How does ambulatory veterinary medicine differ from in clinic veterinary services?
Ambulatory veterinary medicine—where veterinarians travel to the farm or home—offers key advantages over in-clinic care. Animals experience less stress because they remain in familiar surroundings, improving welfare and exam accuracy. Veterinarians can assess real-world conditions like housing, nutrition, and herd dynamics, allowing for more tailored recommendations, especially for livestock operations. It also saves time and labor, as multiple animals can be treated on site and preventative programs are easier to implement. In-clinic care remains essential for advanced diagnostics, surgery, and intensive treatment. Together, both models complement each other to provide comprehensive, practical, and high-quality veterinary care.
When does in home visits work best?
1. When the animal becomes stressed in a veterinary clinic.
2. When multiple pets are needing treatment and it can be cumbersome to take them all into the clinic setting.
3. When you want a more personal, slower pace and individualized veterinary visit.
4. When pets are fearful of other animals or humans, an at home visit can help reduce triggers and make the animal more comfortable.
5. Senior pets having mobility issues, will sometimes have better footing in their own home, allowing for carpets and other options to make moving around easier.
Why are annual wellness visits important?
Wellness visits are routine veterinary checkups focused on keeping pets healthy and preventing disease. During these visits, veterinarians perform a full physical exam, assess weight and body condition, and discuss nutrition, behavior, and lifestyle. Vaccinations are updated as needed, and preventative care such as parasite control and dental health is reviewed. Wellness exams help detect problems early, often before symptoms appear, improving outcomes and reducing long-term costs. They are especially important for puppies and kittens during development and for senior pets who may develop age-related conditions. Regular wellness visits build a strong relationship between the veterinarian, pet, and owner, supporting lifelong health.
What are the common topics discussed in a Wellness Examination?
1.Nutrition & diet – Type of food, feeding amounts, treats, and weight management.
2. Vaccinations – Core and lifestyle-based vaccines, schedules, and updates.
3. Parasite prevention – Fleas, ticks, heartworm, and deworming plans.
4. Dental health – Oral exams, home care, and professional cleanings.
5. Behavior & lifestyle – Activity level, training, socialization, and any concerns.
6. Weight & body condition – Monitoring for obesity or underweight issues.
7. Preventative screenings – Bloodwork, fecal tests, and age-related checks.
8. Mobility & pain – Joint health, re-occuring issues, pain after exercise, arthritis signs, especially in senior pets.
9. Home environment – Living conditions, safety, and overall pet care routines, fear or anxiety triggers and how to manage them.
Pet Care Articles
Pet treats… What do I look out for?
1. Watch for treats that are not processed to kill bacteria (such as cooking, pasteurization or irradiation). Bacteria can cause serious digestive upset.
2. Watch for manufacturer recalls, some treats can be contaminated with certain toxins picked up in the manufacturing process.
3. Hard treats can encourage chewing but may have sharp edges that can cause trauma to the mouth or gastrointestinal tract. Bones have been known to cause trouble when they are chewed into small sharp fragments.
4. High calorie treats can lead to weight gain. Treats are supposed to taste yummy and therefore are more likely to have higher calories then most dog food. These treats may need to be limited to 1-2 or finding a treat lower in calories.
Why does my dog bark?
A dog's bark can mean many things:
- alert everyone around them of something new
- warning
- greeting
- alerting owner of squirrels, rabbits or birds journal times of day and what is in the environment during barking episodes.
Try teaching alternative behaviors incompatible with barking on command such as checking in with their person or relaxing on a mat or eating a treat. Some rewards include a favorite toy, attention, or verbal praise. Another way to decrease barking is to make sure your dog has opportunities to exercise their brain and body. Sniffing is a great way to burn calories and enrich the mind about the world around them. Playing nose-work games and introducing your dog to food dispensing toys or puzzle toys are great ways to exercise your dog’s mind and keep your dog busy throughout the day. Regardless of whether you use a certified professional or work on your own, remember that it will take time because barking is a natural behavior that you can shape but not eliminate.
What should I consider when I want to introduce my current dog (s) to my new dog?
This should be a slow process, remember:
- Some dogs are not capable of getting along with other dogs)
- Some dogs have a “prey drive” which means they have an instinct to chase and catch smaller animals that override their ability to stay calm
How to ensure good first interactions when introducing pets:
- Keep both pets separate initially
- Give each pet time alone to get use to the new smells in the house
- Supervised visits between animals lasting 15-30 minutes, initially allow them to visualize each other without touching
- Slowly increasing the amount of time your pets spend together, keeping them leashed to allow you to remove or separate them
- Try to avoid reaching the threshold where they start to growl and posture
- Make sure each dog has plenty of his own food, toys, and water to help prevent fighting over these objects
- Give each dog plenty of your attention and affection, even if that means separating them to do so
What is Enrichment and Why is it Important for Senior Dogs?
Enrichment is offering experiences and opportunities to animals to encourage healthy natural behaviors and enhance physical and emotional welfare. Enrichment is often broken into two broad categories: environmental and social. Environmental enrichment alters the animal’s space either by making changes to the environment itself or by adding novel items such as toys, feeding puzzles, exercise, and things to smell and explore. Social enrichment involves offering positive social experiences for the animal with people or other animals. Sometimes we enrich our lives and our animal’s life without even noticing, such as going for walks outside or eating a yummy treat. Dogs can have several age-related diseases that can result in behavior changes and welfare concerns, such as arthritis, dental disease, cancer, diabetes, and other endocrine diseases. Additionally, dogs can develop canine cognitive dysfunction, a syndrome that is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans.
Pain is also more likely to occur in senior dogs with age-related diseases, leading to decreased activity, increased anxiety, restlessness, and occasionally aggression. Due to these age-related challenges, we should find ways to enrich their lives and help manage these conditions. While senior dogs may not be able to participate in much physical enrichment, such as long walks, other forms can be mentally stimulating. If you have noticed behavioral changes in your senior dog, work with your veterinarian to determine if there is an underlying medical condition that may be causing the behavior. You should also discuss your dog’s weight and nutrition with your veterinarian to keep them at a healthy weight and as comfortable as possible as they age. By working with your veterinarian to manage age-related health conditions and providing individual and age-appropriate enrichment, you can enhance your pet’s quality of life and improve your bond with your senior dog.
Who needs the exercise, you, your dog, or both?
In humans, walking improves your cardiovascular health, builds stronger muscles, lowers your blood pressure and stress levels. Guess what – it has the same affects on your dog too! Walking your dog 2-3 times a day is a great way to keep them active and reduce their risks of obesity and disease. Remember you need to increase your dog’s heart rate to get a cardiovascular benefit so if your dog insists on eliminating at every mailbox or light post then you may need to walk in areas that have fewer distractions like an open field, a state park, or a beach. Keep walking!
If your health is not the primary goal, then what is? Is your dog the one in need of exercise? Are you trying to improve their physique, or do you have another goal in mind? Often we look to walking as a solution for weight management or to burn off energy. If you have a busy dog that never runs out of energy, then taking them for regular walks seems like the best solution. As with humans, walking has many health benefits for dogs including building muscle and becoming stronger. However, over a period of time, you may notice a walk that previously tired them out no longer has the same effect. While walks are helpful for a dog that needs to shed some weight, they may not be ideal if your goal is to burn off energy. As their stamina increases, more intense walks may be needed to truly exhaust them. A solution to this issue may be to modify the type of walk you take.
Should I get my pet microchipped?
Microchip Myth – the owner’s information in not stored on the microchip!
When you get your animal microchipped, the veterinarian inserts a small transmitter about the size of a grain of rice. If you scan the transmitter, a signal is relayed in the form of athe unique identification number. In order to connect you with your pet, the unique identification number must be registered to the companies website that will connect your information to the pets unique number. People looking for the owner must enter the unique number into the website to get the owner information and contact you. This tiny but sturdy little implant can reunite you with a lost pet, serve as proof of ownership in a dispute, or even mean the difference between euthanasia and medical care in an emergency. A microchip does not locate a missing pet. The city shelter does not maintain a microchip registry (though they may very well include the chip information in its licensing database). There is no central registry where all microchip information is maintained. Personal information is not stored on the chip.
Can an animal get frostbite?
Absolutely, frostbite can occur anytime the temperature is below 32 degrees F (0 degrees C). Most susceptible areas on your pet are the paws, ears, and tails. Signs of frostbite include:
1. Skin that is cold to the touch
2. Swelling, redness or pain in the area when touched
3. Blisters or ulcers
4. Discolouration of the tissue and in severe cases may look black Pets that are wet and outside can be at an increased risk of frostbite.
Signs of frostbite may not be evident right away and may take a few days to appear. Quickest way to reduce your risk is by shortening walks on cold days.
How do I troubleshoot brushing my pet’s teeth?
- Use a 4 x 4 “ gauze square or cloth (actually has more abrasiveness then those plastic tooth brushes) wrapped around your index finger
- Dip your fingertip into gravy or pet toothpaste on the gauze and allow your pet to lick your fingertip a few times
- Slide your finger under your pet’s upper lip and make a brushing action. Then allow them to lick the remaining toothpaste
- Complete ¼ of the mouth at a time, this means it will take 4 days to complete the entire mouth
- Reward with a treat, toy or praise once finished brushing
- Strive for brushing twice a week
Large Animal Articles
What to do when a calf is colostrum deficient?
When a calf is colostrum deficient, act quickly to provide immunity and energy. Ideally within the first 6 hours of life, feed high-quality colostrum (at least 10% of body weight) using stored, tested colostrum (from a dairy producer) or a commercial replacer. If the calf is older than 12–24 hours and gut absorption is reduced, consult a veterinarian about plasma transfusion to deliver antibodies. Keep the calf warm, dry, and well-bedded to reduce stress. Monitor closely for signs of illness such as scours or lethargy, and ensure good hygiene. Early intervention is critical to improve survival, health, and long-term performance.
Why should I float a horse's teeth every 1-2 years?
Floating a horse’s teeth every two years helps maintain proper dental balance and overall health. Horses’ teeth erupt continuously and wear unevenly, often forming sharp points, hooks, or waves. These can cause pain, mouth sores, and difficulty chewing, leading to poor feed utilization and weight loss. Regular floating smooths these abnormalities, improving chewing efficiency and digestion. It also helps prevent issues with the bit, such as resistance or head tossing during riding. Routine dental care allows early detection of problems like infections or fractured teeth, supporting long-term comfort, performance, and wellbeing.
Why is wound care so important in horse and how proud flesh can take over?
Wound care in horses is critical because their skin heals differently than many other species—and often not in their favor. Horses, especially on their lower limbs, have limited blood supply and minimal soft tissue coverage. This slows healing and increases the risk of infection, contamination, and complications if a wound isn’t managed properly from the start.One of the biggest concerns is exuberant granulation tissue, commonly called proud flesh. This occurs when the body produces too much granulation tissue during healing. Instead of staying level with the skin, it grows above the wound surface, preventing normal skin cells from migrating across and closing the wound.
Proud flesh tends to develop when:
- Wounds are left untreated or not bandaged properly
- There is excessive movement (common in legs)
- Infection or chronic inflammation is present
- The wound is kept too moist or irritated
Good wound care—cleaning, appropriate bandaging, controlling movement, and early veterinary attention—helps regulate the healing process and prevents proud flesh from taking over. Once it develops, treatment often requires trimming back the tissue and applying medications to reset proper healing.
Why feeding testing is important to all livestock operations?
Feed testing in cattle isn’t optional if you want consistent performance—it’s how you turn guesswork into precision. Even feeds that look identical can vary widely in nutrient value depending on weather, maturity, storage, and species mix.
A proper analysis gives you:
Protein levels – critical for growth, milk production, and rumen function
Energy (TDN, net energy) – drives weight gain and body condition
Fiber (NDF/ADF) – affects intake and digestibility
Minerals – helps prevent deficiencies (e.g., calcium, magnesium)
Without testing, you’re essentially guessing—and that can lead to underfeeding (lost performance) or overfeeding (wasted money).
Why it matters to your farm?
Maximizes performance: Balanced rations improve gain, fertility, and milk production
Saves money: You avoid unnecessary supplements when forage already meets needs
Prevents health issues: Reduces risk of problems like acidosis, poor immunity, or mineral deficiencies
Improves consistency: Especially important for backgrounding, finishing, or dairy operations
Is investing in embryo transfer a good idea?
Embryo transfer (ET) can be a strong investment in a cattle program—but only if you’re aiming to accelerate genetics and market higher-value animals. Used strategically, it shortens timelines that would otherwise take years.
1. Rapid genetic advancement - ET lets you multiply your best cows instead of waiting for one calf per year. Elite donors can produce multiple embryos, quickly improving herd quality.
2. Increased revenue potential - Offspring from top genetics—whether performance, maternal traits, or carcass quality—can command premium prices as breeding stock or replacements.
3. Access to elite bloodlines - You can bring in genetics from top herds worldwide without purchasing live animals, reducing biosecurity risk and transport stress
.4. Better use of top females -High-value cows can continue producing embryos while still being productive in the herd, maximizing their lifetime impact.
5. Faster herd consistency - Using proven sires and donors tightens up uniformity in your calf crop—important for marketing groups of cattle.
6. Flexibility with recipients - You can use lower-genetic or commercial cows as recipients, upgrading your herd without replacing your entire base.
7. Reduced disease risk - Compared to moving live cattle, embryos (when handled properly) carry much lower risk of transmitting disease.
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