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.
Back-to-School Considerations for Your Pet
Back-to-School Considerations for Your Pet Switching your family from summer to school can be rough for everyone, four-legged ones included. To help make the back-to-school transition easier—for your pet, at least—give the following tips a try. #1: Set...
Importance of Preventive Screenings for Senior Pets
Importance of Preventive Screenings for Senior Pets Sadly, we can all agree that our pets do not live long enough lives. Along with a shorter lifespan—in relation to their human family members—come rapid health changes, particularly in their later years....
How to Prevent and Spot the Signs of Heatstroke in Pets
How to Prevent and Spot the Signs of Heatstroke in Pets Summer is reaching its peak and your furry pal may grow more accustomed to the high temperatures and humidity levels associated with the season, but they still can succumb to heatstroke. Abrupt temperature...
Common Waterborne Pet Parasites
4 Waterborne Illnesses Your Pet Can Contract from Swimming Summertime may mean your furry pal is splashing in and out of water all season long. While the refreshing water is a great way to cool off, it also can harbor a variety of pet parasites and pathogens that can...
4 Ways to Ensure You Have a Cool Pet This Summer
4 Fun Ways to Have a Cool Pet in the Summer Heat Summertime is full of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, although high temperatures and humidity can make it uncomfortable for your pet. Help your furry pal beat the heat with the following tips. #1: Fill up a...
The Best Ways to Safely Handle Ticks When Hiking with Your Pet
How to Tackle Ticks Safely When Hiking with Your Pet Nothing sends the creepy-crawlies up your spine more than spotting a tick prowling across your pet’s skin. When taking advantage of the beautiful summer weather to go hiking with your pet, help them stay safe from...
5 Boating and Lake Safety Tips for Your Pets This Summer
Anchors Away! Boating and Lake Safety Tips for Pets Nothing is better than spending a hot summer day at the lake, and, with a little planning, you can include your pet. Here are five boating and lake safety tips to follow. #1: Fit your pet for a life jacket...
What You Need to Know About Skin Allergies in Pets
April Showers Bring… Spring Skin Allergies in Pets As spring brings warmer weather and new growth, it also brings something more threatening—pollen. Pollen triggers irritating allergies in people and pets alike and can cause a wide variety of signs in suffering...
3 Reasons Why Every Pet Owner Should Have Their Pet Microchipped
3 Reasons Why Every Pet Owner Should Have Their Pet Microchipped Is there any greater fear than the thought of losing your four-legged friend? No matter whether you live near a busy road, in the middle of a vast wilderness, or in a quiet suburb, you may worry...