Pet food quality is an often discussed, but poorly understood hot topic. Ask ten people for advice and you will likely hear ten different opinions on the “right” way to play the game.

The reality is that the pet food industry is not as well-regulated as many think. This allows descriptive marketing and emotion to come into play, often leaving little room for science or real, safe data.

Consider these stats:

• $158 Billion: The Pet Food Industry (this is similar to the COMBINED revenues of the NFL, MLB, and NBA!).
• $48 Billion: The US Coffee Market.
• $28 Billion: The Global Music Industry.

With this much money on the line, the marketing is loud and the number of pet food options is many. In my upcoming posts, I am going to give you the tools to help you navigate this industry and determine the best choice for your individual pet. 

We are fortunate enough to work with students from the Burlington Central High School Veterinary Science Program. Becca went from intern in the fall to employee this winter. She has shown a great desire to learn, is a fantastic teammate, and we are super excited for her next adventure attending the University of Illinois in Champaign. Also a big thanks to Brooke and @paintedforkeeps for Becca’s amazing sign!

What does that look like?

• A relaxing “nap” medication.
• A numbing agent for the site.
• Plenty of hugs from our team while we work.

Sweet Ruth snored her way through her skin biopsy and stitches today, then spent her recovery tucked safely in her favorite blankie.

Speaking of spring, let’s talk about some hidden dangers in our gardens and floral bouquets.

One of the most dangerous beauties for cats is the ever common lily. The entire plant from pollen to water in the vase can lead to fatal kidney failure in cats within hours to days. This can happen even with the most minute exposure, so if you think your cat may have been exposed, contact a veterinarian immediately…even if it requires calling an emergency hospital in the middle of the night.

Some more common toxic lilies include the Easter Lily, Tiger Lily, Daylily, Stargazer Lily, and Asiatic Lily. Keep this fact in mind when choosing flowers for your feline loving friends!

Fun fact….The scent of lilies is not considered toxic to cats.

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.