Back To Life, Back To Reality

First, let me say that Disney World was great. The kids were completely surprised, and it was wonderful to see their excitement at being where they had dreamed about.  In fact, the first day we were there the kids kept talking about how they felt like it wasn't real and were worried that they would wake up. We wore ourselves out, though.  Since we were only there for four days, we wanted to maximize what we saw and did.  Each day we got there as the park opened at 8 or 9 o'clock.  We then stayed until the last park for the day closed, and didn't get to sleep until 11-12:00 each night.  This meant that we got around six to seven hours of sleep each night.  By the last day we were absolutely wiped out.  Even so, we didn't want to come home.  The Disney company may have its faults, but they really do make a magical experience at their parks.  We're already planning when we can go back.

Unfortunately, the fairy tale had to end at some point.  The worst part of any vacation is coming back and seeing what fell apart while you were gone.  In my case I returned to find more staffing problems that I have to sort out.  I lead a fairly dysfunctional working family and some interpersonal problems have been getting worse. For whatever reason it came to a head while I was on vacation so I came back to have that issue to resolve.  Isn't that the way it always happens?

But now I have some great memories with the kids and the joy on their faces.  I have literally hundreds of photos and a few dozen video clips to look back on when things get crazy at work, all of which will help me remember a more magical time.

Disney!

Today is a big day for my family.  After the kids get out of school we're leaving for Disney World.  And our children don't know it!

Ten years ago my wife and I went to Disney World.  I had been once when I was younger and it was only Magic Kingdom; my wife had never been and is a HUGE Disney fan.  We spent the better part of a week going through the various parks and enjoying things with just the two of us. We had a great time, and it was nice to have that experience prior to kids.  Well....sort of...  She was actually three months pregnant with our son, something we didn't expect when we had made the plans.  For the whole trip she fought morning sickness, always craved pizza, and couldn't go on most of the rides.  It was still great, but it could have been better.

For years we've talked about going back, especially with our children.  Two years ago we made reservations, but ended up having to cancel them.  We've told our kids about Disney and showed them our albums from the previous visit, so it's been a dream destination for them.  For years they've asked "when can we go to Disney World?"  And unfortunately we've had to keep putting it of.  Until now.

This year we decided to just do it.  If we waited until the "right time" we'd probably never go.  My wife found a really great package deal that includes hotel, meals, and park admission. Then we scrimped and saved, cutting back on a lot of things in order to go.  Early on we decided to try and surprise the kids like we've seen happen.  So we have told them that I have to go to a "meeting", which they would think would mean a veterinary continuing education conference.  They don't know that I'll be "meeting" with Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and the rest.

I think our kids have gotten to the point where they don't really believe we'll ever go.  A couple of weeks ago we were talking to them about someday going to Disney, and my son was skeptical that we'd make it.  So I told him "We're going to Disney World in a week and a half."  He looked at me for a moment and then said, "Oh, Dad, cut it out."  He totally didn't believe me, even though I told him the truth! My wife laughed so hard she choked on her sandwich.  A few days ago my wife was taking the kids to school and reminded them about the trip on Wednesday.  My son said, "Yeah, we're going to Disney World!"  He wasn't really serious, but more hopefully.  Our daughter looked over at him and said, "You wish!"  Little do they know!

Our plan is to pick them up from school and start driving to Florida.  It will be about an eight hour drive for us, so we'll get there somewhere around 11:00-12:00 tonight.  Hopefully they'll be asleep, and since we've already checked in online my wife can run into the lobby, get our room information, and we can carry them to the room without them really noticing where they are.  Then tomorrow morning we're getting up really early to be in the Magic Kingdom when it opens at 8:00.  We'll tell them where they are in the morning, and can't wait to see their expressions.  We've kept this secret for months, and they've been begging to go for years.  The instant the truth hits them will be priceless and a once-in-a-lifetime moment.  And we have a video camera to capture that moment.

We'll have four VERY full days at the Disney complex and plan to make the most of it.  It will be great for me and my wife because we had so much fun before and are just big kids ourselves.  My wife is looking forward to getting to do all of the things she couldn't do before because of the pregnancy.  But even more important, we want this to be a memorable time for our children, something they will remember their whole lives.  This won't be the last time we go to Disney World, but there is something very special about the first time.

See everyone when we get back next week!

Tapeworm Blues

One of the common problems we see in dogs and cats is tapeworms.  This is also one of the more commonly misdiagnosed problems by clients.  I've heard clients think of them as roundworms, pinworms, and many other parasites, as well as simply not knowing what they are.  So I thought it was worthwhile to give a quick lesson.

The species of tapeworms we see in pets generally come from one of two sources:  fleas and rodents.  Fleas the most common source, and it's common to see a pet with a flea infestation also be infected with hookworms.  Cats who are "mousers" are commonly infected with a different species of worm.  In either case the tapeworm spends part of its life cycle developing in the intermediate host.  That host (flea or rodent) has to be swallowed by a second host and then develops into a full-grown tapeworm.

It's actually uncommon to see tapeworm eggs on a microscopic fecal exam routinely performed by veterinarians.  Rather than shedding eggs, tapeworms shed segments called proglottids.  These segments are easily seen on the feces, in the fur around the rectum or tail, on a pet's bedding, or even crawling directly from the anus.  When they are fresh they can be an inch or so long, white, flat, and usually move with a stretching motion.  As they age and dry up they shrink and turn an off-white to tan color.  We often describe them as looking similar in size and appearance to a grain of rice.  Here are some pictures.

Thankfully, tapeworms aren't generally a serious health concern.  They sit in the intestinal tract and absorb food that passes through.  In severe cases this can lead to weight loss and even malnutrition, but normally just causes loose stools and looks gross.  Standard over-the-counter medications for roundworms and hookworms will NOT kill tapeworms, so check with your vet about proper medications.

Gross trivia of the day...Did you know that at one time medications containing tapeworms were sold as weight loss aids?  Seriously....

Puppy Hunting

Losing our dog, Guinevere, was very hard for my wife.  My wife really wants another dog to bond with and relate to in a special way.  Our other dog, Inara, is sweet and loving, but is more bonded with me and our kids than to her.  So over the last month we've been talking about getting a new puppy, and today we went to visit a breeder.

I tell my clients to look at shelters for dogs who need homes.  But if they want a pure breed (which I don't have a problem with) skip the pet stores and look for a reputable and good quality breeder.  Visit the breeder before confirming a purchase and get to meet the puppies and at least the mother.  So practicing what I preach we met the puppies and mother today.

The puppies were born September 15th, so their eyes and ears weren't quite open yet.  Mom was a small lab and not show quality, but she was gentle and sweet.  We're only interested in a pet and don't plan to breed or show, so the full lab quality wasn't as important to us.  We were looking for a white-yellow lab (my wife likes the lighter colored ones) female who was going to be sweet and hopefully a little lazy.  In this litter there were two to choose from and we handled both.  One of them on the second handling laid her head on my wife's shoulder and seemed to really relax and almost fall asleep.  Needless to say, that's the one my wife bonded with and the one we chose.  With our deposit having been given, we gave her back to the breeder since she's too young to leave the mother. 

Now we wait for another 4 1/2 weeks.  We'll pick her up on October 28th, which happens to be just two days before my wife's birthday (another reason why we felt this was the right time and right puppy).  We've already decided on the name Yvaine (pronounced "ee-VANE"), the name of the main female character in the movie Stardust.  Pretty soon we'll be beginning a new adventure in raising another puppy.  I'll keep everyone informed.

Inhaled A Battery

A reader sent in this question.

I have a dog that has a hearing aid battery stuck in his trachea and I have an xray to prove it. The vet we took him to didn't know what to do to help him. We have to call around to find a vet that has a endoscopy. Do you have any suggestions of things we might do to help him before we find a vet that can help us. 

Deborah, this is a potentially serious situation.  It would be nice to know where exactly in the trachea the battery is located, and whether it is fully lodged there.  If it moves further down into the lungs it could lodge in a very small airway and need risky, complicated, and specialized surgery on his lungs to remove it.  Most areas now have specialists with endoscopes, and your vet should know of one.  Many emergency clinics also have endoscopes.  There really isn't anything you can do in the meantime to make him more comfortable or help dislodge the battery.  I would urge you to seek aid and don't delay, or you could have a much more serious problem on your hands.

Wanted: Large Animal Vets

I've mentioned before how here in the US there are fewer and fewer large animal veterinarians in practice.  It's becoming a real crisis in some areas, with farmers and other rural people not having easy access to a veterinarian. Personally I believe that this is due to a shift in the demographics of veterinary students reflecting a shift in our general population demographics.  There are fewer people growing up in rural settings and a greatly increasing number growing up in suburban or urban areas.  It has reached the point where the US Congress is stepping in to address the issue.

Last week the Veterinary Services Investment Act cleared the House of Representatives.  The act establishes a grant program through the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to encourage people to serve in underserved areas.  The chairman of the Agriculture Committee, Collin Peterson said, "Rural areas are facing a critical and growing shortage of large animal veterinarians. These veterinarians are the first lines of defense against animal disease and a crucial player in ensuring the safety of our food. This bill will encourage veterinarians to serve these areas where their skills are needed."

I'm not sure how successful this program will be, as some people are simply not going to be interested no matter what the incentive.  But if it helps in some way, then I can be in favor of the program.  Large animal vets do serve an essential role in our food production, so we need a way to move more people into this part of the profession.  And for anyone who has even a passing interest in this field, it's encouraging news in our current economy because these vets can easily find work.

Do-It-Yourself...

Before I was born my father was a mechanic and continued to like to work on cars through my childhood.  He would do basic repairs to our cars himself, only taking it to the shop when it was too big for him or he needed a lift.  When I was young he tried to teach me a fix-it principle.  "Learn how to do it yourself of make enough money to pay someone else to do it."  Probably to his disappointment I didn't like to work on cars, so I tried to opt for the latter.

This year our minivan has had a number of big problems:  air conditioning broken, alternator gone bad, starter coil malfunctioning, etc.  All of these have lead to a couple of thousand dollars in repairs, which has hit our budget pretty hard.  My own Lumina has been having a number of problems and is on its last legs. However, we can't afford to get another vehicle right now so I'm trying to make it last as long as I can. 

One of the big problems that happened recently is my brake lights stopped working. I thought it was the light bulbs but a quick exam showed that it wasn't.  I did some searching on the Internet and discovered that the brake light signal was routed through the multifunction turn signal switch, and it was a known problem that the switch could go bad and lead to the brake lights malfunctioning. Some more searching lead me to a step-by-step tutorial of how to replace the part.  Trying to save more mechanic bills and keeping my father's advice in mind, I decided to give it a try.  So I ordered the part through a local auto part supply store, rented a few tools, and got to work.

Ugh.  I quickly remembered why I didn't become a mechanic, and also again learned why mechanics are usually worth the price.  This switch is down at the bottom of the steering column, which means that I had to take the entire steering wheel apart.  There were also numerous wires to try and disconnect, some of them far under the dashboard.  I discovered that the tutorial didn't have pictures of some of the details, so I was left to figure it out on my own.  I can work my way quickly through the abdominal anatomy of a dog or cat, but making heads or tails of some of those parts and connections is totally confusing.

I've started to come to the conclusion that the automobile industry is in collusion with mechanics to make automobiles as confusing and difficult to work on as possible.  That way an average, untrained person (like myself) gets frustrated and doesn't want to try and do it themselves.  I used four or five different sized sockets, three kinds of screwdriver heads, and several very specialized tools.  I had to remove two fuses, disconnect the battery, take apart the steering wheel, and remove covers and braces under the dash.  Wires were difficult to follow, connections were difficult to see and reach, and I sometimes felt like a contortionist trying to get to everything. It's like car manufacturers deliberately try to make it as complicated as possible.  Yes, I realize that an automobile is a complex machine, but I could see so many ways to make connections simpler and easier to replace.  A personal computer is far easier to work on than a car.

But the good news is that I finally got the job done.  It took me five or six hours, but everything is back in place and the brake lights work fine.  I did learn a lot, and It would probably only take me an hour or so to do it again.  Not that I ever hope too.

Yeah, next time I'm paying my mechanic.  Give me a spelectomy or bladder stone removal over auto repairs any day!