This past weekend a neighbor was over helping my husband fix the mower, and we were chatting about our pets. As a fireman, this neighbor commented how difficult it was to see animals suffering vs people and how the animals can’t talk to say what’s wrong with them. My knee jerk reaction was to say “but of course they do tell us, just not in words.” He insisted that they can’t talk; and because he loved animals so much, he couldn’t bare to see an animal hurt. I began to think about this and my training in veterinary school. I have always remembered my professors telling me that my physical exam is the most important tool that I will use. After years of examining thousands of animals, I have learned their nonverbal communication, and I do get so much information about their health with a physical exam. Yes, indeed, the physical exam remains the most important tool in veterinary medicine.

As my friend’s daughter is heading off to the University of Florida for her freshman year, I am reminded of the excitement of a fresh college football season. Being from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, of course I am a LSU Tiger football fan. I must admit, though, throughout the years I have not followed the team as much as some. I do remember my first year working for Dr. Smith, who is a University of Florida Gator football fan, when a fun rivalry developed. The first time I met Dr. Smith’s wife, Mrs. Jo, she asked me which college football team did I support. She was clearly asking if I was a Gator or a Seminole fan. I responded to Mrs. Jo’s question with “I cheer for the Florida Gators EXCEPT when they play LSU.” She laughed; and unknown to me at the time, the rivalry was on! The week before the LSU/University of Florida football game that fall, I had a different piece of Gator paraphernalia on my desk each day, from a huge inflatable gator to a Barbie UF Gator cheerleader. At the end of the week, I had enough harassment and planned my retaliation. Game day, Dr. Smith was working, and he had a brand new SUV. I went to the Party Store and got two huge bundles of purple and gold inflatable balloons, which I tied to his rear view mirrors. I also rolled his SUV in purple and gold crepe paper. To top off the decorations, I placed purple and gold pom poms on the front windshield. I also tied down his gator flags with the purple and gold crepe paper so you could no longer see the flag. I did all this towards the end of his Saturday morning appointments. As the clients were beginning to leave Bay Road, they watched in amazement, and I received many comments ranging from “Wow, do you value your job?” to “You do know that Dr. Smith loves the gators?” To my surprise, Dr. Smith laughed heartily and drove home with his SUV all decorated so he could show Mrs. Jo. Over the years, we’ve tried to out do each other with team decorations in the office, but that first year was the best. This fall, the LSU Tiger/UF Gator game is scheduled for October 8, 2011. I haven’t decided yet exactly how to show my team support in the office; but if any readers have a team uniform for their pet, I invite you to bring them to Crossing’s for us to see. As always from my point of view, GEAUX TIGERS!

Well as interim veterinarian at Crossing’s Animal Hospital over the summer of 2011, I have enjoyed seeing many familiar pets and meeting many more new ones. Now, I believe that I will be here at the Crossing’s veterinary location for the next year, and I am planning to blog my personal thoughts on veterinary medicine. To start, I try to keep myself grounded by reminding myself why I do what I do, and I have developed a personal motto of “making a difference one pet at a time.”