Thornwood Veterinary Clinic and Kennel Blogs
Check out our resources and blogs to learn more about your pet’s health and how to keep them happy and healthy! Check back often for new posts from our team of experts.

About Out Veterinary Blog
Most vets knew what we wanted to be when we were young. For me, it’s part of my identity, one of my earliest memories. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know that I would be a veterinarian. I pictured a house on a hill where I saw patients and lived with my family, a field for the horses I would have, a long dirt driveway and a quiet life. I named my practice and presented it for career day in 8thgrade. I figured out the real life costs of running it for a project as a senior in high school. In college, I made contacts in Montana for hay, equipment and land. I spent summers working on thoroughbred farms and discussed future jobs as a track vet. I had my life planned and a path to take. Then, after two years of college, I got into vet school.
Within months of starting, I realized I had no idea what being a vet actually looked like, and all of my very well thought out, carefully planned ideas came tumbling down. I could have never imagined the wild ride I was in for and what it actually meant to be a veterinarian. After my didactic years, I entered clinics focused on seeing small animals, not horses. I cancelled externships, burned bridges and turned my plans upside down. Now, more than ten years later, I run a small animal practice in the town where I grew up. It’s not down a dirt road in Big Sky, Montana and I don’t see horses in Ocala, Florida, but it fills every bucket in my soul that my childhood dream set up.
I’ve always known that I wanted to be a vet. Most of us are born knowing. What I didn’t know was what that would look like. In this blog, I’ll share stories from my own career, as well as those from colleagues across the country. You’ll hear about wild patients, even wilder clients, dark nights, dangerous house calls, new beginnings, and incredible feats of strength. The glamorous, the dirty, the tragic, the brilliant. You’ll hear from not just veterinarians, but from support staff, too. Hopefully, it brings us all together and paints a picture of just what it means to be a veterinarian.

5 Common Pet Soft Tissue Surgeries
5 Common Pet Soft Tissue Surgeries Many pets require various surgeries, including both routine elective procedures like spaying or neutering and essential operations to save their lives. Soft tissue and some orthopedic surgeries are typically done in general...

Tips and Tricks to Prevent Dog Bites
Tips and Tricks to Prevent Dog Bites As a dog owner, it's important to learn how to prevent and handle dog bites. Although you can't completely shield your pet from other animals, there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of a bite happening in...

Stay Aware of Pet Emergencies This Spring
Keep your pet safe this spring with these tips and advice on how to recognize common pet emergencies and know how to act when they occur.

Coping With Pet Loss
Are you struggling to process the loss of a beloved pet? This article offers three tips that can help you cope during this difficult period.

Spoil Your Furry Friend With a Pet Treat This Valentine’s Day
Spoil Your Furry Friend With a Pet Treat This Valentine’s Day Although you show your furry friend just how much you love them every day, Valentine’s Day gives you the opportunity to shower them with even more adoration. While your pet cannot have chocolate,...

When Should I Schedule My First Pet Dental Cleaning?
Wondering when to schedule your pet’s dental cleaning? Here are three telltale signs that it might be time.

Signs of a Pet Emergency
Signs of a Pet Emergency Summer has many dangers for pets, but colder weather also brings its own hazards. As the temperature drops, watch out for the following issues that can require emergency care for your furry pal. Antifreeze toxicity in pets...

Fix Your Pet’s Dry Skin Quickly With These Helpful Treatments
Fix Your Pet’s Dry Skin Quickly With These Helpful Treatments Humidity levels begin to drop with the temperatures in your home and outdoors. A drop in humidity often leads to dry, itchy skin and can leave your furry pal uncomfortable during the winter months....

Ways To Keep Your Pet Entertained This Winter
From interactive games to new toys, find out how you can keep your pet entertained all winter long!

The Most Common Holiday Pet Hazards
Keep your pet safe and healthy this holiday season by being aware of the most common holiday hazards.