Based on my experiences with Moose and my lay review of the guidelines, select literature and some helpful websites by others who have spent a lot more time than me researching vaccines, I’ve developed my own version of vaccine “Cliff’s Notes” for pet parents. I fully expect this will change over time as I learn more, new research is published and I receive helpful suggestions from readers. No doubt I’ve missed some important points. I ... Read More »
Vaccine Vigilance
May 13, 2012
I’m spending the evening staring at my dog. My little Maltese, Moose, was given a distemper vaccine today, and he had an allergic reaction. So far, it seems relatively mild – itching and scratching, swollen eyes. But, I’m in vigilance mode watching for any slight change that could suggest it might get worse. After doing weeks of research, reading guidelines, weighing risks, I finally took the plunge and took him for his vaccine shot, long ... Read More »
Breed-Specific Anesthesia | Clinician’s Brief
March 22, 2012
The NAVC Clinician’s Brief just published a helpful article on breed-specific anesthesia risks, which is well worth reading. The article provides a good overview of anesthesia issues and concerns by dog breed or size, including a helpful checklist of recommendations for protocols to use, not use and watch-outs. Both are good resources for you to review prior to any surgery involving anesthesia. I would also recommend walking through these recommendations with your vet, along with ... Read More »
How safe are my vet’s anesthesia practices?
February 29, 2012
While the AAHA’s guidelines for veterinary anesthesia delivery and monitoring are helpful, I was disappointed to learn that adherence to them is optional. A veterinary hospital or clinic can be accredited by the AAHA regardless of whether they have the equipment required to monitor a patient effectively or significant experience in administering anesthesia. While there are almost 100,000 practicing veterinarians in the US, the ACVA has 220 members who are accredited veterinary anesthesiologists. Unless you ... Read More »
Veterinary Anesthesia: The good, the bad, and the guidelines
February 28, 2012
In my research, I found an incredibly helpful article written by Jessica Tremayne in Veterinary Practice News, which was published shortly after the AAHA released its anesthesia guidelines in November. A link to the full article is below, but I’ve excerpted a few interesting facts and quotes from the piece here: 1 in every 1,000 pets who undergo anesthesia will die. That equates to one death every few years for the typical veterinarian. 1 in ... Read More »
Protecting My Puppy from Death by Veterinary Anesthesia
February 22, 2012
The scariest part of Moose’s recent dental abscess surgery was the anesthesia. After Falcon died, I began hearing a number of veterinary mistake horror stories, many of which were related to deaths caused by anesthesia. While the specifics of each case varied, the narratives generally fell into one of two categories. Inappropriate dose/medication – the dog/cat dies on the operating table, sometimes prior to the surgery. In the cases where the pet owner did an ... Read More »
Becoming a Pet Health Advocate
February 5, 2012
How do you get the best health care quality for your pet? It’s a question that more and more people are asking themselves these days. As the role of our beloved furry friends has grown, so have the myriad of health care services provided for them. And so has our willingness to pay large sums of money to keep them alive, healthy and happily by our side. This blog is a tribute to our pets, ... Read More »
Moose’s Surgery: My Blog Begins
February 5, 2012
7:45 am I begin this blog in an anxious state, an unsettling mixture of sorrow, fear and hope. I sit waiting in the tile-floored, plastic-chaired waiting room of the University of Pennsylvania Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital while my little Maltese, Moose, is in surgery. Our journey here has been long in miles, time and spirit. But I’ve come here, because I want the best care possible for my little Moose. And, because getting good ... Read More »