I am really getting excited for the rabies clinic at the Perry dog park tomorrow.  The hours are from 11-1:00.  Last year I vaccinated 75 animals. I am hopeful that the weather is a bit cooler so that we can help even more pets.  I have a group of four to five pre-veterinary students who are coming along to help.  I am hopeful that they will see that there are many facts to veterinary medicine.  Not everyone has to wear a white coat and work within a building to help.  The vaccine carries a suggested donation of $10 & all of the money is going back to the shelter.  Good things can come in small packages.  I will keep you posted on how things go.

     Warning...this post might make you laugh.  I was at Tractor Supply Company in Ankeny this weekend at my wellness clinic, and this really nice woman was hanging around my booth.  She was being so sweet to the little puppy I was working with.  She was interacting with the owners while I was focusing my attention on the exam, history taking, and yada yada yada. (PAYING CLIENTS first she whispered...wink wink).  I was sort of annoyed that I wasn't getting to talk with my clients 100% but they were open to her presence therefore so was I. Anyhoo..I played with the puppy....had fun hearing old stories about other labs the owners had.  After I was done taking my time with my clients I shook the woman's hand and introduced myself.  I assumed she was my next client. She seemed so nice. Nope...I am bla bla bla from Hills SCIENCE DIET and..I cut her off kindly.  "I was the student rep for Science Diet as a student, and fed it to my dog as well. I no longer recommend it for my clients because I actually took the time to read the label." But wait she said...we have a new line with 'natural natural ingredients'. No thanks.  
     My nutrition training is now thankfully through the Chi Institute. (feel free to click on the link to see where my food ideas now originate).

     I am pretty sure that most of us by now have heard of the term "Pay it Forward".  If you need a refresher of what this means please feel free to use my old standby:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay_it_forward .  As you may know the concept is not new, but for me this is the first time in my life I have been able to act on this concept as a veterinarian.  
     Some of you who know me may remember my rough patch that started in 2010 with medical issues, a loss of a job, a fractured leg, a new baby to care for, and a longing to move back to the Midwest.  Family, friends, and perfect strangers took my little family under their wings and helped us to get to the better place we are now.  I will never forget the kind acts that others did to help. 
     I started my house call business out of a desire to help others in the comfort of their own home.  I also wanted the flexibility to be able to remain a stay at home mom for Ethan.  For a little over a year the house calls were the focus of my business.  I then had an 'aaha' moment when I realized that I would be able to help more people and pets if I had a chance to set up a low cost wellness clinic.  From my research I found that very few veterinarians were offering this type of service in Central Iowa.  I had been introduced to this idea while still in Maine.  A veterinarian that I knew and respected traveled the entire state offering low cost clinics in a variety of locations.  
     I started my quest with what I knew:  Tractor Supply & Pet Health Food Stores (Thanks to The Animal House in Damariscotta Maine).  I spoke with the managers at Tractor Supply in Ankeny, and they were game to give it a try.  I also spoke with April, the owner of Bone A Patreat in Des Moines too.  She saw the benefits of offering this type of service to her customers as well.  I also kept an ear out for other potential locations, and two clients highly recommended my third location:  PetSakes in Des Moines.  I thoroughly enjoy all three locations I am at.  I not only see clients who could financially use a little help, but I also see owners who want another opinion on chronic disease states.  I feel that my integrative background helps owners see options that have never been offered to them before.  Pets seem to be much more relaxed in these settings than when I worked in a traditional clinic.  Many of them have had positive experiences at these locations before since they are all pet friendly and full of treats.  I love seeing people's reactions to pets getting acupuncture as they pass buy to make a purchase in a different part of the store.  I am glad that I have a low overhead and that I can offer people a good price for my services.  It is helpful that a majority of what need for my clinics packs into four milk crates and a cooler.  Less is best & life is good.  

In order to help more people with my services I have opted to partner up with Bone A Patreat in Des Moines and Tractor Supply Company in Ankeny.  I will be offering low cost wellness clinics at these locations during the month.  Bone A Patreat is the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10am to 2pm, and the Tractor Supply Company clinic is the 3rd Saturday of every month from 10am to 2pm.  See the services offered section of my website for a list of services & their prices.  The set up of the clinic is a 'first come first served' style.  I have a sign in sheet, and I will call families or come find them when it is their turn.  The stores can be explored while I am helping other families.  Dogs must be on a least, and cats must be in a carrier.  Feel free to e-mail (AbbysRoadVet@gmail.com) or call (515-290-3598) with any questions you may have. 

     Ethan and I took Chance to Ledges State Park yesterday morning in a small window before the rain hit.  Chance was able to do some good sniffing while I snapped picture after picture.  Between last week and yesterday I have three rolls of film to develop.  It is like I am hoping that the extra pictures will help me find more memories in my mind.  
     We spent the afternoon putting streamers up in the dining room and preparing Chance's cake.  When Marc came home from he made dinner & I iced the cake.  To honor Chance we made things we thought he would like:  pigs in a blanket & peas.  We sat around & told stories and then played with Ethan until he was so tired he wanted to go to bed early.
     Marc and I told more stories and then while Chance rested on his soft old dog bed I euthanized him.  The E word...it sounds so horrible.  In all actuality it was a gentle & quiet way for my best dog friend to pass to his next adventures.  Afterwards I held his paw for quite some time while Marc and I told even more stories about the dog who had his last 'chance' with us.
   I love you Chancie & I will miss you a ton.  Thank you for protecting me when I was younger and enjoying the family that we became.  No one will replace you, my friend.   You were a once in a lifetime pet.  Stay close and check back in every once in awhile while you make new friends and SHARE your frisbee this time. 

I helped with a rabies clinic at the Perry dog park on 9/2/12.  This was the line that was waiting for me when I got there, and it did not slow down for over two hours.  We vaccinated 78 animals and raised money for the Humane Society of Perry.  Dr. Felz from the Sommerset Veterinary Clinic and I are going to do a clinic in Nevada on 9/29 for the Story County Animal Shelter from 1-3pm.  We donate our time, supplies and services to support the community and shelters.

     Well...this is really it.  In a very short amount of time I will be letting my once-in-a-lifetime dog go.  It is so surreal.  A little over fourteen years ago I got him out of a kennel at the pound to take a tick off his chest.  He laid on his back right next to me begging me to spring him from the joint.  He has been with me through fourteen years of my life, and much of it has been together.  A friend of mine recently lost two of her dogs, and she precisely stated "they are like a time line in your life."  
     Chance, Ethan, and I went to the park the other day.  While Ethan and I were at the swings Chance enjoyed some long sniffs around the garbage cans.  We really couldn't go on much of a walk, but we did enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.  
     I have a trip planned for this weekend.  I am going back for my 10 year vet school class reunion.  Chance will spend time at my parent's house in the country while I am away for a day.  I was thinking back about the time in vet school with Chance, and I remember:
     -Chance running around with a bunch of dogs while we studied in the Anatomy lab after hours
     -Learning that my dog would gag if he smelled blood, a scab, or a bugger (GROSS!)
     -Chance getting in a tussle over his frisbee while he was in the park.  We scavenged around in the large animal clinic for sedatives and suture to fix him up.
     -Being in shape because I attached a leash around my waist to a harness Chance would wear so he could PULL me around the block
     -Waking up early freshman year to make it to the park for a good squirrel chase
     -Living at the 4-H house as the youngest 'house mom' on campus with Chance....he once helped me get a group of TP'ing fraternity boys to cool it & leave
     -Snuggling up each night with Chance under the covers... I used to think it was weird that people let animals sleep in their bed before I got Chance.  

     Marc and I are planning a party for Monday night for Chance.  So far we have decided he will want pigs in a blanket and a cake.  We are going to have a celebration of his life, and I am going to try REALLY hard not to cry.  It really upsets Chance to see me cry, and I am going to try to hold it together for my child.  Until then I will continue to prepare.  I need to pick up another bag of those gross snausages because they were his favorite before I knew better.  For now he has his own jar of human beef jerky sticks, and I have been giving him some of our food as a topper to his meal each day.  He gets lots of good treats to hide his medications and supplements.   He gets as many kisses on his head as he can stand, and I have been trying to give him a nice massage when ever possible.  I have noticed that being touched has its limits.  He will allow one to two minutes of it before he walks away to go lay on his bed.  
     It is time.  It has been time.  I am not ready.  I find myself thinking not as a veterinarian but as an owner.  His coat is too shiny.  He can still walk (not well...especially not well after he falls down the two steps that he has to make it up to get into our house.  We carry him up and down).  He can still eat.  But...he can't lay down.  He has to have his squishy dog bed.  The luster is gone from his eyes.  He sleeps all the time.  Neighbors ask me "what is wrong with your dog?" as they see him try to get around outside.  His body is worn to the point that I am uncomfortable asking him to keep on living for me.  When it comes down to it he has really been there for me, and it is time that I am there for him in the most important way possible.  I hope I can keep it together...

     

I think part of the reason I am up so early is that I am worrying about my once-in-a-lifetime dog, Chance.  My husband and I have wondered for years whether he was going to make it much longer.  In standard Chance fashion he has powered on despite severe hip dysplasia.  I have treated him with supplements, acupuncture, chiropractic, traditional medications, and massage.  He used to be the most magnificent frisbee dog, and he could jump up onto a ledge 6ft off the ground without hardly trying.  In vet school he was my running partner.  Now we shuffle around part of a block and it takes us 30 minutes.  When clients are trying to decide if they should let a pet go I tell them to write down five things that used to be important to the pet.  As things continue to be checked off the list it might be getting closer to the time.  I keep evaluating my list, but it seems that the sparkle is fading from his eyes.  There are some people who feel strongly that pets should be allowed to die naturally without any human intervention.  I respect everyone's opinion.  My husband made a good point that he hoped we would let Chance go when he had a little wag left.  For now I will continue spoiling him while I try one last medication to see if I can alleviate his pain.  He has had a great life.  His name is Chance because I was his last Chance.  He was about to be euthanized at the pound when we met. He came with me to veterinary school, and he caused many laughs to help break up the stress.  Chasing squirrels, fending off pranksters, performing numerous tricks, and sneaking pumpkin bars were a few of his adventures.  He has seen oceans on the east coast and west coast.  He helped keep me warm at night during the winter of my internship when I could hardly afford to heat my house.  He made friends with a rooster as a farm dog in Illinois.  He joined in on naughty dog activities like running away in the woods for hours with Chimbo and Martin when we lived in Maine.  He knew he wasn't invited to sleep in bed anymore when I was about seven months pregnant with Ethan.  He moved to the couch without even being asked.  He has been friends with Ray our partially blind cat ever since we slipped Ray into our 'no cats allowed!' rental in Illinois.  Marc once said something like "I should have known what I was getting into when I married a veterinarian".  I think this was when I was tending to a kitten with diarrhea in our bathroom.  Besides a crazy wife Marc also inherited an amazing dog.  We sit and stare at him and each wonder...when is it 'time'?

This past weekend we left for an overnight trip to hear Greg Brown at Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah Iowa.  We had a great time, and I was able to relax knowing that our dogs Chance & Martin we being well taken care of.  I choose the Ames Pet Resort for their overnight stay.  I had been in previously for a tour, and I was very comfortable with their caring staff and the facilities.  My dog Chance had only stayed in a kennel one other time in his 15yrs, and it was due to a family emergency.   If you know of other top quality kennels in the Ankeny and Des Moines areas please let me know.  

http://www.amespetresort.com/