tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post3121803561487845163..comments2024-03-10T04:53:21.242-04:00Comments on Life In Dogs: A-Z of #Dog Rescue: Vets, Unsung Heroes — #AtoZChallengeGuilie Castillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-9829433101628910862017-05-31T12:43:25.608-04:002017-05-31T12:43:25.608-04:00You guys are heroes, Melanie—period. I have naught...You guys are heroes, Melanie—period. I have naught but the highest respect for your profession, and your dedication. This post does a flimsy job of expressing the extent of my gratitude and admiration; there is so much more to say. <br /><br />I did read a bit about your trip to Mongolia yesterday; how awesome! I'll do my best to share your fundraising campaign (and your blog in general; I love it), and will look forward to hearing all about it when you're back :)<br /><br />Thanks for popping over, Melanie. I'm so, so glad you liked this post. Thank you for all you do :)Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-58610992004040621922017-05-31T10:59:11.258-04:002017-05-31T10:59:11.258-04:00From the depths of my heart, THANK YOU! Some days ...From the depths of my heart, THANK YOU! Some days are easier than others as a veterinarian, but the bad days are really bad. I have shared your post with a little over 12,000 other veterinarians. Bless you for your thoughtfulness and your support. We are working so hard to defeat the suicide rate in veterinary medicine. We want to go to work, save lives, and go home to our families with enough money to pay our bills and feed our families, maybe have a day off or so. I will be using some time off to travel to Mongolia to train and mentor veterinarians for a month. I don't know how I am going to pay for it, as I haven't had time to raise the money, but it is important to do it. (Information on that trip is on my blog if anyone is interested). Anywho, thank you for your support of veterinarians. We don't often ask for help as we are the helpers, but I will ask for help for all of my colleagues. Please continue to spread the word that we are doing the best we are able in any given situation. We care, sometimes too much. When we act like we don't care, it is often because we have been hurt so many times that we have to hide the anguish. Hug your vet (if it is okay with them!), but most of all, just say thank you. It goes a long way!MelanieDVMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08405871246405112467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-46177855985785693752016-05-07T13:43:42.874-04:002016-05-07T13:43:42.874-04:00Vet training is arduous for sure, Carrie-Anne. And...Vet training is arduous for sure, Carrie-Anne. And I'll be honest, in an emergency I'd be more comfortable being treated by a vet than by a people doctor... They think out of the box ("What box?" ;) ), and they're not afraid of extreme solutions. Seriously, I think people doctors should start life as vets. They'd be much more effective. (And less wussy ;) )Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-91541235578861784062016-05-07T13:19:28.001-04:002016-05-07T13:19:28.001-04:00I'm with you, Robin. And I'll take it one ...I'm with you, Robin. And I'll take it one step further: some people should be put down ;) (Which is why I'm not a vet. And why I don't own a firearm :D )Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-35594109253705456342016-05-07T12:37:04.104-04:002016-05-07T12:37:04.104-04:00That bit right there, Debbie, about explaining eve...That bit right there, Debbie, about explaining everything in detail, is, I think, one of the key differences between a good and a great vet (or any medical professional). It speaks about an openness, a willingness to make you a part of the process, a partner even... And, when it's someone you care about on that examining table, that feeling really is the best one.Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-16406153250877262322016-05-07T12:33:52.121-04:002016-05-07T12:33:52.121-04:00Oh, Susan... I'm so glad you had vets of this ...Oh, Susan... I'm so glad you had vets of this calibre to look after you and Murphy at such a difficult time. This kind of care is priceless, and goes far beyond professionalism or even ethics. This is pure compassion. LOVE your vet :)Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-71079445939656779822016-05-02T11:08:37.614-04:002016-05-02T11:08:37.614-04:00Thanks, Aneeta! I'm ashamed to say I totally m...Thanks, Aneeta! I'm ashamed to say I totally missed World Veterinarian Day... This A2Z left me brain-dead, haha. Thanks for letting me know, though; I didn't even know it existed!Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-90210374573228582962016-05-01T19:10:46.296-04:002016-05-01T19:10:46.296-04:00"... balancing my financial limits with the p..."... balancing my financial limits with the pet's need"—that's the surest sign of a good vet, I think. Unlike the majority of medical professionals, vets understand that most of their clients are either unwilling or unable to pay through the nose for medical care, so they've become very good at exploring different options and approaches. And the fact that she treats your four-legged darlings like they're her only patients... Man, that's worth gold. I'm so glad you have her!Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-79311705777051082642016-05-01T19:07:51.370-04:002016-05-01T19:07:51.370-04:00"... they have to cover multiple phyla and cl..."... they have to cover multiple phyla and classes, none of which can express their health issues and many of which actively conceal them as a means of EXCELLENT point, Keith! Indeed, vets are fully deserving of our deepest admiration and respect. I'm so glad you feel that way, too.Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-90585856239996568502016-05-01T14:59:51.845-04:002016-05-01T14:59:51.845-04:00Too right, Natasha... Vets really put the people-d...Too right, Natasha... Vets really put the people-doctor professionals to shame :)Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-1791944386059066352016-05-01T14:58:28.837-04:002016-05-01T14:58:28.837-04:00Oh, wow... Your vet sounds awesome!Oh, wow... Your vet sounds awesome!Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-59815482667044944682016-05-01T14:58:09.536-04:002016-05-01T14:58:09.536-04:00Glad you liked it, Susan :)Glad you liked it, Susan :)Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-49078412577335571462016-05-01T14:06:06.942-04:002016-05-01T14:06:06.942-04:00That annoys me too, Ann... People who are well-off...That annoys me too, Ann... People who are well-off and still insist on cutting whatever corners they can with their pets' health. Drives me insane, actually. And how lovely to hear about these vets caring for homeless people's dogs! I can't imagine how horrible it must be to not be able to afford your beloved dog's care... To be forced to leave him/her at a shelter simply because you can't take care of him... The bond between these two homeless hearts must be so strong. I'm glad there are people who help them stay together.Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-50655098196799080672016-05-01T14:02:52.315-04:002016-05-01T14:02:52.315-04:00Eeek... I hear you, Birgit. There are a couple of ...Eeek... I hear you, Birgit. There are a couple of those <i>chic</i> vets here in Curaçao (and I know several in Mexico)... What it tells me is that they care more about impressing the human with superficial trappings rather than with excellent care for the animals. The sad part, though, is that so many people fall for it. They actually prefer a nice-looking waiting area done up in this year's trending color scheme rather than the best medical care for their pet. Ugh...Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-30970266701314500452016-05-01T13:59:30.643-04:002016-05-01T13:59:30.643-04:00Jeffrey, that makes my day :) Because you've n...Jeffrey, that makes my day :) Because you've never had pets, the fact that this series has captured your interest feels like a huge, huge compliment—and I'm glad these posts have opened new perspectives for you. Thank you!Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-24009808854152218072016-05-01T13:58:06.849-04:002016-05-01T13:58:06.849-04:00Your vet sounds perfect, Michele. It never ceases ...Your vet sounds perfect, Michele. It never ceases to amaze me how much more competent vets are than GPs, or, really, any people doctors, in terms of thoroughness and compassion. I've seen vets research a complicated case for weeks—and then give the owner a discount in the bill because they knew s/he can barely afford to pay. There's a lesson here for all of us, I think :)Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-45187686071534065802016-05-01T13:54:34.047-04:002016-05-01T13:54:34.047-04:00GPs are failed vets — LOVE it, Debbie. It's pr...GPs are failed vets — LOVE it, Debbie. It's probably true, too :D And YES on the no pets if you don't want vet bills. f you can't afford the vet, you can't afford the pet. Right?Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-91406293857923736532016-04-28T23:10:42.375-04:002016-04-28T23:10:42.375-04:00I used to want to be a vet, though I think it'...I used to want to be a vet, though I think it's safe to say that's not a career path I'll ever embark upon in this lifetime. I'm not sure I could handle all the rigourous science courses necessary, and getting into vet school is very competitive. I also don't think I could put an animal down, even knowing it's the humane thing to do. It's just not something I think I'm emotionally strong enough to do, just as I don't think I'm emotionally strong enough to keep pets who only live a few years (like mice and gerbils).<br /><br />Some of my characters are vets, though. One of my vet characters, Yuriy, served as a medic in the Canadian Army during WWII. In an emergency situation, no one really cares if the person treating you has been trained as an animal or people doctor. If it were an emergency and there were no people doctors around, I'd let a vet help me.<br /><br /><a href="http://carrieannebrownian.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">Welcome to My Magick Theatre</a><br /><a href="http://onomasticsoutsidethebox.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">Onomastics Outside the Box</a>Carrie-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05810154378449825641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-83843597230812691112016-04-27T20:42:20.871-04:002016-04-27T20:42:20.871-04:00I wanted to punch that woman who refused to pay to...I wanted to punch that woman who refused to pay to put down that suffering puppy. Some people should be spayed/neutered. I think we've got this whole thing backwards.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14932408372240147454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-73388973090142626822016-04-27T14:25:42.856-04:002016-04-27T14:25:42.856-04:00You nailed it, Guilie! A good vet is worth his/her...You nailed it, Guilie! A good vet is worth his/her weight in gold. We found one who was wonderful and took the time to explain everything in great detail, plus he helped Tasha, our Dalmatian, lead a better quality of life in her old age. That horrible woman who wouldn't pay to ease her dog's suffering is a heartless monster! Debbie D. https://www.blogger.com/profile/13153118405565035071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-11343362184628641552016-04-27T12:03:15.416-04:002016-04-27T12:03:15.416-04:00Guilie: that is so beautifully put. Vets really ar...Guilie: that is so beautifully put. Vets really are heroic in so many ways. As you know, we had to put down one of our deeply loved dogs in February when his cancerous tumor began bleeding out. The vet met us at the door of the clinic, hustled us immediately into a back room, let us all sit on the floor near Murphy as my daughter held him and the vet injected him, then after it was done, left us in the room with him and told us to stay as long as we needed to say goodbye. Not to mention that in the weeks leading up to this, she had taken three different plaster casts of his paw for us to remember him by (as if we would ever forget him). I really feel like all 3 vets in this practice (as well as all the vet technicians) truly love our dogs and want what's best for them, whatever it takes. Thank you for this post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05736019203704382525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-55940953322622206502016-04-27T08:05:09.131-04:002016-04-27T08:05:09.131-04:00Lovely story ... and a timely one, too, seeing tha...Lovely story ... and a timely one, too, seeing that World Veterinary Day will be celebrated on 30 April 2016. <br /><br />Aneeta from<br /><a href="http://www.howtotellagreatstory.com" rel="nofollow">How to Tell a Great Story</a><br />Aneetahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08743839548116316080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-12732273375274910502016-04-27T05:12:19.184-04:002016-04-27T05:12:19.184-04:00I love my vet! she has seen my babies (and me) th...I love my vet! she has seen my babies (and me) through some rough times, all the time balancing my financial limits with the pets need. She always offers both medical/drug options and holistic options and lets me make the choice. I love her for the difficult job she has - especially because she treats my babies like they were her only patient!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-37439370622376906592016-04-27T04:23:53.074-04:002016-04-27T04:23:53.074-04:00Words cannot express the respect and admiration I ...Words cannot express the respect and admiration I have for veterinary practitioners, for all the reasons you goive and more. I have often said that they have to cover multiple phyla and classes, none of which can express their health issues and many of which actively conceal them as a means of defence.<br />Thank you for bringing this one up, Guilie, and if it makes just one person appreciate the profession more, then it's done a grand job!Keith Channinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06400352101352294048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2115660076832707211.post-59438987535534892432016-04-27T02:53:35.982-04:002016-04-27T02:53:35.982-04:00Seriously, vets are the unsung heroes. My maternal...Seriously, vets are the unsung heroes. My maternal uncle is a vet. Human doctors have to learn about and treat only one species. On the other hand, vets have to take care of all other species. Plus, the patients don't speak our language. Hats off!<br /><a href="http://natasha-pointstoponder.blogspot.in/" rel="nofollow">Points To Ponder</a>NatsBKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12835358606769835037noreply@blogger.com