This is the episode for anyone who has ever wondered what a real week in veterinary practice looks like from the interesting cases, the tricky calls, and the ones that keep a vet up at night.

Here's what came through Dr. Angie's exam room:

A heartworm positive dog, adopted from Texas, showing up in Colorado where we see very little heartworm. No symptoms, no prior testing, just a positive result on a hunch. Dr. Angie breaks down the fast kill versus slow kill debate in plain language and makes the case for why prevention, even in low-risk areas, is non-negotiable as our climate shifts.

A cat guardian preparing to move to the EU who introduced Dr. Angie to microchips that read body temperature on demand. No rectal thermometer. No lost compliance. The technology is ISO compliant and already exists. 

A diarrhea-heavy week that opened up the Giardia conversation most pet parents have never had: finding it in a stool sample does not automatically mean it is causing the problem. The decision to treat and how to treat Giardia is more nuanced than it looks.

An ER clinic that ran an ACTH stimulation test on a dog who came in with diarrhea. That test screens for Addison's disease, which Dr. Angie has diagnosed once in 20 years. She has thoughts.

And the case keeping her up at night: a dog with a history of allergies, suddenly acting neurologically off. Off balance. Scratching at his ear without making contact. Leaning into walls. One look with the otoscope revealed a white, bulging eardrum. Suspected inner ear infection. Strong antibiotics prescribed. Steroids on board. Cell phone number given.

This one is for pet parents who want to understand what good, attentive medicine looks like and for veterinary professionals who just want to feel a little less alone in the daily grind.