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.
Toxin-Proof Training: Teach Your Pet to Avoid Dangerous Substances
Toxin-Proof Training: Teach Your Pet to Avoid Dangerous Substances Our pets are cherished family members, but their instinctual curiosity can sometimes lead them into dangerous situations, especially when it comes to household toxins. Training your pets to obey...
Shedding Light on World Cancer Day for Our Furry Friends
Shedding Light on World Cancer Day for Our Furry Friends On World Cancer Day, we turn our attention to a pressing issue affecting pets worldwide—cancer. Just like in humans, cancer can strike our furry friends, making awareness, early detection, and timely treatment...
Paws and Passports: The Ultimate Guide to Pet Travel Wellness
Paws and Passports: The Ultimate Guide to Pet Travel Wellness Embarking on adventures with your furry companion can be a rewarding experience, but ensuring their safety and well-being during travel is paramount. This blog explores essential tips for traveling safely...
Winter Watch: How to Keep Your Pet Warm and Cozy in Chilly Weather
Winter Watch: How to Keep Your Pet Warm and Cozy in Chilly Weather Winter blankets the world in a serene white embrace, but potential risks for our furry companions lie beneath the beauty. As the temperatures drop, pet owners must ensure their beloved dogs and cats...
A Guide to Safe Thanksgiving Foods for Your Pet
A Guide to Safe Thanksgiving Foods for Your Pet Thanksgiving is coming up, so include your dogs in the festivities and cook a nice feast for your loved ones. In this blog article, we'll walk you through some safe Thanksgiving recipes so your four-legged friend may eat...
Pumpkin for Pets: Fall’s Nutritional Superfood
Pumpkin for Pets: Fall's Nutritional Superfood A cool breeze and changing leaves indicate fall, which means one seasonal favorite for everyone—pumpkins! Even if you enjoy pumpkin-flavored goodies, have you ever considered whether pumpkin is good for and safe for your...
Choking Hazards for Pets – What to Look Out For
Choking Hazards for Pets - What to Look Out For As pet owners, we must always ensure our pets are safe. We provide them with food, sufficient exercise, and love and affection. Choking is a risk, nevertheless, one we frequently ignore. Pets can choke on objects too...
Tips for Helping Your Pets Adjust to Back-to-School Season
Tips for Helping Your Pets Adjust to Back-to-School Season The change in household dynamics that comes with back-to-school time frequently impacts our cherished pets. Our canine friends could become stressed, bored, or experience separation anxiety as families resume...
Navigating Pet Health Emergencies: Urgent Care vs. Emergency Care
Navigating Pet Health Emergencies: Urgent Care vs. Emergency Care Our family is not complete without our furry friends. Like us, they are susceptible to sudden health problems and accidents that require rapid medical attention. Knowing the difference between urgent...
Keep Your Pet Hydrated During the Summer
Keep Your Pet Hydrated During the Summer Pet owners must be on the lookout for dehydration in their beloved pets as summer draws closer. During these hotter months, heat exhaustion and dehydration are significant causes for concern because they can result in serious...