One minute Dr. Mark Rosenberg is treating a dog that has an ear infection, the next he’s responding to an emergency because a pup has been hit by a car. In both cases, he’s comforting the owners. This veterinarian’s work is about communicating with animals and people. Humanity, compassion, humor and grace characterize Dr. Rosenberg’s personality and bedside manner. His curiosity and determination provide patients with professional care. While his years of experience bridge his old-fashioned work ethic with and reliable instincts.
Illness, preventive care and emergencies, make Rosenberg’s occupation a delicate balance of many things. He must be a diagnostic expert and first responder as well as versed in the language of: meow, bow-wow, quack, neigh and more. Some of his patients may even be more the DeNiro silent type like an edgy turtle giving him a stern stare or a sideways moving snake considering options other than being in an examining room.
Dr. Rosenberg has to analyze, translate and reinterpret his patient’s symptoms and behaviors. He needs to be able to locate the source of the discomfort as well as determine what needs to happen to make the patient better. His job often deals with not one but two patients.
Dr. Rosenberg: Dogs and cats aren’t driving themselves to my clinic. They have owners that need just as much care and patience as their sick pet.
WOOF Patrol: Why go into such a demanding profession?
Dr. Rosenberg: I love animals. I work with animals, but this is really a people business. Each of my patients comes with a concerned owner that I need to be able to communicate with and have empathy and compassion for. And, I have help solve the problem they’ve brought to me. Problem solving is what its really about.
W.P.: What are 3 important issues owners should be concerned with and aware of with a new dog?
Dr. Rosenberg: First vaccinations are very controversial right now. But for a new puppy, I recommend that you should at least let them go through the puppy vaccination series. Parvovirus is preventable but it requires the vaccination. Second, provide your new family member with good nutrition; make sure you’re feeding them quality food without cutting corners. Finally, watch your puppy closely. It’s important to have good control of your pet whether they’re young or more mature. You want to keep them from getting into things they shouldn’t. Also, be careful they don’t let them get too close to the road. Accidents can happen even when you are paying attention to your pet.
W.P.: How about for older dogs?
Dr. Rosenberg: First I recommend doing blood screens to catch things early such as kidney or liver disease. You can slow down the progression of the disease. If cancer is diagnosed its helpful for people to know that veterinarian chemotherapy for dogs is pretty advanced. Dogs typically tolerate these modalities better than people. So blood work is key. X-rays for small dogs around the age of 9 and for big breeds such as Great Danes starting at around 5 or 6 is a good idea. Next, I can’t stress enough the importance of good nutrition. In an older pet a senior appropriate diet may be recommended. However, you have to realize that some diseases cause a protein loss. It’s important to keep in mind that animals need to be treated as individuals when it comes to their health and nutrition. Third, just like with the puppies, you have to watch your pets closely at any age.
W.P.: What are the key indications that your pet needs immediate emergency care?
Dr. Rosenberg: How the animal is breathing should be one of your greatest concerns. Exaggerated breathing with an open mouth can be a sign of respiratory distress. The color of its gums and level of its consciousness needs to be factored in as well. Also, can the patient urinate?
W.P.: Is vomiting or diarrhea something to worry about?
Dr. Rosenberg: The frequency and duration of both vomiting and diarrhea is important. You don’t want dehydration to set in. If a car hits a dog, that’s an emergency needing immediate attention. Respiratory, circulatory and neurological conditions also may warrant urgent care.
W.P.: What do we learn from our dog?
Dr. Rosenberg: How to be happy. Dogs have a talent. They have it down. If something bad happens they don’t dwell on it like we do. For example, on the rare occasion we amputate a leg, it never fails to amaze me how quickly the dog bounces back. Its different and something that I wouldn’t compare with a person. A dog somehow has this ability to say, “Okay this is what I have now.” Dogs rebound back nicely and in many cases start walking and making the necessary adjustments needed within hours or a day or two after their surgery.
W.P.: Do you have a memorable patient that came through against all the odds?
Dr. Rosenberg: (A silent smile spreads across Rosenberg’s face like a sunrise emerging on a beautiful day.) Winnie’s x-rays revealed canine spina bifida. It’s a pre-existing congenital defect. The spinal cord doesn’t close. Winnie wasn’t paralyzed but was incontinent and a little weak in the back legs. For the rest of her life she would need constant and consistent care. The prognosis was uncertain. It could get worse. For sure it would not get better. Her life expectancy was in question. But Winnie was doing great even though she couldn’t control her bowel movements. She had a will to live. And the owner was willing, really willing, to do the work and provide the care and love required to keep her alive and provide her with quality of life.
Dee Ruger – Winnie’s mom: We couldn’t housebreak Winnie, our bulldog puppy. She was not our first dog and we were very familiar with animals. My husband Cal’s family owned a diary and presently we have a horse farm. Winnie’s situation concerned us especially when I realized she never squatted to urinate. I called a breeder. She asked me to run my hand down her spine asking if I felt a slight indentation. I wasn’t sure I felt one, maybe very slight. The breeder suspected canine spina bifida. An x-ray was necessary to be sure.
Dr. Rosenberg was new to the clinic. Our vet was Dr. Smith but he was retiring and Dr. Rosenberg was acquiring the practice. So often the two would work in tandem, making for a seamless transition for pets and their owners. It was Dr. Smith who confirmed the x-rays revealed canine spina bifida. We were already aware that when this diagnosis is made, euthanizing is typically the first option - though in this situation the Winnie’s breeder had already offered to take her back. She had an outdoor kennel that would reduce the maintenance and care that Winnie would require. Dr. Smith thought this was a good idea. He explained how much work she was going to be.
Winnie’s breeders came to our house the next day. They handed me in cash what we’d paid for her. We sat in the living room and Winnie was excited to see them. She played with them and was having a good time. Then she was done and in bulldog fashion she came over to me and crawled onto my lap and went to sleep. Bulldogs know what they want. They are not subtle but very direct. That’s when the one breeder said, “We have a problem.” I nodded, “Yeah we do.” Winnie was our dog.
Dr. Rosenberg: In all my years of practice I knew only one other dog with canine spina bifida that was not euthanized. It requires patience and acceptance on the part of the owner that’s unconditional as well as compassionate. You will have to work with the reality; in this case, Winnie will have accidents since she can’t control her bowel movements. If you go in the direction of using diapers than you’ll have to change them quite often and clean her up like you would a baby.
Ruger: Winnie is active. She’s not limited and she has a bulldog temperament. We call her Queen Winnie. She knows what she wants and doesn’t want. We did use diapers in the beginning but Queen Winnie disagreed with that as a solution. So we then transitioned into what we call ‘Winnie loads of laundry’. We have everything worked out based on the layering method of placing plastic down on the couch followed by adding 3 layers of thick comforters and rugs. After our walks, feedings and playtime, when she’s in the house, she likes to be on the couch. If she has leaks or has an accident, she’ll bark and I’ll switch out layers and place the soiled laundry in the washer. We go through washing machines more quickly than an average household and stores must wonder why we are always buying comforters, but it works for us and for Winnie.
Dr. Rosenberg: Winnie is great. I’m told she even chases the UPS man.
W.P.: Did you know anything about canine spina bifida prior to Winnie?
Ruger: I was a teacher and had children so I was aware of it in that sense. I never really thought of dogs having spina bifida.
W.P.: Was there ever a time you felt overprotective of Winnie? If so, how did you work through that?
Ruger: From the minute I found out and until this day I’m too protective. “Don’t play rough with her?” “Hand the toy to her?” “Is the A/C on for Winnie?” When I taught there were students in my classroom that had deformities. I remember thinking back then that their parents needed to let their child acclimate and allow them to be as normal as possible. I understood how those parents felt the moment Winnie came into my life. I’m careful with other dogs around Winnie so that they don’t jump on her back. But she’s a dog, a bulldog. She loves her toys and she can sense if there is any food on the counters or elsewhere. If she’s had an accident, she’ll bark in a different tone that let’s me know the comforters need to be changed out. She’ll also bark if her bone falls off the couch, which has nothing to do with spina bifida but has everything to do with why we call her Queen Winnie. There’s a sign on our door that reads: Spoiled Rotten Bulldog Lives Here and that’s true.
W.P.: What has Winnie taught you?
Ruger: True honest patience. You have to excuse anything that can’t be controlled and that’s something lots of us don’t do. Winnie knows she’s challenged. She also knows she has total acceptance from us. Dogs don’t want to relieve themselves in the space that they consider as their area of comfort, rest or home. Her crate and the couch are places belonging to Winnie. Her reaction when she has an accident is normal; there’s awkwardness or embarrassment, like other dogs would have. Only she can’t help it if she if she has an accident. Yet she’s smart. She alerts us to what needs to be cleaned as well as shows her appreciation for being cared for. She really does acknowledge an understanding that something is different about her from other dogs. It’s as if she knows her life could have had a much different outcome. She wanted to live and we wanted her in our lives. There’s a mutual understanding and bond that’s unconditional. She knows I will protect her and I know Winnie will also protect me.
W.P.: What are the qualities you want and need from a veterinarian?
Ruger: Veterinarians must be caring and compassionate and must really like animals. I can cope if vets don’t have the best bedside manner or is even curt with me. But they have to be caring, knowledgeable and responsive to my animals. Also, honesty is something that I require and that’s linked with being humble. If you ask a question and the vet doesn’t fully know the answer, then I expect an honest opinion. And, I want to know that the vet will search out answers from another source. I’m never offended if someone tells me that they need to get more information, or feel that I should go to a place specializing in a particular field. Getting the best care for my pets is a priority.
W.P.: How would you describe Winnie’s relationship with Dr. Rosenberg?
Ruger: Gentle and caring. Winnie is happy when she sees Dr. Rosenberg. I recall one time when Winnie was freaked out at his office and began getting really worked up and nervous. And, then Dr. Rosenberg entered the room. She went right over to him and calmed down. His presence brought out the best in Winnie, making her feel that absolutely everything was okay because he was there. Dr. Rosenberg has even made house calls for Winnie. Lately she’s gotten too tough for me to cut her nails. Recently, Dr. Rosenberg came over for a visit and Winnie’s response to Mark elicited a sense of safety and comfort. She’s like all other canine patients that prove that proper nail trimming is both a technique and involves lots of negotiation. Winnie was putting up a challenge and that’s when Dr. Rosenberg turned to me and said, “I never imagined 8 years ago that I’d be wrestling and coaxing Winnie to let me cut her nails.” He was so happy. When he told Winnie, “only one more to do,” she sighed and regally resigned herself to the procedure, as only a Queen would do.
W.P.: Dr. Rosenberg, in your professional opinion do dogs laugh?
Dr. Rosenberg: (laughing) I think so. Did you ever see a dog smile? They show their teeth with a subtle look of a grin and their lips change somewhat. Its not necessarily a vocal laugh but more of a body laugh. Then there’s the all body wiggle and I count that as a laugh. Sometimes they have a breathy exhalation through their mouth, a sound you can hear when they are playing by themselves or with other dogs to initiate play. So yes, in my professional opinion dogs do laugh.
FULL DISCLOSURE: Dr. Rosenberg is the primary care physician for Pomo, WOOF Patrol’s mascot. Since 8 weeks of age we’ve been one of ‘those’ owners that called right away with regard to Pomo’s stool malfunctions (diarrhea). His tick and May fly bites only happen on major U.S. holidays like Memorial Day and July 4th. Either Dr. Rosenberg or the vet on call will help determine if this is an emergency or if applying an over the counter anti-inflammatory will reduce swelling and itching. And when Pomo began acting like Woody Allen - not in funny mode but in a totally neurotic fashion - it was Dr. Rosenberg that suggested we check his anal glands. Turns out that our pooch is non-symptomatic. He doesn’t scoot on his butt or react in other conventional ways that would signal discomfort and indicate that his anal glands need to be expressed. Instead Pomo goes all Woody Allen on us.
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