Apart from putting up a privacy fence, rerouting hoses to new plantings, clearing brush, designing a new coop and preparing to move the sizable goat pen (all under the hot Miami sun), I spent the weekend catching up on some of the last seven days’ veterinary news.
For starters, here’s some catch-up news on my chickens and goats: I took your advice and spent some hard-earned cash on some privacy fencing made of recycled wood coated in mold-resistant epoxy (not even the goats can chew through it).
I’m moving the whole goat pen (big job) into a more private area I’m clearing just for them (lots of shade). Next weekend I’m building a coop inside the roomy, hurricane-resistant goat shed for maximum safety and hideability (eggs are on their way!). Gotta hide the critters from the long-arm of the questionable neighborhood law, right?
Next up, an update on the veterinary fish toss kerfuffle at the annual AVMA convention in Seattle:
PETA demanded the AVMA cancel a special viewing of the fish-disrespectful “toss” that happens daily at Seattle's Pike’s Place Fish Market. Veterinarians, it urged, should know better than to condone throwing fish around. After all, PETA sugested, veterinarians would never sanction a kitten toss.
Well, maybe PETA has a point, but its protest devolved into more of the same naked human stuff its often-tasteless ads depict.

Come on, PETA, can’t you think of a better way to get our attention than to appeal to our baser animal instincts? (Yes, they’re dressed as topless fish.)

Then there was the interesting piece my mother found in AOL News (yes, some people still use AOL). It explains how exactly it is that cats manage to control our behavior: through a high-pitched meow/purr combo. It seems that humans respond well to this “sweet,” solicitous sound, as if to the cry of a newborn, and thus we cave to their every whim. At leats that’s the implication. And I [sort of] buy it.
Finally, here’s some personal news you might not already know: I’ve spent the last couple of months getting a new blog under my belt: The DailyVet.

It’s over at PetMD and while it might not be as personal and thorny in its approach to issues as Dolittler, it treats them all the same (with perhaps a greater emphasis on individual diseases). You’re all welcome to check it out now that it’s well underway.
Happy Monday!!
Add Comment45 Comments
Just thought I'd mention that I also picked up on the research into cats' purrs - you can read my take on it here. I reckon cats happily change their vocalisations until they find the pitch/tone/whatever that's most effective at getting hoomins to do what the cats want them to do!
Pete
www.petethevet.com
Pete Wedderburn, veterinarian July 20th, 2009 11:47:44 AM
Is there an RSS feed for the "Daily Vet" blog?
Galadriel July 20th, 2009 01:47:21 PM
PETAs answer to everything is to throw naked girls at it. Keep on being classy, PETA! =P
Pai July 20th, 2009 01:59:44 PM
"PETAs answer to everything is to throw naked girls at it."
Oh, the hypocrisy of it all. We can't throw fish but they can throw nekkid girls...
On second thought, we shouldn't judge the hyporites too harshly, maybe we should just ask them more questions ;-)
Bob Jones July 20th, 2009 03:49:43 PM
Galadriel: Not sure, though I know you can subscribe. Send them a Q. They're very responsive.
Dr. Patty Khuly July 20th, 2009 04:47:13 PM
Dr. K, Are you a cousin to the Energizer Bunny?
PJBoosinger July 20th, 2009 05:07:30 PM
Once removed, I think. Clinically, it's called "hypomania." Seriously. Luckily, I sleep well.
Dr. Patty Khuly July 20th, 2009 05:26:53 PM
I Alwats rely on PETA to do whatever is the loopiest thing they can think of i love em
you sleep? what 2 hrs anight?
jim hall July 20th, 2009 10:20:42 PM
Functional hypomania, I miss mine. One can accomplish sooooo much when one needs less sleep and sleeps well for what little sleep one needs. :)
PJBoosinger July 21st, 2009 05:07:18 AM
Dr. Khuly wrote," Come on, PETA, can't you think of a better way to get our attention than to appeal to our baser animal instincts?"
Actually, when PETA shows healthy attractive people, they are trying to appeal to our higher spiritual instincts by reminding us of Psalms 104:24 ( O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.)
Dr. Steve Dubin July 21st, 2009 09:05:08 AM
Steve: Never thought of it that way. Does it sort of make you wonder what Ms. Newkirk looks like naked? I'm not sure that's a very spiritual thought. How about some truth in advertising? ;-)
Dr. Patty Khuly July 21st, 2009 09:15:33 AM
<<Does it sort of make you wonder what Ms. Newkirk looks like naked? I'm not sure that's a very spiritual thought. How about some truth in advertising? ;-)>>
okay, that was just wrong puting that image in my head...that did not need to be there....I would hate to throw up my good chicken lunch....<LOL>
LorriM1 July 21st, 2009 02:12:17 PM
Cats only manipulate people (owners, etc) who don't get it. If you want to "get it" drop your expectations and just let your cat be totally itself. Observer and learn. There is no mystery to it one of these years I am going to break the feline-human communication barrier. If not this lifetime the next.
Evet July 21st, 2009 02:17:40 PM
Dr. Kuly wrote: "Does it sort of make you wonder what Ms. Newkirk looks like naked?"
I believe that she did once pose naked in a dog cage as part of a PETA campaign to improve animal housing. When I met her first back in the 80's, at a "Christians and Lions" (protectors vs experimentors) debate, my wife and I both felt that she was a (neatly dressed) athletic attractive woman. We were both attracted by her voice and British accent. The same was true with Jane Goodall. Both women (my wife also) have remained attractive as well as effective animal advocates. I would not be shocked or scandalized if their bodies have matured -- but, of course, the process is mitigated by veg*n diet, "green" lifestyle and general good karma.
Dr. Steve Dubin July 21st, 2009 03:44:56 PM
Touché, Steve.
Dr. Patty Khuly July 21st, 2009 06:15:51 PM
Well, I guess I'm the irrational cat curmudgeon. The meow/purr thing of cats is the behavoir I like the least about them, followed by the rubbing against legs, and the grinding of their heads into my feet. But I'll respond to any crying baby or child, or adult for the matter, so I guess I'm not a total grouch...I don't mind cats, as long as they they don't get too close. Or try to get to my finches. Just to be fair, I also don't like when dogs jump up on me.
I've had a few cats (okay, they were my husband's but I ended up dealing with the medical issues). I found that most of them can be trained to leave visitors alone if commanded. Cats are probably more trainable than most people realize. There's a cat behavoir/training program at the vet school of UC Davis; one person involved has even gotten cats to rspond to clicker training. The web site is www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vmth/small_animal/behavoir/default.cfm. I first read about this in the UCDavis alum magazine, as an article entitled Sit, Kitty! Stay! if the link doesn't work.
Heather in Miami July 22nd, 2009 12:18:48 AM
Oh, I couldn't get the link to work. I'll try later, when it's not so early in the morning...
Heather in Miami July 22nd, 2009 12:47:00 AM
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