Sit and Stay

Emerson

Emerson and I relish any opportunity to get out of the house for some fresh air. He enjoys his daily walks, but the Fourth of July holiday gives us the opportunity for extra time together, which usually means we take a small road trip.  Because I live within driving distance of the beach, and Emerson [...]

I have a cat called Jake. He’s your usual black and white moggie, a bit bigger than your average cat (a little chunky, too, if I’m honest), loves his cuddles and has plenty of attitude. Attitude’s fine during daylight hours, but not so much fun at 5am. I’m sure plenty of you know exactly what [...]

My morning routine starts with my alarm going off. I hit the snooze button until eventually, I put on my glasses and wait for the sound of my final wake-up call: my 3-year-old Lhasa Apso, Emerson. He begins the day with a long yawn and a stretch or two, then arches his back and begins [...]

Emerson

In the summer, it’s amazing how many opportunities exist to socialize my 3-year-old Lhasa Apso, Emerson. Granted, I live in the particularly dog-friendly town of Portland, Ore. That said, it seems that as the weather warms up, dogs accompany their owners on more and more activities—sometimes even to the grocery store (though it’s not always [...]

The magic and mystery, the sheer pleasure and joy that cats bring to our lives are no surprise to those of us that have chosen to cohabit with them.  As cat people we love them unconditionally; from clipping their nails, cleaning up their hairballs, to daily litter box scooping, and allowing them to sleep on [...]

As a veterinarian, the saying “doctors makes the worst patients” holds true for me in an unusual way. When I’m treating my clients’ Pets, I caution against anthropomorphizing (i.e. imposing human qualities onto Pets) Pets, but I find this to be extremely challenging when it comes to my own Pets, especially when I look at [...]

With the New Year just around the corner, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about New Year’s Resolutions and how my Pets fit in. New Year’s is especially important because it reminds me how quickly time passes. While I may be one year older, my Pets aged relatively much more. And while my [...]

During the holiday season, many of our clients ask our veterinarians if they should be worried about their Pets getting into their holiday goodies. The answer is an emphatic “yes”! There are many unhealthy (and even dangerous) foods that tempt Pets during the holidays. And your Pet might even find items that aren’t food and [...]

Late fall and winter bring the celebration of many holidays, giving us a chance to enjoy food, visitors, decorations and gifts! While most of us enjoy getting caught up in the spirit of the season, it’s important to remember to keep an eye on Pets that tend to €œhelp themselves€ to a little of [...]

I just had a birthday and now that I have a few decades (actually more than a few) under my belt, birthdays have become a time of reflection for me. One of the changes I’ve noted as the years have passed is that it’s not necessary to take oneself so seriously. It’s easier for [...]