Hello, my name is Ericka and I’m a recovering people-pleaser. Are you a people pleaser? Have you ever said those words in reference to yourself during an interview? Like most women, I was taught as a child to do as I was told, to act in a way that would please others and to always… Read More
Life With Clients
I’m Allergic to My Patients, But That’s OK
Growing up, I was the kid who was constantly outside – running around in the grass with my dog, eating dirt, rubbing dandelions on the tip of my nose to be Rudolph the Yellow-Nosed Reindeer… and yet, by the time I left elementary school I was allergic to trees, grass, dust and cats. Once I… Read More
“Thank You for Not Judging Me”
The day after Christmas started normally for a day in the clinic… with an emergency. Petey had been vomiting since Christmas Eve. By the time he made it to my exam room, he was looking miserable. “Were there any Christmas parties?” I asked Mom. “Any holiday treats he could have gotten into?” “No,” she said,… Read More
Trust the Entire Vet Team
As a devoted pet owner, you undoubtedly take your pet in for regular checkups to the veterinarian. You also don’t likely delay taking them in if they seem sick. The longer you wait for those illnesses, the worse it makes it for you and your pet. Because of this relationship you have with your veterinary… Read More
How to Decode a Bad Review
It is the age of the Internet review. We all do it. A new restaurant pops up and we go online to look at the Google reviews. We judge this new place by the experiences of others instead of trusting in our own experience. We may not frequent these places because of a few bad… Read More
You Don’t Have to See All the Pets
One of my most crushing failures as a vet came one Friday when I was scheduled to work at a tiny satellite clinic with only a single young veterinary technician. It was my first year in practice and I dreamed of being a great doctor to patients, a great champion for staff, and a great… Read More