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The Traveling Dogtor

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One of the most common feline emergencies I see as

One of the most common feline emergencies I see as an ER veterinarian are urinary obstructions! We often refer to these as “blocked cats”. There are many reasons for cats to block, and we call this collection of disease processes many names including lower urinary tract signs(LUTS) and feline lower urinary tract disease(FLUTD). Urinary obstruction is an emergency and can be caused by plugs, stones, cancer and inflammation of the bladder to name a few. Dehydration is a contributing factor to this condition, which is one reason why I recommend Hydra Care for these kitties!

Cats evolved as desert animals and, compared to dogs, appear to have a less effective and incomplete response to dehydration. This suggests that almost any cat could benefit from increased hydration. Factors to consider in assessing hydration and considering supplementation are lifestyle and medical conditions.

FLUTD is not the only condition that can likely benefit from Hydra Care. Dehydrated cats can also develop chronic constipation—a condition that can be mitigated with additional fluids. Swipe for more information🐈💧🐈‍⬛

Can you think of any other feline conditions that could benefit from @hydra_care?

P.S. These new @wearfigs scrubs are DA BOMB. FIGSxTravelingDogtor for $$$ off 🔥

#sponsored #BrandPartner

When my own dog developed hip dysplasia at 10 mont

When my own dog developed hip dysplasia at 10 months old and I had to choose a diet for him, there were three things that were important to me in a joint diet:

1️⃣ Does it work?
2️⃣ Does it taste good?
3️⃣ Is it safe for my growing puppy?

After talking to the nurses and doctors at my veterinary school, @Purina @ProPlan Veterinary Diets Joint Mobility (JM) was the favorite by far – both based on taste and results.

Since Apollo’s hip surgery, he has been fed EXCLUSIVELY Purina JM. Trust me when I say, this food is INCREDIBLE. When I don’t feed Apollo his Purina JM diet, I notice a significant difference.

The coolest thing about Purina JM is that this diet was the FIRST to apply molecular level innovation to the development of a therapeutic diet containing specific nutrients, including a high level of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s reduce inflammation and can help slow the progression of arthritis that inevitably develops due to orthopedic disease.

I am so happy that I am part of the Purina family. I will always feed my dog Purina JM because it works AND he loves it.

🌟My question to you is this… Do you feed a veterinary prescription diet to your pet?? Which is your favorite?

Finished my first week as a VEGgie and am absolute

Finished my first week as a VEGgie and am absolutely loving it. ER can be tough, but I am so thankful for the people that make VEG so great. I feel so supported as a new grad doctor, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision to do Early Entry Track. That being said, the program is not easy. It does feel like an internship at times when I am at the hospital for 15 hours. But I am thankful for our days off. Thankful for the positive community. Thankful for actually being paid (lol).

Also, obsessed with these scrubs from @wearfigs. Link in bio has my discount code 💜

(📸 @pupford love you guys)

Training at Colorado State University (CSU) has be

Training at Colorado State University (CSU) has been amazing. I am so lucky to have these two friends in my life. Thankful for the best time seeing a show at Red Rocks and checking off another item on my bucket list. Seriously, if you have never been to a show here, GO!

It’s pretty cool that @veterinary_emergency_group gives us a day off during our training to actually explore the area. One of the other groups actually went white water rafting and it looked incredible! With just a few days left in Colorado, today we are finishing our training on Point of Care Ultrasound, and tomorrow we start endoscopy!

If you are considering emergency veterinary medicine, this training for Early Entry Track is incredible. The team at CSU is really going above and beyond to teach us and I am super grateful for this opportunity.

For my vet friends out there - did you receive any formal training in endoscopy or ultrasound??

Did you know that nutrition was originally what dr

Did you know that nutrition was originally what drew me to veterinary medicine?

That’s right.

I loved how veterinarians used nutrition to help manage chronic disease in their patients. When I first shadowed at a veterinary clinic, I saw veterinarians practice medicine in a way that didn’t require long-term medication… sometimes it just required a diet low in sodium or a diet rich with omega-3 fatty acids.

To be honest, I didn’t know much about Purina coming into veterinary school. I had worked in a hospital that carried two other brands of veterinary prescription diets, so Purina was new for me. However, after walking around the hospital and talking to the veterinary staff, I couldn’t help but notice how everyone was talking about Purina. It wasn’t just that Purina worked – a lot of prescription diets work – it was that their food tasted good too!

I sought out the Purina Student Ambassador position, and patiently waited for interviews during my first year of veterinary school. Thankfully, I got the job. During my time as a student ambassador, I learned so much about nutrition, attended training conferences where students traveled to Purina headquarters, learned from some of the most influential doctors in the veterinary industry, and visited Purina factories where pet food is produced. We were able to go behind the scenes and see what it takes to make high quality food for our pets.

At the end of the day, I love Purina because I trust Purina. I know the company, I trust the veterinarians, I have seen the factories, I have met the quality assurance team. I trust this company enough to feed my own dog Purina (and most of you know I am obsessed with my dog).

I hope you will join me over the next few months as I continue to share my journey as an ambassador for Purina. We will cover so much – from Apollo’s diet (Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets JM) to probiotics, to a new supplement that helps hydrate cats.
To my veterinary friends – please share these posts! Let’s take back the nutrition dialogue & work to educate owners about nutrition. Together, we can help pets live their best lives. After all, that’s the end goal.

Proud #BrandPartner #sponsored

One of my goals for Traveling Dogtor for 2021 was

One of my goals for Traveling Dogtor for 2021 was to participate in more philanthropic activities, so when @dogspotted approached me about the Walk 2 Miles 2 Save Lives Walkathon, I had to say yes!

Bring all the pups and join Apollo & me for a morning stroll on Saturday, 8/21 at 9:00am. All proceeds benefit animal rescue! We will be walking the dogs through Hyde Park, Bayshore, and ending in SoHo at a dog-friendly spot for some food/drinks. Details of the walk to come!

☀️Not in Tampa? No problem, you can participate virtually with our team from wherever you are located, so long as you download the MoveSpring app that is mentioned below.

☀️In Tampa Bay, but unavailable at the time of the walk? No problem! You can do the walk on your own time and still participate with the Traveling Dogtor Team!

☀️Don't want to walk, but still want to donate? No problem. You are welcome to go ahead and donate and not participate in the walk-a-thon, although we will miss you ❤️

To join the Walk-a-Thon, follow these instructions:

1. Click on the link in my bio ⬆️

2. Click "Donate" and donate $20 ($10/mile) to any rescue from the drop-down list. You can find more information about the rescue organizations by clicking on the link above.

3. Select Dr. Shelby Baden as your Team Captain.

4. Check your e-mail and follow their instructions. Download the "MoveSpring" app using the link they provide so your steps can be counted the day of the walk-a-thon. Our team can also communicate easier before the event using this app!

See you there!

I AM A VEGGIE🥕🥦🥬 (featuring shameless sel

I AM A VEGGIE🥕🥦🥬 (featuring shameless selfie in my new VEG gear 😎)

Today marks the end of my first week of orientation for @veterinary_emergency_group’s Early Entry Track (EET) program!

To be honest, I am so freaking happy. I am so happy to be surrounded by peers and mentors in the veterinary community who love their jobs. Who want to make a difference. Who strive for real change.

This week was a week of “firsts”, but the best “first” was walking into the VEG hospital in North Tampa yesterday and introducing myself as Dr. Baden. From a baby bird (as @vet.lauren so eloquently calls us baby vet students in her beautiful IG posts 😍) to a doctor with an actual veterinary license 😱. It is finally starting to get real.

No matter where you end up in life, no matter what you are doing for a job, no matter what situations are occurring that are beyond your control… the best advice I could give would be this:

Surround yourself with people who support you. People who believe in you. People who are kind. People who genuinely want you to succeed…

And you will succeed.

And now.... SEE YOU ON THE FLIP SIDE! Taking the weekend off to celebrate 🔥🔥🔥YAS!

𝔻𝕒𝕪 𝟙 𝕠𝕗 𝕍𝔼𝔾 𝕆𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 is over & I am so excited to officially start (although Apollo is less than excited that we will have less cuddle time 😂)!

I have my Early Entry Track (EET) schedule for the next few months and it is intense but do-able. Today, we heard from some amazing VEG doctors and other VEGgies, and I feel so grateful to be starting my vet career with this company.

This week, we are shadowing and completing VEG orientation. We also have some pre-course work to complete for our RECOVER certificate (Basic & Advanced Life Support), as well as for our Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) course that will be at Colorado State University next week. All EETs will be traveling to Fort Collins, Colorado to be trained on CPR, POCUS, and GI endoscopy for 10 days before we start our first real in-hospital shifts.

So far, I am very impressed. VEG is investing a lot of energy and funds to make sure we are confident and successful emergency doctors. They have also emphasized that although EET will be challenging, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙨 and will work hard to make us comfortable during our training.

What questions do you have for me as I start EET? Let me know and I will do my best to answer!

P.S. Shout out to @abbbatar and @veterinary_emergency_group for the stellar VEG swag 😍

𝑭𝒊𝒈𝒔 𝑮𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚

𝑭𝒊𝒈𝒔 𝑮𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 CLOSED! Huge congrats to @blakelymbrown ❤️❤️ Check out @vet.lauren and @southernpetvet for the other two winners of our giveaway! And thank you to everyone who entered 🙌
________________________________

And I have teamed up with two awesome ER docs to bring you guys three pairs! 🤍

Ashley, Lauren, and I all love being 𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤, and we each have our specific 𝕨𝕙𝕪…

Why ER? I quickly realized that I thrived in a fast-pace environment (like ER) while in my clinical year of veterinary school. During my externships, I loved that emergency medicine integrated so many different specialties, from orthopedics to cardiology to neurology, and that I could work with a variety of animal species. When I found @veterinary_emergency_group, I knew that they were the right fit for me and my goals as a new grad veterinarian. I am super excited to begin my new grad ER vet journey, and am so thankful for the amazing VEGgie mentors in my life, like @southernpetvet and @vet.lauren <3

To ENTER:

1️⃣ FOLLOW:
@wearfigs
@traveling_dogtor
@vet.lauren
@southernpetvet

2️⃣ LIKE this post. 🤍

3️⃣ TAG a friend in separate comments - unlimited entries y’all!

4️⃣ SHARE to your story and tag us to get an extra entry.

Giveaway ends 7/23 at noon. Winners will be chosen at random and announced later that evening. For 🇺🇸 and 🇨🇦 only.

This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram. Good luck 👍🏼🤩

Last week, I traveled to Utah to film a Dog First

Last week, I traveled to Utah to film a Dog First Aid and Health Essentials Course with Pupford as part of their Pupford academy. 🐾 Swipe Right to see the promo video ➡️😍➡️.

I absolutely loved every minute of my experience with Pupford, and am so excited to share this course with the world. My passion is to help people and their pets live healthier and happier lives through education and awareness. And I am grateful every day that I can serve this community through collaborating with companies like Pupford.

This course is everything I wish I would have known before I became a veterinarian, and it is a great opportunity for dog owners to learn the reasons why veterinarians recommend the things they do. This course is also a great refresher for veterinary students who are thinking about going into emergency or general practice!

Topics covered include:
▫️Vaccines & Preventatives
▫️Tips for Dog Owners (dental care, nail care, dog-proofing, etc.)
▫️OTC remedies for common concerns that don’t require veterinary treatment
▫️What to do in the event of an emergency
▫️How to know if your dog needs to go to the ER
▫️AND MORE!

🌟We are offering a 10% discount for full access to this course for a LIMITED TIME only. This discount will expire on August 4th, so check it out at the link in my bio and use the code TravelingDogtor10 for 10% off!

P.S. This code works for the ENTIRE Pupford website, so if you would like to purchase something else, this discount code will also work!

Can’t wait to hear your feedback!

#pupford #dogtraining #dogmom #dogdad #veterinarian #pethealth #doghealth #dogadvice #petadvice #pettips

☀️ TIPS for keeping your dog cool this summer

☀️ TIPS for keeping your dog cool this summer ☀️

So, I just moved to Florida and walking my dog STRESSES me out. It is HOT 🥵. I have been thinking about this a lot lately and trying to think of the best advice for people during these summer months. So here it goes...

My Top 5 tips to keep your dog safe in the summer:

1. Walk your dog early in the morning, or late at night. I prefer early morning walks as the concrete has cooled down over night and hasn’t been in the sun all day. Make it part of your routine and the first thing you do with your day.

2. Feel the pavement with your hand before you decide to go on a walk. Although your dog’s paws are likely taugher than your hand, paws do burn and it is painful for dogs to walk on hot sidewalks and streets. If it feels hot to touch, it is best to wait it out until the weather cools down. Remember, asphalt and concrete are always hotter than the temperature outside. If it is hot outside, try to pick shady, grassy areas to walk your dog.

3. Don’t overdo exercise. Know your dog and recognize when they have had enough. The last thing you want is for your dog to have heat stroke, which could land them in the emergency hospital. Let’s not attempt marathons this summer when our dogs can barely walk a mile in 60 degree weather, ok?

4. Always carry water and a dog bowl with you. Make sure your dog is hydrated while exercising and stop regularly to offer water. This is important for both you and your dog.

5. Special caution with brachycephalic (short-shouted) dogs like pugs, bulldogs, boston terriers, etc., and nordic breeds. These dogs are more susceptible to heat stroke and extra attention should be paid to them while they are outside in the summer.

I hope these tips help you feel more prepared this summer as things start to heat up more and more over July and August. I know that I am having to really adjust my routine with Apollo as we hit late summer.

Do you have any other tips for keeping your dogs active in the summer time? Let me know!

And sometimes, you take a risk on a pretty dress f

And sometimes, you take a risk on a pretty dress from @nuuly and go to a restaurant/speakeasy in Tampa for the most elaborate drinks, fondue, and milk & cookies 🍪🤤

I have been trying to be more intentional with the time I have left of this summer. I have learned so much and I am so proud of myself for all the personal growth. Exploring places I have never been has always been one of my favorite things to do, and this summer I have become much more intentional in making that happen. Plus, turns out even veterinarians like to get dressed up sometimes 💁🏼‍♀️

P.S. Isn’t this dress amazing🔥🔥🔥?! @nuuly is a clothing rental company and makes me feel like I’m being a more conscientious consumer by not purchasing new clothes and just renting them 😅 has anyone else tried it??

#veterinarian #mynuuly #ciros #tampafl #tampabayeats #exploretampa #vetlife #speakeasy

🔥Hot tip for coping with anxiety🔥Get a dog w

🔥Hot tip for coping with anxiety🔥Get a dog who loves you unconditionally.

Apollo has been my ride or die for the past 4.5 years. He travels almost everywhere with me and follows me around like a shadow. He consistently brings a smile to my face between his nightly cuddles, his very expressive eyebrows, and his obsession with mozzarella cheese sticks. I couldn’t have asked for a better companion.

I think COVID and quarantine taught us that we all need love. As human beings, we need social interaction. So many of us became first time pet owners over the past year, which has been incredible to witness. I think we were all craving the unconditional love (and laughs) that a pet can provide. For me, Apollo is basically my emotional support dog (without being registered). He has loved and supported me since the first day I brought him home, and I could not be more grateful.

Do you have a pet who helps you though challenging times? Tell me about them!

P.S. This photo was taken after my veterinary school graduation when my baby cousin was crawling around on the mat and Apollo didn’t know where to go so he just sat in my lap 😂

The Traveling Dogtor platform started as a late ni

The Traveling Dogtor platform started as a late night idea while I was studying for my final exams for my first semester of veterinary school. I had so much to share that I believed could help my peers. Whether it was getting into veterinary school, or ways to cope with anxiety, my dream has always been to encourage and support this growing community. I am beyond grateful as I sit here and realize how far I’ve come since that first blog post “My Top 10 Tips to Get into Vet School.” It has not been easy, and it has not always been fun. Social media forces you to actively adapt and grow. I have learned so much about myself by writing on Instagram about my daily experiences. And I hope that by being so vulnerable, this platform has helped you too.

So why am I so nostalgic? Well, right now I am on a flight to Salt Lake City to film a super exciting project for the Traveling Dogtor. My second project as a veterinarian. Things are moving so fast and I guess I am trying to remember these tiny moments of excitement. To take mental snap shots of the beginning of something new and different. The beginning of my career in veterinary medicine. It definitely doesn’t look like I originally imagined, but I honestly couldn’t be happier.

#vetstudent #veterinarian #prevet

There is a mental health crisis in veterinary medi

There is a mental health crisis in veterinary medicine. If you aren’t in the veterinary industry, this may surprise you but nonetheless it is very real. Suicide is rampant and many don’t have the resources to seek help. If you’d like to know more, or are looking for advice yourself, please check out my latest podcast interview with the @pawareness_podcast (link to podcast is in my bio ⬆️).

In this episode, I give tips for coping with stress and anxiety for people from all walks of life, and explain how the Traveling Dogtor became the platform it is today.

Remember - you are not alone. There is a community of people who support and love you (even if it’s virtually). I know this to be especially true after experiencing my own battles with mental health the past few months.

Check it out at the link in my bio and let me know what you think!

#mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #nomv #notonemorevet #medelita

Today is the LAST day of the Dog Health Solutions

Today is the LAST day of the Dog Health Solutions Summit and you have FREE access to my presentation - ℍ𝕠𝕨 𝕥𝕠 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕕𝕠𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕥 🐕‍🦺🐕🐩🦮

This could not come at a better time as I was just at @veterinary_emergency_group last night with my personal dog after he ate an entire antler (luckily, Apollo is doing great now and managed to chew the antler before he swallowed it 😅).

Trust me when I say - I know how challenging it can be for pet owners to know exactly when to take their dogs to the emergency vet! Which is why I made this presentation for YOU!

⬆️Check it out and sign up at the link in my bio for free access for 24 hours!

🌟If you missed the previous days, you can sign up for a premium pass for $29 and get lifetime access to all the presentations PLUS a free question to ask a veterinarian about your personal pet.

𝕄𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕝 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕙 𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤.

COVID changed everything. We weren’t able to go do our normal activities anymore. Even going grocery shopping turned into an event filled with hand sanitizer, face masks, Lysol wipes, and staying 6 feet apart at all times.

Anxiety and depression became normal. And even the most resilient of us experienced hardship, let alone those with mental health disorders.

I went from going to therapy once per week to nothing. And I felt the impact of that one year later. I realized that as veterinarians, we are taught to compartmentalize everything that happens in our jobs. The emotional manipulation, burnout, compassion fatigue, stress - these emotions are stored in tiny boxes that weigh us down. In turn, compartmentalization starts to affect other areas of our lives. Processing emotions takes longer, and emotional baggage feels heavier.

Recently, I signed up with @betterhelp using their student discount and have had two sessions thus far. I had no idea how much I was holding on to that was causing my anxiety to surge. Therapy is a game changer, and I wanted to take a moment to share this virtual option with everyone who has not been able to go to regular therapy sessions because of COVID.

This is not an ad and I am not getting paid to promote this company. I truly believe what they offer is amazing and so approachable to people from every walk of life. If you are feeling down and don’t know why, I highly encourage you to try out @betterhelp. I am already starting to feel the difference and can’t wait to continue my progress.

Let’s support each other in our mental health journeys! Drop a ❤️ if you can relate to this post. Please share this option with anyone who might be struggling. It could save a life.

#betterhelp #mentalhealthtips #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthadvice #veterinarian #veterinarians

Tampa is amazing because you can ride bikes to the

Tampa is amazing because you can ride bikes to the beach, find conchs, ride scooters back, almost cause a traffic accident, walk home and stop in to every bar looking for fish dip, grab your dog and take him to a restaurant for dinner, wake up the next day and do it again (although really hoping that today involves successfully finding fish dip 😂).
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Learning how to enjoy the moment again has been a much needed adventure. Starting to come back to myself more and more each day. Feeling thankful for the journey.
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So now the question is... who is coming to visit me?!?
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#tampa #tampaflorida #tampabay #davisislands #conch

🐱KITTEN ESSENTIALS KIT🐱 Where are all of my

🐱KITTEN ESSENTIALS KIT🐱

Where are all of my new cat moms and dads out there?! Check out my latest blog post for all your new kitten essentials (link in bio⬆️).

I have been wanting to make something like this for a long time and am so happy to finally release it! I hope it helps to answer any questions you may have about adding a kitten to your home. Kittens are the absolute best - I know because I am the ultimate foster kitten lady 😂. I have loved all of my fosters and personal cats and am excited to share what I have learned with this community.

Check out this blog post and let me know what you think! Feel free to share it with others who may find it beneficial ❤️

🐈 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐬 - 𝐀 𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 🐈⁣
⁣
🌟 NEW on the blog (link in bio ⬆) - check out part two of this four-part series on the benefits of spaying and neutering your pets. This blog post is focused solely on male cats and why veterinarians recommend neutering.⁣
⁣
Let me know what you think and please share with anyone who might be wondering why we recommend these surgeries.

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