Insomnia and friends

Insomnia and I are good friends we go way way back for as long as I can remember. Over the years we have broke up and gotten back together. She really does know how to get under your skin like a parasite and stay there. I have explained in the height of dilerium how much I hate her and her cronies. Perhaps in your own travels you have met them. Two of my most favorites Night sweats and Nightmares are like her BFF's they are alway close by cackling in the night right beside self loathing and self doubt. They have a punch list at all times of the things you have forgotten to do are perhaps failed altogether as just a subtle reminder of all your inadequacies.

Headache and Red Eyes are like the kids who want to be cool and linger on the edges, always there to support Insomnia and back her up in case Sleep decides to try again and intervene! These two will be sure to remind you when you look into the mirror that last nights tangle with Insomnia was not your imagination and that she really did kick your butt. 

Sadly, as often happens by the time Sleep gets up enough courage to take her on it is time to get up and start a new day. Insomnia content that her work here is done laughs and simply walks away. Sleep retreats to regroup and prepare herself for battle once again ... she says she will see you later and suggests you order a double espresso and try and have a good day. 

Theses are the days I am thankful for my dogs and their ability to see the bright side of everything. They show me all day long as they sleep despite the chaos all around them; that this is how it is done and if I would just watch them perhaps their amazing sleeping abilities would some how rub off on me. Perhaps if I curled up next to them I could absorb some of this ability that they are willing to demonstrate, for my benefit of course, daily sometime for up to 16 hours a day. I really should learn to be a better student. 

Pike reminds me as he follows me through the house in the dark,  nudging me with his head towards the bed that if I would just stop moving Sleep could cast her lovely spell upon me and I could dream a lovely dream. At the sound of the dishes and the mixer whirling and clanking in the night he knows better however and that the scones will be just as delightful when he wakes up so off he goes leaving me to my task. He'll thank Insomnia from the bottom of his belly in the morning and demonstrate for me once again how this sleeping thing is done. Pike is after all the smart one in our family and if you ask him what goes with a scone he will tell you coffee with extra cream and a long nap. In my next life I am coming back as a dog or a cat. For now I will attempt to simply find a way to stay out of Insomnia's way and perhaps she will tire of our unfriendly encounters and decide to find a new BFF. I won't bet my pillow on it. 

A chocolate rabbit tail.

It really is not hard at all to do just about anything you set your mind to. Of course now I have a bigger mind then most so usually I set my sights on something more challenging. Stealing bread off the counter is a feat I have mastered and I would almost never get caught if I didn't vomit from gorging myself. Getting on the sofa is another one, I sadly have white fur and not tan like the sofa I am sure mom would never even notice if I was tan.

I have decide I am getting older and it is time I set my sights a little higher and make the game a little more challenging. I need to seize the chances to be bad when they cross my path, YOLO right. I thought this as I crept into the bedroom where my sister and I sleep; this should not raise any suspicion at all. I looked around behind me and saw there was no one around and I went for it. I wrapped my jaws around its little head and picked it up. It weighed more than I had anticipated and I had to set it down and adjust my grip.

"Got it" I thought as I peered around the corner and heard mom in the next room putting laundry away. I carefully went down the stairs nice and slowly making sure not to drop my prize. I have wanted this thing for years and my sister always careful to put up high after she plays with, forgot today and left me my one chance. I know if I got caught my sister would cry and my mom and dad would be furious. I was living on the edge and I knew it and it felt good. I only had a few more feet to go and I would be in the clear and ensconced behind the chair where I always take my bone when I want some alone time. I was almost there. I was trembling with excitement, I could already hear the fabric ripping in my mind I could taste the chocolate packets housed within the furry creatures head and belly and I knew soon I would be experiencing a nirvana unlike anything else. I had one last turn and I was home free....

I was so distracted I must not of heard her; "stupid amateur hour move Pike" I thought. I saw her feet and heard the scream coming from the kitchen as my sister saw me at the same time as my mom caught me. My sister rushed to aid her little furry stuffed bunny friend and I hit the deck for the wrath I knew was coming. Mom grabbed my collar and put me outside; knowing I would certainly wet myself and the carpet if she yelled at me inside the house. My sister was crying and looking over her little chocolate bunny that she has had since she was an infant. She yelled to mom that her little friend was ok and just a little wet from being in my stinky mouth. I was going to yell back I just had a dental and my breath does not stink...when I heard Mom assure her she could clean the little stuffed bunny that smelled like milk chocolate from the inside out, but first, she had to "deal with Pike". "Deal with Pike" is never a phrase you want to hear. 

She yelled at me that I knew better, and asked me what was I thinking and than she said she was very disappointed in me which immediately made me pee my fur. "Geez" Pike she exclaimed. She made me stay out there and think about what I had done. I watched her tend to my sisters little stuffed friend through the screen door and knew the gig was up and I would never have a crack at that little creature again. I will have to go back to dreaming about shredding that little toy I was so close, I had it in my mouth; I could still feel it's weight in my jaws and feel its fur on my lips this will just have to sustain me. Until next time that is when good dogs go bad. ~Ruff.  

NO PIKE, NO HIKE!!!

My family took my brother and I on a hike. I didn't even know what a hike was and now, well now, I am hooked. The trees, the smells, the dirt!!!! Awe yes this is a dogs life. Then my family had to go rain on my fall leave parade.  I heard mom saying no hikes the next couple weeks to the kids this morning and and I realized that means no hikes for the dogs either. Wait just a minute here missy... you said Sunday Funday. I heard you say this and now your saying no more hikes for a while? Thats like saying no more dinner for a while. You are insane! Make up your mind already! Do we need to stage an intervention?

It was later in the day at work I knew there was trouble.  I was listening to my mom go over the schedule with our staff for the next few weeks and well let me just say I AM A LITTLE UPSET!!!. I understand she and dad are busy, what with all the new equipment arriving that needs to be installed time is a hot commodity. She is talking about literally burning the  midnight oil here. I heard something about them winning a grand prize and a fancy dinner! Then I heard her mention to the kids they are all running in the Path Race this Sunday! What are we doing Sunday afternoon, I ask  BARK BARK?? She opens the back door gesturing for me to go outside. No! I do not need to go outside mom,  I need an answer. Come on women if I can learn to type you can learn to speak dog. Bark Bark!!! Then as if she can read my mind, she said the rest of Sunday will be spent installing equipment and working at the hospital. GRRRRR! That is not fair.I slink off in search of my stuffed penguin and to pout, then I remember Dad threw it away! Something about it smelling like death and possibly carrying the black plague. All that seasoning wasted. Things went from bad to worse. 

I heard mom talking to dad in the kitchen about next week, the kids are off for fall break, ok maybe that means they are taking the week off,  surely that means quality family time right. This could be promising, I perk up! Then I heard her say we are closed on Saturday the 12th for Ironman. Wait what, we are never close? That MUST mean a little family fun! OH yes there it is the silver lining! Ok now this is what I am talking about... hold on let me pack my beach towel; where did I leave my doggles...wait excuse me what? NO, what did you just say? We have to get ready for Ironman because your all helping with the aid station for the school all day! No!!! NO!!!! This can't be! 

This left me with with no hope, dejected. I laid down behind the chair and gave this situation some serious thought. I knew immediately what I had to do...I BARKED, and BARKED and Barked at my mom. She didn't even notice. Perhaps I have desensitized her, crap I hadn't thought of that. I cried out like I had been kicked, YELP! Head snaps in my direction, thats a good sign she will come to my aid. Dad walks over doesn't even say anything checks my paws turns me around expertly feeling my body to see if I am injured. No clean bill of health! "Go lay down Pike" he says. Oh sweet baby hamsters!!! I have reached a new low. 

I walked over and laid down next to my penguin replacement; a stuffed monkey! I took the monkeys head in my teeth and I thrashed it around all my frustration and anger building and building and then something bit me hard right on the butt, I spun around YOWL!!! It bit me again! Yelp Yelp! I spun again this time trying to see what in the heck is attacking me and realize it was the stupid monkey. Every time I spin around wildly I whipped myself with this things 10 inch long tail, effectively turning it into a bull whip. Thats it I quit. UNCLE I scream to the universe. Uncle I say under breath. NO hikes, no penguin and an attack monkey, I may have reached the end of my preverbal rope. I try to decide if I should sharpen my teeth and face it head on or bury my head in the sand like an ostrich. I decide to crawl under a blanket, my sand equivalent at the moment and close my eyes. ~Ruff!

 

Montana

There is an intersection in my heart where my yesterday and my today meet. Sometimes they shake hands and exchange pleasantries and sometimes they throw down with a take no prisoners stance that I know from experience will leave me weary and much worse for the wear. I spend long nights aching for a familiarity that only comes at night where my mind is allowed to drift to yesterday bolstering me up and giving me strength to face tomorrow. It is always the same, I awake to sunlight streaming through an eastern window rising to meet the day. I know that I will be ok but sad for all that has been left behind. The passing of the players of my youth always has this effect on me. You relive the laughs and quake at the sorrow that has left you on the floor wondering how this world could possibly do with out them in it.

I wake up to hot breath in my face, dog breath, thanks Rome. My not so subtle reminder with four legs, that the days of horses and cows, mountains and prairies have long since passed and that just like the seasons spent in a frozen landscape I will get through it. Yet another of the characters from my past has moved on into another sunset. I find myself wondering how long has it been since I was home. I always talk about our love for Colorado but home for me is Montana; where the sky is as big as the hearts of the people who live there. Growing up in a place like that never leaves you. Like a Charlie Russell painting it's etched into the sand stone cliffs in your heart and drifts endlessly through the rivers of memories in your mind.  You know that gods country is different for everyone; everyone that is except those who grew up in Montana.

I grew up in Great Falls Montana dirt poor and happy. We made do with what we had and worked hard for everything else. I learned early you can be poor but you can be clean, bar soap is cheap and with a little elbow grease even the deepest stains will yield; just like our memories to time. I often look at my childhood and wonder what the hell my parents were thinking, I would never let my kids do the things I did; roaming wild and recklessly. They were so hard on us, like a relentless torrent of water cutting us and shaping us to be the people we are today but giving us just enough space to spread our wings and when we were ready to fly away. What am I afraid of... nothing I tell myself and yet everything perhaps. Give me a rattlesnake and a field of hay bales over pleasant conversation about nothing any day! It is what I know and what is comfortable to me. 

I try and teach my kids the values I know, honesty, hard work, reliability, and fortitude; this in a world that can no longer define these things. I know as we lay to rest another of these forces that shaped who I am today; you can not buy these things they have to be taught and learned, with patience and practice. I search my memory trying find the blue print on how to be brave in the face of death; I am certain I learned this at some point.  I was never very good at playing dress up;pretending was never a game for me to master. I am a "what you see, is what you get type of person". I know all I can do is face it the days head on, with the knowledge that I was given the gift of time spent with people who could give me something money can't buy, love, hope, strength and self worth. I pick myself up off the floor, dust myself off and open up the drawer and write down all the reasons I am grateful for growing up in a place like Montana counting her as one of them. 

She like so many others are etch into the cliffs of my heart. I will add her name to all those who have gone on ahead of me marking the trail so eventually I too will find my way home. Time is a friend of no one and sooner or later we all yield to its force. It is this force of nature that we call life. I regard its reminder politely, with a subtle nod of my head and steady eye contact, I bid her a good day! Then I turn and look at the face I see in the mirror and I say to myself you only live once, so lets start living. 

Super dog!

Did you know I am a super hero? Oh yes I have a cape and everything. Not only can I eat anything in a single gulp, I can also run faster than my mom and dad and I am able to leap over small children in a single bound. I don't want to brag but I am kind of a big deal around here. You know how you know when your a big deal? You get fan mail from across the globe. Yep yep you do. I recently got an email about my handsome wink from a very sweet lady in Europe. Ok, so the wink is permanant what am I supposed to do about it. I mean I guess I could lay around and feel bad for myself but I get around just fine with one eye...even in the dark.  I think people forget I didn't know what I looked like before. I had never seen my handsome face in the mirror.  I wasn't the model I am now with my mug gracing the glossy pages of magazines. No, before I lost the eye I was just a regular mutt. No cool story to tell just another dog at the pound looking for a forever home. I over heard a couple of patients talking about their lives, going to visit their litter mates and parents once in a while; I don't have those stories to tell. In fact before I got adopted I really don't remember a whole lot. I am sure there must be some tragic back story, after all I was damaged, I just can't remember. Maybe I had amnesia?

I sometimes wonder where my parents are and if any of the dogs I meet everyday are related to me. We live on an island so I would guess the degree of seperation here is a lot fewer. Then I snap back to reality and think about all that my life is now and all that I still have yet to experience. Just the other day we had a family (on the the leash)at the beach day. Now I would have loved to go for a sprint to the other end of the beach but I don't think dragging my little sister across the sand and lava would have been a great way to start or end the day, so I trotted at a gallope down the beach beside her( thank cats she likes to run). We swam and played in the surf and ran along the edge of the water. We tried to get Rome to come in and play but he was not having it. 

Our family loves to be outside and on rare occasion when we can break away from work for a few minutes we try and head outside to enjoy the day. It was fun to see everyone so relaxed and happy ( ok so Rome was as lazy as ever) but over all he was happy. My dad and sister ran along the beach; mom broke out her big fancy camera from our Colorado days and took a bunch of pictures. Even my brother Conner seemed to enjoy himself. We found all kinds of good treasure and some not so good ( dead puffer fish ) even I had to agree that was well past its prime. We saw a few sea turtles over on the rocks and we even saw a bunch of crabs. My family was laughing and enjoying the fresh air and the sunshine. In fact that is what mom asked for, for mothers day. A day outside enjoying her family. She is pretty easy to please when it comes to family time she just wants to spend all her hours with us. I guess I better be on my best behavior for Sunday. No crazy Pike antics...!  I am hoping for a field trip to the beach for Mothers day maybe mom would even go for a swim in the ocean... yeah I don't think so either

 It always helps me learn more about myself as I write and reread my work. I guess I was wrong,  I do have stories about my siblings and while they are not litter mates they are my family. Now that I think about it, where would I be with out my human parents? I know I would not have my Pikes Corner and I wouldn't have a the life I have now. I would not be the best Pike I could be with out all our friends family and clients. They say you should surround yourself with the people who bring out the best in you. My family does that for me. I guess I forget from time to time so perhaps I better get my cape out of the wash and get my superhero face on I hope I can get Rome to help me make Mothers Day the best day ever. My mom and my family deserve that, because with out all of them my life could have been pretty ~ Ruff!

To all the moms out there 2 legged and 4, have a Happy Mothers Day!

SALMON is KRYPTONITE

Until yesterday I did not know what Salmon was. That is not to say I don’t get my daily Omega 3’s I just didn’t realize that they could taste this amazing.It all started last night when my mom decided to get crazy in the kitchen again. You see from the minute I saw the butter, cream, and Romano and Asiago cheese come out of the fridge I knew my family was in for a real treat. We watched as she chopped asparagus, she was busy zesting and squeezing lemons all of which went into making her famous lemon Alfredo sauce. The pot was boiling and in went the linguine to cook for 9 minutes according to the timer on the stove. Then something happened – suddenly the house had a whole new smell. I watched as mom unwrapped the salmon and well let’s just say it was nirvana. The smell of the salmon was intoxicating. I paced back and forth outside of the ‘no dog zone.” Mom was stirring this and sprinkling that and I was floating on a salmon cloud. Then I noticed something out of the corner of my eye...Rome!

Rome who will not even try people food was pacing beside me keeping time with my attempt to edge closer into the no dog zone. Then he snapped and ran right up to mom and barked at her. Her response while at first startled by his bold rush into the kitchen was to say, “Excuse you!” To which he replied in dog of course “hand over the fish lady and no one gets hurt.” He was crazy spinning and barking, jumping up and laying down. I wasn’t sure but I thought perhaps he may suddenly and quite spontaneously combust. I was giving him a little extra room. Mom said to him, “Rome what has gotten into you? Get out of the kitchen.” Rome did not listen and still continued to be crazy. Mom said, “Is this what you want?” She offered him the tiniest little piece of salmon and Mr. Soft Mouth became instant Piranha – mom barely kept her fingers! She yelled for my dad. Dad came in and saw Rome had lost his mind and said “Oh no, what did you give him?” Mom said a “dime sized piece of salmon.” Dad immediately gave the piranha another little sliver and he went stark raving mad. Dinner was nearly done and mom was focused on not letting her sauce break (separate) and straining the noodles. With dinner assembled Rome was having an out of body experience as my family sat and enjoyed their meal. 

Rome paced and barked and kept going into the no dog zone for another piece of salmon. Mom is a good student and had it covered so he couldn’t get to it; I taught her well (sorry Rome). Then after dinner mom did the unthinkable she grabbed a rather large chunk of salmon and made Rome go outside. She then proceeded to make him work for it in the form of learning to roll over. That’s my mom for you, you want to be rewarded, well, you’re going to have to earn it. Rome nearly took her arm off, offering to shake instead of learning to roll over. When he realized mom was not going to give up, he relented, and was rewarded. Again he tried the new trick – another reward, and soon he was rolling over like an alligator with out even needing a command. Mom realized she was creating a monster and did not reward him for the unsolicited behaviors. Soone he was barking and shaking and giving high tens and rolling over on command like a pro. Then it happened, dad asked him to come from the other side of the yard, a simple request, and he didn’t. Mom gave dad a piece of salmon but since her hands were now the flavor de jour that was not going to happen. Mom walked over to dad and Rome followed like a puppet on a string. I sat inside the screen door howling “listen to dad you idiot” in my best French accent. Rome was deaf to my pleas for him to “pay attention you fool” I screamed in a succession of high pitch barks.

Mom took the salmon and simply fed it to me, rather then reward him for his noncompliance, and just like that the salmon adventure ended. Well almost... you see mom still smelled like salmon, the air was still dancing with the aroma of the lemon and fish and the dishes with little bits of salmon flesh still clinging to them had yet to be washed. Rome could not stand it any longer he started barking at the plates and barking at my mom and basically needed to be, in my opinion, in a straight jacket with a heavy dose of sedation. As the kitchen got cleaned and the fish put away Rome settled down and then most likely due to a synapses overload passed out. It just goes to show: we all have things that make us crazy, some call it passion, some call it obsession, some call it addiction. Apparently at our house it is called Salmon and while I must admit it was tasty it does not hold a candle to bacon. ~Ruff

Boston on my mind.

Wow what a difference an event can make. We have been crazy here at the hospital and the 15th of April was no different. Our morning started with a TTA Tibial Tuberosity knee surgery, a Regenerative Stem Cell procedure, a Perianal Hernia repair and appointments and then just like that the world gave us yet another cause for pause. An ocean and a country away people were celebrating the completion of 26. 2 miles and were stopped there, literally in their tracks, by terror. It makes me so very sad to know that our world is producing terror on such a grand scale. These events are no longer isolated. I look around at the events that plague the news and think this cannot be, this cannot be the world in which we live. Yet it is. Galileo Galilei said, “I’ve loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night”, and yet it is fear we feel in the darkness, tethered to sorrow and bolstered up by anger.

Today as I write, I have a dog here in our hospital with catastrophic but fixable wounds from being drug behind a truck. She does not try and bite us, she lets us simply try and help her because she knows we mean her no harm. Has she come to understand in her years or inherent nature that we truly mean only to help her. While I am sure the wounds are painful and her journey will be long and fraught with struggle and possible set backs she will heal. Fear is all consuming, it is often fear of the unknown, fear of the different or of the risk, that paralyses us. The world is changing: intolerance, indignation and misinformation are running wild like arrant children in a schoolyard. We go online and tear each other down because we can. We damage our children and shatter the innocence so we can feel better about whom we are. We are all equal, we are made of the same things and while some choose to hate, the rest of us choose to love. Think for yourselves, trust your intuition, the voice who says this does not feel right or this is the right thing to do, is the voice you should listen to. Look out for each other; we are all siblings of humanity. We cannot stand by and watch while evil and hate undo our society. We have a moral obligation to defend our children's future even if it is on our broken backs and goes against what our pervasive world broadcasts as the new normal. What these events show us is we need to come together, not tear each other apart.

"the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evil doers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak. This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We'd have eaten ourselves alive long ago.

So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, "The good outnumber you, and we always will." ~ Patton Oswalt

This reminded me that sometimes we simply need to look up at the world around us and see the beauty in it. When you see a list published with names of others offering people, strangers, a places to stay, food to eat, even a shoulder to cry on should they need it, it reminds us all to remember that we are who put the human in humanity. We set the example, we guard the secret to our own happiness, insulated by our struggles and shouldered by our own fortitude that good will prevail. Change is hard and it is getting harder to make a dent in the human conscience every day. We have to keep trying to do better, to be better, not better than each other, but for each other. Dr. Head and I try and live by this rule everyday. We go to sleep each night more in love with each other than the day before because we make each other better. We cannot change the world but we can change what we choose to put out into it.

For our friends from Boston and those family and friends that live there we hope only that you do not dwell on the bad. See the goodness that people around you showed in the hours of need not the hate, not the fear; only the love and the compassion. This is easy for me to say a half a world away, but I cannot be angry, that only feeds the fire of indignation. Instead I will choose to show compassion and give hope that all is not lost, it is simply misplaced. We will find it again and be better for it. The evil of the world will try to break you, but like a fractured bone we will heal and will be stronger and better than before. We are all victims in life. We can choose to live like one or we can choose to live like a survivor. Drake said "We are all in the same game just on different levels, dealing with the same hell just with different devils." I try and remember that when life gets harder it just means we have leveled up. There is more work to be done; but we are stronger now and ready for it. This is not how my story of humanity will end. I can and will choose to be the hero of my own story and "Everything will be alright in the end. If it’s not, then it's not the end".

B.A.N.A.N.A.S

B.A.N.A.N.A.S!!! I love them in the morning. In the afternoon. I love them in the evening! Yes, oh yes, I do... ooooh! The other day the very nice men who take care of my yard chopped down one of the banana trees and left the giant bunch for my family to hang up when we got home. I knew this could only mean 2 things. First my family would peel all the bananas and freeze them. Second they would make the most wonderful smoothies ever. I waited patiently in the kitchen while my dad started to peel the ripe, firm bananas. I knew there would be imperfect pieces that were just perfect for me, and sure enough banana chunks fell from the heavens. Dad tossed me a couple odd pieces and then dropped a whole one by accident. I cleaned it up before my mom saw and dad gave me the good boy look, and I knew it was our little secret. I also knew that for mom having a peanut butter banana smoothie for dinner is one of her favorite things and that meant I got to lick the spoon. I also know that is very hard to talk with a mouth full of peanut butter. That’s ok, I can be the silent handsome type on occasion.

I don’t know about you, but for peanut butter and bananas I will do just about anything. Speaking of doing anything for the things you love... I actually have a little something to share with you. Our family, ok my nana and papa to be exact got a new dog. Yep they did, and it was love at first sight. They went to the Hawaii Island Humane Society’s “Tropical Paws” event and came home with a new family member. I heard she is a looker for sure and I also hear she can chew a mean shoe. She sounds like my kind of girl. I heard that the event was a huge success and that the food was amazing. Mom and dad seemed to have a good time and I heard my mom looked stunning. Ok, so dad is biased but that’s what he said “honey you look stunning.” My little human sister was dressed up in a beautiful magenta dress and I heard she danced the night away. It is always so fun to see everyone come home happy and excited. I think next year I should get to go since I am a HIHS success story after all. Then my parents might feel obligated to bring Rome and we all know we can’t take him anywhere.

I have some more exciting news to share as well. The hospital’s pet portal is up and running. If we have your email address we can send you out a link to log in. You can go to our website www.keauhouvet.com and log in from there as well. You can go online and see when all of your pets are due to come see my dad. There is a way to update addresses, phone numbers and even upload photos of your pets right to their file. You can request appointment times and medication requests from the comfort of your house anytime day or night. You can even have it send you an email or a text when your appointment is due. Which reminds me -- Sentinel is back and better then ever! It is also half the price of Trifexis. It does heartworm and immature stages of the flea, as well hookworms, round worms and whip worms. For those pets that can’t seem to take Trifexis and have been waiting for Sentinel’s return, your wait is over. We have a limited supply while they are rolling out the new product but you can rest assured we have enough of all sizes right now to get us through. Come in today and get your 6 packs or single doses. Remember this is an FDA regulated product and it is only available by prescription. Your pet must have a current heartworm test within the last year.

There is so much happening around here and I only have a little space to tell you it all so I guess this will have to do for now. Just one more thing before I forget, I wanted to tell my good buddy Olive congrats on her new little human sister. I heard she is a beauty. I can’t wait to meet her; my mom and dad came home raving about how sweet she is. Until then I guess I will head downstairs and sample the fresh baked bread, I know mom forgot to put away. It goes perfect with bananas and peanut butter. Now if I only knew how to work the stove I would make myself a grilled peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich (I heard it was Elvis Presley’s favorite). Grilled peanut butter, banana, and bacon sandwich -- no wonder he got to be The King; he had great taste. There is nothing wrong with good taste right? 

~RUFF!

Annual Schmannual

Annual-schmannual

T’was, heart worm and the annual

vaccines, dewormer a fecal we suggest: 

All annuals not created equal,

 ours always offering the best.

Beware the adjuvanted vaccines my pet! 

The Sarcomas that bite, the cancers that kill!

 We use the Non-adjuvanted vaccines, and yet

 People always complain about the bill!

Dewormer prophylactically safety a concern: 

Each year a fecal we do test--
So of Internal parasites we learn.

And what of Parasites inside chest?

Of course a heartworm test each year, 

The recommendation, with fact to show, 

Coughing, gasping the signs oh dear 

That inside heartworms grow!

3 drops! 10 minutes! And then we’ll see
If your pet needs treatment quick!

A missed dose here, and worms come to be 

and then your pet is sick.

Why Senior screening, you do ask? 

Come and think, it’s in the name

 Old age, old age! 7 years to task. 

Organ decline; a blood work shame.

T’was vaccines and the annual 

The best is offered first:

 Suggestions and recommendations

 Science based on worth.

FYI

• The rhythm of this poem is loosely based on Lewis Carrolls “Jabberwocky”

• Vaccines the DHLPP is given every 3 years and contains vaccines for distemper,
  hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, and Parvo virus. Leptospirosis should be
  given annually in Hawaii; humans can also get Leptospirosis.
  
• In cats, vaccinations have been linked to sarcomas, at a rate of between 1 and 10 per
  10,000 injections in adjuvanted vaccines
  
• The American Heartworm Society and AVMA (American Veterinary Medical
  Association) recommend testing for heartworm annually. As members of the AHS and AVMA this is the recommendation we follow. Heartworm is costly to treat but easy to prevent. Remember to give your pet their monthly heartworm medication the same time every month, or ask us about the injectable medication that lasts
  6 months. When we test for heartworm annually we are also testing for another illness called Ehrlichia. This is a tick-born illness that affects the pet’s red blood cells. When caught early before the pet is symptomatic it can be easily treated.
  
• We use a broad spectrum dewormer to treat your pet prophylactically for worms, like round worms, tape worms and hook worms. All of these worms think humans are delicious as well.
  
• Annual Fecal tests check for internal parasites, such as the aforementioned worms as well as whipworms, and Giardia (except heartworm remember — that’s a blood test).
  
• During your pets’ annual you should expect your veterinarian to do a full physical examination, including looking in your pets’ mouth, ears, nose eyes. They should be looking at your pets’ muscle tone and weight and giving you recommendations based on what they see. There are preset parameters for weight and body score. These things are not subjective but rather based on the guidelines from the AVMA.
  
• A Senior Screen includes blood work and a urinalysis and is recommended in
  dogs over 7 years old and cats over 8 years old. This annual screening allows your veterinarian to see what changes your pets organs have made each year. Blood work is required for any animal over the age of 1 year that is going under anesthesia for any reason. This is for the safety of your pet. 
  

Fact VS. Misconception

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Keauhou-Veterinary-Hospital/329699169653

It is a common misconception on parts of the island that there are no doctors to perform some of the more complicated surgical procedures and that people either have to take their pets to Oahu or there is really no hope. We have been told by numerous clients now that they have been referred off island or told they have to wait until the specialist comes to the island in order for their pets to have surgery. Really? Almost everyone one of these surgeries that have been described, we do here at our hospital. In fact one surgery in particular the TTA ( Tibial Tuberosity Advancement) Is done at our hospital by my dad regularly. We take referrals for this procedure and numerous others every single day. Back surgery for dogs with pinched nerves that are causing deficits in their hind limbs, yep we do it. We also do Myelograms to help diagnosis the problem so we can zero in on the exact location. PDA heart surgery you bet. Bile duct obstruction, thoracic surgeries, gall bladder surgery, difficult mass removals, leg limb deformity (some have even come to us from other islands), even oncology cases from other hospitals are all seen here regularly and with great success.

Did you know my dad was the first doctor in Hawaii to take the course and offer the TTA surgery? It's a fact. There are now 3 doctors in the state, one on Maui one on Oahu, but my dad right here in Kona was the first. Did you know my dad did an internship in small animal medicine and surgery right after vet school? He was also sent to additional training in Ohio with Synthes, for fracture and fixator courses both basic and advanced. My dad performs surgery on complicated fractures, shattered bones and corrective repairs on previously repaired fractures and surgeries daily. In addition to the surgeries we provide, we also offer advance workups in cardiology, internal medicine, VetStem, dentistry and more. This is of course in addition to the general wellness and annual care we provide.

There is a propagated misconception, that we are the most expensive practice on the island. We see everyone else's invoices and we know that is simply not true. What is true, is that we will not put your pet at risk by not doing pre-operative bloodwork or perform surgery without the benefits of monitoring devices, a catheter and IV fluids. We want your pet to have the best possible outcome. We have been told " if the doctor knows what they are doing they don't need all those safety nets". Well, as an AAHA accredited practice, we believe differently. We know that animals that are hydrated during surgery with IV fluids, do better after surgery. Animals lose blood during even routine procedures like spays and neuters and having an IV catheter in place to administer fluids can be very important to maintain proper blood pressure. You never know how an animal is going to react to anesthesia, some animals sail though and some really struggle. Having an IV catheter in place lets us give life saving drugs if we need it, when we need it. It also allows us to reverse the effects of certain medication in case of an emergency. Pre-op blood work is not a way for us to make money off you at all, we do it, because it could save your pets life. We want to know that your pet doesn't have a bleeding disorder or issues with it's kidney or liver functions prior to anethetizing them for a procedure. Your pets kidneys and liver have to process the medication we are giving during surgery, if they are not working correctly, it would be good to know before surgery not during a procedure.

Some procedures especially in animals already in crisis should NEVER even be done with out pre- op bloodwork before surgery and ECG, blood pressure monitoring, end tidal CO2, and O2 monitoring in place during surgery. These things are not options at our hospital, it is a standard of care we have chosen to provide and a commitment my dad made when he became a doctor and reinforced when we became AAHA accredited. Does it cost more, yes it does? Is it worth every penny, you bet. Pain management is another thing we take a lot of flack for. People tell us all the time "well if my pet is painful he will move around less and then I don't have to worry about him running around and getting hurt". Let me ask you, if my dad neutered you and removed your testicles or if he spayed your wife or girlfriend, removing her uterus and ovaries though an incision in her abdominal wall( assuming of course he was a human doctor and not a vet) would you want pain medication? What about if he amputated one of your limbs or plated one of your bones? What about if he extracted your teeth? Studies show that animals feel pain just like we do. They are programmed by evolution however, not to show it. I am sure you have heard of survival of the fittest right? Well we believe in pain management and not the kind that last for a few hours and then wears off. No we are talking about pain medications for days and sometimes weeks after surgery depending on the procedure. Yes even in spays and neuters.

As you can see there is a lot of misinformation out there. We believe in honesty and full disclosure. We know this may not appeal to everyone and well I guess you can't please them all. You can educated them however, by giving them all the information they need to make an informed decision. We have been providing high quality surgical and medical options and care to this island for over 5 and 1/2 years now. My dad has been practicing medicine and performing surgeries for 15 years. We send out information regularly to area veterinarians letting them know we are here and we are happy to help. In turn numerous veterinarians send us their more difficult or unique cases. Coming from emergency medicine my dad is used to seeing other doctors clients and patients and then sending them back to them for routine care. We understand that people build a relationship with their veterinarian and we respect that. This is why we want you to know that we want to help make your pet well, we are not trying to steal you away as a client. We believe in being up-front giving clients a quote for services, we know they will call around and look for whoever will beat our prices, our prices do not change based on the client or the quote they got from another veterinarian. We don't do that. It is not fair to the rest of the veterinary community and it is deceitful. As you can see it is not always an apples to apples comparison in terms of the services provided. It is always frustrating however that we can't all work together for the greater good of the patients. Veterinary medicine changes everyday, and we are committed to staying up to date on the changes. We will always try and learn more and be the best veterinary practice we can be. We know honesty is always the best policy, although it may not make you the most popular. After all your only humans.~ Ruff