Through the last 20 years we've had many take care of the health of our fur kids and it seems that God always places the right people in our path just as He has placed the right pups in our path.
We were just about to get married when Tim found Tessa. Tiny, black and white ball of fluff that stole our hearts, she was our first baby. Lab and Springer mix. We took her to the vet closest to the house, Dr. Bob. We didn't know anyone else. (I will resist the desire to give them all a shameless plug and be respectful in not using last names.) He was along the whole ride with us in loving Tessa. From the time she swallowed a rock as a puppy and he operated to remove it AND saved it ("here's your $365 paperweight Sally") to the day that she became ill so very suddenly and he left his home at lunch to rush back to the office where I pulled up with her in the car. Tessa left us at his office a few hours later and it still lingers hard in my heart that I was at home in a chair paralyzed in grief and did not sit with her there when she moved to Heaven. The hubs jumped on a plane from Dallas to come home. After she was gone and as I sat on the floor stroking that beautiful black and white muzzle, Dr. Bob took my hands in his and said "Sally, if I do an autopsy it has to be right NOW. But I don't want Tim to come home and say goodbye to her and see her that way. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?" No. I didn't. In the previous 6 months I had lost both parents and our other pup, I was not thinking clearly. "Nothing I do will bring her back and change this. DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOW?" Yes, thank you Bob. And when the hubs got home, we called his house and he met us at the clinic to say one last good bye to our first fur baby.
Dr. Bob also took care of our 2d baby, Maxwell. Tim found Max, a handsome English Springer, when he was surrendered with his litter mate Molly at 4.5 years old. The lady who took them wanted Molly but not Max. Well WE did and he and Tessa were perfect from the first day. Max was the dog everyone wants. Took pills like it was a treat, loved the vet visits, smiled all the time. Dr. Bob clearly loved Max too. When Max became ill suddenly one Easter Sunday, we had to make the decision the next day as we saw how sick he was with cancer to let him go if he did not pass during the night. Dr. Bob prepped to let him go that Tuesday and let us be by his side as he closed his eyes. When Max had left us and we were ready to go home, Bob had tears in his eyes too. Through many surgeries Max had for ear problems and fatty tumors, he always smiled at Bob. And Bob was there when Max moved quietly to Heaven and ran to the two Grandpas waiting for him.
Chico was a rescue we did not plan on (none of them have been!) but Dr. Bob took one look at him and immediately started making plans with Dr. O for an eye exam for Chico's blindness.
Dr. O is a veterinary ophthalmologist and amazing man. The love and care he took in the exams we had with Chico every few months was something of a miracle. An abused, blind dog letting someone place instruments on his eyes to measure pressure just told you that this man was a "whisperer" of sorts with these loving animals. One appointment Dr. O asked how Chico had been doing. I mentioned that he was grieving the loss of his two pack mates in the last 3 months and having a bit of trouble adjusting. Dr. O sat for what seemed forever and stroked that regal head and talked so very softly into his ear. He fed Chico treat after treat and hugged him as we left. As he opened the exam room door, he told Chico that he needed something to help with his hard days and handed me a full box of treats...the good ones.
When Dr. Bob retired, we got Dr. Eric, and what a BLESSING. To say this man is like family now is an understatement. And his staff is the most AMAZING group of gals...like family as well. He now cares for Maya and Marty, the two fur kids sleeping at my feet as my furry co-workers. And he took care of Chico in a way that I have never seen a vet care for a dog. Eric is more than special... in so many ways.
One night I trimmed Chico's nail too close and it looked like a serial murder had taken place in the snow in the back yard and in the kitchen. It simply would not stop bleeding. Flour, baking soda, cornstarch, powder, nothing worked to stop it. You would have thought I amputated a toe. The hubs called Eric and got voicemail. As hubs was pulling out to go buy a styptic pencil, Eric called back. "Stay there, I'll be right over." Sunday night dude, really?? He arrived in his sweats and slippers with the caveat that he had a date with the wife for a movie in an hour. But he had stopped at the clinic and gotten some concoction that stopped the bleeding on the first application. Enough time for a quick beer with the hubs and it was back home to the movie. He came one other time on the way home from his daughter's dance recital to examine a bite on an ear. Yep, more than special.
Dr. Eric diagnosed Chico with Cushing's disease and at one point in the game there was Dr. Fred doing an ultrasound on my boy's belly to look for adrenal tumors that typically go along with that disease. One of the many things that I love about Eric is that is he such a research geek and so dedicated that he will get online, make calls, read anything he can to help his patients. So here he and Fred were discussing how to dose and titrate the compounded medicine for Chico. It was like watching a fine waltz.
Eric still feels the pull of Chico being gone and lets us know that he misses him too. Eric is such an amazing vet that he would get on the floor with Chico knowing that putting him up on an exam table would be hard for a blind pup. Eric and Chico had a special bond, that was another fine waltz that filled my heart.
Dr. Eric also diagnosed my little Marty with oral melanoma 3 years ago. The little guy had a tumor on the ligament where your tongue is joined to your jaw. Yeah, I know...WTF??? But Eric removed it, and immediately set us up at the University of MN vet clinic (the school) for an appointment. He consulted with them regarding his findings and we knew we were in good hands.
Marty has been through hell. Three surgeries over the last 3 years in the area under his tongue and one surgery also removed saliva glands in his neck. He looked like Frankenpuppy. It was awful. He could only eat tiny meatballs of soft food for a couple of weeks. But the docs at the U were also AMAZING. Dr. Haynes did surgery and while Marty rested there overnight, we got emails with updates. Dr. Fritz still checks in via email to see how he is and when we are there for check ups and lab work, she makes a point to come see us. He is still a spunky little guy who is doing great and loves going to the U because of the welcome he gets from all of the Docs and students there. The love they have there and the care they give our beloved fur kids is treasured.
When Chico became suddenly ill last summer and we knew it was bad, the hubs had the foresight to go to the U when we rushed him out of the house to the emergency vet. We had a resident named Dr. Berg. Her kindness, patience and love in helping us and Chico with what we were going through, and making our last moments with him peaceful was what everyone wishes they had. I cannot say enough about this teaching institution in veterinary medicine and what they have done for our family in caring for our pups. I cannot say enough about Dr. Berg.
We also have a vet that does chiropractic and acupuncture treatments. Dr. Heather is the most amazing woman and watching her treat our pups is more like a cha cha than a waltz but the love and care she takes in digging deep to help them is well worth the time and the trip. What she does for them beyond traditional medicine has helped them live pain free and without medication in their lives. I marvel at her depth of knowledge and expertise and love being there to watch their bond with her. When we turn the corner to get to our appointments with her, Maya starts to shake and whine and bark ... she knows where she is! We love Heather like she is family too and cannot imagine a time when she was not a part of our lives.
Dr. Fred is a vet who works with holistic remedies and has done so much work with our kids to rid them of parasites, delve into whether Max had cancer or not, and educate owners on better care as well. Though we don't see him often, knowing his expertise and knowledge is there is a huge benefit. What he does on a non-traditional level is simply astounding in helping his furry patients.
They are our children and we treasure the people who value and care for and love them and understand our love for them. We are beyond blessed that we have these people in our lives and on our short journeys with our fur babies. Though it may seem like 10-15 years is a long time, when you love a pup as much as we love ours, it is so very short and we want to have those caring for them know how special they are. God has blessed us with those people and we are so very grateful for them.
Here's to you Bob and Eric (and gals!!!) and Dr. Fred, Dr. O, Dr. Fritz, Dr. Berg, Dr. Haynes and all of the docs at the U of MN Vet School, Dr. Heather <3 and Dr. Fred. Thank you could never be enough for all you do for us.
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