The very first vet nurses I met were instrumental in teaching me the basics of veterinary as I stepped into the world of surgery and applying all the knowledge that I had learnt at vet school. I started my vet career with my husband in a remote practice in Zimbabwe where we were the only vets for miles as this area so badly needed a vet….but we had also just stepped out of vet school in South Africa and we both felt very insecure with any decisions we made not having our trusty lecturers nearby to help us.
It was the kindness of our 3 nurses Johnny, Neil and Carlos who were instrumental in gently guiding us when we felt overwhelmed – quietly pointing at the correct area to make incisions for operations as basic as a cat spay, as they had worked with a number of vets before! So tragically, Neil died of Aids a few years after we left Zimbabwe (we were only there for 3 months before moving to the UK), but I will never forget all 3 of them and how instrumental they were in their support in those early years of my vet career.
Now that my veterinary career has taken a completely different turn as I work to promote plant-based feeding of our dogs; it is yet again the vet nurses that I find myself turning to….even more than the vets. They are the ones that vets rely on to provide that extra support with puppy classes, weight clinics and nutrition advice. Sadly, the very large corporate pet food companies realise this and they offer huge incentives for vet nurses to become their ‘reps’ and they get paid to promote their prescription diets.
I am doing my small part in reaching out to vet nurses with the tiny bit of advertising that I have in my budget; by appearing in January’s Vet Times Veterinary Nurse 2023 calendar!
The successes of dogs with so many conditions (or none at all:) on a 100% plant-based diet never ceases to amaze me and I am so hoping that vet nurses can help guide the vets as they gain this knowledge!
“As a vet, I believe in a kinder, healthier way to feed our pets that does no damage to our environment, harms no animals and uses fresh, healthy plant-based ingredients for a balanced and delicious diet”
Arielle Vegan Vet
“If nobody changes then nothing changes but if somebody changes then everything changes!”
Arielle Vegan Vet
Interview with Dr Ernie Ward
So if you’re concerned about your pet food safety, let’s go plant-based. If you’re concerned about the carbon pawprint of your pet, then let’s go plant-based. If you’re concerned about your pet….
Barney loves his snuffle blanket
This snuffle blanket is ideal mental stimulation for dogs
See how much Marvin and Pedro like their food
Marvin was picked up as a stray by a local dog pound and the front leg was badly injured, they think he had been hit by a car
We support Donn and Río
Donn has pulled the pack off the counter before I could even start preparing them, and ate half of it as is!
The benefits of coconut oil
Lauric acid is responsible for many of coconut oil’s health benefits including its immune-supporting, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties
Why feeding raw is similar to a wet market
Many dogs sold at wet markets for meat are Golden Retriever types
We did it!
We gathered enough support to finally get our food nutritionally analysed by an expert!
Raw meat dog foods pose an ‘international public health risk’
This antibiotic resistance concern could pose a huge threat to the owners and any family members who may fall ill with a bacterial infection of any sort – what a time bomb waiting to explode!
Sue’s strength to feed Bea a plant-based diet
I was listening to too many people who were telling me how cruel I was being
What are they sniffing?
Our dogs become even more important to us during this time of self-isolation
Jumble loves our food!
“The recipe was really easy and so we want to continue this new healthy and tasty habit so we can have him as long as we can”
Veterinary work during the lockdown
The day proved to be emotionally draining as we all adapted to this very different way of doing veterinary work
