best care with sensible chaperones. The safe feeling should never be believed.
I was at Tenerife zoo doing a general check around before l started feeding. There was a children’s holiday club group having a look round with their minder. I had seen them having an ohh and ahh but largely ignored them.
Until l was walking back towards the big cats, one kid was holding onto the jaguar’s enclosure wire. The second was walking towards the wire and the third was being lifted over the barrier by the minder. The rest were asking to be next [over the barrier]
I froze for a fraction of a second in disbelief. Life went into slow motion. Luckily the jaguars were also disbelieving, but one was crouched and thinking about an attack, l saw his body position change in readiness, the two other were wheeling about ready to sprint, they had a child each if they wanted.
I bellowed to get those **** kids the hell out of there, NOW NOW they stared at me and backed off scared. The Jaguar’s settled back a fraction confused at the sudden clamour and my run and shouting.
The cretin in charge pulled the one child she was lifting over back and l grabbed the other one and hauled it out somehow. The third half climbed out when l hauled it the rest of the way.
l was incandescent with rage. I could not believe that anyone could be so stupid. The kids had almost been shredded and killed. The jaguars would have been destroyed; the zoo would have been in huge trouble.
The cretin said well they could not see clearly you have those stupid barriers there.
I think l went from incandescent to out of earth orbit. She got such a ripping off from me she just stood and stared in shock. She really had no idea until l let loose just how close things came to exploding into death. To her they were cute big cats.
I followed it up by booting her and the kids out of the zoo. Paco spoke to her bosses and she came back to apologise. Paco allowed her and future kids back but she had learnt her lesson.
I still shudder at how close it came to a real disaster. So if you go on holiday and use a holiday club, just be warned.
I was at Tenerife zoo doing a general check around before l started feeding. There was a children’s holiday club group having a look round with their minder. I had seen them having an ohh and ahh but largely ignored them.
Until l was walking back towards the big cats, one kid was holding onto the jaguar’s enclosure wire. The second was walking towards the wire and the third was being lifted over the barrier by the minder. The rest were asking to be next [over the barrier]
I froze for a fraction of a second in disbelief. Life went into slow motion. Luckily the jaguars were also disbelieving, but one was crouched and thinking about an attack, l saw his body position change in readiness, the two other were wheeling about ready to sprint, they had a child each if they wanted.
I bellowed to get those **** kids the hell out of there, NOW NOW they stared at me and backed off scared. The Jaguar’s settled back a fraction confused at the sudden clamour and my run and shouting.
The cretin in charge pulled the one child she was lifting over back and l grabbed the other one and hauled it out somehow. The third half climbed out when l hauled it the rest of the way.
l was incandescent with rage. I could not believe that anyone could be so stupid. The kids had almost been shredded and killed. The jaguars would have been destroyed; the zoo would have been in huge trouble.
The cretin said well they could not see clearly you have those stupid barriers there.
I think l went from incandescent to out of earth orbit. She got such a ripping off from me she just stood and stared in shock. She really had no idea until l let loose just how close things came to exploding into death. To her they were cute big cats.
I followed it up by booting her and the kids out of the zoo. Paco spoke to her bosses and she came back to apologise. Paco allowed her and future kids back but she had learnt her lesson.
I still shudder at how close it came to a real disaster. So if you go on holiday and use a holiday club, just be warned.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Days Off and Cat's
I have had a funny few days. In theory l have been off but chasing round trying to choose a phone at different 02 shops. And l can not say l am impressed with their business section we have had several months of being messed about. We are now getting a second reimbursement due to being overcharged, hopefully now solved.
I did not think l was that bad when l got a little bit angry with them on the phone, in the 02 shop yesterday. I told the shop assistant lass next time l would get really angry she went pale. I said l had surely not been that scary and she just gulped, guess l was scary?
Then there has been the garden doing some trimming and want to attack that again today, housework. And finally trying to sort my Mum's computer. It has been running so slow you fall asleep waiting for it to do anything. I think it must be because she only has 480 RAM (or something around mid 400 anyhow) l have defragged, run anti virus/spyware scan and an AOL computer check, and also emptied all the temp files and unused stuff l could find. So if anyone else out there has any ideas on why it would run slow l am open to ideas.
Then topped of with a CPD night last night on "Cat Behaviour" that was very good and held at Chestergates Referral Hospital near Chester. They have a full set up of specialists including MRI and are a very good practice. (but no stand alone website!)
I would like to do more on behaviour for animals but l do not have the money or time to do a proper course which lasts for about 2 or 3 years. And to be honest it is such a complex subject it should be done properly or not at all.
I will give basic advice but anything more involved l send people to proper animal behaviourists. Either or APBT or COAPE or the degree from Southampton University (not sure of it's degree name though).
There is to many people dabbling in it and giving out wrong advice. I have dealt with some really scary behaviour advice from owners that they have been given by so called experts. Just because someone trains dogs or has done a short course they are to my mind not behaviourists. The Cesar Millan The Dog Whisperer type are few and far between.
So as l have been so slack of late l decided to put up some humour and the type of advice a mother cat may pass onto her kittens either that or it is genetic behaviour?
1. If you have to throw up, get into a chair quickly. If you cannot manage this in time, get to an Oriental rug. Shag is good.
2. Determine quickly which guest hates cats. Sit on that lap during the evening. He won't dare push you off and will even call you "nice kitty." If you can arrange to have cat food on your breath, so much the better.
3. For sitting on laps or rubbing against trouser legs, select colours that contrast your own.
4. Always accompany guests to the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything. Just sit and stare.
5. For guests that say "I love kitties," be ready with aloof disdain, claws applied to stockings, or a quick nip on the ankles.
6. Do not allow closed doors in any room. To get one open, stand on hind legs and hammer doorknob with forepaws. Once the door is opened for you, it is not necessary to use it. You can change your mind. When you have ordered an outside door opened, stand half in and half out and think about several things. This is important during very cold weather or mosquito season.
7. If one person is busy and the other is idle, sit with the busy one. For book readers, get in close under the chin, unless you can lie across the book itself.
8. For ladies knitting, curl quietly into lap and pretend to doze. Then reach out and slap knitting needles sharply. This is what she calls a dropped stitch. She will try to distract you. Ignore it.
9. For people doing homework, sit on the paper being worked on. After being removed the second time, push anything movable off the table (pens, pencils, stamps) one at a time.
10. Get enough sleep during the day. Sleep can not interfere with night time activities!
And finally Simons Cat.
I did not think l was that bad when l got a little bit angry with them on the phone, in the 02 shop yesterday. I told the shop assistant lass next time l would get really angry she went pale. I said l had surely not been that scary and she just gulped, guess l was scary?
Then there has been the garden doing some trimming and want to attack that again today, housework. And finally trying to sort my Mum's computer. It has been running so slow you fall asleep waiting for it to do anything. I think it must be because she only has 480 RAM (or something around mid 400 anyhow) l have defragged, run anti virus/spyware scan and an AOL computer check, and also emptied all the temp files and unused stuff l could find. So if anyone else out there has any ideas on why it would run slow l am open to ideas.
Then topped of with a CPD night last night on "Cat Behaviour" that was very good and held at Chestergates Referral Hospital near Chester. They have a full set up of specialists including MRI and are a very good practice. (but no stand alone website!)
I would like to do more on behaviour for animals but l do not have the money or time to do a proper course which lasts for about 2 or 3 years. And to be honest it is such a complex subject it should be done properly or not at all.
I will give basic advice but anything more involved l send people to proper animal behaviourists. Either or APBT or COAPE or the degree from Southampton University (not sure of it's degree name though).
There is to many people dabbling in it and giving out wrong advice. I have dealt with some really scary behaviour advice from owners that they have been given by so called experts. Just because someone trains dogs or has done a short course they are to my mind not behaviourists. The Cesar Millan The Dog Whisperer type are few and far between.
So as l have been so slack of late l decided to put up some humour and the type of advice a mother cat may pass onto her kittens either that or it is genetic behaviour?
1. If you have to throw up, get into a chair quickly. If you cannot manage this in time, get to an Oriental rug. Shag is good.
2. Determine quickly which guest hates cats. Sit on that lap during the evening. He won't dare push you off and will even call you "nice kitty." If you can arrange to have cat food on your breath, so much the better.
3. For sitting on laps or rubbing against trouser legs, select colours that contrast your own.
4. Always accompany guests to the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything. Just sit and stare.
5. For guests that say "I love kitties," be ready with aloof disdain, claws applied to stockings, or a quick nip on the ankles.
6. Do not allow closed doors in any room. To get one open, stand on hind legs and hammer doorknob with forepaws. Once the door is opened for you, it is not necessary to use it. You can change your mind. When you have ordered an outside door opened, stand half in and half out and think about several things. This is important during very cold weather or mosquito season.
7. If one person is busy and the other is idle, sit with the busy one. For book readers, get in close under the chin, unless you can lie across the book itself.
8. For ladies knitting, curl quietly into lap and pretend to doze. Then reach out and slap knitting needles sharply. This is what she calls a dropped stitch. She will try to distract you. Ignore it.
9. For people doing homework, sit on the paper being worked on. After being removed the second time, push anything movable off the table (pens, pencils, stamps) one at a time.
10. Get enough sleep during the day. Sleep can not interfere with night time activities!
And finally Simons Cat.
Monday, 16 February 2009
Transporting Cat's
I have decided l need to say a few words about restraint of animals in this case cats. This decision was made after last night. I am fed up with people that do not restrain animals properly. It is not only dangerous for the cat, other people and animals but shows a lack of respect for the cat, other people and animals. If you get ripped to shreds because you did not bother to place the cat in a proper receptacle l do not give a damm.
I do care that the cat may escape and get hurt or lost, that it may cause a dog fight in the waiting room or get bitten, or while escaping cause an accident from swerving cars.
We had a cat come in for a caesarean last night. She had one kitten and nothing for 4hours. A quick caesarean and we had 4 more kittens in the pile. They were determined not to live we were determined that they should. We won but it was a close call. After about 30minutes of rubbing, sucking out lung gunk and offering 02 they were alive enough to go in with Mum.
The owner and her friends came down to collect the cat and her new brood. I asked for their proper carrier. Blank stares. I explained that a flat banana box is not the recommended carrying box for a cat. Again blank stares. So l added that I could discharge her in a flat banana box but would not be responsible for when she ripped her owners hands off, or escaped.
I awaited an answer to my request. One of the owners or a friend not sure which was chewing gum like a cow chews cud. After a pause the cud chewer slodged the gum to the side of her mouth to say “Well get us a box then....please”
I was shocked she managed the please even though it was an afterthought it was there.
For the cat’s sake l went and found a cardboard box. I loaded the cat and warned them it was still not very secure, and she could still escape. They seemed to accept that and disappeared into the night.
People do not realise that the “cute” little cat is a killing machine of nature. They are hunters and very good at it. Don’t tell me your cat does not hunt. It may not but if it gets upset instinct will take over it has all its hunting tools. A scared cat is bloody dangerous.
Even an experienced cat handler is hard put to hold a cat that “goes off on one” And even the quietest and nicest cat can flip especially if it is scared.
If a cat does loose its temper and is being held we face it away from us, hang it by the scruff using one hand and keep our face, body and other bits well away from it until we can get it to a safe area or it fights out of our hands. Unless you are used to nasty cats you will NOT be able to hold it.
To a watching person it looks cruel, and people get the urge to intervene or help. They are told to back off (a lot less politely) The holder will also end up being damaged and while it would teach a lesson to the person that stuck their arm in l personally do not want to get hurt.
Holding an angry cat can be like an out of control ballet as the holder tries to dodge the waving legs, claws, twisting head, snapping teeth and writhing body while holding it at arms length in mid air, murmuring sweet words to it. The grammar and type of “sweet words” l shall leave to sordid imaginations.
The angry cat is able to turn in its skin, one hook of a claw and those backward facing claws will pull like a snapping clasp knife and drag the item towards it swinging round in mid air, clamping all its claws and teeth into the item and rip and bite it to shreds, with every claw and tooth at its disposal. The other thing is that at no point will it remove all of the claws to get a better grip there will always be one or two paws in you while the other re-adjust.
The person with the writhing devil in their hands, believe me, doesn’t want it there we would rather it was calm or in a safe area/kennel whatever but not in our hand. Cat bites and scratches can be very nasty due to the bacteria they carry, and put more veterinary staff in hospital or send them to Dr's for antibiotics than anything else
With the cat's hunting tools in mind, cardboard is not great as a carrier and although cardboard carriers are available, they should be for emergency use, as should canvas and other soft carriers.
Woven baskets can be used but often they have sharp bits sticking out and cats can get the bits in their eyes or generally stabbed, and they are prone to rotting. They are also very loud and rustle and squeak as the joints rub and this can cause stress. I forgot the wire cat boxes. Wire can be good but they can get you through the holes if they are a bit pissy over what's happening with them, also some cats feel insecure with all that open around so a towel over the top and hanging down over 3 sides can help them feel secure. A proper plastic carrier is still the safest item to use for (most)cats some prefer the all round visuals.
People complain that as soon as they get the box out the cat/s get scared as though this is psychic on the cat/s behalf. No a cat knows it will get locked into the box and dragged off on some scary trip.
Put the carrier in the lounge in a corner and make it part of play time. I advise if space is tight take the door off the cat carrier, although better to leave it on. Tie toys to the door so they pull them and so get used to the door opening and shutting, use the door every so often if it has been removed. Place titbits into the box, let them sleep in it if they want a sleep.
Then when they have to be taken anywhere it is a safe area for them, they feel a lot more relaxed and less stressed. You can spray it with Feliway as well to make it even more acceptable.
Taking a cat in a car in your arms or not in a proper carrier is dangerous and irresponsible. If it gets out it will stand a good chance of causing an accident as it fights to get under the drivers feet, or climbs nails out and in panic over the seats looking for a dark hideaway. If a window is open it will probably head for that escape route. And if it is over the driver to the window, well the cat doesn’t know any better.
Once at the vets, a lot of vets, but not all insist that the cat is in a secure basket. Some will lend you a basket.
In the waiting room there are all the dogs around and often a noisy one or two to liven the mix. So you managed to get to the vets. You managed to walk across the car park. Now you have all those dogs some with responsible owners, other with brain dead ones with dogs that jump up over everyone.
Well at least they are using leads (mostly as most vets insist dogs are on leads) let them jump saying terms like “ohh look a kitty Arnold”, Arnold being a 60kg Rottie of panting growling temperament.
Is it any wonder your cat will begin to panic and want to escape?
If he is not in a proper carrier you now risk loosing the cat in a room full of dogs, you scream abuse at reception that you demand the vet now your cat is upset. Duh and whose fault is that?
There is a separate cat waiting room at many practices but you generally still need to negotiate a room full of dogs.
Whilst waiting your turn, there are the people that have the cat in a basket, and either open the basket lid or remove the cat. Hello we have some bright people. No he is not more secure in your arms. Put him back in his carrier and lock him in.
A plastic carrier is not expensive. It is far more useful than the toys and treats that you stuff into your pet. Go without a couple of pints of beer or a box of cigarettes and go and do something sensible.......Buy your cat a proper plastic carrying box for all our sakes, please.
I do care that the cat may escape and get hurt or lost, that it may cause a dog fight in the waiting room or get bitten, or while escaping cause an accident from swerving cars.
We had a cat come in for a caesarean last night. She had one kitten and nothing for 4hours. A quick caesarean and we had 4 more kittens in the pile. They were determined not to live we were determined that they should. We won but it was a close call. After about 30minutes of rubbing, sucking out lung gunk and offering 02 they were alive enough to go in with Mum.
The owner and her friends came down to collect the cat and her new brood. I asked for their proper carrier. Blank stares. I explained that a flat banana box is not the recommended carrying box for a cat. Again blank stares. So l added that I could discharge her in a flat banana box but would not be responsible for when she ripped her owners hands off, or escaped.
I awaited an answer to my request. One of the owners or a friend not sure which was chewing gum like a cow chews cud. After a pause the cud chewer slodged the gum to the side of her mouth to say “Well get us a box then....please”
I was shocked she managed the please even though it was an afterthought it was there.
For the cat’s sake l went and found a cardboard box. I loaded the cat and warned them it was still not very secure, and she could still escape. They seemed to accept that and disappeared into the night.
People do not realise that the “cute” little cat is a killing machine of nature. They are hunters and very good at it. Don’t tell me your cat does not hunt. It may not but if it gets upset instinct will take over it has all its hunting tools. A scared cat is bloody dangerous.
Even an experienced cat handler is hard put to hold a cat that “goes off on one” And even the quietest and nicest cat can flip especially if it is scared.
If a cat does loose its temper and is being held we face it away from us, hang it by the scruff using one hand and keep our face, body and other bits well away from it until we can get it to a safe area or it fights out of our hands. Unless you are used to nasty cats you will NOT be able to hold it.
To a watching person it looks cruel, and people get the urge to intervene or help. They are told to back off (a lot less politely) The holder will also end up being damaged and while it would teach a lesson to the person that stuck their arm in l personally do not want to get hurt.
Holding an angry cat can be like an out of control ballet as the holder tries to dodge the waving legs, claws, twisting head, snapping teeth and writhing body while holding it at arms length in mid air, murmuring sweet words to it. The grammar and type of “sweet words” l shall leave to sordid imaginations.
The angry cat is able to turn in its skin, one hook of a claw and those backward facing claws will pull like a snapping clasp knife and drag the item towards it swinging round in mid air, clamping all its claws and teeth into the item and rip and bite it to shreds, with every claw and tooth at its disposal. The other thing is that at no point will it remove all of the claws to get a better grip there will always be one or two paws in you while the other re-adjust.
The person with the writhing devil in their hands, believe me, doesn’t want it there we would rather it was calm or in a safe area/kennel whatever but not in our hand. Cat bites and scratches can be very nasty due to the bacteria they carry, and put more veterinary staff in hospital or send them to Dr's for antibiotics than anything else
With the cat's hunting tools in mind, cardboard is not great as a carrier and although cardboard carriers are available, they should be for emergency use, as should canvas and other soft carriers.
Woven baskets can be used but often they have sharp bits sticking out and cats can get the bits in their eyes or generally stabbed, and they are prone to rotting. They are also very loud and rustle and squeak as the joints rub and this can cause stress. I forgot the wire cat boxes. Wire can be good but they can get you through the holes if they are a bit pissy over what's happening with them, also some cats feel insecure with all that open around so a towel over the top and hanging down over 3 sides can help them feel secure. A proper plastic carrier is still the safest item to use for (most)cats some prefer the all round visuals.
People complain that as soon as they get the box out the cat/s get scared as though this is psychic on the cat/s behalf. No a cat knows it will get locked into the box and dragged off on some scary trip.
Put the carrier in the lounge in a corner and make it part of play time. I advise if space is tight take the door off the cat carrier, although better to leave it on. Tie toys to the door so they pull them and so get used to the door opening and shutting, use the door every so often if it has been removed. Place titbits into the box, let them sleep in it if they want a sleep.
Then when they have to be taken anywhere it is a safe area for them, they feel a lot more relaxed and less stressed. You can spray it with Feliway as well to make it even more acceptable.
Taking a cat in a car in your arms or not in a proper carrier is dangerous and irresponsible. If it gets out it will stand a good chance of causing an accident as it fights to get under the drivers feet, or climbs nails out and in panic over the seats looking for a dark hideaway. If a window is open it will probably head for that escape route. And if it is over the driver to the window, well the cat doesn’t know any better.
Once at the vets, a lot of vets, but not all insist that the cat is in a secure basket. Some will lend you a basket.
In the waiting room there are all the dogs around and often a noisy one or two to liven the mix. So you managed to get to the vets. You managed to walk across the car park. Now you have all those dogs some with responsible owners, other with brain dead ones with dogs that jump up over everyone.
Well at least they are using leads (mostly as most vets insist dogs are on leads) let them jump saying terms like “ohh look a kitty Arnold”, Arnold being a 60kg Rottie of panting growling temperament.
Is it any wonder your cat will begin to panic and want to escape?
If he is not in a proper carrier you now risk loosing the cat in a room full of dogs, you scream abuse at reception that you demand the vet now your cat is upset. Duh and whose fault is that?
There is a separate cat waiting room at many practices but you generally still need to negotiate a room full of dogs.
Whilst waiting your turn, there are the people that have the cat in a basket, and either open the basket lid or remove the cat. Hello we have some bright people. No he is not more secure in your arms. Put him back in his carrier and lock him in.
A plastic carrier is not expensive. It is far more useful than the toys and treats that you stuff into your pet. Go without a couple of pints of beer or a box of cigarettes and go and do something sensible.......Buy your cat a proper plastic carrying box for all our sakes, please.
Friday, 6 February 2009
Humanisation
"Humanisation" of animals causing behavioural manifestations and ill health are a major problem especially in dogs. I think they are looked on as substitute humans because of the interaction of our species for so many 1000s of years. This creates conflict because they have inbuilt signals they are not getting. Let alone nutrition and general boundaries for behaviour.
Cats tend to be too independent, and there are not many primates as pets. Those that do like the Brook Bond or Tarzan chimps and others are only used as babies. The older they get the more dangerous, and so they are locked into their cages. The smaller primates can also get nasty at times and do suffer "humanisation".
Other species generally do not interact the same with humans. That is not to say that they do not have problems. I have posted some of my "pet peeves."
How many people feed their pets "the best chicken or steak" as if that is the correct diet, it is neither correct or balanced.
I spoke to someone the other day who said their rabbit was spoiled rotten and had the best life of any rabbit. I knew what they would say but decided to ask anyway.
“How much time does he spend outside?”
“Outside he hates it is scared wants to come straight in, why would he want to go outside?”
I had to bite my tongue when replying, tried to explain about fresh air, sunlight, vit. production, natural habitat but it was like talking to granite.
We all tend to call pets my baby or kid at some point. The problem is for to many people they really are, usually because they have none; the animal is then expected to fill that substitute roll. When they do get a child the animal is often pushed out of their life totally and has to attempt to readjust. Have seen this too many times even a vet l know did this.
It the animal is ill then they are unable to handle this and even refuse treatment because babykins has to be in the vets and will pine without them. Then they rush in hours later the animal dying and owner hysterical.
People won’t go away as the pet would hate kennels in fact it is never left alone. The poor animal is never allowed time alone to process their own behaviour. It has to be an “on tap” child to the humans. At what cost to the pet? The humans would not be able to do this to a child, the child soon leans to go their own way.
I have problems with my Wibble with separation but l know the roots are due to living most of her life with 2 other dogs who have passed on. Now she is insecure unless she can see me, to the degree of following me to the kitchen. I ignore her dithering and do not pamper it. I will go off and leave her at home when l go shopping or other things. I do however make sure she comes to work with me, especially now due to medication regime. However she is now 15 and it is recent behaviour and l know the roots so work around it as much as l do not have time to retrain her.
Misbehaviour is treated as if the animal was a child not a dog/cat so the problem exacerbates. Or it is overlooked because the animal like the "child" can do no wrong in the "family's" eyes again the problem builds. In a pack situation or species that behaviour would never be attempted and if it was would be swiftly dealt with.
If the problem is recognised by the humans often it is treated as if the animal were a child, again forgetting that they are not human, and you can not look at it in a human way to solve.
Other behaviour problems with various species are misunderstood. Cats litter should not be near their food or water, their water should not be near their food they do not kill near water when hunting to preserve their water. Cats in their natural habitat eat little and often, up to 20 small meals a day. Being fed 2 times a day is unnatural and can be the cause of gluttony and stress then overweight. Free choice is best but only can be done if done from kittenhood. Cats like under or over places to hide and feel safe.
Over stocking of cats, they live in female family groups the males are solitary. Forcing cats of non familial stock to live, especially in house only areas stress which can show as fights, bad toileting, overeating, nervous behaviour or generally odd behaviour. Often a couple of cats can get on but the more that are introduced the more stressy it is. The thing is the humans think the animals get on because they miss all the body language and signs and the animals look happy.
Dogs with 2 brothers homed together often ends with vicious fights as adolescence appears and both dogs are evenly matched as they try for top position between them. The wrong animal is told off and it exacerbates the problem.
Animals especially dogs do not get to mix with their own species and when they do they fight because they do not know how to behave with another of their kind. That is why puppy class and dog training are so important. Even if you can train your dog it is the interaction with other dogs that is important.
Small dogs may as well be born without legs. They are not expected to use them heaven forbid! "Mummy and or daddy" carries them everywhere while smothering them with kisses and getting kisses back.
Worming is probably never done as "Babykins" would never allow wormies to have anything to do with them"
That was actually said to me.
Well l said so what about arses they have licked before your face and all that turdy (poop) stuff on their tongues.
I got a horrified look and was told "Babykins would never do anything as disgusting as that".
I gave up at that point.
I know someone that put an injured baby rabbit down a rabbit hole for "Mummy rabbit to look after" She had been told by others to kill it she refused. She was very upset when l explained what would happen as it was a) not the mother rabbit and b) smelled of humans.
Rabbits kept in hutches. They should be outside as much as possible. They need to be able to stand upright and stretch and to be able to move freely around. People get all upset about battery hens and then lock rabbits into small hell holes. The same for birds and cages or reptiles and no heating or light.
Dogs are not castrated so they can have the joy of sex or must be “manly” because the owner is a male and thinks it is sissy. Guess what tumours caused from hormones and wounds from fights from other male dogs, hit by cars when chasing bitches in heat Wow how manly. Cats are usually castrated as they spray.
I know that there is a few people that breed for the love of that breed and do try and do so responsibly all health checks are done, worming feeding, homing, follow ups. I know someone who also microchips and ensures first vaccine is given. Overall the majority do not do this due to cost and or ignorance.
Bitches and Queens (female cats) not neutered so that "she can have the joy of being a mummy." So risk her with caesareans or eclampsia. Then there is pyo's and attacks on vets for the cost being so high to sort. Instead of a quick spay. There is admits, blood tests, fluids and high risk operations followed by further hospitalisation and if very ill more blood tests and rest of life problems.
Mammary tumours, from odd lumps to total mammary strip - basically remove all of their mammary area a painful horrible operation.
Or mastitis another nasty condition. I saw a stray bitch not long ago. She had lost a large area of tissue to mastitis and needed multiple dressing’s changes for months to resolve the problem.
Stray Bitch with Mastitis, the dressing had opened slightly and l was able to get the photo, virtually her entire abdominal area (under dressings)was involved.
Cats tend to be too independent, and there are not many primates as pets. Those that do like the Brook Bond or Tarzan chimps and others are only used as babies. The older they get the more dangerous, and so they are locked into their cages. The smaller primates can also get nasty at times and do suffer "humanisation".
Other species generally do not interact the same with humans. That is not to say that they do not have problems. I have posted some of my "pet peeves."
How many people feed their pets "the best chicken or steak" as if that is the correct diet, it is neither correct or balanced.
I spoke to someone the other day who said their rabbit was spoiled rotten and had the best life of any rabbit. I knew what they would say but decided to ask anyway.
“How much time does he spend outside?”
“Outside he hates it is scared wants to come straight in, why would he want to go outside?”
I had to bite my tongue when replying, tried to explain about fresh air, sunlight, vit. production, natural habitat but it was like talking to granite.
We all tend to call pets my baby or kid at some point. The problem is for to many people they really are, usually because they have none; the animal is then expected to fill that substitute roll. When they do get a child the animal is often pushed out of their life totally and has to attempt to readjust. Have seen this too many times even a vet l know did this.
It the animal is ill then they are unable to handle this and even refuse treatment because babykins has to be in the vets and will pine without them. Then they rush in hours later the animal dying and owner hysterical.
People won’t go away as the pet would hate kennels in fact it is never left alone. The poor animal is never allowed time alone to process their own behaviour. It has to be an “on tap” child to the humans. At what cost to the pet? The humans would not be able to do this to a child, the child soon leans to go their own way.
I have problems with my Wibble with separation but l know the roots are due to living most of her life with 2 other dogs who have passed on. Now she is insecure unless she can see me, to the degree of following me to the kitchen. I ignore her dithering and do not pamper it. I will go off and leave her at home when l go shopping or other things. I do however make sure she comes to work with me, especially now due to medication regime. However she is now 15 and it is recent behaviour and l know the roots so work around it as much as l do not have time to retrain her.
Misbehaviour is treated as if the animal was a child not a dog/cat so the problem exacerbates. Or it is overlooked because the animal like the "child" can do no wrong in the "family's" eyes again the problem builds. In a pack situation or species that behaviour would never be attempted and if it was would be swiftly dealt with.
If the problem is recognised by the humans often it is treated as if the animal were a child, again forgetting that they are not human, and you can not look at it in a human way to solve.
Other behaviour problems with various species are misunderstood. Cats litter should not be near their food or water, their water should not be near their food they do not kill near water when hunting to preserve their water. Cats in their natural habitat eat little and often, up to 20 small meals a day. Being fed 2 times a day is unnatural and can be the cause of gluttony and stress then overweight. Free choice is best but only can be done if done from kittenhood. Cats like under or over places to hide and feel safe.
Over stocking of cats, they live in female family groups the males are solitary. Forcing cats of non familial stock to live, especially in house only areas stress which can show as fights, bad toileting, overeating, nervous behaviour or generally odd behaviour. Often a couple of cats can get on but the more that are introduced the more stressy it is. The thing is the humans think the animals get on because they miss all the body language and signs and the animals look happy.
Dogs with 2 brothers homed together often ends with vicious fights as adolescence appears and both dogs are evenly matched as they try for top position between them. The wrong animal is told off and it exacerbates the problem.
Animals especially dogs do not get to mix with their own species and when they do they fight because they do not know how to behave with another of their kind. That is why puppy class and dog training are so important. Even if you can train your dog it is the interaction with other dogs that is important.
Small dogs may as well be born without legs. They are not expected to use them heaven forbid! "Mummy and or daddy" carries them everywhere while smothering them with kisses and getting kisses back.
Worming is probably never done as "Babykins" would never allow wormies to have anything to do with them"
That was actually said to me.
Well l said so what about arses they have licked before your face and all that turdy (poop) stuff on their tongues.
I got a horrified look and was told "Babykins would never do anything as disgusting as that".
I gave up at that point.
I know someone that put an injured baby rabbit down a rabbit hole for "Mummy rabbit to look after" She had been told by others to kill it she refused. She was very upset when l explained what would happen as it was a) not the mother rabbit and b) smelled of humans.
Rabbits kept in hutches. They should be outside as much as possible. They need to be able to stand upright and stretch and to be able to move freely around. People get all upset about battery hens and then lock rabbits into small hell holes. The same for birds and cages or reptiles and no heating or light.
Dogs are not castrated so they can have the joy of sex or must be “manly” because the owner is a male and thinks it is sissy. Guess what tumours caused from hormones and wounds from fights from other male dogs, hit by cars when chasing bitches in heat Wow how manly. Cats are usually castrated as they spray.
I know that there is a few people that breed for the love of that breed and do try and do so responsibly all health checks are done, worming feeding, homing, follow ups. I know someone who also microchips and ensures first vaccine is given. Overall the majority do not do this due to cost and or ignorance.
Bitches and Queens (female cats) not neutered so that "she can have the joy of being a mummy." So risk her with caesareans or eclampsia. Then there is pyo's and attacks on vets for the cost being so high to sort. Instead of a quick spay. There is admits, blood tests, fluids and high risk operations followed by further hospitalisation and if very ill more blood tests and rest of life problems.
Mammary tumours, from odd lumps to total mammary strip - basically remove all of their mammary area a painful horrible operation.
Or mastitis another nasty condition. I saw a stray bitch not long ago. She had lost a large area of tissue to mastitis and needed multiple dressing’s changes for months to resolve the problem.
Stray Bitch with Mastitis, the dressing had opened slightly and l was able to get the photo, virtually her entire abdominal area (under dressings)was involved.
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