2017 November PASO Magazine

As the big meal approaches it is time
to look back and consider what we are
thankful for in our lives. While I surely
appreciate my family and the awesome
team of people I work with at
Main Street Small Animal Hospital,
I wouldn't be where I am at today
without the support and guidance of
my mentor and good buddy Jim Geer.
So, in today's column I will share some
stories about Jim.
When I was finishing my degree
at Tufts, Dr. Geer offered me my first
job. I had a couple offers so I didn't accept
it on the spot. I knew that one of
my instructors at Tufts had worked for
him in the past and I thought I would
pick his brain. I went to my large animal
rotation waiting for a chance to
discretely talk to him.
My instructor was not so coy. He
pointed me out at 6 a.m. in front of
everyone and said “Hey Ryan, when
are you going to pull your head out …
and take that job offer from Jim Geer!”
By Dr. Ryan Ehlinger
Dr. E brings humor and anecdote with tales from the halls of the
veterinary hospital. “If you are looking for info on what not to feed
your dog on Thanksgiving you can check out what Dr. Google says.
If you are looking for great veterinary stories or ‘a day in the life’
bit you have come to the right place!” — Dr. E.
George Drops In
& Dr. Jimmy Geer Nails It
The not so subtle endorsement hit home
and soon I was working for Jim.
A few weeks later I had my first day
as a practicing veterinarian. I was bringing
my charts up to the front desk when
suddenly an elderly gentleman with
a cane collapsed at checkout. I ran up
and checked his pulse. I was about to
start CPR when the receptionist says
“Dr. Ehlinger leave him alone! Dr. Geer
is on his way!”
I knelt there and waited for what felt
like eons until Dr. Geer came around
the corner. He looked at me. Then at
the old man. Then back at me again.
Finally, he yells in a big booming voice
from about 30 feet away, “George you
old drunk. Do you want me to call your
wife or do you want me to call the cops!”
George pops his head up and pleads
“please don't call my wife Jimmy!”
Once I asked Dr. Geer how he became
one of the busiest vets in New
England. He told me he was a new vet
and was the backup doctor for a very
large dairy operation. He got a call one
day because a prize bull was sick and the
usual vet was not available. This was a
valuable breeding animal. Worth about
$100,000 back in the early 70s.
The bull was off feed and febrile. Jim
did his exam and told the farmer that the
bull had Hardware Disease. The farmer
said “hardware disease! What the heck
is that?” Jim told him the bull was sick
from eating a nail that fell in the feed
and made a hole in his stomach.
The farmer told his workers to go get
a rifle.
“Young Jimmy here says the bull has a
nail in his stomach. Shoot him and have
Jim here show me the nail!”
Next thing you know that bull is dead
on the ground of a gunshot wound, with
a crowd of people standing over him.
Jimmy cut him open, reached up into
the stomach, and pulled out the nail.
I always loved that story because it
wasn’t about yelp reviews, advertising, or
any marketing whatsoever. Just a farmer,
a gun, a dead bull, a nail, and a veterinarian
on top of his game.
Over the years we have shared a lot
of laughs and he has shared a lot of
yankee wisdom. In his words, “the bald
spot shows I’m wise and the hemorrhoid
shows I’m concerned!” Most
importantly, he taught me the “art” of
veterinary medicine and how to grapple
with all those things you can’t find in
textbooks.
Dr. Ryan Ehlinger is the owner of the
Main Street Small Animal Hospital in
Templeton. A full service small animal
hospital serving the north county since
1988. Hop online and give him a Yelp
review, or visit templetonvet.com for
more info. See ad on pg. 39.
November 2017, PASO Magazine 61