Dr. Primm's Warm and Fuzzies

If you missed me on TV yesterday, I was asked as a guest on 3 Plus You. It was really a lot of fun and I have been asked back in September.  The show airs at 11:00 am weekdays on WRCB TV 3 Chattanooga. In case you missed it, Copy and Paste the link below:

http://www.wrcbtv.com/category/214449/video-landing-page?clipId=9126076&autostart=true

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I know that you all know how awful it can be when a house cat is not using the litter box.  I also know that you have ALL read my blog archives and already know that there can a medical cause for this behavior that MUST be addressed before resolution can be expected. :)
But did you know that your choice of litter can also play a role?  Some cats have a very specific substrate preference, so if your cat is not using his/her box, you can certainly try another brand, type or scent.  Since the guidelines say that you should have a litter box per cat + one more, you should have multiple boxes to try different things.   You will need to be vigilant, maybe even keeping a written log to document your cat's preferences or lack thereof.  Don't just make decisions on your impressions. Try to be exact and let your cat tell you the litter-vention facts!

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"The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place." ~George Bernard Shaw

What constitutes "communication"? Merriam Webster says that it is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.   I think that most important part of that definition is the EXCHANGE part.  When a veterinarian is helping a patient, that patient is non-verbal. We still communicate with our patients, but the single most valuable exchange is that with the caregiver.
I am to go to Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine to talk with a Communications class this week. If I can teach them methods of communicating not just through speech, then I will have helped them be better doctors.  Most vet schools teach comprehensive medical knowledge and skills, but I applaud the effort of MSU CVM to teach MORE.  We, as doctors, have to be sure that our whole message is being received. They say the average person needs to hear something several times before they truly understand the message. We can use all sorts of ways to reach all sorts of people. In today's hyper-communicative world, we can choose to use it to our advantage or fight against it to our detriment. I text and blog and use all sorts of techno-babble to be sure that my message (Your pet deserves the best care) reaches all kinds of people. If I can help these students to use their own individual gifts to make sure their messages about good medicine and patient care are always received, then I will feel like I have made a difference. Wish me luck!

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Tennessee Tails is going well! We are down to two copies from our first shipment.  Don't worry, though, if you have not gotten yours, it is always available on Kindle and through Amazon and Barnes and Noble online.  We also have a second shipment due here at Applebrook next week! 
If you have read my book, please post your reviews on Amazon and B and N!  The more books we sell, the more homeless pets we help!  The Humane Society has 29 dogs with heartworms that need to be treated and a portion of the proceeds from Tennessee Tails : Pets and Their People will go to them and other animal charities!

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OK, my faithful readers,

My book of memoirs, Tennessee Tails : Pets and Their People is funny and touching. It shows you what goes on inside my heart and my head.  I think that you will enjoy it. I am my own worst critic and I think it is a fun read!  https://www.createspace.com/4207390 or on Kindle with title as keywords or my name.  A portion of the proceeds will go to an animal rescue agency, so please spend the word!

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