The Unknown
Answer
Medicine is a very fickle thing, whether it be human medicine or veterinary medicine. Our knowledge and skills have advanced
to the point where we expect things to happen on a predictable basis. A patient gets ill, a diagnosis is made, and medical or
surgical treatment resolves the problem. All of this is also expected to happen in an orderly, some what rapid progression, also
with an acceptable outcome as the result. It is wonderful when this happens. When it does not, many are disappointed.
One thing that always impresses me is that, despite my seemingly endless years of experience, I do not, and cannot
know it all. I am constantly being presented with cases I have never seen before, and often have no solution for. Despite what I
feel is a good basis of knowledge, I often have to admit to a client that I do not have an answer. Compare that with the fact
that every living thing is its own unique entity, and while most will follow the “rules” of medicine, some will not. The routine
will become the non-routine. Curveballs get thrown at us, and the predictable becomes unpredictable. Humans and animals
are all the same. Ask any doctor. Ask any veterinarian. It is the life we lead.
What does this mean for the client- the pet owner? I need to remind everyone that I am a pet owner, and while I
have the luxury of caring for my own pets, I am not immune to the unpredictability of life. I lost my last two dogs prematurely
to cancer. My current pack of four dogs are currently healthy, but there are no guarantees that this cannot change overnight. I
understand this, and I therefore try to enjoy every day with them. Each pet owner needs to do the same. Life is beautiful, but
it is also volatile and unpredictable. I understand biology and its propensity to be normal, but also to be abnormal. We do not
always call the shots, which does not sit well in a control oriented society.
I do not care how far science can extend our understanding of illness and disease. There will always be things that are
new to us, things we cannot predict, miracles we will perform, and failures we will endure. That is the way life will be, forever.
We need to respect that, and we need to accept it.
A
S a d
F a r e w e l l
t o
O u r
T i a
Tia, our clinic cat of over 16 years, was sadly euthanized on August 27. At over 19 years of age, her health had
deteriorated to the point where we felt her quality of life was very poor, and with no hope for improvement, we all said
goodbye to her with great remorse.
Tia came to us as a case of pet abandonment at age 3. Blind and seemingly compromised, she flourished in the clinic.
She knew where her food, water, and litter pan were, and she served as a greeter cat for many years, sleeping in a bed on our
reception area, and enjoying the attention she got from all of our clients. She would negotiate her way through any part of
the clinic, and frequently showed up at the far opposite end of the clinic when there was Chester Chicken to beg from an
employee. part of the clinic, and frequently showed up at the far opposite end of the clinic, especially when there was Chester
Chicken to beg from an employee.
Tia was a small, easy going, pretty Calico cat. She was the perfect clinic cat, tolerant of almost any situation. She
endured two clinic remodels and all of the construction that went along with it. She loved client’s attention, seemed to enjoy
dogs, was not overly fond of other cats, and seemed hungrily motivated by birds. No matter what the chaos, Tia seemed to
thrive in it.
As Tia got older, she seemed to be bothered by all of the activity at the front desk. She became more upset and
started to develop behavioral abnormalities. We moved her into the office manager’s office where life was quieter, and this
seemed to suite her well. Still, she would occasionally go on a random foray throughout the clinic, investigating her prior world.
We would allow her to explore, and then gently return her to her safe haven. Ultimately, even her safe zone seemed to
become a world of despair. Confused and upset, Tia would cry and roam for hours, bouncing off of walls and obstacles like a
pinball. Finally, we could not stand to see her live that way anymore, and she was humanely euthanized.
Tia’s ashes will remain in the clinic forever. She saw us through our early days of struggle and for years she was the
“face” of the clinic. We all miss her very much, but our jobs also teach us that life must move on. Living in the past guarantees
no future. And yet, her memory will live on. Tia will forever be a part of the Wolf River Veterinary Clinic.
G o o d n e s s
G r a c i e
I have tended to adopt dogs with special needs- medical, surgical, or behavioral problems- that most people would
not invest the time and money into. Doolie-now ten years old and a family favorite, but a behavioral wreck and urinary
incontinent. Newton- an obsessive Border Collie mix with lingering orthopedic issues due to an altercation with a car when he
was young. Bella- a phenomenal dog to me, but also a behavioral train wreck. And then there is Gracie.
Gracie is, perhaps, a Border Collie-Greyhound mix. She is long and lean. She can run like the wind. If I were to
estimate her I.Q. , I would put it around 70. I often refer to her as the “dolt”. She is a very good, but a very simple, nondescript dog.
Gracie came into the clinic as a stray and was subsequently unclaimed. Being a good dog, we could have easily
adopted her out to almost anyone. However, there was simply something about her that I liked. Her looks reminded me of
Shadow, my recently lost Border Collie mix. And there was something about her easy going personality that struck me. Of
course, there was also her ability to run. Anyone who knows me understands my love of running, whether it be human or dog.
So, I adopted Gracie. I broke my vows to adopt only special needs dogs. Gracie has been in our home for over four
years now. She is not an affectionate dog, she is generally easy going, but can get “bitchy” if there is a toy she feels she needs.
She is a wonderful companion, she loves to play, and she, in my estimation, even helped teach Bella (my death row Border
Collie) how to be social and how to be part of a pack. Gracie has proved to be a very important part of the Ziegler “pack”.
At times, I have felt guilty that I adopted Gracie, because she was so adoptable. At the same time, I love her, and she
has become such a stabilizing force in our house that I wonder if she would or could have a better life anywhere else. I run her
daily (along with Bella), everyone at the clinic seems to enjoy her simplistic enjoyment of life and she is a positive influence on
my other dogs.
I always say that I have never gone looking for another pet. They always seem to find me. Gracie came along at a
time that I did not need another dog. I had no real inclination to get another dog. Her presence changed that, however, and I
am glad that it did so.
Gracie is a simple life, but a beautiful life. And she is part of my life, which I am very grateful for.
Reba
A number of years ago, an elderly gentleman surrendered a Border Collie to us. He was going into a nursing home
and could not keep her. While we do not typically take owner surrenders, I love the herding breeds, and the owner’s
indifference to her was upsetting to me, and I felt that I was her best hope.
Within a day of having Reba, it was obvious that she had some serious urinary issues. She had a raging urinary tract
infection and several large bladder stones. We did surgery to remove the bladder stones and put her on a course of antibiotics
to clear the urinary tract infection. Reba quickly bonded with one of our kennel staff, almost obsessively so, and proved that
she was a good dog, but a dog with some phobias and issues (what Border Collie isn’t this way?) A good natured person from
Green Bay offered to adopt her, certain that she could manage her personality. Reba was returned with in 48 hours, the
potential adopter overwhelmed and in tears.
Move forward several weeks, and a local couple decided to adopt her. They took on a project, to say the least. Reba,
while a good dog, had many obsessive behaviors that made her a challenge. She hated ceiling fans, and would not enter a
room without surveying her surroundings for a fan. One entertaining story was that of the adopter driving a car through a
section of Wisconsin with windmills on the horizon, and having her go ballistic. Any rotating tire, sprinkler, etc. set off her
herding instincts, and she was in full Border Collie mode. Her owners happily put up with it all, loving her for the good dog she
was.
Reba did have hip dysplasia, which was an on going issue. A year ago, she developed bone cancer in her pelvis.
Chemotherapy, miraculously put the cancer in remission. However, she then contracted Blastomycosis, or serious fungal
infection. During her treatment for that, her bone cancer showed up in her lungs and liver. Before long, both got the best of
her, and her life ended, sadly, peacefully, in the shade of a tree she loved to lay under.
Her owners- simply wonderful people-were devastated. I felt the same I always felt that, had they not adopted Reba,
there was a good chance she would have ended up in my home. Her life, post adoption, was only 3 ½ years. But she ended up
in the right home. She ended up where she was meant to be.
I will never forget Reba. I simply loved that dog. Her adoptive family, I am sure, even loved her more. Every life is
special. To each of us, some more than others. Reba will always be at the top of the list. Always.
V a c a t i o n
T i m e
W i t h
A
P e t
From now until spring is when many people travel, whether for the holidays or just to go
somewhere warm. As you are planning and packing, remember to plan for your pet.
First, you must decide if you will bring your pet along, put it in a kennel or have a friend or relative care for it.
Whichever you decide, there are preparations to make.
When bringing your pet along, call ahead to make sure your pet will be welcome at all your destinations.
There are lists of hotels and motels, which accept pets.
If you will be flying with your pet, call all the airlines you will be traveling on to find their specific
requirements. Most airlines have specific guidelines on the type of carrier allowed and require a health certificate.
Pack enough food for the entire trip, if possible, unless you know your pet’s food is available in the area you
are traveling. Bring along your pet’s blanket or bed, something that smells like home, to make your pet more at ease.
When leaving your pet with someone or having them come to your home, it is wise to fully explain your pet’s
schedule, if it has one. Also, be sure to have enough food on hand for the time you are gone, especially if the pet
must be on a specific diet. It is a good idea to tell the person caring for your pet where you buy your food and leave
some money, just in case.
Give detailed instructions on how much to feed and times. If your pet is on any medications, make sure the
person caring for it can give the medicine and when it should be given. You should always leave a number where you
can be reached along with the number of your veterinarian.
If you are planning to leave your pet in a kennel, call early. Many kennels fill up fast during the heavy
traveling season. Ask which vaccinations are required by the kennel. Most require at least rabies and the distemper
combination for both cats and dogs. Many also require bordetella, or “kennel cough”.
If your pet is on a special diet or medications, make sure the kennel you chose is willing to accommodate
your pet’s needs. Leave an adequate supply with the kennel and the number of your veterinarian in case there are
questions. If you pet has special health needs you may want to board it at a veterinary clinic so there are
knowledgeable people there to care for it.
All trips need some planning and by keeping your furry friends in mind, hopefully your trip will go smoothly for all.
Are We Seeing Heartworm Resistance?
For several years we have been hearing rumors of heartworms becoming resistant to the preventatives we
currently use. Initially, this information was largely anecdotal, but now the claims seem to be gaining validity. Part of
the blame for this occurring is that, due to drug shortages over the past few years, it has become common to use
what is called a “soft kill” to treat heartworm positive dogs. This gets complicated, but the feeling is that this method
is selecting for drug resistant worms. This is particularly intimidating given that there have been no new heartworm
preventatives introduced for many, many years.
I am sure that we will hear more of this in the near future. This raises the question as to how often a dog
should be treated for heartworm. While, in the past, we have been comfortable with every other year testing, the
possibility of resistance will make a strong case for annual blood testing to monitor this disease.
We will keep our clients informed as we learn more about this phenomenon.
4th Annual Dogtober Walk In The Park
We would like to thank everyone that participated and all of our sponsors for the success of
our 4rd Annual DogTober Walk in the Park held on Sept 28th. Thanks to everyone’s
generosity we raised over $5000! Please continue to keep S.A.F.E animals in mind and
consider helping out year-round with ideas for promotion of the animals, fundraisers, and
animal welfare.