Come on guys, that egg pic is fantastic!

Since one of you emailed me a question about the cloacal prolapse, I'll explain it a little further. In this case, the more appropriate term is a prolapsed oviduct, sort of like a prolapsed uterus in a human. If you catch it in time these hens can be treated but it depends on the severity of the prolapse.

Here's some more info:
http://www.poultryhelp.com/prolapse.html

... you've got similar stories where unnecessary suffering led to a better you.

We sure do. It was Jerry's cancer diagnosis and amputation that changed our lives, for the better. If it were not for this bittersweet tragedy, we would never have traveled the U.S. together enjoying his final days – 680 to be precise – together as a pack, started the Tripawds community, nor probably ever even heard of one Dr. Patty Khuly. It was through his cancer battle that we learned every day is a gift to be enjoyed to the fullest, no matter what life may throw at you. That is, after all, why they call it the present.

Okay, my learning experience was an older hen who I decided to let die 'a natural death'. I could tell she was going downhill but with no obvious suffering. So I got home one day and she had collapsed and fire ants had found her. And she wasn't dead. It was horrifying and she was dead as quickly as I could make it so.

So I've discovered nature is far less merciful than me and I've put myself in charge of life and death at my household-as much as possible. As Sharon Astyk has said on her blog(quoting someone else) "If you have livestock, someday you'll have deadstock."

During my time in South Carolina in the military, I had a cat that I adopted from the shelter. She was a very shy, skittish, anxious cat, but as loving as could be. All she ever wanted was a lap and some peace. She would have done better with someone with a more predictable lifestyle. During her life, I moved three times, and got engaged. She had different living conditions, being put with strangers in their unfamiliar houses during my military events and travels in the private sector. Then, at 7 years old, she slowed greatly. I took her in to find out she had cancer throughout her body. She lived three more weeks and finally, I had her put down.

I am a believer in Traditional Chinese Medicine in as far as the health of mind and balanced energy in a being can go a long way to keeping us healthy. I do believe that the effects of many moves and such caused the cancer in my cat. I remember this with our animals.

Currently, our dog Tina does not do well around other dogs if separated from the "pack", the pack being humans she knows. She will just start to stress, thinking she is being left at the pound and her pack abandoning her, as it did happen many times during her youth. To be sure, we have had to board her and according to the boarding kennel, Tina does work through this. However, I believe the effects on her, the stress, the emotion, are counter to good health. In the past I would think "suck it up" but nowadays, we simply do not board her unless we absolutely have to and, if it's the only choice, we have a boarder with LOTS of room on a farm. More times than not, we always find a friend or relative that will keep her while we're gone instead.

Yes, I do like the egg pic -- hadn't noticed the cross-hatched counts before. In any event, while I have no disastrous results that ensued from my inattention, I have discovered many mild ailments can be circumvented by being fairly compulsive about going over my dogs thoroughly and frequently. I have Tibetan Terriers (5), all performance dogs kept in full coat (except my 14 yr old). People will comment on how much work that must be, but actually, since they all enjoy grooming (except mentioned 14 yr old), it is relaxing, and I have found grooming to be an invaluable aspect of maintaining their optimum health. I have been able to catch such things quite early, such as eye infections, ear infections, single tics or fleas (could remove asap), spider bites, oral conditions (eg., kept watch on retained baby tooth that finally fell out at age 7 on one), small skin nodules that could then be excised by a vet to see if they warranted removal, and so on. Also compulsively check that all are lean (thanks for your recent orthopedic posts about dogs needing to be LEAN and simply "not fat" as people always think my dogs too thin). Anyway, it always amazes me when I meet dog owners who never look in their dog's mouths or check the pads of their feet or look in their ears. In this way, I rarely have had to use antibiotics to resolve issues -- catching them early enough that mild treatments have always worked.

Dear Dr.Khuly

One of my rescues from hurricane Katrina died from lymphoma in his throat. We had gotten him from 11th hour rescue.

After about two months of being with us he would rub the side of his face with his paw. My wife suggested we take him to the Vet but I said no, we just adopted him so I am sure he was checked out by the vet. (Actually he had been living in a shelter for almost two years) Looking back I would think they would not have had the funds to keep checking on the dog’s health. So I should have taken him to the vet.

Anyway I did not think it too serious and I did not want to waste money on a trip to the vet.

Another two months passed and he had some blood in his stool one day so we took him to the vet.

Anyway he was found to have a malignant tumour in his throat. We took him to an emergency hospital but the tumour was too big (covering a large part of his pallet) to remove.

His name was Sandy and he was the one dog that really clicked with me. Out of all the dogs we had Sandy was the one that really got to me. Wont bore you with the stories of why he was so special but it was horrible to watch his tumour grow because he was virtually symptom free.

As you know the result is you have a dog that acts healthy but will end up suffocating from the tumour.

So due to my cheapness I did not give that the dog the best chance. We have other rescues now and any time I suspect a problem off to the vet we go. I never want to feel that guilty again.

But the best owners, whether of dogs, cats, or agriculture species, have great systems in place to help minimize the suffering.

P.S. - I'm sure you've got similar stories where unnecessary suffering led to a better you. Give 'em up
____________________

At the risk of 40 lashes--- do you really need top experience "animal suffering" to become a better person? I say no from personal experience : walnut-hill.bravehost.com

I sure as hell did NOT need to be told of animal suffering big or small, I always knew it was out there & everywhere.

Did I find it a shock & made me a better person to witness veterinary animal abuse? No, it made me utterly sad and aware of the unbelievable secrecy & protection that surrounds it. It made me utterly sad and mad to see the silence among like professionals that may feel shame and maybe those that don't with silence.

Did it make me a "better" person? No it turned me into a driven advocate to prevent other companion animals & owners from experiencing thew same suffering.

What say you, good DVMs that follow this blog? Silence or courageous "relators" (whistleblowers) of your proud profession?

BarbA, I think the statement of making one a better person was something you read into the article because I didn't see that statement made anywhere in the article. In fact, I didn't see it made in any of the feedback.

Now Dr. K did say it made her more aware, and I believe that's what you are saying in your post. It increased your awareness and, in turn, you reacted. It all sounds to me like you and Dr. K are in agreement.

I see it as counterproductive to point out a response to a statement you don't like when the statement, at least to these eyes, was never made. Nobody here has stated anything about making one a better person. In the case of my cat, I did lack awareness, but I never thought I was a bad person.

EAB: this is the statement I responded to:

"P.S. - I'm sure you've got similar stories where unnecessary suffering led to a better you. Give 'em up."

And yes, it sure did OPEN my eyeballs WIDE-- but I don't think that suffering , both animal & human, made a "better" me. As a simple truth, it made me a "damaged" me. With a long road ahead to repair towards a better me, if at all possible.

The "lesson" taught to me: professional veterinary abuse & cruelty is one that NO ONE should learn or need to learn.

We have many farm animals here too (horses, dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, goose, flying squirrel, rabbits). I am so with you on checking on them all the time. My Thoroughbred gelding is 24 yrs old and prone to colic. Thankfully I went out to the pasture one early morning to check because I couldn't see him from the window waiting for breakfast as usual. He was behind the coop (It's in front of part of the pasture blocking my view) and he was down in very obvious distress. Gave him a quick shot of banamine and had the vet out in less than an hour. He made a full recovery and knock-on-wood we haven't had an issue in a year now... I am so glad I followed my gut and realized something wasn't right that morning.