Veterinarian George Balster cares for cats, dogs, ferrets, hamsters, amphibians and birds but only one animal can hold the title of man’s best friend.

“I have always had a love for all of God’s creatures, but horses are animals that I believe are spiritual,” he said.

Balster grew up on a farm and knew working with large animals was his calling after graduating from Iowa State University in 1970. He now works at Bethany Animal Hospital, 2400 Bethany Road.

“I started out like every kid growing up,” he said. “I wanted to be an airline pilot, but I was working with large animals on the farm and then I thought I might like surgery [for pets].”

After stops in Arizona, Iowa and southern Illinois, Balster made the trip to Sycamore and began performing veterinary services 21 years ago.

Surgery has become more advanced during his career. A wider range of surgical procedures is now available for pets.

From the routine ovariohysterectomy to the more advanced hip or eye operation, almost anything is possible. Just about everything can be removed or replaced.

Anesthesia is used for patients on almost anything involving surgery.

“Anesthesia and pain management have made performing surgery less stressful for pets,” he said.

Sometimes there are pets that are a little less willing to be put under anesthesia than others.

“Usually we only have problems with the cats,” he said. “Dogs are easier because you can put a muzzle on them.”

When cats become troublesome, they are given special treatment.

“We put the cats into a fish tank,” said Terri Johnson, a technical assistant for four and a half years.

The “cat tank” is then hooked up to a gas machine and soon it begins to overwhelm the restless feline until sleep is the only thing on its mind.

“It’s great because there is an animal that is fighting you one moment and then you turn on the isoflurane and watch them go so sleep,” Johnson said.

Many of the troublesome animals have a period of time right before they fall asleep when they try to resist the effects of the gas by banging on the sides of the “cat tank” with their heads.

“They do not have control over how they react to the gas,” Johnson said.

New and unusual pet problems are always happening to veterinarians or, more accurately, their patients.

“One time a dog came in after it had swallowed four golf balls,” Balster said. “We have extracted bras and panties on different occasions.”

Having a job that presents a new or unusual challenge is part of the fun, Balster said.

“If you are the type of person who does not like new and unusual things, then this is not the job for you,” he said.