Despite its catchy nickname, the “golden death” bacteria isn't about to wreak havoc on the population of a specific beloved dog breed.

Instead, it shows promise to help prevent illness in veterinary patients. This newly discovered species of bacterial pathogen, 

, has shown to be fatal to nematodes in a laboratory setting.

, researchers collected rotting food from around the world and tested for bacteria. They discovered 

 in a rotten apple from France and a rotten fig from India, and found that it successfully killed the nematode 

. None of the other food collected contained this bacterial strain.

 bacteria, and in the next three to four hours, 50% of the roundworm population died. After seven hours, the entire population of 

 was dead, and after 48 hours, “only outline traces of the larvae, representing the undigested cuticles,” were visible to investigators, according to the study.

The “golden death” bacteria were then introduced to other parasitic nematodes, including trichostrongylid and strongylid pathogens found in livestock and domesticated animals. Researchers presented 

 to the eggs and larvae of these nematodes (including 

), and 24 hours later, 100% of the nematodes were dead.

The colorful nickname is derived from the fact that bacteria belonging to the 

 genus is also called “golden” bacteria. This genus grows on solid media to produce mucoid colonies that are golden in color (and apparently stink). The “death” part of the nickname presumably comes from the fact that 

Researchers indicate that this bacteria could have future benefits to veterinary medicine, stating, “This pathogenicity raises the possibility that 

, or indeed its isolated virulence factors, could provide a future novel means of controlling these increasingly problematic parasites of grazing livestock.”

Articles

A team from Glasgow University has discovered a new species of bacterial pathogen that could help veterinary teams treat nematode infestation in animals.

Golden death bacteria digests roundworms from the inside out, researchers find

When a canine or feline patient presents with swollen gums and bone loss, it's enough to set even your teeth on edge. Unfortunately, your veterinary clients just aren't seeing the signs. Use these handouts as a guide to help them not only identify potential problems, but know how to treat-and prevent the stages of periodontal disease. Bonus: We've got one for dogs and for cats!

 or on the image above to download the canine handout.

 or on the image above to download the feline handout.

Your veterinary patient is showing signs of periodontal disease, but your veterinary clients just dont see it. This handout will help clear things up. 

Client handout: Does your pets smile hurt?

One of my coworkers has a daughter in her first year of veterinary practice. She sometimes visits our clinic, and because my coworker and I have a combined 40-plus years of practice wisdom between us, we find ourselves sharing all sorts of insights. These conversations have left me wondering what I would have told 

 16 years ago when I was on the verge of entering this profession. What nuggets of know-how would have helped me along this journey? Looking back, there are several things that I wish I had learned sooner…

 You'll waste more time (and cause more trauma) trying to stretch various abdominal organs up into your surgical field than you would by just extending that incision an inch or two in the first place.

When that miniature dachshund comes in for a neuter, double-check his weight.

 Confirm that it makes sense. Don't draw up your anesthetic drugs based on a recording error. It will save you from having to make a horrific phone call to a very upset client.

Never treat a parvo case without getting the money up front.

Don't hesitate to say, “I don't know.” 

 failing your patients by it, and your clients ultimately will respect you more when you are honest with them. “Fake it 'til you make it” doesn't really work in most cases.

 Choose the tests that will give you the most answers, and remember that sometimes response to treatment can be regarded as a diagnostic aid. Keep a quarter in your pocket, because it really might come down to a coin-toss.

-especially in the situation described above. The people with the 

 because you will be much happier sending those cases to someone who is a thousand times better and faster than you are.

 Don't let that client talk you into attempting a bovine C-section in a snowstorm, guided by the glow of your truck's headlights. Your instruments will freeze to the poor heifer's hide and it absolutely won't end well.

Don't drag your feet about buying a smart phone!

 You'll be addicted to one soon enough-no matter how strongly you preach the opposite. So, get off your soapbox regarding the absurdity of texting!

 You already know about establishing trust with your clients. Good. Always do that. But prepare yourself for having to combat the hundreds of other untrustworthy virtual veterinarians who accompany clients into your exam room. Dr. Google will not be an esteemed colleague of yours.

Your kids are not going to be impressed with your job.

 They won't care that someone's dog just got hit by a car, but they will want you to be with them on the couch during family movie night. No amount of reasoning or explanation will change their minds. Just hug them and go.

Make up a fake job when you sit next to strangers.

 Don't let that woman at the hotel pool strike up a conversation about when she should euthanize her Chihuahua-it will put a real damper on your Caribbean getaway.

 Better yet, lock it in the trunk of your car.

When your kids ask if they can join 4-H, say no.

 You will have so much more free time during the summer.

 Some days, it will be your only defense. You'll be tempted to yell. You'll be on the verge of tears more times than you care to admit. But through it all, you'll learn that you're stronger and smarter than you ever gave yourself credit for.

When you find yourself getting sucked into the vortex of burnout, take a minute and watch something funny on YouTube (which you'll be able to do with that smart phone you were so sure you would never need) or reminisce about that time you had to explain paraphimosis to a mortified millennial pet parent. The humor and smiles are there to be found. You just have to take the time to look.

Dr. Melissa Detweiler is an associate veterinarian at Bern-Sabetha Veterinary Clinic in Sebetha, Kansas. In her free time, she enjoys reading, being out in the yard during the warm months, running, fishing, following K-State sports and, above all, spending time with her husband, children and their Rottweiler mix, Lucy.

You are never fully prepared when you leave veterinary school and enter the real world of practice. In the spirit of camaraderie, Dr. Detweiler offers up some wise and practical advice for new graduates about to embark on their professional journey.

My advice to me (or, what I wish I knew before starting practice)

If you think success marketing your veterinary practice is just a good-looking website with a few pictures of puppies and your mailing address, then digital marketing maestro and 

 speaker Bill Schroeder urges you to reconsider. He says that in terms of getting your clinic found, one type of search is pushing the other out of the picture.

Paid: well ... you can figure that one out

There was a time when loading your site with good material and pertinent search terms could get you found by search engines' spiders, crawling the web for relevant content. That's no longer true.

Bill Schroeder has your back ... digitally:

"There are huge indicators out there now that organic is becoming less and less relevant and that successful practices are engaging in a robust pay-per-click plan," Schroeder says.

Case in point: Google has placed ads around the local maps that show up at the top of search results pages. You can try established methods of increasing the number and quality scores of your Google reviews and hence increasing your rank in order to be seen. Or you can simply pay.

How do you start this process? Schroeder suggests getting yourself a detailed analysis of beneficial keywords and phrases, so you know the right words to use in your ads. This will put your practice in the right space. Additionally, he says to be sure the copy in the ad itself is extremely clear, has a relevant call to action and links to a germane landing page. Once users click through, you can present relevant information and offer a digital form to collect a potential veterinary client's information.

At Fetch dvm360 conference, we're the support system you need. With every conference this year, we intend to nurture your mind (meaning quality CE for days) while also encouraging you to take stock of your physical and emotional health. 

The days of Google's reliance on 'organic search'the number of times folks link to your website and how often people search for youcould be a thing of the past. The internet giant wants your advertising budget now.

Should veterinary clinics 'pay to play' on social media?

“How to screw up and kill your patient, Method #4,372!”

These sarcastically cheery words from my classmate, scribbled in the margin of our notes, summed up the majority of my education on medical errors in veterinary school.

I spent four years learning all the things I 

do if I wanted my patients to live-don't mess up the decimal, don't write abbreviations, don't mix up Drug A with Drug B.

I learned all about how to give bad news: “I'm afraid I have bad news that will be difficult for you to hear, Mrs. Smith.”

I never learned how to say, “Mrs. Smith, something horrible happened, and it was my fault.”

I thought if I took careful notes on all the ways that I could screw up, I would be protected from doing it. If I buried my clients in waivers and disclaimers, I could make them sign away my anxiety. If I monitored my technicians diligently and thoroughly, they would never make mistakes-and they certainly wouldn't complain to my superiors about my micromanaging personality and lack of faith in their abilities. (Spoiler alert: They totally did.)

I read the cautionary tales of negligence, oversight and shame sent to me monthly by my liability insurance company and said to myself, “That won't be me. That 

 be me.” I put mental placeholders between me and the infamous "Dr. A." 

I would have double-checked the dosage. I would have recommended referral. I would have used an E-collar.

 I realize now this roundabout form of victim-shaming was only a subconscious way to try to protect my mind from the truth: One day this was going to happen to me.

Medical errors are exceedingly common, both in human and veterinary hospitals. Yet even though everyone makes mistakes, almost no one is talking about them. Not to each other, not to the public, sometimes not even to our closest friends or loved ones. Why?

Defined by my personal hero Brené Brown as a fear of disconnection and unworthiness of belonging, the avoidance of shame is at the heart of every perfectionist. 

Be perfect, and everyone will love you. Slip up, and you will be exiled. 

And so, when we do inevitably make a mistake, we suffer in silence. We fear that we are alone in our failure and that there is something critically wrong with us.

We do what we have to in order to get through the moment. Then maybe we go home and cry or fall into a bottle of wine or a Netflix binge to numb the doubtful thoughts that whisper, 

We shouldn't be trusted with anything that anyone loves for the rest of our lives

. Maybe we wake up the next morning and think about not going to work, that day or ever again. Maybe we go to work, but we have such high anxiety and fear that we can't function.

This happens too much, and for the health of our profession and everyone in it, it has to change.

It's well-documented that both patients and caregivers experience trauma, stress and grief related to medical errors. Administrative processes and protocols often focus on assigning (or denying) blame and punishing or removing those involved. There are rarely procedures put in place to address the systemic flaws that lead to errors or to help those who have committed the mistake, commonly referred to as “second victims.”

In fields where only the most exceptional get through the academic and professional rigors required to succeed, it only seems natural that the field becomes self-selecting for perfectionists. And sometimes a perfectionist runs up against the cold, hard truth that sometimes bad things will happen no matter what you do. Even more difficult? Sometimes bad things will happen 

that jarring reality is nearly unbearable. We are told from an early age that we must 

 good. And so, when errors occur, our self-talk is not “I did something bad,” but rather “I 

A 2009 study describes the healthcare provider as a “second victim” after adverse patient events.1 The study also shows that there are three themes that emerged in providers' long-term recovery from a medical error:

We are able to put the event into context and realize that we are imperfect-but still good-doctors. We build our personal resiliency. We work to learn from the mistake and make our workplace safer.

We “move on” in a literal sense, but only because we feel we have no choice. We repress our feelings and discussion about the event. At best, we can function with no visible adverse effects, but no added wisdom. At worst, we continue to be traumatized by the memory of the event. We overcompensate, double- and triple-check, micromanage our staff, and harbor a deep distrust in ourselves.

We can't live with the memory of our mistake or the fear and certainty that we will make another one. We feel paranoid, depressed and hopeless. Feeling unredeemable and untrustworthy, we may even contemplate self-harm. Dropping out may involve ceasing the performance of a certain procedure, changing fields or leaving the profession altogether.

So what helps? How do we process mistakes in a way that allows us to walk the path of long-term resilience instead of repeated trauma? To this, I'll add my personal thoughts, with the disclaimer that my only credentials are that I am a flawed, human veterinarian who walked away from a good job that I was 

 because I was too afraid to make another mistake.

 One mistake in a career of lives saved and bettered does 

Understand resiliency is an action, not an attribute.

 You are not “born brave.” Small, everyday acts of courage build your strength, one molecule at a time.

Create a personal narrative that embraces a growth-based mindset.

 You are a work in progress-always. So is everyone else.

 Understand that letting go of the need to be perfect does not equate to lowering your standards.

Create good habits for positive self-talk.

 Surround yourself with people who will hold you to it.

 It perpetuates the idea that your actions can prevent bad things from happening to you, and if bad things 

 Take a look at those cases and mistakes that haunt you-but don't live in it. Understand the events are in the past, but what you can learn from them can stretch far into the future.

Remember that every fail safe was born out of failure.

 From calculators to childproof lids to traffic lights-these things exist because someone lived out their worst nightmare and decided to make the world a safer place because of it.

And finally, when it comes to processing our own failures, understand that it's not just about learning to move on, but about learning that we are fallible-that effort, merit, failure and worthiness can all exist simultaneously in the same beautifully flawed, complex human being. 

One thing I tell my daughters when they experience fear and anxiety about the unknown is to find someone who looks more scared than you. Help that person feel at ease. Help them feel less alone. More than likely, the things you tell them are what you need to hear yourself. 

As someone who has marinated in my perfectionism until my toes got wrinkly, this tactic has helped me have a healthier outlook on mistakes. I share my bone pile with my colleagues. I tell them about the things that scare me. I tell them about the near misses. I tell them about the patients that still twist up my insides at 3 in the morning. 

The best part? Instead of responding with silence, judgment or shame, more often than not I find they reach back out to me and open themselves up in return. Even more amazingly, they will often then share their own suggestions for getting through those cases, or talking to those clients, or moving on from those heartaches. And in that moment, the world feels a little smaller, a little safer and a little kinder. It's the kind of world that a profession full of perfectionists and self-critics deserve to spend a little more time in. 

Scott SD, Hirschinger LE, Cox KR, et al. The natural history of recovery for the healthcare provider “second victim” after adverse patient events.” Qual Saf Health Care 2009;18(5):325-330.

Dr. Meghann Berglund is a proud Colorado State University Ram and the owner of Red Dog Veterinary Relief Services in Colorado. Her hobbies include camping, labeling things and catastrophizing. She is the co-founder of Collective Geekery, the handcrafted art business that steals her free time but returns her inner peace.

One mistake can make you put so many obstacles in your path to avoid doing so again that you cant move forwardor worse, decide its best to leave the veterinary profession altogether. As one veterinary professional to another, lets band together to stop this from happening! 

Medical mistakes: Just dont do it isnt a sustainable strategy

In small animals, behavioral problems such as 

 can be complex. Fortunately, solutions are available to improve these issues significantly in a relatively short time. We got the skinny on these “behavior quickies” from E'Lise Christensen, DVM, DACVB, who owns two practices: Behavior Vets of New York City and Behavior Vets of Colorado.

Behavioral wellness is evident, Dr. Christensen says, when the animal:

Tolerates or ignores noise, storms and fireworks

Demonstrates normal vocalization, licking and grooming patterns

Enjoys veterinary visits and can undergo most wellness care without sedation.

Because behavioral problems are often very complex, Dr. Christensen recommends referring to a veterinary behaviorist for any behavioral case that a general practice veterinarian does not feel comfortable treating. “Be kind to yourself,” she advises, and acknowledge when a case is “out of your league.” Referrals can also be made when psychoactive medications are being considered for behavioral management. Of course, referral is a feasible option only when there is access to a veterinary behaviorist and the client accepts the referral.

Despite the complexities of behavioral cases, many affected pets can respond to treatment. Behavior quickies are fast-acting, general solutions to behavioral problems that can manage behavior proactively, meet owners' expectations for improvement and fulfill species-specific needs. Here are some examples.

. Removing a pet from the source of its behavioral problem can be effective. For example, if a dog is aggressive toward strangers in the home, its owner can teach the dog to be comfortable in a “safe zone,” such as a crate in a separate room. The dog can stay there happily when unfamiliar people visit.

 are a great way to provide enrichment for pets. These puzzles can be as 

 for a pet to retrieve. For puppies that are being housetrained, food puzzles should be easy enough to complete without disrupting the housetraining schedule.

Dr. Christensen notes that pet owners often interact with their pets in ways that are physically intrusive and bizarre to the pet (yes, pets find hugging and kissing a little odd). Structured interactions that allow for normal species-specific behavior can de-escalate behavioral problems. Teaching a dog an easy task, such as sitting, before allowing it to do anything it enjoys is an example of a structured interaction.

This involves reinforcing positive behavior that cannot be performed simultaneously with the negative behavior. Repeatedly rewarding this positive behavior can quickly reduce behavioral problems. Punishment-based training, such as shock collars and choke collars, should be avoided because they don't treat the underlying problem; rather, they only address the sign of a problem. In addition, these devices damage the human-animal bond, decrease learning and increase the risk of aggressive and fearful behavior.

, can help pets calm down and reduce problem behaviors.

“Exercise can help improve behavioral problems but must be tailored to the individual pet,” Dr. Christensen says. Too much or too little exercise may not help. For example, if a dog has a naturally high energy level, too much exercise can simply get the dog more worked up.

Dr. Christensen notes that separation anxiety does not respond well to exercise alone because exercise does not address the panic. “True separation anxiety is a panic attack that triggers a fight-or-flight response,” she says, “so it doesn't matter [whether the pet is] tired from exercise. Many well-exercised dogs will still panic.”

Safety tools, such as body harnesses and basket muzzles, may be necessary for some pets. For a veterinarian who can choose only one safety tool and does not have time to explain behavior modification to a client, Dr. Christensen recommends a body harness. Body harnesses, such as the 

 and Balance Harness, should be fitted to allow a dog to move its shoulders freely, she advises. Dogs with aggressive behaviors can be taught to wear a basket muzzle happily in trigger situations.

 chewable tablets) and slower-acting supplements (e.g. 

) are available to manage behavioral problems. However, Dr. Christensen cautions, supplements (especially OTC supplements and those intended for humans) are not necessarily safer than traditional drugs. In addition, some supplements may interact with traditional drugs. “At least consider the potential for drug interactions when combining supplement use with traditional behavior modification medications,” she advises.

Because supplements tend to work slowly in dogs, starting treatment with a supplement can increase the risk of reduced or slow efficacy, Dr. Christensen says. She notes that it is most ethical to treat anxiety with fast-acting medications to start, given that panic attacks associated with anxiety are harmful to the brain. However, for cases in which the speed of effect is not a concern, Dr. Christensen recommends a slow-acting and consistent medication such as fluoxetine (Reconcile-Novartis), clomipramine hydrochloride (Clomicalm-Elanco), or paroxetine rather than a supplement alone. Veterinary supplements (e.g. Solliquin, Anxitane, Zylkene) are often safe with a variety of medications and can improve treatment response. 

A client's comfort level with supplements can also influence whether they are part of the treatment plan for anxiety.

Fast-acting medications, particularly those that work in 20 to 90 minutes, provide the quickest relief for behavioral problems. Examples include benzodiazepines, clonidine, trazodone and gabapentin. Slower-acting medications include fluoxetine, clomipramine and selegiline.

“A benefit of fast-acting medications is that they can succeed or fail quickly,” Dr. Christensen says. “The quicker an adverse effect or a lack of response is observed, the quicker a veterinarian can make a new treatment plan.” She recommends administering a fast-acting medication during an office visit so the client can see the effects. Having the client observe a medication's positive effects on behavior can improve client compliance with the treatment plan.

For general practice veterinarians incorporating behavior quickies into a treatment plan for behavioral problems, Dr. Christensen offers several pieces of advice.

Start with the same quickie for all cases. 

Dr. Christensen recommends that veterinarians with a favorite among the behavior quickie options start with that one for each case.

Undertreating a behavioral problem increases the likelihood of treatment failure. If a treatment fails, a pet owner may give up on addressing the problem and not come back for further treatment.

Address concerns about personality changes. 

Clients can be concerned that psychoactive medications will change their pet's personality. When used correctly, however, these medications will not cause negative personality changes in pets, Dr. Christensen says. If a negative personality change does occur, stopping the medication will likely reverse that change.

The concern about personality changes may stem from fear. Dr. Christensen recommends having an honest conversation with clients about their goals and fears regarding their pet's behavioral problems. Counseling the client and talking openly about the suffering that behavioral problems are causing are important, she says.

Owners of pets with behavioral problems often feel hopeless and at their wit's end with trying to manage the problem at home. They may also be afraid that the veterinarian is going to judge them. Encouraging clients to work as a team with the veterinarian to solve the behavioral problem can help the clients actually have fun and enjoy their relationship with their dog again, Dr. Christensen says.

Dr. Pendergrass received her DVM degree from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Following veterinary school, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University's Yerkes National Primate Research Center. Dr. Pendergrass is the founder and owner of JPen Communications, a medical communications company.

Check out these fast fixes for behavioral problems in small animals.

In a snap! Veterinary behavior quickies

One of the potential reservations about implementing Fear Free veterinary visits is that they have the potential to take a lot longer per exam than a traditional visit. 

 speaker Julie Reck, DVM, says that it doesn't have to be a drag on efficiency, if you know these 10 tips. 

1. Understand the organizational change needed  

Moving to Fear Free is a change and change is a process, Dr. Reck says. Initially, change may be met with excitement, but as the change goes on, productivity may dip as the team adjusts to the new protocols. 

2. Understand how human behavior changes 

Human behavior change usually requires someone to react with their rational brain, Dr. Reck says. But you have to also appeal to their emotional side. To help with this change, ask open-ended questions of your team, such as “What is an ideal patient experience in our practice?” and “How can we achieve this together?”

3. Pre-appointment communication is important  

Communicating with clients before they arrive for their pet's appointment will help keep it running on time. Dr. Reck recommends having clients do the following:  

> Bring in a fresh stool sample since if the stool sample is present from the beginning of the appointment, technicians can begin processing it, leaving the doctor free to do other things. 

> Bring pet with leash and collar or in a carrier for cats. 

If there are multiple doctors practicing at the clinic, consider staggering appointments, Dr. Reck says. For example: Dr. A will see appointments every 30 minutes, starting at 8 a.m., and Dr. B will see patients every 30 minutes, starting at 8:15 a.m. 

5. Stock the exam rooms appropriately  

If all the items necessary for common procedures are available in the exam room, time won't be wasted going back and forth to grab items. Placing all the items in consistent places in each room is also helpful, Dr. Reck says. 

6. Perform more procedures in the exam rooms  

When you perform procedures in the exam room, you save the time needed to explain to the pet owner why the pet is being taken “to the back,” the time it takes to coax the pet away from its owner and the time it takes to recruit another person to help hold the pet in the back, Dr. Reck says. 

7. Keep easy-to-use positive reinforcement items in all areas of the hospital  

Having tasty treats that are easy-to-use and reach in all areas of the hospital (reception, exam rooms, treatment areas, and wards) keeps you from searching all over the hospital to retrieve them. 

Dr. Reck notes that using disinfectant that needs 10 minutes of contact time slows down the efficiency of the hospital. She recommends using products that need less contact time to get your rooms opened back up faster.

9. Proactively administer pre-appointment pharmaceuticals  

If an animal rates at a 3 or higher on the Fear Anxiety and Stress scale, Dr. Reck says that Fear Free guidelines state to not proceed with the exam without adding sedation or rescheduling the procedure with pre-appointment medication on board. 

Dr. Reck says checkout happening in the exam room rather than at the front desk helps keep the bottleneck of clients checking in and checking out from happening. 

Dr. Julie Reck shares 10 ways to make these appointments as efficient as possible.  

Fear Free veterinary visits can be quick if you know these tips

Whether you're four months or 40 years into practicing veterinary medicine, there are certain truths in the world of vet med that must be accepted as unavoidable. While these truisms are a large source for our many headaches in practice, I always think it's best to laugh at them. Here are a few of my favorite truisms that I've learned throughout my career:

> An estimate, in the mind of the client, is an “exactimate.”

> The person who feeds table scraps or overfeeds the pet will probably not be the person in the exam room with you.

> If a client needs to ask their spouse, the pet's treatment will not happen.

> People will always double what they say they spent at the vet's compared to what they actually did spend.

> If you have the most accessible, easy-to-hit, Alaskan-pipeline-sized vein, the pet will be the most uncooperative and fractious patient.

> The sweetest, most easily handled, cooperative pet will have the tiniest, hard-to-find vein.

> You will always be told that the poor dog with the smelly, matted, oily, tangled mess of a coat is scheduled for grooming “tomorrow.” This will be stated no matter when or how often you see this dog. Also, all of the problems with this dog's coat are not what it will be in for.

> It's not important for clients to be on time, only for you to be on time.

> There's an inverse relationship between how loudly clients proclaim how well they take care of their pets and how well they actually do.

> The best, nicest dogs get the worst diseases.

> If the pet owner doesn't have the previous paperwork or can't remember the name of their previous vet, that means the pet is unvaccinated.

> If you have to carry a pet to or from a person's car, they'll have parked as far from the front door as possible.

> Always double how long someone tells you their pet has been ill.

> When a client who's late to their appointment is “only five minutes away,” assume they mean football minutes (you know, with all the commercial breaks).

> Diagnostic exclusion principle: If an owner obtains a diagnosis on their pet by looking up something online, it will not be that problem.

> The client will tell you the most valuable piece of information in diagnosing their pet while you're using your stethoscope.

> You'll be held responsible for what you say, what you don't say, how you say it and what the client thinks you said.

> You will know exactly where you stand with a client and what they think of you the first time you ever tell them “no.”

Editors' note: Do you have any truisms of your own? Let us know in the comments below or send them our way at 

A graduate of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Dean Scott has enjoyed 35 years in the veterinary profession, including five years with the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. He now practices small animal medicine at Animal Clinic of Brandon in Brandon, Florida.

The many truths we learn while practicing veterinary medicine aren't pretty. But we can at least pretend for the moment. 

Vetted July 2019