As a kid, mom would always stop the car on the way home from grandma’s to look at the “ballerina” flowers, as we called them. I spotted this one while picking up litter along the road at the farm today. Each time I see these flowers, it instantly takes me back to childhood. Typically weContinue reading “Passiflora”
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How grandpa did it.
The first stop of the day was an adult boar castration. Castrating fully mature pigs is not something that is done in most places. Most pigs are castrated in the first week of life. It is safer for the animal, can be done by farm staff, and is less painful for the animal. What tendsContinue reading “How grandpa did it.”
Holding the Needle
“I don’t know how you do it.” I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve heard those words from someone grieving the lost of their horse or faithful companion animal. “I always wanted to become a veterinarian, but I just couldn’t handle euthanasia”, is another common variation of the same sentiment. There are so manyContinue reading “Holding the Needle”
Shear Bolts
My wife and I bought a farm 3 years ago. We have been dreaming, planning, pruning, hauling, mowing, spraying, cussing, laughing, burning, digging, and sweating to make it our own. It has been the most therapeutic investment I’ve made yet. There is always a to do list to distract me from the everyday stressors. IContinue reading “Shear Bolts”
To Battle for a Patient
I have had 368 Mondays in practice. Today is one that I just don’t think I’ll soon forget. I had to stand up for a patient and have one of the most uncomfortable conversations I can remember. Today, I got a taste of that “moral distress” we discuss in veterinary and medical circles. I sawContinue reading “To Battle for a Patient”
Rebel
Rebel was a 17 year old wolfhound mix breed. There must have been much more “mix” to him as 17 years is just not an age the average wolfhound can reach. His owners, both in their 70s, had him his entire life. The wife told us most of her life history, including a wreck thatContinue reading “Rebel”
Current Events
I’ve neglected you again, my little thought receptacle. I’ve stared straight ahead at these mountain roads trying to wrap my head around our current state of affairs for the past several weeks. These are some wild and important times. A global pandemic and an uprising over racial inequality and prejudice in criminal justice. It isContinue reading “Current Events”
Improvise
Work has been quite busy in recent months. Despite the Coronavirus stay-at-home orders, the farm animals still have needs in the spring. The schedule was packed today and we had an emergency call midday for a cow that was calving. We were told she was tied with a rope to a side-by-side ATV. We driveContinue reading “Improvise”
Apple A Day
You just never know what a new day will bring. I stumbled upon this photo from last fall (OCT 3, 2019) and wanted to share it here. I had an emergency call with a cow that was drooling excessively and was bloated. When the tube wouldn’t pass through her mouth to the rumen, he foundContinue reading “Apple A Day”
Remembering Grandaddy
It has been a sobering week. Flash back to Friday, Mar 6, almost two weeks ago. The wind picked up and the temperatures dropped as the day progressed and the phone just kept ringing as we tried to finish the typical chaotic Friday in spring. The day dragged out beyond normal hours as we hadContinue reading “Remembering Grandaddy”
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