Dear Abigail Vet Tech Consulting

02/09/2024

Good doggie.

01/21/2024

Link to a Barn Fire Prevention webinar my cousin Dr. Rebecca Husted did for FHANA (Friesian Horse Association of North America).
This is for ANYONE with a barn that wants to know how to prevent, mitigate, and respond to barn fires. I HIGHLY recommend it if you have a barn or plan to have one. Barn fires are one of the most horrific tragedies that owners can do a LOT to prevent.
(Original webinar date 19 Jan 2024)
https://fb.watch/pIQsRr6Ck-/?mibextid=Nif5oz

11/10/2023

Not a pet, but directly related to human actions.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=937317721125832&id=100045428388237&sfnsn=mo&mibextid=AMJnMY

11/09/2023

Sure, your job may be boring, but at least you didn't accidentally jerk off a dog today.

11/07/2023

Today my nubbins princess, Sekhmet, got her yearly dental. Last year her teeth were fine, but this year she had some bad tartar and build up and my coworker doing the dental and the vet on call discovered she's developed feline resorptive lesions. Those are Bad News Bears. 🥴
Basically, her body has decided that her teeth are foreign objects that don't belong and are attacking them. It's essentially an autoimmune reaction. Luckily it's not too bad right now, but at her dental next year, or sooner if I start to notice she's having any issues eating, we're going to have to go in, get full dental radiographs (x-rays 🩻) to determine exactly which teeth are affected, and remove all of them that are. That's really the only treatment. :/ I'm simplifying here, but it's been a long day, so you're getting the simplified explanation this time. 🫣
She's already missing a couple incisors. Not really sure where those went..? 😂
She was overall a very good girl who was very popular except when she bit Asia, my coworker. ):
I'll post drunk videos of her (Sekhmet, not Asia) later. 💜
Sekhmet has her own IG

11/06/2023

Y'all, this is what I mean when I say we in veterinary medicine feel completely worthless to clients many times--a pet cat that hadn't been vaccinated for anything (including Rabies, which is the law ⚖️) since 2020 when he got his one kitten vaccine bit the crap out of me two weeks ago. It was so bad Urgent care took a look at it and noped outta there and sent me to the ER. I ended up on fluids with IV antibiotics, two doses of hydromorphone to help cope with the pain while the doctor and nurse probed and flushed the already-infected pocketing wound under the back of my hand. I was vaccinated for rabies in 2016, but given that was a while ago and the unvaccinated state of the cat, the ER pharmacy still highly recommended I go through post-bite exposure treatment which meant like 30mls of rabies immunoglobulins injected into my wound 💉 until my hand meat had no more space to hold any more, then the rest injected in multiple💉 spots💉 all 💉over💉 both 💉my💉 upper 💉arms💉 and 💉in 💉my 💉buttocks. 💉 Then a rabies vaccine a few days later. 💉
Yeah, ok. Better be safe than sorry. I do my part, the owners' part is to quarantine the guilty party for 10+ days depending on situation to be sure the animal shows no symptoms of rabies.
What makes me feel warm and cuddly inside is to get a frantic phone call ☎️ from the Health Department 😬 making sure I got all the post-bite exposure treatments and vaccine and what time and what days and are you sure? Because as it turns out it took them some time to track down the cat's owners, and when they did, the owners absolutely refused to quarantine the animal. 🫠
No matter how it was explained to them--that they could do it themselves, nobody was taking their cat away, this was Really Very Serious, they 100% refused. Even though they broke the law for 3 years, thereby rendering their pet unsafe to handle, and it bit a medical worker so badly they ended up in the ER with limited range of motion for over a week and had to get advanced treatment to be sure they wouldn't, y'know, die of rabies in a year,⚰️ or a terrible infection in 48hrs 🪦 (you should've SEEN the size of my hand and the redness of the infection creeping up my wrist before the oral Augmentin started kicking in).
Cause I mean, eff me, right? After I spent hours handling their cat so gently and giving him breaks because I knew he was feeling sick and we had to do so much testing and I wanted to make it as stress-free as possible. When he growled at me or hissed I was careful, but also just spoke soothingly to him because I knew he was scared and felt gross, and I could tell he really was a good cat; it just wasn't his day. He even let me inject him twice. It was an injection known to sting that he nailed me over. I didn't even blame him.
But wow. His owners certainly couldn't give two poops about me.
👍👍

11/01/2023

I can't handle these levels of horror. Let's watch The Shining or something instead.
🦜⚰️💀😶‍🌫️🎃🫣😱😳😵👻

10/30/2023

Just thought I'd share a pic of a few of my own babes from my menagerie. One of our two matriarchs, the 11yo white Tiny Kitty cuddles with our eternal kitten, the 7.5yo ginger himbo, Nibbler who is wearing a Halloween bowtie as he is very fashionable. A very interested Lucy (9.5yo), a boxer/AU cattle dog/AU Shepherd mix looks on from the top of the couch, behind.
Pic by a friend, Faith Thompson 💜

10/25/2023

VALID. As with any pet, please don't rely on the pet store (or dog breeder) for husbandry information! Most don't actually know what they're doing. For exotics, look for online groups of long-time amateur enthusiast keepers to learn from, and make sure you have an exotic vet in your area that is knowledgeable about the exotic you want to own! 🦜🐍🦎🐢🐸🐇🐠🐡🦂🕷️🪲🦆🪿🦙🫏🐎🐖🐎

Not Exactly Hardy: As a friend of mine always says "Chameleons favorite things to do are get sick and die"; and after a period of working with these guys in a Vet-Med environment, that is accurate! I think them being sold in pet stores as an 'easy first pet' is hugely to blame for that.

If you're considering bringing any kind of chameleon into your home I URGE you to go check out Chameleon Academy: https://chameleonacademy.com/ Chameleon Academy They are by far the best resource for new Cham owners. This isn't a sponsor or anything like that, I just am really tired of seeing chameleons on death's door.

10/23/2023

Please stop supporting "long haired" Frenchie breeders.
This is how hair length works in dogs (short story): there are 3 alleles a dog can have. (S=short hair, L*=long hair)
1. S/S=the dog will have short hair and can't transmit any long hair genes to its puppies.
2. L/L=the dog has long hair and can't transmit any short hair genes to its puppies.
3. S/L*(what SOME Frenchies have)=the dog has short hair, but carries a recessive gene for long hair and if two of these dogs breed, ONLY 25% of their offspring will have long hair (which means they'll show the long hair phenotype) and will be a "fluffy Frenchie".

But here's the thing. Frenchies aren't SUPPOSED to have long hair. It's a recessive gene. That gene isn't fully mapped out--other things like health issues could be tied to that gene as well. Frenchies already have very bad health problems because of the awful breed standards that are allowed. They never receive enough oxygen because of how their face and upper respiratory system is shaped. They have skin issues, eye issues, cardio and respiratory issues. They get heat stroke incredibly easily... the long hair gene does nothing positive for these little guys, and is a scam to make them seem more desirable because it's "rare".
Do you know what Veterinary professionals think would be more desirable? If breeders and AKC standards started breeding noses and faces back into these poor little dogs so they can breathe properly. Make their heads smaller so they can give birth naturally with less likelihood of dystocia. Fewer cleft palates and stillborn pups. Breed Frenchies back into health, not into more hair. 🙏

10/08/2023

Wrote a thread with a more in-depth look at Lyme disease (and yes, my 🐕 gets preventatives year round, AND the vaccine💉) and how testing works. Hope it helps make it all more understandable!

09/29/2023

Check out this great case!
Little Pici the cockatiel got a lot of rope fibers from toys built up in his crop (an organ in birds), but the doctor was able to remove it all, and Pici is doing great!
The pics and descriptions give a lot more detail.

👉Remember to only give your avian friends 🦜toys made of easily digestible material like cardboard, natural fibers, and wood. 👈

*WARNING* includes graphic surgery pics if that might make you uncomfortable.

09/05/2023

Look at this amazing example of second intention healing on Beans the cockatiel!
Round of applause to the staff who cared for this little guy! 👏👏👏
*WARNING*
Graphic images!

05/10/2023

This is why I started doing consulting! 🤣
Now nobody feels like they're taking advantage of my knowledge and skills, and I feel respected (and it helps pay for this menagerie we've got going on over here!)
Thank you so much to all my clients, past, present, and future! I can't express how much I love you all. 💜 🐱🐶🐹🦊🦝🐴🐢🐍🐸🐇🐁🐀🐈‍⬛🐩🦌🦙🐿️🦨🐦🐓🐥🦜🦆🦚🐠🕷️🐌🐝💜

02/28/2023

“Pets: Life’s apology for every crummy day ever”–Anon

“If my pet makes you uncomfortable, I’d be happy to lock you in the other room”–Anon

"Be the person your dog thinks you are”–C.J. Frick

02/22/2023

Not sure if Lucy is comfortable enough. 🤔 She just got back from her spa day, but should I get her a charcuterie board and fan her a little maybe?

02/21/2023

02/21/2023

02/21/2023

02/21/2023

🫣

We might need a bigger jar... 😬

02/03/2023

Did you know tortoises can easily feel through their shells? They're made of two different types of bone and the very tops are made of keratin like our fingernails. Under it all are a ton of nerves and blood vessels. These buds can feel a hand even gently touching their carapace (the top half of their shells)! They often love a good scratch or back rub.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoJKONVO-xY/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

10 Likes, 1 Comments - Abigail Ruth Marsch Kimball () on Instagram: "Garrett giving a sulcata tortoise 🐢 some love. 💛 "

01/28/2023

Please be aware. Also, when you see a real service dog, please do not speak to it, touch it, feed it, or ASK to do any of those things. It is working and doesn't need any distractions. Admire the service animal from a distance and let it do its job. 💜🐕‍🦺💜

I see SO MANY “service dogs” that are untrained, disruptive pets in a vest, simply because the owner does not want to leave the dog at home.

Not only are those owners being unethical and dishonest, they could potentially disrupt the work of an actual task-trained service dog, or even cause that dog to lose thousands of dollars and months or years or training with a bad interaction.

***************

Service Dogs are more than just any dog wearing a vest purchased online.

If your dog has not been specifically obedience and task trained and you do not have an ADA qualifying disability, then your dog does NOT fall under the protection of ADA law.

ESA (Emotional Support Animals) are NOT Service Dogs and fall under the guidance of the Fair Housing and Air Carrier acts and are welcome in your home with proper documentation and authorization.

Pets are NOT Service Dogs.

Puppies are NOT Service Dogs.

Dogs riding in grocery carts are NOT Service Dogs.

Buying an online "certificate" that your dog is a Service Dog, does NOT make it a Service Dog.

Dogs off leash and out of the control of their owner, are NOT Service Dogs.

Dogs trained for protection are NOT Service Dogs

Representing your dog to a business as a Service Dog and LYING, is FRAUD.

Educate yourself, do it well and do it right if you need a legitimate Service Dog!

Reference: https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html

(shared from Raden Dog Obedience)

05/24/2022

Not even cold enough in Maine this winter to kill off the ticks. ):
This is why it's SO important for pets to be on year-round flea and tick prevention. Ticks don't take a break in the winter anymore, which means neither do the diseases they carry.

https://www.mainepublic.org/environment-and-outdoors/2022-05-18/most-moose-calves-in-part-of-maine-died-this-year-as-a-tiny-predator-benefits-from-warmer-weather

Maine is home to the largest moose population in the lower 48 states. But the iconic species is being challenged by ticks and climate change. In one of the moosiest parts of Maine, nearly 90 percent of the calves tracked by biologists last winter didn’t survive their first year.

05/09/2022

Heyo frendos.
Just a reminder... if you find injured or ACKCHEWALLY abandoned wildlife 🐦🦆🦨🐿️🦉🦌🐣, check out this website to find your nearest rehabber! And PLEASE fortheluvofgod don't give rescued wildlife, especially babies, anything to eat or drink🙅‍♀️. Professionals are professionals for a reason! Feel free to drop a question below. MWAH💋. 💜
ahnow.org

10/14/2021

We love our doctors, nurses, techs, therapists, psychiatrists, and everyone who is a part of our healthcare team 💜, but this is pretty funny. I was drawing blood from a patient last week and his owner is a [human] phlebotomist. They were amazed I could just do it with only the syringe, some alcohol, me holding off, and talking nicely to her dog. I mean, it 💯 helped that the owner was calm and their dog picked up on their vibes and was well trained and calm as well. But yeah, I've been known to shave down, scrub, and throw and secure an 18g IV catheter into the arm of a wrestling, sick, 150 # canine patient in the ER while the poor terrified/furious thing is actively trying to bite me and three other techs are trying to restrain them long enough for me to get a good stick and none of us harm the patient further. And we all have to know multiple species! Different vitals, body systems, etc. It can be quite challenging.
We still all love them!
💜 🐁🐀🐄🐅🐑🐓🐕🐖🐧🐨🐩🐪🐫🐢🐠🐙🐐🐍🐈🐇🦜🦂🦆🦇🦔🦎🦏🦉🐎💜

08/31/2021

When your own cat needs diagnostics done so she has to go to the vet herself and judges you.

06/19/2021

We maybe spend more on our animals' medical care than our own some years. 🤦‍♀️

06/17/2021

https://www.inquirer.com/business/small-business/vets-covid-pandemic-burnt-out-20210607.html

Veterinarian schedules are fully booked — and then some.

06/04/2021

Meet my animals! This is Odo, who says hi. He's what breeders call a dirty leucistic (pink, dark eyes, and freckles) Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum). He's about 1.5 years old exactly right now (he hatched Nov, 2019, bred by my friend, happy_axolotls ). There are various species of Ambystoma that all look very similar, and are native to Mexico. Sadly many are critically endangered due to loss of habitat from human incursion. These little guys are not doing badly since they're used for research, and have since entered the pet trade: they also aren't exactly full wild A. mexicanum--they've had Tiger Salamander DNA added, so the ones in pet trade can't exactly be released back into the wild to restock the population--it's tricky!
There are a lot of very cool things about lotls that would be an entire lecture if I kept going, so I'll stop here.