Ep 3. High on the Hog

In this episode of Dr. Dee Alaska Vet, titled "High on the Hog," we follow Dr. Dee Thornell as she tends to a variety of animals in need in rural Alaska. The episode begins with Dr. Dee visiting a farm where a pair of potbelly pigs, named Bonnie and Clyde, are in need of some medical attention. Bonnie has an abscess on her back leg and Dr. Dee quickly gets to work draining and cleaning it. Meanwhile, Clyde is experiencing chronic diarrhea and Dr. Dee suspects it may be due to his diet. She recommends some dietary changes and prescribes medication to help get him back to normal.

Next, we follow Dr. Dee as she visits a sled dog kennel where one of the dogs, named Cash, is limping and experiencing pain in his shoulder. Dr. Dee suspects Cash may have a torn ligament and takes him in for x-rays. The x-rays confirm her suspicions and Dr. Dee sets up a surgery for him to repair the ligament. Later, we see Cash post-surgery and receiving physical therapy from his owner to regain full mobility.

Later in the episode, Dr. Dee heads out to a remote village where a local woman has quite a menagerie of pets in need of check-ups. Dr. Dee tends to a variety of animals including a parrot with a respiratory infection, a dog with an ear infection, and a cat with a wound that needs to be cleaned and bandaged. The remote location makes it difficult to transport the animals to a clinic, so Dr. Dee works with what materials she has on hand to provide the necessary care. Despite the challenges, Dr. Dee is able to successfully treat all of the animals and provide the owner with some tips for better pet care going forward.

Later in the episode, Dr. Dee visits a local wildlife center where a group of injured bald eagles are recovering. She performs a check-up on one of the eagles, looking for any signs of stress or illness. Dr. Dee notes that the eagle has a fairly common issue of being overweight due to eating too much processed food. She recommends the center make some dietary changes to help their patients maintain a healthier weight and prevent further health complications.

In the final segment of the episode, we see Dr. Dee returning to the farm where Bonnie and Clyde reside. Clyde's diarrhea has persisted, so Dr. Dee decides to take some stool samples to send off for testing. The results come back showing that Clyde has some kind of parasite and Dr. Dee prescribes medication to clear up the infection. Meanwhile, Bonnie's abscess has completely healed and the pigs are back to their usual antics around the farm.

Overall, this episode of Dr. Dee Alaska Vet highlights the important work that Dr. Dee does to help animals in need in rural Alaska. From pigs to sled dogs to bald eagles, Dr. Dee is able to diagnose and treat a variety of health issues and provide pet owners and wildlife centers with guidance to ensure their animals remain healthy and happy.