The Honest Vet

  • Home
  • The Honest Vet

The Honest Vet GP & ER, Fear Free Certified Veterinarian. Follow me for real and honest veterinary advice!

04/11/2025

Ever notice your dog’s hips swaying when they walk? That “hip sway” can be a sign of hip laxity, meaning their joints may be a little loose. It doesn’t automatically mean they have hip dysplasia, but it does suggest their hips aren’t as stable as they should be.

👉 Only radiographs (X-rays) can confirm what’s really going on, but if your dog has that sway, regardless of breed, a good joint supplement is a smart idea.

There are so many junk products out there, so if you want my vet-recommended favorites (not sponsored!), comment “HIPS” below and I’ll send you the links. 🦴💪

My Little Mama was with me for 24 hours. Seeing her, skin and bones, covered in fleas, in active labor and in pain on my...
02/11/2025

My Little Mama was with me for 24 hours. Seeing her, skin and bones, covered in fleas, in active labor and in pain on my exam room floor, while trying her best to care for her one living pup, ignited a fire in me. Her “owner” wanted me to give more oxytocin and send her home or remove the dead puppy and spare her uterus so she could be bred again. I couldn’t. I fought for her and for her baby.

We did everything we could. She fought, too. But we didn’t have enough time. Her white blood cells were gone before we even removed the infected puppy and septic uterus. She was too weak and the sepsis spread. It wasn’t her fault, it’s the fault of backyard breeders who treat dogs like products, not living beings.

Her baby girl survived. She’s safe now. I will give her everything she needs. I’ll also use this story to speak up, to hold breeders accountable, to push for spay/neuter, and to protect animals who don’t have a voice.

If this touches you, please support your local rescue, foster if you can, choose adoption over breeding, spay and neuter your pets, and always thoroughly research breeders and the condition their dogs are kept in before buying a puppy.

Because this is what happens when you support a backyard breeder or a puppy mill. THIS IS THE REALITY.

01/11/2025

Another day in the life of a veterinarian, caught between two impossible choices: letting a dog suffer a horrible death, or taking on the responsibility (and cost) of saving her. 💔

This time, I was able to help. But there are so many times we can’t, and those cases stay with us. They haunt us. They’re part of why so many incredible people are leaving this field.

If I hadn’t stepped in, this mama dog would have died… and maybe so would her baby. But because I gave the owner an ultimatum, she may never bring another dog to a vet again, and that breaks my heart too.

So did I really win? I don’t know. But today, I’m choosing to celebrate this small victory and do everything I can to pull this mama through her recovery. ❤️‍🩹🐾

When your vet dresses up as a cat but dogs still somehow know she’s one of the good ones 🐾😸Happy Howl-o-ween 👻🎃 from you...
31/10/2025

When your vet dresses up as a cat but dogs still somehow know she’s one of the good ones 🐾😸
Happy Howl-o-ween 👻🎃 from your friendly neighborhood vet and this very patient pittie who totally deserves extra treats today. 💕

30/10/2025

When I started practicing veterinary medicine in 2018, it was rare for me to encounter a vaccine-hesitant pet parent. Now, it happens multiple times a week.

Fortunately, many of these conversations end with understanding. By first acknowledging a pet parent’s fears and then sharing both my experience and the data showing the incredible safety and efficacy of our vaccines, I can often help them feel confident in evidence-based care.

So why is vaccine hesitancy growing? While I can’t say for sure, I know that social media plays a huge role. There are countless accounts designed to make you afraid because fear drives engagement and sales. That fear is their business model.

But it’s not mine. My mission as a veterinarian is to protect your pet’s health and extend their healthspan, so they don’t just live longer, but live better.

Not only do I do this because I love animals, but there’s also a selfish component: I fight for this because I’m the one who faces the consequences when preventable diseases strike. I’m the one holding the puppy battling parvo, euthanizing the young dog with end-stage heartworm disease, or telling an owner their dog is bleeding internally from a tick-borne infection. I see it. I live it. Every day.

So the next time you come across alarming information online, pause and ask: What’s their motive?
Before you believe or share it, check the creator’s credentials. And if something sounds convincing, send it to your vet. Get both sides of the story. Do it for your pet. 💛

29/10/2025

❌ARE YOU POISONING YOUR PET?!😱❌ Not quite.

Every day, veterinarians see pets suffering from preventable diseases from parasites like heartworm, flea dermatitis, and tick-borne illness. And it’s becoming more common because money hungry influencers online tell their owner “nature is safer.”

Let’s be real: her income depends on creating distrust in veterinarians. If she can convince you medicine is “poison,” you’ll keep watching, sharing, and buying her “natural” fixes.

But here’s the truth:
🌿 Nature isn’t the vet. Nature is what gives us fleas, ticks, heartworms, and parasites.
⚕️ Veterinary medicine is what protects your pets from them.🩺✨

27/10/2025

Thank you for this excellent video! Trimming the dark nails of dogs can be tricky since the quick isn’t visible through the outer cortex like it is in light colored nails. This is the same method I use! Take off the tips and then take little slivers off at a time until you see the tip of the quick. Full disclosure: this isn’t as easy to do in a dog who’s fighting against you and jerking their leg away. If your pet is struggling, let your vet team or groomer tackle the nails and don’t forget to consider fear free medications to make it less stressful and easier to do a great job like this.

27/10/2025

In honor of Halloween, let’s remember that garlic might keep vampires away… but it won’t do a thing for fleas, ticks, or heartworms.

Despite what you’ve heard, garlic doesn’t prevent parasites, and even small amounts can cause toxic anemia in dogs and cats. 👎

If you really want to keep your pets safe (and alive to fight another vampire movie marathon), stick with vet-approved parasite prevention instead. 🦟💉

A haunted house for veterinary professionals. 😱What else should be in there?
26/10/2025

A haunted house for veterinary professionals. 😱
What else should be in there?

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 💚 A few reminders from my Irish husband for my American friends who want to celebrate:💚 It’s St...
17/03/2024

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 💚 A few reminders from my Irish husband for my American friends who want to celebrate:

💚 It’s St. Patrick’s Day or St. Paddy’s Day, never St. PATTY’s Day. (Patty = Patricia).
💚 The THREE leaf clover is special ☘️(represents the holy trinity). A four leaf clover being lucky is an American thing.
💚 Corned beef and cabbage isn’t a traditional Irish dish. Have some Guinness instead.

Honestly, if you just at least remember the first one and correct all your friends, you will make Irish people very happy. 🇮🇪

Cheers! Or should I say “slainte”? 🍻

My puppy, Frank, with his biological sister, Mika! 😍 I love that her family chose me as their veterinarian. They actuall...
27/02/2024

My puppy, Frank, with his biological sister, Mika! 😍 I love that her family chose me as their veterinarian. They actually fostered both Frank and Mika when they were little nuggets around 6-8 weeks old. As you can see, Mika was their foster fail. They wanted to keep Frank, too, but the shelter, , strongly discouraged it because of potential littermate syndrome.

Littermate syndrome refers to behavioral issues that can arise when two puppies from the same letter are raised together in the same household. This syndrome is more commonly observed, when siblings, especially of the same s*x, are adopted or purchased at the same time, and share the same living environment. The close bond between littermates can sometimes lead to various behavioral challenges if not managed appropriately.

Common issues associated with littermate syndrome include bonding issues with humans, aggression, and separation anxiety.

While littermate syndrome can be prevented or managed, it’s easiest to avoid it altogether.

It’s great to see a shelter looking out for the long-term benefits of the animals, rather than simply trying to rehome them as quickly as possible 👏🏼.

Have you heard of littermate syndrome?

It’s and I was sooo busy at work today I didn’t even get to take Frank on a walk! So here’s a shout out to all the ama...
20/02/2024

It’s and I was sooo busy at work today I didn’t even get to take Frank on a walk! So here’s a shout out to all the amazing pets of hard working veterinarians that have to share their humans with other animals most days. You’re the real MVP’s!

I’m heading home now, Frank, treats in hand! 😘

Address


Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Honest Vet posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

  • Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service?

Share