pet connection

How do veterinarians dress? There are probably as many answers to that question as there are veterinarians.

Many of us wear lab coats over casual clothes. Some wear scrubs. Some wear jeans, and a few wear suits. I’m sure there are even a couple who wear whatever inspired the people who designed the wardrobe of “Pet Vet Barbie.”

But I wear the outfit you’re probably most used to seeing me in, and no, I don’t mean pajama bottoms and a plaid flannel shirt. I wear a denim shirt, red tie and khaki pants, the outfit my kids have always called — affectionately, I’m sure — my “Canadian tuxedo.”

I was riding the crest of the incredible launch of “Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul,” a New York Times best-selling book that is still the fastest, best-selling pet book in history, having sold well over 2 million copies. “Good Morning America” was without a regular veterinarian, having lost Dr. Stephen Kritsick, who died in 1994 at the age of 42.

My publicist at the time, Anne Sellaro, knew a producer at GMA, Patty Neger, who mentioned they were looking for a veterinarian. I was in New York on the “Chicken Soup” book tour, so Patty gave me a shot at the big time by scheduling my first GMA segment, “Advances in parasite control for pets.”

I was a little apprehensive about following in his shoes, because in addition to having a huge following on GMA, Dr. Kritsick was once voted one of People Magazine’s “Sexiest Men.”

Fortunately, Patty was there to help me answer that age-old question, “What should I wear?” She’s the person responsible for getting Jack Hanna, the director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, on TV, and getting him to dress in his trademark jungle khaki clothes. (She’s also the person who gave the now omnipresent Dr. Mehmet Oz his TV break.)

I thought our clothing discussion was going to be about whether I’d be in a suit and tie or a veterinary smock with the requisite stethoscope around the neck. But Patty instead asked me what clothes I wore as a practicing veterinarian, talking about what colors/patterns looked good on TV (primary colors good, black and white poor), what would represent middle America (nothing tie-dyed or a bespoke suit).

When I told Patty that I typically practiced in a denim shirt, red tie and khaki pants, she said, “Perfect!” Primary colors, great contrast, not too casual or dressy, and nobody else on TV wears it.

So for 13 years on “Good Morning America,” for the past year on “The Doctor Oz Show,” in cover shots for magazines, and in holiday letters, I’ve worn the same outfit. My friends at GMA occasionally tease me and ask me when I’m going to get a new shirt, and I tell them, “When I start my fifteenth year as the resident veterinarian on GMA.”

But even when I hit year 15 at GMA, I probably won’t change my look. I love the expression on the faces of new clients I see as a practicing veterinarian when I open the back door of the exam room and see them smiling as they recognize the outfit many of them have seen on their TV screens for years.

My stylist (that would be my beloved wife of almost 32 years, Teresa) is always looking for replacement shirts and ties, and we keep a steady supply of around ten of each on hand at all times.

Because not only have a few fractious cats done a tap dance on my shirts and ties, but  believe me, getting anal gland secretions out of fabric just doesn’t work well enough for high-definition TV.

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Our Dr. Becker is on a plane now, heading to New York City for tomorrow’s “Good Morning America.“  Pet insurance companies say skin problems (which include ear infections) are the top reasons why pets see their veterinarians, in part because when a pet’s scratching, that animal is likely driving the owner crazy as well.

Humans with allergies sneeze, get red, watery eyes and their noses either stuff or run run run. Pets with allergies predominately scratch, but also lick or chew their skin, rub their faces against furniture or shake their heads. They can also have difficulty breathing or digestive problems that can be seen in the yard as diarrhea.

Dr. Becker will offer the latest to help soothe allergies,  immunotherapy, topic products, air-filtration systems, medications that treat allergies at the cellular level and diets designed to ditch the itch.

Don’t miss it!

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Later today, I’ll be doing a Skype interview with what may turn out to be my toughest audience yet: a class of fourth-graders.

How this came about is an interesting story, and one I thought I’d let the fourth-grader who made it happen tell you. From my new friend, Hannah in Sedona — and this is unedited; she really is that smart!

My name is Hannah Wright and I am 9 years old. I was on Spring Break this year in Sedona, Arizona, and while I was at one of my favorite restaurants, I recognized Dr. Becker from Good Morning America just a few days earlier. I asked my parents if I could go say “Hello”, they said it would be okay after he was done with his meal.

I walked over to his table and introduced myself to him and his family. I was right, and I had just seen him, and I told him a story about my dog that we had just had to put to sleep. He said he would come over to our table and introduce himself to my family. He brought me a note that said I could choose my favorite book from his website, The Pet Connection, and he would send it to me. He is one of the nicest people I have ever met. I received my book about a week later, and shared it with my 4th grade class in Anthem Arizona.

I sent Dr. Becker a message and asked if he would be willing to Skype with my class, we have lots of pets in our classroom and have lots of questions to ask about caring for them. He said “sure”, and we are now going to Skype with him on May 19th. I am so excited to see him again, and introduce him to my teachers and my classmates.

I feel very lucky to have met Dr. Becker and I now feel like he is my friend.

You bet you are, Hannah!

This morning I did a run-through with the kids to make sure the Skype set-up worked. The kids were so cute, and kept showing off their classroom pets. I promised them that for tomorrow I’d a) shower, and b) replace my PJ bottoms with real ranch pants. I even lifted up my foot and showed them my leather slippers.

I told the teacher and the classroom it’s a blessing and a curse to work at home; you don’t have to shower and get dressed every day, but sometimes you get a little lazy and one day becomes four.

Maybe I should have set a better example? I guess I’ll tell them about the days I spend getting up at 5 AM to fly across the country four times in a week. Of course at their ages, that sounds more like fun than work.

Photos

Top: Hannah in Sedona.

Bottom: Hannah with her dog, Boston.

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It’s admittedly hard to quit smoking, but it might help to have a great reason. USA Today tells us the ASPCA has joined the American Legacy Foundation, a stop-smoking group:

Studies have shown that toxins in secondhand smoke can cause lung and nasal cancer in dogs and malignant lymphoma in cats.
“The evidence is striking,” says Steven Hansen of the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center.

Good news for shelter pets: Ask the average man or woman on the street if they’d get their next cat or dog from a shelter or a store, and better than 50 percent will say shelter. That’s from a new AP/Petside survey.

More change coming to Austin: Via FixAustin.org, news that Dorinda Pullman, who has been under fire for years for her management of the city’s animal shelter services, is going to leave that position immediately, and spend the months until her planned retirement in 2012 assisting “with special projects in other divisions within the department and other corporate level projects.”

This announcement followed a unanimous vote by the Austin City Council to implement a series of new programs and policies aimed at making the city no-kill.

The city will be launching a nationwide search for Pullman’s replacement. Considering the incredible infrastructure Austin’s no-kill and rescue community has built, this could be quite an opportunity for a shelter director to ride into town and make guaranteed history.

The kids leave the nest, and then….the parents get a dog, according to the Wall Street Journal.  Hey, they won’t have to bail him out, or yell at him to get off the phone, stop texting, or clean up his room.   I don’t love that the article makes the new moms look a little loony, but I guess they were already on their way there.

Two VERY cool diversions: The first is a chuckle is from The Oatmeal, which is second only to The Onion (America’s Finest News Source) for original fun stuff.  And then there’s this, from Draw the Dog…..

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I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

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I’m writing this on what’s turned into something very rare in my life: a day spent at home at Almost Heaven Ranch.

But while you’re reading this, I’m in New York City for an appearance on Good Morning America.

I’ve been back and forth between New York, Los Angeles, Arizona and Florida multiple times in the last month. My body is starting to assume the shape of an airline seat, and the only real silver lining is the amazing array of animal facts I’ve gleaned from my somewhat indiscriminate consumption of airport reading material.

But today I’m home, where the tree swallows have returned to the skies, the iridescent mountain blue birds — the state bird of Idaho — are nesting outside my window, and the woods are greening. And I remember why we named this “Almost Heaven Ranch.”

As you’re reading this, it’s also my mother’s 86th birthday. I wrote about her ongoing love affair with her new dog, Sugar, earlier this week, but I want to take this time to wish her a wonderful day, with many more to come for her and her four-legged new “leash” on life.

I’d like to wrap this up with something that came to mind in reading Christie’s delightful series of posts about her new puppy, Rawley the Scottish Deerhound. As a veterinarian, I may be biased, but I’d like to encourage all new pet owners — whatever the age of the pet, but especially puppies and kittens — to start bringing their animals to the veterinarian early.

Bring them in just to meet the front desk staff and get a cookie. Bring them in to say “howdy” to their veterinarian. Let the first time they meet us be a good time, not a desperate visit with a puppy who needs an IV or injection or hospitalization.

Training your new pet not to fear the vet’s office is a huge favor you can do for yourself, your pet, and of course, for me and every other veterinarian out there wishing they had more chances to oooh and ahhhh over cute little guys like Rawley than struggling to take an x-ray or get pills down their throats.

Now I’ll fire up the time machine, and see you on my mom’s birthday, and on Good Morning America!

Photo: Spring at Almost Heaven Ranch, with Quixote and Shakira.

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