Vet Stories

I walked out to the consult room and called my next client in – a bull terrier puppy with skin troubles. He was in a bit of a state, I could see that at a glance – his legs and tummy all red and angry – his mum looked tense and worried, too. we all […]

The rain was pouring down in sheets, beating on the tin roof with a million little fingers, gushing and pouring and gurgling through the gutters, our front garden a flowing stream out under the gate. The wet season in Townsville, grey sky looming above, the horizon whited out in veils of  raindrops, and a busy day

We were sitting in the tea room, a narrow space between the consult rooms and the front office. I was opposite a desk with a gap about two inches wide between it and the wall, leaning back on my chair, pondering the pile of dust bunnies and fluff and hair from the perpetual pack of

\”G\’day – you the vet who comes to the home?\” She asked me. \”I am,\” I replied. \”Me puppy\’s been to the vets on a drip over the long weekend, and I\’m not happy about how they treated him, he\’s got  a huge bloody sore on his foot, can you come and check it out?\”

I was greeted by a furious storm of barking at the gate… \”Sit, sit,\” their mum said, patiently, treats in hand. After a few moments they both settled down and sat obediently, tails wagging, totally focused on the treats. Then she let me in, and they excitedly jumped all around and on me for a

\”G\’day – You must be the vet?\” a friendly smile greeted me as I climbed out of the vet van. \”I am indeed!\” I replied. \”And I must be in the right place, too?\” \”You sure are,\” he said. \”Come on in, and out the back – the old fella\’s out there in the back

\”How is your old girl then?\” I asked, after I\’d settled down on the couch. Their crazy Jack Russel was bouncing around the room like a pinball, so I had to gently let him know that yes, I did have personal boundaries, and yes! he was going to be required to respect them. \”She\’s ok,

Sunday morning, it\’s dark, cuddled up in bed, and my mind is racing. I\’m about two steps ahead of my alarm clock, excited, wondering how the day is going to unfold, and questions, questions darting around in my mind… \”Have I gotten the notes right?\” \”Will someone get stuck on our driveway?\” \”Will all the

\”Come in darlin\’, come in, they won\’t run out the gate – she\’s looking forward to her massage (aren\’t you sweety), come on through and get yourself settled down on the couch her – be quiet you dogs, be quiet and stop your barking, honestly, behave yourselves – are you ok, dear, do you need

She was spread out on the floor, grey as a badger all over her head and front legs, a happy old staffie. I\’d been seeing her for nearly a year, and had helped her through more problems than I have fingers to point them out. She just kept on going! The last visit had been