They say it takes a village, and this is mine. This photo was taken during a moment of celebration, but I am sharing it today for a different reason: because this is the team that keeps me and your pets safe when things aren’t perfect.

I made a mistake this week.

A mistake can become dangerous when you do not have safety nets in place or open communication to identify and prevent it moving forward. In this situation, I was fortunate enough to work with a team that is detail-oriented and willing to question things.

In this case, an owner was also double-checking details for their pet. Because of that “village” effort, the mistake was caught, we learned from it, and modified our processes to prevent it for the future.

Here is the truth: No one is infallible.

Intentions may be good, but perfection, whether in human or animal medicine, is not possible. This is why I surround myself with some of the smartest, most humble people I know. They advocate for our patients, our clients, and our team. They aren’t afraid to speak up, because they know it makes us better.

To our clients: You are your pet’s best advocate.

Never feel bad about questioning or advocating for your loved ones (two-legged or four). Medicine is a team event, and you are a vital part of that team. We love information, details, and education. We look to you to help us be better by:

• Asking questions when you’re unsure
• Saying “I don’t understand
• Pointing out when something doesn’t seem right

I will make mistakes; we all do. The question isn’t whether they happen, but how we handle them and how we prevent them. Thank you for being part of our safety net.

I love learning and research. Diving deep into, well, almost anything, is a hobby and sometimes an obsession of mine. Tonight, I spent the evening with three amazing veterinarians discussing a lecture on cat bladder disease, sharing wisdom only gained from experience. This is one of many things I love about this profession.

Fun facts about this crew:

• Dr. Mosier and I actually went to veterinary school together!
• Dr. Raap worked with us back when she was an undergrad.
• Dr. Gusarova is a Russian-trained veterinarian working with our nursing team while she finishes her US licensing.

It is never easy losing a beloved pet. But there is a special kind of joy that comes when our team gets to see puppies and kittens find new homes with our beloved long-term owners. We are so happy for you Kiwi!

I cannot remember this exact moment but I can feel it. The scrappy barn kitten, warm in my arms. The smell of dirt, fresh air, and cows that came with visits to my grandparents’ remote Kansas farm.

A feeling of calm safety comes over me seeing this photo. This is a gift animals have given me since a child and, later in life, I believe the reason I pursued veterinary medicine. I feel blessed to have found such a reliable source of strength from the cats and dogs in my life.

Seeing the bond my clients have with their pets, hearing the stories of unconditional love, and understanding the deep effect animals have on their person’s happiness and health is awesome.

This is veterinary medicine, this is me.

Thank you for sharing your pets, your stories, and your trust in their care with me and our team at Healthy Paws Animal Hospital.

Dr. Burgess

So what if your dog or cat is missing a few teeth, it just makes their smile more charming, right? Maybe. But in some cases what appears to be “just a missing tooth” is actually “a tooth that never erupted” or pushed through the gums to see the light of day. This can lead to something called a dentigerous cyst, essentially a fluid filled sac in the jaw, the wayward tooth trying to create a path to nowhere. This is the same reason humans often have impacted (unerupted) wisdom teeth removed, to prevent these same cysts.

At Healthy Paws Animal Hospital an oral exam is part of our nose to tail physical exam and often when missing teeth are identified. We also perform a complete oral exam and tooth count while our patients are under anesthesia for their spay or neuter surgery. This allows our team to perform digital dental radiographs, discuss findings and options real time with the owner and extract any hidden teeth preventing the need for an additional procedure in the future.

Fun fact…Wisdom teeth in humans, named this because they typically erupt at the “age of wisdom”, 17-25, while necessary for our ancestors have no real purpose today. As our diets became softer, the human jaw became shorter, leaving little room for these back molars.

If you are wondering if your pet is missing teeth, give us a call and we can schedule an oral exam and discuss options.