Sherry’s Corner

Gertrude Hawk Smidgens Under the Tree–Briefly

     Her owner boasts about Gabby, a 14-year-old Golden Retriever that stole a box of Christmas Gertrude Hawk Smidgens from under the tree.  “She knows expensive candy when she smells it,” he smiles.  He doesn’t understand that the real accomplishment was consuming the whole box without any gastrointestinal upset! Another Christmas miracle–a research nutritionist reports that camel’s milk will stop a dog from barking! Peace on earth?

      None of this comes from a bonafide nutritionist or even clever marketing.  Dog food takes up more space in a grocery store than does baby food.  Most popular are light foods and foods targeted to a specific age.  If you happen to have a thin dog recovering from an illness or disability, you are out of luck.  As most dog owners know, Cornell University has graduated some of the most prolific animal nutritionists in the country–from Ben Sheffy through David Dzanis.  The college is even well known for its human nutritionists.  A recent book credits a team of Cornell nutritionists with maintaining Franklin Roosevelt’s weight so he could live comfortably in his wheelchair–it also mentions that his wife Eleanor was known to be a terrible cook (she took cooking lessons at Cornell!). But, no one worried about Fala’s weight!  Apparently there were no doggy treats then or perhaps it never occurred to the President to sneak his Scotty any of Eleanor’s bad cooking.   

SENATE BILL 1454. Introduced by Senator Greenleaf, this bill would exempt dogs and cats from mandatory rabies vaccination if they have existing medical conditions. Mandatory rabies vaccination was enacted in order to set up a protective barrier between wildlife and people.  It has worked for the past 40 years in the Commonwealth.  It has worked for millions of pets.  Why should there be exceptions for the few?  And, if the bill passes how will that affect the rabies law?  In today’s economy, is the cost of a new law to benefit a few necessary to pass and implement? 

VETERINARY PRICE SHOPPING. Many dog and cat owners in the present economy wonder why fees vary from hospital to hospital.  Dr. Nancy Kay, in a recent blog that attempts to discourage fee comparisons, cites the following precaution–watch for hidden fees.  “Some clinics may offer an extremely reasonable quote for a surgical procedure but then charge additional fees for the office visit or for removing stitches.” Also, it pays to investigate the clinic.  I know a girl who adopted a dog from a shelter and had the shelter’s vet neuter the dog.  When she went to pick it up both back legs had casts.  She was told that neutering caused a dog to be pigeon-toed, which in turn necessitated the casts.  Sometimes it pays to pay more and avoid expensive complications from substandard care.  Trust between veterinarian and client is the most important consideration in deciding cost.         

      And, speaking of spaying, Kay says the word usually refers to removing the uterus and both ovaries. However, it is perfectly feasible to just have just the ovaries removed. The result, Kay writes, is that the dog cannot conceive and any chance of developing ovarian cancer is eliminated.  Pyometra does not occur and the chance of uterine cancer is extremely low.  Less time is spent in surgery and trauma is a lower-risk possibility.  Before you spay or neuter discuss the procedure with your veterinarian and visit http://www.speakingforspot.com/blog/?p=1905 “A different way to spay”.

Pet Obituaries

At year’s end we remember the passing of the famous.  Pets never make this list–usually!  But, this year the Boston Globe offered an obituary of “Splash”, the 13 year-old Portuguese Water Dog that shared the life of Senator Edward Kennedy. One wonders with what joy the two must have greeted each other when reunited! 

      “I like to think that he and his Master are playing tennis ball fetch again tonight,” Vicki Kennedy wrote when announcing Splash’s death.

      Many pets have their names listed in newsletters when crossing the Rainbow Bridge.  Why do so few have their own obituary?  They too have contributed much.  Why are we reluctant to publish our grief? True, sometimes pets are mentioned in a death notice of family members and I have seen many pictures of pets at “viewings” and in veterinary hospital Memorial Albums.  A friend of mine once said a picture with a pet defines who you are! 

      The late Robert Flowers, a  veterinarian who gave grief seminars, once noted that men seemed to carry grief harder than women.  He often told the story of a football player who had to euthanize his companion.  Flowers said the owner made six visits to the hospital before before finally parting with his dog.

       I lost my Cagney at age 13 in 2010. She is still a strong presence in my home.  She didn’t play ball but I imagine that while she now waits for me she occupies herself with the pet therapy she loved and waves at friends she knows.  She loved to wave with her left front paw and I know her wave will be the first thing I will want to see.   

      Like so many of us the first death we experience is that of a pet.  I know mine was. And it remains unforgettable.  I can still see my dog in the road and know she had been following me on a foggy morning.

      Perhaps we gather these lists and pictures of the people who touched our lives because we don’t want to say good-bye. After all, who wants to forget love?