Animal Tales

Rural veterinary work has no shortage of “you’ve got to be kidding me” moments. This page features real cases Dr. Dennison has seen in the field — some funny, some unusual, and some with a lesson. We’ll keep adding more as time (and critters) allow.

Bone to Pick

Dogs are, by design, mostly carnivores. They’re built to eat rabbits, rodents, roadkill, grass, bones, kibble, and anything that hits the floor. They’ll also chew on toys, batteries, sticks, upholstery, or—if left bored and locked in—the whole dang house. But this case? One of the strangest, most “natural” episodes of How Does That Even Happen? This pup was chewing on steak bones after a cookout when one slipped perfectly around his lower jaw. It lodged behind the canines and locked in place, leaving him confused, uncomfortable, and understandably panicked. His owner was equally alarmed. They brought him in, and with a bit of restraint (and a good dose of twisting and tugging), we got it loose. He went home that day, no worse for wear — just a little wiser about post-BBQ snacks.

Bone-Appétit

Cows crave salt — it’s essential for nerve and muscle function, water balance, and overall health. If they’re not getting enough in their feed, they’ll actively seek it out. In the wild, cattle find salt and minerals in natural deposits like limestone, grass, and mineral-rich soil. On pasture, we provide salt blocks (also called licks) to ensure proper intake. But if salt isn’t available, they’ll lick almost anything: rocks, dirt, bark — even old bones. Over the years, I’ve seen all sorts of foreign objects in cattle mouths: sticks, rocks, tennis balls, beer cans… but this case is unique. One cow on a grazing allotment was losing weight. During a routine check, the owner noticed she was drooling and holding her mouth open. Suspecting an abscess, they brought her in. What we found was a surprise — a foreign object lodged in the back of her mouth, keeping it stuck open. She could breathe and drink, but couldn’t eat. We removed it: a complete vertebra from a long-dead cow. It had wedged perfectly, blocking her ability to chew. The cow recovered fully, and this story reminds us to check your cows often and always provide adequate salt and minerals — or they’ll find their own… even if it’s bones from the pasture graveyard.

Cancer Sucks

This is one of my favorite patients — truly the coolest Bulldog ever. He came in with a nasty sore on his foot. No other lesions were found, so we made the decision to amputate. He healed great and bounced right back. About a month later, another sore appeared on the opposite leg. Still no other visible lesions, and we figured it might be a pressure sore (he’s an older guy, after all). We cleaned it up surgically, and he began to heal again. Then another sore appeared — this time in his mouth. That’s when it all clicked: cutaneous lymphoma. This type of cancer can show up as ulcers, nodules, plaques, red patches, or scaly, hairless areas. Over time, the skin can become thickened, raw, and oozing. Common sites include the lips, eyelids, nose, rectum, and genitals — where skin meets mucous membrane. Once it shows up in the mouth and tongue, that’s pretty much diagnostic. He’s now on chemo to slow the spread, plus antibiotics and pain meds to keep him comfortable. Despite it all, he’s happy, active, and doing fantastic — thanks to a top-notch owner who’s fully committed to his care. We can’t cure this, but we can manage it — and we’re monitoring him weekly to keep him feeling good as long as possible. Cancer sucks, but quality of life matters most.

Ruminate Fistula

A ruminate fistula is a small, surgically made hole into the rumen—the first stomach—of a cow. This handy opening lets us pull out some of her cud, or rumen contents, which we use to help other cows and critters get their gut bugs back on track. A healthy rumen full of the right microbes is what keeps cows digesting right and feeling good. But when a cow’s gut gets out of whack—maybe from sickness, antibiotics, or a sudden change in feed—her natural bacteria can take a hit. That’s when our fistula cow steps in. By sharing her fresh rumen juice with the sick ones, we’re basically giving their stomachs a fresh start. It’s a tried-and-true way to get them back to chewing cud and grazing strong again. If you've got a cow whose gut isn’t right, give us a holler. We’re happy to share her “juices” and help get things flowing smooth again.

Elvis Sneer

This little French bull dog came in with a cleft palate, deviated septum, and a permanent Elvis sneer — all lip curl, no rock 'n roll. These two issues made eating and breathing a real challenge. Both conditions required careful repair under general anesthesia. Thanks to attentive follow-up care, this pup has made a full recovery and is thriving — happy and healthy two years later!

Cheat Grass and Foxtails

Cheatgrass and foxtails may look harmless, but these common grass seeds can cause serious trouble for pets — especially in the summer and fall. Their sharp, barbed tips are designed to burrow, and once they get into your pet’s fur, they can work their way into ears, eyes, mouths, noses, and even under the skin between the toes. Over the years, I’ve removed these stubborn seeds from ears, paws, tonsils, and deep inside swollen feet. They don’t just irritate — they can cause infections, abscesses, and even require surgery to remove if they travel too far.

Hair Tie Snack

Watch the video to see Dr. Dennison remove a lodged hair tie from a cat’s intestine.

Gastrointestinal foreign bodies are what we call it when your dog or cat decides to sample something that most definitely was not on the menu—think socks, toys, bones, corn cobs, string, and hair ties. Every once in a while, a small object will pass on through, but more often than we’d like, that swallowed treasure gets stuck in the stomach or intestines and causes a blockage. Pets with a blockage often start vomiting, quit eating, act tired, or seem painful through the belly. String and ribbon are especially dangerous for cats. They may look like harmless fun, but once swallowed, they can cause the intestines to bunch up, which can lead to infection and other life-threatening problems. To figure out what’s going on, we’ll start with a good physical exam and usually take X-rays or perform an ultrasound. Some objects can be retrieved without surgery, but many blockages require surgery to clear things out. If you think your pet swallowed something they shouldn’t have, don’t wait and hope for the best. Give us a call right away. The sooner we step in, the better the outcome!