Salt and Light House Call Veterinarian, PLLC

11/18/2024

We often get questions about supplements. These are some of the supplements that we recommend. If you have questions about your specific pet's needs, please reach out to us to set up an appointment to discuss.

11/14/2024

We have received another report of a mosquito-borne disease this week. A horse in Hickman County has tested positive for West Nile Virus. Thankfully, the horse exhibited only mild neurological symptoms and is recovering well. 🐴

Protect your animals:
• Vaccinations: Ensure your horses and pets are up-to-date with their vaccinations to help prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
• Vector Control: Implement effective mosquito control measures on your property. This includes removing standing water, using mosquito repellent, and maintaining clean environments.

Together, we can safeguard the health of our animals.

11/07/2024

We hope this finds you well and that you are gearing up for a wonderful holiday season!

In order to spend time with loved ones, we will be closed for appointments and communication these days. Keep in mind that this may also affect medication refills, so if you need a refill during this time, let us know in advance.

11/06/2024

Yesterday, Mercie and I had the pleasure of meeting sweet Arlo the rabbit! We love seeing all different pets because it makes our day more interesting!

11/06/2024

I've always strongly recommended this vaccine. I'm glad that it's importance for all has been recognized.

Let us know if you have any questions about whether your dog has received the Lepto vaccine!

🚨 Important Update: Leptospirosis Now a Core Vaccine for ALL Dogs
The 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines have been updated to classify the leptospirosis vaccine as CORE for all dogs starting at 12 weeks of age – regardless of lifestyle, location, or breed.
Why the change?
🌆 ALL dogs are at risk—urban, suburban, and rural.
⚠️ Potentially fatal, even with treatment.
🔄 Zoonotic—it can spread from pets to humans.
🏢 Dogs in daycare and kennels also face exposure risks.
You can find the full update in the Nov/Dec issue of JAAHA, or check out the full 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines here: aaha.org/canine-vaccinations

11/04/2024

Memorial Post for Rex:
From my chat with Rex's family, this handsome boy was an adventurous dog with a lovable personality. He was saved from an animal shelter where he was a long term resident and went on numerous miles of hiking trails. He will be deeply and dearly missed by them.

Please join us in praying for the grieving family.

10/14/2024

This week is National Veterinary Technician Week! Dr. Ashlee has worked with some amazing veterinary technicians and assistants over the years. Honestly, they are better than the veterinarians at a lot of things especially when it comes to compassion for animals! We are so excited to now have a veterinary assistant (Mercie) on staff, and cannot wait for her to continue learning and growing in the profession.

If you happen to see Mercie or any other vet tech/assistant this week, please let them know how appreciated they are!

10/08/2024

Good morning! We are excited to announce another new member of the Salt and Light team! Angie will be assisting Dr. Ashlee behind the scenes with various administrative tasks! Please join us in welcoming her.

"Hi my name is Angie! I am a wife, boy mom and fur mom. I’ve know Dr.Ashlee for a long time! I trust her knowledge and wisdom with not only my family’s fur babies, but anyone I would recommend to her! I’m so excited to be joining this team! I love animals and helping others!"

10/07/2024

As we continue to pray for those devastated by the effects of Hurricane Helene, we are praying for the preparations of those in Hurricane Miltons path!

10/02/2024

Good morning! We are excited to announce a new member of the Salt and Light team! Mercie will be joining Dr. Ashlee on appointments as a veterinary assistant! Please join us in welcoming her.

"Hi! I’m Mercie! I’m originally from Southern California, but I’ve been here for a couple years now. Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to work with animals in some way, shape, or form. I’ve worked with Dr. King before and I love everything she stands for! Couldn’t be more excited to work with her again doing something I love!"

09/20/2024

Dr. Ashlee will be unavailable for appointments and have limited communication October 2nd-4th. She will be attending a continuing education conference in order to learn about new treatment strategies and medications. Continuing education is not only a legal requirement, but it also allows for better patient care as more is learned through evidence based research. Please be sure to keep this in mind when planning any appointments, questions, and/or prescription renewals.

09/13/2024

Sarge was such a sweet boy who had to be put to rest. Please join us in praying for his grieving family!

09/12/2024

I hesitated to write this post, but I have decided that I would like to share because it explains a key part of veterinary medicine that few in the general public fully understand.

Pictured is Nellie who is my 7.5 year old Blue Heeler. If you have had an appointment with me, you have probably heard at least one story about Nellie or my other Blue Heeler, Sadie, who is photobombing Nellie's picture.

A few months ago, I noticed abnormal muscle wasting near Nellie's elbow, so I did radiographs and other testing. However, I wasn't able to pinpoint the issue. Due to my concern and lack of answers, I scheduled her for an appointment with the University of Tennessee Veterinary Hospital. At this appointment, they performed a thorough orthopedic exam and CT scan of her elbow and shoulder. This allowed us to find an area of chronic or long-term inflammation in her shoulder. She received shockwave therapy, and they further recommended a rest from activity with a slow return to normal activity. Nellie hates what she can only describe as house arrest, but I think that its what's best for her in the long run.

I share this part of my life to explain that me and the majority of local veterinarians are general practitioners. We can be viewed as a human primary physician. We know a little about a lot, but we have our limits. Oftentimes, we don't reach a full diagnosis because we don't have the specialized experience, knowledge, skill, and/or testing that's needed. This can only be achieved at a specialist. There are just as many specialists in the veterinary field if not more than in human medicine - Internal medicine, orthopedic surgeons, dermatologists, oncologists, cardiologists, etc. Each one receives additional training after veterinary school.

I don't take lightly when I need to refer patients to other veterinarians or hospitals. I do understand that specialists are expensive. As stated above, I just went to a specialist, and I paid my own bill. So, if referral isn't an option for you due to finances, I am willing to do the best that my training allows. Sometimes, this means treating multiple potential diagnosis at the same time. Sometimes, this means multiple follow-ups to find the treatment that actually works. During this time, it's important to be patient as each treatment is kind of a long duration diagnostic test. My hope is that you will read this and appreciate the complex nature of your pet's body and illnesses, and understand the limits of my knowledge.

Thank you if you made it to the end of this rather long post, and please pray for Nellie's recovery!
Dr. Ashlee

09/04/2024

This would be a great way to check out the Columbia State Veterinary Technology Program !

Interested in caring for animals? Join us at one of the 6 Vet Tech program's information sessions! 🐶🐱

09/04/2024

Our first fundraiser of the Fall is coming up, mark your calendars!

Saturday, September 7, 2024 from 9am - 2pm

Our annual Dog Wash - raising funds for our Class of 2025 Students.

08/23/2024

These pesky critters can cause a lot of stinky mess! Screen shot this recipe for later use!

Also, if your pet gets sprayed in the face, be sure to flush their eyes with a eye wash solution as the chemical can cause severe eye irritation.

08/22/2024

We love to share happy stories!

Meet Hazel the chocolate Labrador! Her owners were concerned that she was having more difficulty breathing with even the slightest increased activity. At her annual visit, we discussed her overweight status and how that may be the source of her issues. All that extra weight was putting extra strain on her lungs and muscles. Her owners immediately started working on weight loss. They all did amazing, and she is much closer to her ideal weight! Now, they say that she breathes easier and seems so much happier! For reference, her starting weight was 82 pounds. At her last weigh in, she was 71 pounds. Additionally, she can now keep up with her new puppy sister!

We stress weight in a lot of our appointments, and Hazel is definitely a success story! If you would like to discuss your beloved pet's weight and determine next steps to reach healthy goals, please reach out to us!

08/22/2024

Good information for horse owners!

As fall draws closer, many horse owners are busy securing their fall and winter hay supply. If you are considering purchasing round bales for your equine companions—due to their cost-effectiveness and greater convenience for feeding pastured animals— remember that there are a few things to consider when choosing between square or round bales.

• Are you equipped/prepared to store your hay correctly?
Improperly stored round bales can lose much of their nutritional value and are also more susceptible to mold, dust, and bacteria growth, which can cause respiratory issues and even colic.

• Are your horses protected from botulism?
Round bales provide an optimum environment for the development of the botulism toxin. This toxin is produced when "Clostridium botulinum" is exposed to the right environmental conditions — such as when forage materials are baled and stored while still damp, or when they include the carcasses of dead animals, like birds and mice.

Prevention of this disease through vaccination is critical, especially in areas where the condition is prevalent (such as Kentucky, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, California, and Tennessee).

• Are round bales a good choice for your horse?
Horses prone to respiratory conditions usually have increased problems with round bales due to their higher dust content.

• Do you have a feeder to place your round bales in?
Round bales not placed in a feeder can create more waste, which means your horses may not be meeting their nutritional requirements.

• Can you secure high-quality round bales?
Not all hay is created equal. Be sure to choose high-quality hay to meet your horse's nutritional needs and minimize the risk of impaction colic, which increases with lower-quality, less digestible forage.

As always, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information and advice—consult your horse doctor on best practices when feeding hay this fall and winter!

For more information on botulism, visit our website at: https://aaep.org/guidelines-resources/resource-library/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEwcuRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHV5P3MHpvOoAOGsW2VwZTo-v_0pkILq8xN-reSg_yb3W01gGW_lfk0Nrnw_aem_Pp0WTnTG0S7pEH-BcTMV1g&_search=botulism