What I Couldn't Have Imagined When I Started

When I started practicing veterinary medicine in the 1980s, I'd have laughed if you'd told me what I'd be doing in 2026.

I couldn't have imagined how much veterinary medicine would change. And I certainly couldn't have imagined how many dogs and cats I'd be seeing living longer, healthier lives — and enjoying those later years.

Here's the honest version of just how much has changed.

We Know Animals Hurt

It's hard to believe now, but when I started, pain management wasn't given nearly the attention it deserved. There were people who believed animals didn't experience pain the way humans do.

Thankfully, we've come a long way.

Today, managing pain is an important part of veterinary medicine. We have better medications, therapeutic laser treatments, and newer injectable treatments for osteoarthritis pain in dogs and cats that weren't available when I started.

And some of my most convincing evidence comes from the patients themselves. When an arthritic old dog starts moving comfortably again, that's a pretty wonderful thing to see.

Anesthesia Is a Different Animal

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

In my early years, monitoring anesthesia often meant watching the chest rise and fall and keeping a hand on the pulse.

Today, we're monitoring oxygen levels, blood pressure, carbon dioxide, and heart rhythm. Modern anesthetic medications and monitoring equipment allow us to tailor anesthesia much more carefully to each patient.

Dental care has changed dramatically, too. We now know that what you can see above the gumline is only part of the story. Dental X-rays help us identify problems hiding beneath the surface.

Diagnostics Happen While You Wait

This may be the advancement that has changed my daily practice the most.

There was a time when getting answers meant sending samples to a laboratory and waiting. Sometimes for days.

Now, with in-house bloodwork and digital X-rays, we can often begin figuring out what's wrong during the same appointment. Ultrasound, when indicated, gives us another valuable way to look inside the body without surgery.

It's one of the reasons we believe in allowing enough time for appointments and having diagnostic capabilities readily available.

Because when your pet is sick, waiting for answers can feel like an eternity.

Prevention Got Easier

When I began practicing, the preventive options we have today simply didn't exist.

Heartworm prevention has evolved. Flea and tick protection has improved enormously. And microchips have given lost pets a much better chance of finding their way home.

Some of the heartbreaking cases I saw regularly early in my career are much less common today, thanks to better prevention and more informed pet owners.

That's progress worth celebrating.

Our Patients Are Living Longer

This is the part I find especially remarkable.

Better nutrition, preventive medicine, diagnostics, treatments, and attentive owners have helped many pets live longer and enjoy more good years.

Of course, longer lives bring new challenges.

I see plenty of kidney disease, heart disease, thyroid disorders, arthritis, and cancer. These conditions make senior veterinary care an increasingly important part of what we do.

And here's something I wish every pet owner understood: A pet can look perfectly fine while changes are beginning inside.

That's why I value senior wellness examinations and routine bloodwork. Sometimes a small change in a kidney value gives us an opportunity to act before a much bigger problem develops.

November is Senior Pet Health Awareness Month, and it's a good reminder to pay attention to those older members of the family.

The Relationship Changed, Too

Back in the 1980s, a lot of dogs lived outside. Plenty had a doghouse in the backyard.

Now the doghouse is the main house, and the dog lets us live in it.

They sleep in our beds, get birthday treats, have favorite blankets, and occasionally occupy more of the sofa than the people paying the mortgage.

And I'm glad.

People are more involved in their pets' health than ever. They ask thoughtful questions. They want to understand their options. They recognize that their animals are family.

Of course, there's another change.

Back in the 1980s, the only competition I had was the neighbor who “knew a guy.”

Now I'm up against Dr. Google, and he's got a lot more free time than I do.

We don't always concur.

What Hasn't Changed

For all the advancements in veterinary medicine, my favorite part of the profession hasn't changed a bit.

It's still sitting down with someone who's worried about an animal they love, listening to what's happening, examining their pet, and figuring out what we can do to help.

The equipment is better. The medications are better. The possibilities are greater than I ever imagined.

But the conversation is still the same.

And after all these years, it's still the part I love most.

Dr. Jan Crowe
Creekside Vet Clinic
Here for the life of your pet, because we care.