HOLIDAY OVERLOAD!!!!

What is it about the holidays that have my brain cells lining up at the edge of my ear like lemmings ready to plunge to their deaths, rather then stay in the over-taxed neurological nightmare I lovingly refer to as my brain for one more second.I can almost see them making their way to the exit in orderly fashion, calmly waiting their turn to jump and welcoming the relief it will bring to have escaped. 

My brain is always on overload, and this time of the year I find it even more so. I feel disconnected to the general life; I live and float through the chaos that is my reality. People ask "what do you want for the holidays?", and I can actually see myself on a stage in a pageant, knowing the correct answer is world peace, but thinking honestly a nap would be amazing...better yet a nap and the chance to read a real book. I read all the time but some how Surviving the Recession, Good Boss, Bad Boss and How to Succeed in Business, are not quite the mental escape I am longing for. 

I go through the motions of shopping for the people I love and realizing they do not need a single thing, so I guess socks and underwear it is, you can never have to many of those right? We are inundated with the delights of the holidays; for once my waist is happy to be allergic to dairy, blessings come in many forms and mine will not be an extra 5 pounds this holiday season. My staff delight in these treats and I sip on my 1/2 caff, soy, sugar-free vanilla latte in my office, avoiding the back counter where sugar plum fairies are dancing and twirling in colorful tins and boxes of joy. It is like a scene from the nutcracker only its all edible. If you're old enough to remember what "blissed out" is, this is the PG13 rated version. Oh yes! 

The animals are on serious revolt in light of the chaos that is the holidays. I think they wonder if the treats, that seem to multiply on the back counter like gremlins when you add water, will suddenly find their way into the pet dishes of dreams where chocolate-dipped shortbread and Mac Nut Pie are acceptable to eat. They too wake up from this alternate nirvana and realize that we have not dipped their kibble in carob and walk away dejected, thinking maybe they too should have just wished for world peace like everybody else.

I find that this time of year conjures up memories that are like an antique book you open carefully, with gloved hands you turn the pages, carefully catching the tears before they mar the page of your past. Life ebbs forward, and we complicate it with all the things that never really mattered in the first place. We settle on the negative on the people and things that will never change, on the lies that are told and the wrongs that are real or simply perceived. We count our blessings and lose count, learning that they are infinite. We find ourselves standing on the edge of the holidays of yesterday clinging to things that matter most and giving ourselves permission to jump, bidding the last year adieu, wishing for the one thing we all really want for the holidays and everyday...World Peace.

Goat Evolution

Have you ever wondered why dogs bury their bones? Why do they roll in the stuff that is so stinky it makes your eyes water and can clear a room faster then you can say ready...set...go? Do you ever wonder how it is possible that you can feed the dog one thing but what you get in return is not even in the realm of similar? Well,I am excited to announce I have sorted out the evolutionary adventure that is the DOG! I didn't even need to go to veterinary school to figure this out. Just  a little Sherlock Holmes sleuthing and... voila!

First you have to understand the fundamentals of how domestic dogs evolved. They did not evolve from wolves but actually from goats. That is why they have no problem eating things like Barbie's head and Dad's golf balls. Like monkeys are to us, the Labrador is actually the most closely related to the goat. I know this because we seem to take the majority of intestinal foreign objects out of Labs or Lab mixes. No, it doesn't seem to matter how dilute the gene pool becomes, the goat gene prevails. We have taken out plastic frogs, jewelry and underwear that do not belong to any one in the family and are hard to explain to the wife. We have removed string, rocks, nails, carpet, toys, leashes, dental floss-you name it. We have not removed a license plate yet but I am guessing it is only a matter of time. Some things when ingested like crayons, when properly chewed, make for very colorful lawn decorations. I am starting to think that this is our pets' attempts to help add just a little touch of color to brighten the day and make our job of picking up after them more interesting.

Second, you have to understand that there is also something about how a particular item is flavored. Out of the bowl is not enough for some pets. They need to have their food seasoned. Kuku, Dr. Head's parent's dog, seasons his food by rolling each piece across the floor and then rubbing himself all over it. This extra seasoning makes for a very tasty morsel indeed.  Rome has a similar solution to seasoning his food, licking it and then rolling it across the floor. Sometimes he carries it around in his mouth for a while first before dropping it on the floor and then only after it has been properly seasoned does he eat it. 

Third in this evolutionary time line comes the human toddler, every house should have one. You will actually save on pet food as your pet joins the masses of pets across America and the world who are on the toddler diet (most parents have also been on the toddler diet, eating what is left over on their children's plates) . All the Cheerios and crackers, rice pops and veggies, fruit snacks and meat bits that fall to the floor or out of small hands are prime picking for the family dog. For those children whose food seems a little too bland, most dogs are more than happy to add their drool to the mix.  We actually joked when our daughter was little that since she was here at the Hospital all the time, maybe we should deworm her every 6 months. The 3-second rule does not apply to toddlers or teenage boys and after 5-seconds left unattended it is fair game for the four-legged members of the family. Unless you're Pike, in which case you snooze you lose and one-second is more than enough time for you. You had your chance and if you want it back you will need to come get it... so you better prep the OR. 

Fourth and finally the number of germs we ingest in a day can not compare to the number of germs that our dogs AKA goats and children bring home to us. Just pushing the cart at the store exposes you to thousands of bacteria everyday. The dogs evolution from a goat is simply natures way of helping humans live longer, no one wants to live with a goat as a flat mate. Yet we don't even bat an eye at our dog sharing ice cream off of our spoon(you know who you are). It is this evolutionary achievement that helps us combat the germs in our world. 

As we approach the holiday season and all of the food bits to be had, remember, goats, dogs, toddlers, teenage boys and even a few husbands out there have more than a few things in common. At our house anyone one of them could have sampled what ever it is you're about to eat. My suggestion is, if you aren't sure don't eat it. That is one way to stay healthy and maybe even avoid over indulging..... let the holidays begin.

BACON.....

 

I have a question for you. What is it about BACON that makes my mom so nuts? Yesterday she and dad made pancakes and bacon for breakfast. This would be normal except my mom decided to make a "panwich". She layered a pancake, then syrup, then BACON, then another pancake and then cut it in half and ate it like a sandwich. Now these pancake were not huge. They were only about 4 inches across so it was the perfect little sandwich. It smelled amazing and that maple syrup and maple bacon, well, I was secretly wishing she would drop it or it would drip onto the floor but no such luck. Then my mom started coming up with all kinds of fun ideas on ways to eat pancakes. One of which was the "Pantaco". You could fold it in half like a taco, filling it with sausage or BACON and scrambled eggs and drizzle it with syrup. Where does she come up with this stuff? 

After our breakfast of curiosities, Mom went about her day. She whipped up a pan of Rice Krispie treats for dessert later. I was super excited about that. Then came dinner. Now my mom generally doesn't like to touch raw hamburger; it freaks her out. She can help Dad all day long with surgery but this simple dinner task can often prove to be just too much for her so usually Dad is in charge of making the burgers but not today. Mom did it all by herself and never said a word to Dad about needing a hand. Instead, she got everything ready and it was only when they needed to be put on the grill did she enlist Dad's services. I was dumbfounded. What has gotten into her? Then I saw it. Concealed on the counter in a bag wrapped in a paper towel was the rest of the cooked bacon from breakfast. Mom was not in her right mind because she was thinking about the BACON burgers she was making for dinner. Stranger still was this whole situation because Mom doesn't usually eat hamburgers. I think it was the promise of another chance to eat BACON. My brothers were even more shocked when Mom took this meal to a whole new level of cheesy and added ranch dressing to the burger and side order of seasoned french fries. Mom's burger, minus cheese of course, must have been amazing. She didn't say a word as she sat there with our family enjoying this very guilty pleasure. She even chased it with a Rice Krispie treat. I leaned against her to see if perhaps she was running a fever. Nope!

We don't have BACON at our house very often. In fact,  I think it has been at least 6 months since our family last enjoyed it- well everyone except my oldest human brother (he hates BACON). My Mom says if she didn't know she had actually given birth to him she would have to say there is no possible way he could be hers. Unless you are a vegetarian, is there really anyone out there that doesn't love bacon? I often wonder. I must confess, I too love BACON. I am not allowed to eat it but once when my sister dropped hers on the floor, I helped make sure it didn't go to waste and I have to say......my mom has great taste. I LOVE BACON!!!! 

~ Ruff

Crash, Bang, BOOM!!!

Out of control, or so life goes. When will it stop? No body knows.

The noise of one of the 6 foot glass doors shaking violently in the lobby was enough to bring us all running, terrified by what we might find when we arrived. For the staff and people in the lobby it was the look of fear and concern that made me worried and then we saw the source of the noise. The 40 pound dog that had just come into the lobby from playing out back was cowering under the desk terrified by what had just happened to him. We guess he thought for a moment he was an ice skater as his 4 paws suddenly transformed into four ice skates with no traction and so much velocity that we are lucky he didn't shatter the door as he crashed into it. Just him merely grazing the edge of it sent him somersaulting across the lanai and into the chairs and love seat like a bowling ball on a collision course for a powerful and definite strike. While he was a little shaken up, he was unbroken and we are so thankful. He seemed a little sore and was guarding his side where he had made contact with the door. He was, in all honesty, more embarrassed by his latest escapade then damaged, but he would never tell you that if asked. Dr. Head brought up some pain medication for him after doing a very lengthy exam.  Just a little something to help with the pain and inflammation he would be sure to be suffering from. He gave him a treat, which much like a kiss on a human booboo, can heal anything.

 

Poor Pike. He walked over to his corner of reception and lay down on his bed and napped for the duration of the day. He cried when he climbed into the truck to head home and went upstairs and lay down in his soft round bed after dinner and fell fast asleep under his blanket. Glad to have this day behind him.

The next day he seemed sore but ok, until he got a nice bowl of the wrong dog food from his human sister and immediately broke out in hives and began trying to chew his feet and legs off, inflicting damage to himself in his effort to itch himself with his teeth. Poor guy, his last 24 hours were proving quite challenging and he was definitely worse for the wear. He fought to control himself, but he was self destructing rapidly and needed a medical intervention. Dr. Head gave him additional pharmacological reinforcements and something to help him sleep for a little while until the rest of the medication kicked in. He was a mess. He slept for most of the day under Stacia's watchful eye.

The next couple of days didn't seem to improve his state of mind. He was still a little sore and was now full of little scabs where he had chewed his legs up and to make matters worse he rolled in something and needed a bath. He had a bath with a shampoo to help his itching and to calm down his skin later that day and getting dried off proved to be just too much for him and he snapped at Dr. Head and then laid into his dog brother in a vicious attack.  When will this week end? Sorry for his bad behavior, he climbed under the sofa getting him self wedged underneath and needing a human intervention. He climbed the stairs after dinner and hoped to sleep off this no good, very bad, last few days. Then the thunder rolled and with it came the fear and trembling, more sedatives and a very long night. The week drew to a close and with it the promise of a new week.

He started this week off on a good note. He seemed happy, his side felt better and his wounds were nearly healed. He pranced around the hospital in his usual way and was excited about getting in the truck to come to work, then this morning just when he thought things were on the up and up.... his brother pulled a tick off of him! Then he developed hives at work from something and he started to self destruct all over again.

 

We have all had these weeks, and  in truth we probably have more good days then bad. Its just that the bad days seem to all attack at once. For poor ole' Pike lets hope he shakes those bad days soon. Here is to no more bad days. I am certain Pike would agree to that, meanwhile pass the Benadryl.

Pike for President!

I have decided to run for president in 2012. I am a reasonable fellow and I am sure you will all agree I would look great on a postage stamp! I am very no nonsense. I don’t mince words and I am not a fan of people who do. Rome will be my running mate. He is practical, well-liked by all and is sincere in all that he does. I think we will be the perfect pair for the White House. I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat, neither a Liberal nor a member of the Tea Party (caffeine is bad for dogs). I am not an independent either. I am simply an American: one of the 312,500,740 us and counting.

My campaign will be wide reaching, it will be a local effort with a global voice. Most importantly it will be free on Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger and I will only do interviews on Skype from Hawaii, limiting my need for millions in campaign dollars. I will set up a Pike cam for full disclosure. You can see how I spend my day and my interactions with people day to day not just when I need to play to the camera. This will be live and unscripted, reality not Reality TV, there is a difference. I will need a couple of things on the road to the White House: a new behave collar, they are about $100.00 at Petco and a cool pair of Doggles (dog goggles), they run about $50.00. My mom said she will spring for them as an early birthday gift. This will save the country millions. No campaign funds needed here, anyone who wants to donate, please give to the community (that is where you live in case you didn’t know) for improvements, allocate funds for books or computers for schools, dirt and seeds for those community gardens. The more we work together, the less we will fight and we can return this country to greatness.

I am a silent fellow and I can listen for hours but when all is said and done, I want results. Sit up or lie down, will be my campaign slogan. My platform will be about a future America, not the America of days gone by. It will focus on education about the animals and lands in our country, how to make the most of the renewable resources we have here. I believe in wind (I generate a lot when I run), solar (I love to lay around and soak it up) and geothermal energy (ok, so mine is more combustible if you know what I mean). I think you get the point. I will also be hands-on about community gardens, digging and eating my way across the US and I will start putting people back to work by having them help grow and work for what they consume. I will pledge to see recycling in every city, town and state in the US. If it isn’t for the greater good of all, then recycle it, try again, make a decision and then see it through. It may not always make you the most popular but in the end if it is the right thing to do, you will be successful.

When I am elected, moving me into the White House will be easy. I already have a favorite bowl, it is ceramic and I have had it for years. It works just fine so there is no need for new china. I don’t care to re-decorate so leave everything as is. As for dealing with the other heads of state and their opinions of a dog running the US, well all I can say is worse case scenario, I chase them across the White House lawn. Best case scenario, I sit and listen to their position while they give me a belly rub. In turn I will lower their blood pressure so it is a win-win. I don’t need a whole undercover detail to care for me either. Give me a flack jacket and helmet. Anyone that has ever seen me run knows the guys with the dark glasses can’t keep up with me anyway and will just slow me down. As for term limits, I am four now and will be five when I am elected. This will make me the youngest sitting president ever. I will be able to see this through for 8 full years and then hand it over to the next dog ready to take on the challenge.

I have a lot of work to do but I am young and ready to take the lead. Charming and determined I can lead us to greatness. Vote for me, Pike, I am ready to take a bite out of Washington. 

~Ruff.

The 10 Rules of Life according to me (PIKE) .

                   

1) The grass is not always greener on the other side. 

Sure, it may be a little greener, and maybe it is manicured like a golf course, but at the end of the day you still end up with vomiting and very soft stool. Moral of the story, be happy with the grass you already have, and do not eat it,  lay on it daily and admire it, water it and if you make a mess on it clean it up.

2) Just because you can does not mean you should. 

This goes for lots of things. Chasing cars, dangerous for obvious reasons. Eating trash, again obviously not good ( ok the chicken skin was pretty delicious) but bad for you. Toads fun to look at, a blast to chase but they can kill you from just one taste. 

3) Mi casa is not always su casa.

One must show restraint when playing with others, and more importantly their stuff. Never eat your friends sisters shoes no matter how stinky and tasty they maybe. Never get up on someone else's sofa, especially if you are not allowed to do it at your house. Most importantly do not drink out of the toilet at anyone's house, yours or your friends. This is not a open bar and you can end up super sick.

4) Remember where you hide the loot.

Like the afore mentioned shoe, or the bone, toy, shirt, sock, lamp shade(ok that was not me). You get the idea. Let me tell you, all you need is one missing item in the house and  to vomit up some grass and you can end up at the vet with x-rays and other fun veterinary adventures. 

5) Keep your friends close and your enemies on a leash on the other side of the counter.

I have learned to keep my teeth inside my mouth at all times. An ounce of flesh can wind you up in deep DOO, and cost your parents money. Lesson learned!

6) Find a reason to be happy everyday!

This goes back to remembering where you hid the loot. There is nothing better then looking under the couch and finding that stale dog treat from last month under there. Most of us already have everything we need to be happy, we just have to remember where we put it. My guess is it is somewhere safe.

7) Be grateful for the ones you love.

Sure our family members can wear us down and make us crazy, I won't mention any names, Rome. They can also build us back up and make us feel strong ( he out weighs me by 10 lbs.) They are there to keep you safe ( I sleep harder than him). They can also make you feel like you can conquer the world. It is nice to know he has my back no matter how deep of a mess I make for myself. I am always ready to let mom know it was his fault.

8) Remember you can always phone a friend. 

My good buddy Olive is always there to listen to me and help me out. She is great when you just need to sit down for a few ice cubes after work and watch the sunset.

9) Never take a day for granted.

We do not always get the chance to do everything and say everything to the ones who matter the most. Let them know everyday how much they mean to you. I like to give them a snuggle and then I chase them around and give them a little love bite. That way they have something to think about the whole day through. Cleaver right?

Last and most importantly!

10) Don't sweat the small stuff, and it is all small stuff.

Remember Dr. Seuss said "that the ones that mind don't matter and the ones that matter don't mind." Moral of the story, "just be yourself everyone else is already taken".~Oscar Wilde

Ruff!

Hero Dogs.

 Ruby York(golden retriever)

A deafening noise, the sound of glass breaking all around you! The smell of something burning, people screaming and panicking, fear surrounds you. You sit motionless there in darkness wondering what to do. You instinctually follow your leg with your hand to your foot, finding your faithful companion whose eyes are your eyes. You’re blind and the chaos all around you is the noise of the plane that has just crashed into your office on the 101st floor in tower one. You are in the middle of an event that will change our landscape and the course of our American conscience forever. You know that whatever is going on, you can not navigate it alone and choose instead to save “your eyes” so she may help others, you set her free from her harness giving her the command, letting her know she is off duty. Willing her to save herself and like the faithful companion she is, she listens to you and then defies you. Instead she goes for help. She travels up eleven floors in the dark and finds your boss and brings him to you. He helps you. Together she leads you and hundreds of others out of the building. Now that you’re safe, she rushes back into war like conditions, realizing there is more work to do, saving hundred of others. She heads into the smoke filled inferno choking on the fumes of jet fuel, exhausted but determined she carries on.

When she returns, she is carried by her own unsung hero. With a broken leg, four scorched paws and severe smoke inhalation she is returned to you. She saved lives and by the grace of something bigger then all of us she survived. Paying it forward in an act of heroism that defies gender, color and species.

Her hero, a first responder obligated by uniform, compelled by humanity, tirelessly saving lives on a day that would over whelm the most seasoned of Veterans. Doing what is right not for praise but for the good of others. Pushing through pain, drowning in sorrow, held up by conviction, led forward by anger and energized by hope, all the while trying to navigate through a sea of terror. While the day was a harsh reality on that September day, this story is fiction. There was a dog named Rosalle who was a real hero that day. She saved her human that day, he is blind and his office was on the 78th floor. She got him home that night. The true stories of that day captivate us and crush us. They are the stories of hope and survival, of heroes.

Brian York ( Ruby's human) and Ruby York( golden retriever)

The animal heroes that serve our country and their handlers spend tireless hours searching for your loved ones, guarding our boarders and defending you from all the things you may never see, know, feel or have touch your life. These four-legged heroes change the lives of others everyday. Guide dogs, military dogs, research animals, search and rescue animals, medical needs animals and even our family pets. They are the unspoken heroes. To the child who can’t trust people but will talk for hours with a pet, or the grieving parent, spouse or child who’s loss only the cat, dog, bird or pet can understand. To the soldier who’s life is saved by his dog’s keen sense of smell and to the animals that make the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I can live. To the hiker or skier lost in the mountains found because of their canine rescuer. You are all heroes!

We all have a hero inside of us, we never know what we are capable of until we are put in harms way, or are trusted with a choice, or asked for help. Helping others is better then any drug. It transcends our logic and can transform our lives. Helping each other move forward, looking towards the future and giving us all someone or something to look towards. It all matters to the people whose lives are changed by acts of selflessness.

This is dedicated to all the animal and human heroes who make a difference in the lives of others. You inspire me to greatness and remind me to lend a hand to those who reach out to me and to others in their hour of need. To Denise, Brian and Ruby (the dog) thank you for all you do in the mountains of Colorado. To my husband Jacob who is my hero everyday, thank you for saving me and loving me and all the animals that come through our doors. We would be lost without you!

Crazy Cat Campaign

My mom is going to be so mad at me for telling you all this but she is gearing up for some crazy, cat adventure at our Hospital. She has been researching for weeks on cats and cat visits to the vet. She is freaking out about how many cats are missing their annual exams! Only 60% of all cats are being seen regularly by the veterinarian and, of those, 21% are between 1-2 years-old- the numbers drop off rapidly after that with senior cats taking it the hardest. I heard Mom whispering about this crazy cat idea of hers to our new Marketing Guru, Kristina and I think my mom has officially lost it. I doubt my dad has any idea what she is up to, but you can bet it will be larger than life and bigger than big, because that is how my mom rolls.

I heard her say something like any cat that comes in between Sept. 16th and November 1st for a wellness visit will be getting a discount on care. Senior Cats, those over 8 years-old, will be getting a senior cat discount on senior blood work. Mom said that cats over the age of 8 should have annual blood work and that those clients who take advantage of this will be getting a free gift. I saw all sorts of boxes of “gifts” arrive the other day and I have to tell you, I am sure wishing I were a cat. I also heard Mom and Stacia talking about codes in the computer. It sounds like whatever they are up to is going to cause all kinds of commotion, call backs and client appreciation awards. I wonder if I were to bring in one of the new baby kittens if I would get one of those free gifts and a client appreciation award. I heard something about gearing up for Dental awareness month in February and how this all ties in together. Nothing like planning for the future.

I think I will go in and snoop around the office. I know Mom has to have something in there about this Crazy Cat Campaign she is planning... Let’s see, where would she keep it? In the drawer? Nope. In the safe? Nope. I know... I bet she has the file on the computer. What would it be under? Cats... let’s click there. Super secret idea... let’s click on that... Crazy Cat Campaign... now we are getting somewhere. OMG!!!! Mom really has lost her mind! She can’t really be serious, can she? Wait a minute. It says this is slated for this week’s paper and runs until the end of October, with a special coupon during the week of the pet walk for the HIHS. Okay, now Mom has gone too far. Does mom know what she is doing? Oh Mom, I think you may have bitten off more then you can chew, and that is saying a lot. I thought it would be something like get a free photo of your pet or perhaps a free lid for your cans of wet pet food... but this this AMAZING!! I hate to say it, but this actually has me wishing I were a cat. Let’s see... Reowf! Reowf! Okay, so it needs a little work. Oh well, here is to the Crazy Cat Campaign. RUFF!!!

808-322-2988/Fax 808-322-2303

78-6728 Walua Road • Kailua Kona

www.keauhouvet.com

7:30-5:00 Monday-Friday 8-5 pm on Saturday Emergency call 24/7

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Crazy  Cat  Campaign 

GET 10% off entire visit. Senior Cats receive 15% off complete senior blood work.

Starting now until November 1st, bring in your cat for a wellness exam and receive 10% off your entire visit. For those cats with additional years of wisdom (cats over 8), receive 15% off a total senior screen (complete blood work and urinalysis). Free Gifts (limited quantity available)! Schedule today- this limited time offer expires November 1st. Start the holiday season off right. Give your pet wellness for the coming year.

Additional discounts do not apply to this offer. Must have coupon to take advantage of this special offer. All Appointments must be scheduled before November 1st 2011 Pet food is not included in this special offer.

Colorado On My MInd.

Fall for me on an island is the hardest time of the year. I miss Fall in a way that I can not even put into words, without the tears flooding my eyes. I wait patiently for the return of the pumpkin spice latte or “Colorado in a cup” as I like to say. It transports me back to Colorado in the first taste and smell and allows me stay and linger in the memories of Falls long past. This time of years reminds me of crisp morning hikes with the dogs up on Rabbit Mountain just outside of Longmont. Cool crisp air and long morning runs. I am always amazed at how the green of summer transforms magically overnight, as if a master painter has dipped his brush in gold leaf, accenting each of the leaves with the last colors of an Indian summer winding down. Picking Choke Cherries along the banks of the Poudre River and putting up jam was a favorite fall past time. I put on James Taylor to write this morning. The music always reminds me of this time in my life. Remembering all the trips up to Estes Park listening to the soothing sounds as we would wind through the mountains to see our good friend Garth blow glass vases and plates in technicolor. Our children loved this time of year when the congested summer traffic had left the mountains, walking and laughing, eating salt water taffy and each of them picking up a new rock or 2 for our family collection. It is this time of year that the last of the 4-H animals are being shown, when the fair comes to town for one last hoorah, bidding farewell to summer and saying hello to Fall and all its splendor.

We have numerous clients from Colorado or who have Colorado roots. Most of them know of our love for Colorado. They spend hours talking to us about places that are familiar. You can always see it in their eyes that no matter how much they love Hawaii they will always miss the fall in Colorado, where the creeks run clear and cold from the high country. Where you take joy in pulling on your good wool sweater in the evening. Decorating the house with mums, trimming back and planting the tulip beds and prepping them for winter. Baking fresh bread, pumpkin and squash soup, Sitting in the stands waiting for the kick off and reveling in the excitement of your teams’ win. Heading to Old Chicago for dinner or Coopersmiths for Tomato Bisque and beer bread....those were the days !

Moving to Hawaii to buy this business, we gave up everything comfortable and familiar. We said goodbye to our family and friends, heading to a place with no idea what we would find when we arrived. I look out the window at the ocean view and am reminded how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to live and work in Hawaii. I am reminded that this is where Jacob is from and where his mom and dad still live. I am watching with baited breath to see signs of growth in our economy and am grateful for the chance to bring countless new options for veterinary care to the pets here in Hawaii. I am thankful for our amazing staff. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who is so willing to give everything of himself and to this veterinary community, feeling a responsibility to give back to his roots. This fortifies me through the fall and I begin looking forward to the holidays that accompany Fall, and take us in to the winter and it makes me long to pull out our decorations. I am  thankful I don’t have to scrape the ice off my car in the morning and I am glad I don’t have to buy salt for the sidewalks. I look forward to the chance of snow on Mauna Kea so we can go and build another snowman this winter and be at the beach the same day.

The Fall will come and go, passing softly into the winter. I will sit here looking out at the miles of ocean, transporting myself thousands of miles with the sip of my Colorado in a Cup. Realizing I have the best of both worlds. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

When pigs fly....

What is it about the dog days of summer that makes dogs act like... well dogs. Everyone likes to think that their pets take on human attributes right? After all I have a dog who can type! What happens when they actually just behave like dogs, do you get frustrated? Do you tell them to evolve? Do you find out for yourself what caused them to suddenly turn into the canine you hoped they never would be? 

As often happens our expectations can be a lot to live up to right? Stealing cheeseburgers off the counter, is taking these expectations to new heights.PIKE!!!! Then there are the moments when the ice maker spits out additional ice cubes and your dogs act like thieves, racing in and stealing them off the floor. Only to haul them off and let them melt somewhere. There's nothing like a dark house and a cold wet spot on the bottom of your foot to make you go OOOH!!!! DOGS!!!!

We recently had our lawn furniture pass away to the rust pile in the dump and where our once proud umbrella stood was a discolored patch of grass and dirt(real dirt). I looked out the window to see dirt flying everywhere and my once white dog covered in brown, wet mud. I yelled NO Pike, and he looked up still digging as if I had yelled GO! PIKE!!!!! Of course this ended in a race around the yard and our daughter letting in said muddy dog so he could help decorate the tile floor with muddy paw prints. I headed to get the mop. There has to be an easier way.

I actually have idea for a dog tunnel that you can hook up to a hose that is an instant dog wash. You shove them in one side and they come out the other washed dried and ready to go. Like an automatic car wash does to your car, the Hydro-dog-o-matic does to your dog. I can see the commercial now..... Do you have a dirty dog? Tired of muddy paws? Who has time to bathe their dog every day? Now you do!!!  They show this disgusting dog matted down with dirt and grim getting lead willingly into the Hydro-dog-o-matic. They show him through the little windows getting scrubbed and cleaned and emerging out the other side, blown dry, looking like the Fabio of the dog world. Imagine no getting wet, no chasing after the clean dog and trying to keep him from rolling in the muddy mess you made while bathing him. Sounds like a dream come true and for just $19.95 plus shipping to Hawaii for $149.95. You can say goodbye to dirty dogs forever.  I of course wake up from this nirvana to my 2 flithy dirty dogs, running around the yard dirtier then they were before their baths, at least I can always count on that. 

Speaking of things you can count on, our dogs have always done their business in the same area of the yard, no land mines to worry about, you know the area to avoid and you do. Then they throw in a steaming game changer that has you rethinking going barefoot and wondering how on earth you could possibly not have seen the giant pit of despair AKA Mt. Poop Everest you just walked into.  Well I can tell you how, because you were not expecting it to be there, why because it never has been there, not one time in the last 2 years. Thank you Pike and Rome for keeping me on my toes, the tips and only the tips. I wonder if I can fit into the Hydro-dog-o-matic. On second thought, thats all I need is a Pet Chronicle titled "A funny thing happened while I was stuck in the Hydro-dog-o-matic" so it is off to the hose I go.

I am hoping as we wind down the dog days of summer and head into the fall, my dogs brains as small as they are return.  I hope I can once again, take walks in the yard with out needing to shower with Lysol.  I hope that they realize after the 100th bath, that I will win.  Until then, I will stock up on shampoo and trash bags. I will make sure to grab the ice before they do and I will make sure that no cheeseburger goes left unattended.  Now I need to go see if I can find those rose colored glasses. I thought I put them by my flying pig, where did I set them.... oh no, Pike drop it! Pike get back here with those glasses.............Rome step away from that pig!!! DOGS!!!

Fiesta, la dolce vita

Hola amigos! Pike here from fiesta central. We are headed a little south of the border here at the Hospital this week.  As you all heard, my family adopted a new baby kitten named Queso and then we decided that we needed a little extra spice in our life and adopted his little brother aptly named Salsa. I am thinking all we need now is a tamale, a taco, a tostada and a pitcher of Margaritas and we could have one heck of a party. I am thinking Queso gatito encilladas with a side of Salsa sounds muy bueno (extremly good). Somehow, chasing after fast food really works up an appetite (pant pant pant), leaving me caliente (hot) and ready for a siesta (nap).

Actually, all kidding aside, I really like cats. I just wished they didn't feel the need to slap me repeatedly. "Hi. My name is Pike," sniff sniff, Slap slap. Hey! No need to get touchy feel-ly here, I was just tasting you with my nose. Geez. So again, this time throwing in a few compliments, "Hi. my name is Pike, your tail is sure fluffy" and you do a really great impersonation as a snake HISSSSS!!!! Slap Slap!!! What is it about dogs and cats that makes one think oil and vinegar? I, being the persistant chap that I am, decided to try and greet my new family members again. I was thinking maybe the reason they have Spanish names is that they only speak Spanish, so I say, "Hola mi Gato familia (hello my cat family)." What I got in this exchange was a low, dull growl and a jab to the ear and the face. I think I like my Salsa a little more on the mild side. When Rome tried to say hi, he said "Bonjour." French being the language of love, after all. He got slapped three times in less then a second. Clearly, they do not speak French.

I gave it some extra thought and I tried the only thing I could think of and said in my best italian, correre per la vostra palla di pelo vita, (run for your life fur ball)! This they understood. Clearly my mom and dad didn't do their research at all. These kittens aren't Spanish, they are Italian. Like a good Italian sports car, think Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Lamborghini, Maserati, they are sleek, fast and fun, especially when they are in top gear.  Gentleman, there is no need to travel to Siena, we will run the Palio(a famous italian horse race) in the living room. I have decided I need to learn to embrace my new Italian, Spanish-named friends. I will call Queso "Forma", short for Formaggio (cheese) and Salsa will be Ragu (tomato sauce). Lucky for them, I love Margherita pizza.... molto bene! Ruff!!!

Say Cheese!

What is in a name? A cat by any other name is just a cat, right? Wrong!!!! We see all kinds of names- funny names, silly names, names you're not sure should be said in close company and names that leave you to wonder.....? Human names are becoming more popular for pets. We see a lot of dogs named Jake.  You can almost always bet when you are scheduling an appointment for a cat named "Pumpkin", it is orange and "Shadow" is almost always black. From Carrie Bradshaw (love this name) to a dog named "CAT" the names often say a lot about the client. 

Let's say for a minute you have a new orange kitten and you want to steer clear of the more common names like, Garfield, Pumpkin, Mango (very popular). What is a new pet owner to do? Well, we looked to our life style for inspiration and we actually contemplated naming our new kitten "WORK"!!! Our kids did not think that was a good name. We thought "Rotten" might be a good name and our daughter suggested "Orange Cat" (simple is good). I thought we should stick with our travel theme, Pikes Peak, Rome, so maybe Spain....which got me thinking. This is always a scary proposition in the Head household and usually spells TROUBLE! 

You see, if you asked Dr. Head what his favorite food in the world is, he would tell you cheese- mild, smelly, creamy, it doesn't matter, he loves it all. I, being allergic to dairy, stand by jealously watching my family eat cheese in great quantity. There are never less then 5 different types of cheese in our house at any given time. Our family can always agree on two things without any dicusion at all and those are cheese and bacon. Combine the two and you may just have the perfect food. I know,  I know, Dr. Atkins would be so proud. 

 As we sat around thinking of a name, we established a theme- Cheddar, Gouda, Swiss, Cheeto, Dorito, Carrot (okay, that has nothing to do with cheese but you get the idea). My children got very cleaver with "Sunset" and "Cream-sicle". I thought of Carmel, Dolce and then I remembered he was... well... a he. Pizza was up there for a bit as were Pepperoni and Salami. We are a very food-motivated family, can you tell? Finally, it came to me. It was so simple; I can't believe the creative process had taken so long. I almost wondered if my brain wasn't so busy digesting the delightful food we were naming it forgot to actually be objective..... We should name the kitten, BACON!!!! NO, not really, I just really like bacon, crispy, greesy, so bad for you, BACON!!! Like cheese is to Dr. Head, bacon is to me. If I had to choose between chocolate and bacon, I wouldn't. I would dip the bacon in the chocolate and enjoy. 

Seriously though, the kitten did get a name and it is a food, or to be more correct an entire food group. We named him "Queso Gato" or cheese cat. We think it describes him perfectly- creamy and soft, a little sharp, mixes well, adds flavor to anything, pungent, portable, and most importantly, dairy free. Who says there is no good dairy-free cheese out there? He is also the perfect combination of sweet and zesty. This ah ha moment was like that scene from Castaway when Tom Hanks is jumping around intoxicated by his ability to make fire (another good name). We were giddy with our ability to give our new family member a proper moniker. As we sat there watching him explore his new house and his new family, I thought we should take a picture of our newest member, on the count of three, everyone smile and say cheese. Ready? 1, 2, 3, QUESO!!!!  

YOU saw the stop light... didn't you?

Suggestion: by definition means 

1. The act of suggesting. 

2. Something suggested: We ordered the shrimp, a suggestion of the waiter.

3. The sequential process by which one thought or mental image leads to another.

Yeah yeah, I had to look it up, but it seems to be a hot topic right now so I thought I would get in on the conversation.

Everyday I hear the staff suggest this or that to clients. Truth be told, these would be recommendations from my dad but... there must be something about suggesting it vs. recommending it that helps people understand it. For instance, SMILE, it makes people wonder what you’re up to. It also puts people at ease and, if you practice it often, you may even notice yourself wanting to smile.

Now, for clarification, this is not the same as a definitive. Like a stop sign or a yield sign or a stop light- those are definitive. You know what to do and you observe the practice right? Or, is this too just a suggestion...? Thank God for me being a fan of the floor board of the car, unlike my brother who got to hit the back of Mom’s seat. DISCLAIMER: Anyone willing to pull out into traffic at the light onto the highway from Pua Pua Anui be warned, even after the light turns green, you must wait before you turn. Drivers run the light all the time. My mom always waits until cars come to a complete stop on the highway even if the light is already green be- fore she pulls out. Green means Go, right? NO!! Wait! I would recommend stopping, yielding as a adjunct in the course of self preservation, but it is up to you. Anyway, my mom hit the brakes (thank you Boris, Aka, and Rocko) and my brother hit the seat.

When we got to work, Mom was upset. My brother was sore, poor Rome. It was a good thing Mom had already put the window up or Rome may have been taking in the morning in a whole new way. I am certain his brief encounter with the seat as gravity lost control and inertia took over was enough physics lessons for a lifetime. Mom said, “news flash to all: apparently road signs and stop lights are merely suggestions.” Rome being her case in point.

Well, this got me thinking about veterinary stuff. Flea medications, heartworm medication and, for some,tick medication. These products are necessities for pets here in Hawaii, as are vaccines and annual check ups. These are like the road signs and the stop lights. While the staff may make suggestions as to the type of product that is right for your pet, these recommenda- tions are not optional. They are just giving you all the options. I know this gets confusing.

I was also thinking about other suggestions I hear made all the time, like which pet foods to feed and, more importantly, how much. We all know too much of a good thing is bad, right? (Okay, so I have not quite got this one down yet.) After all, history tells us if you put too much in, it has to go somewhere, right? My somewhere is usually the carpet in the hall, but for a lot of others it turns them into four-legged ottomans. Did you know you should be able to feel your pet’s ribs easily under their fur? It is true. While every pet is built differently and every breed is different, this rule is the same for all. Cats, small dogs, long dogs, big dogs, tall dogs, even super hot slim dogs like me have to watch their weight. Now I know what your thinking... trust me, I am actually a mind reader. What are the parents of the fur set supposed to do?

First, get your pet to the vet once a year. Don’t wait to see if Fluffy, Honey, Lucky and all the others will start eating and drinking after 4 days of vomiting, they won’t. Animals need yearly vaccines- yes, even adult dogs. Pets are not done after their puppy or kitten shots. Most importantly, every dog needs a heartworm test every year and to be on medication for heart- worm prevention (one tablet, once a month). The new stats are out and they are alarming. There are 6 to 25 cases of heartworm per clinic, per year in our region. Want more information about heartworm? Talk to our staff. Just so you know, CATS GET HEARTWORM TOO!! They are rarely treated, as they usually have a respiratory crisis and succum to the disease before you know they are sick. Why wait? There is a preventative available- oral medication for dogs and topical medication for cats. Has your pet missed a few doses? When is the last time you took your pet to the vet? For around .37 cents a day you can prevent heartworm. Heartworm cost hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars to treat, just so you have a perspective.

Lastly, my dear readers, I would like to make one last suggestion to everyone. I am going out on a limb here, but I am confident I will land on my feet (my dad will fix the broken bones, I am sure), but can we all try and spread happiness instead of doom and gloom? Animals pick up on the negative vibes out there and I can’t help but notice when a pet’s Mom and Dad come in and are frazzled and upset about life, their pets come in grumpy, nervous, and upset too. When you pull into the parking lot, take a deep breath, look out at the ocean view, get here a little early and stroll around the yard if you can. Enjoy a hot cup of coffee, a soda, or water and a magazine while you wait and remember, we are here to help. Come give me a rub (may I suggest my neck and under my chin). I will help lower your blood pressure and make you smile.

One more suggestion before I forget... Mom, are you reading this? BUY ROME A SEAT BELT!!! I actually really like him and would hate to see him damaged. Lucky for me, he can’t read so my secret is safe. RUFF!

Things that make me go BOOM!!!

Sometimes I go bump in the day. As you all know I am not a fan of loud noises and a holiday that is punctuated over several days of booms, cracks and bangs is not good at all. My family sympathetic to my plight have realized more is less, as in more medication equals a less neurotic dog.

 

I thought I could handle the onslaught on my senses, but I was wrong what can I say. I tried to fit myself under the couch and remembering my afore chronicled experience, I chose to stuff myself beneath the chair instead. I was not aware that a set of furniture constitutes equal proportions, fact noted, the bump on head I got from the chair a good reminder. Then I decide to forget the down stairs all together and went upstairs to my mom and dads room, where I tried to curl up underneath the bed where my parents store my sisters old crib. Well one caught foot and another bump on the head from the footboard while I beat a hasty retreat solidified this was not the place for me. 

 

Now, I know better then to get on the bed, I do, but with all the solid surfaces in our house conspiring against me I thought I would lie down on my sisters bed and sleep off the day. Well then there was a bang and a boom and I found my body catapulting it self off the bed landing on my sisters rocking horse. My mom walking by as I became airborne got to witness my best attempt of being a cowboy. Embarrassed by my 3-second ride, I turned tail to run and hit the dresser completing my hat trick of bumps in just under an hour. I felt like I had accomplished a lot for the day, considering my state of well being I was handling it all pretty well. Mom seeing that I was in desperate need of some medicinal courage to get through the day, offered me a little something to take the edge off.  I am going to blame being over stimulated on the effect said medication had on me. Lets put it this way I didn't have any edges to take off, I was the equivalent of  Jell-O with out the advantage of being refrigerated. 

 

When my friend Olive arrived for the 4th of July celebration I was doing my best impression of a slack key guitar and let me tell you I could really shake that thing. Sadly, I didn't really have control of the swing I was doing. I must say for once I was grateful that Rome is a leaner. I didn't feel so bad about leaning on our guests, since they are already used to Rome using them as a leaning post. I was also glad Olive was in a pretty chill state after spending 2 days at the beach and her dietary adventure from the day before. This was the positive reinforcement I needed to not feel bad about not being the life of the party. 

 

As the night wore on and the noise increased I retreated and headed as near to the largest inanimate object in our house (the sofa) as I could. The sofa and I soon became friends agreeing to call a stale mate until I was back in my true form and not the drooling medicated mess I had become (I wasn't really drooling, at least I don't think I was). I tried to get excited about the pretty lights in the sky but all I could see was the intro to a James Bond flick, how any one lived through the psychedelic 60's is beyond me. After the festivities had end and our guest had gone home I made my way up the stairs climbed into my soft round bed and slept off my adventure. The next morning I was right as rain and ready to go to work and sleep. Until next time things decide to BOOM!!! RUFF!!!