I love working with cats and dogs, but I love the humans I meet just as much. My clients end up becoming family. I see them and their pets in beautiful moments and challenging times, which creates a bond. I love the human interaction in my work as much as spending time with the animals. E ANIMAL CLINIC OF KALISPELL o Meet You
VETERINARY ASSISTANT MASON FROYD’S AVERAGE SHIFT A DAY IN THE LIFE
This month, we continue our “A Day in the Life” series with one of our veterinary assistants. Mason Froyd shares how her average shift at the Animal Clinic of Kalispell looks below. When I started at the Animal Clinic of Kalispell almost two years ago, I knew virtually nothing about this line of work. I was first hired as a receptionist, but the clinic needed more medical staff. I was willing to try the veterinary assistant role, and I absolutely loved it.
During my appointments, I learn a lot about our clients, but I don’t always have the opportunity to share as much about myself. I have two children, Arwynn (15) and Wyatt (13). I love attending their sports functions, and the three of us enjoy getting outdoors together. I adore summer in Montana and particularly enjoy visiting Glacier National Park. Two Jack Russell terriers complete our family.
The Animal Clinic of Kalispell has a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere, and I’m so glad to be here with such an incredible team. Everyone has the right principles and prioritizes our patients’ care and our clients’ well-being. Having access to a lot of updated technology is just a bonus! I look forward to getting to know all of you — and your furry family members. –Dr. Denise Steele
The veterinary assistant team starts our day at 7 a.m. by preparing all the exam rooms. We ensure we didn’t overlook any cleaning tasks from the night before and
that all the supplies are stocked. We also study up on our patients for the day, confirm our care estimates are complete, and give the doctors a brief history of each animal they’ll be seeing. Once the clinic opens, we spend our day doing patient exams. The veterinary assistants accompany the doctors in the rooms and take medical notes. We also help control the animals during exams by holding, distracting, or feeding them. Once the exam is complete, we leave the room with the doctor to discuss a treatment plan before presenting it to the clients. Veterinary assistants also administer vaccines, perform nail trims, and complete other treatments during visits.
eats
Ingredients
I have three dogs — a miniature Australian shepherd and two border collie mixes — so it’s probably unsurprising that interacting with the animals is my favorite part of this job. I love creating relationships with my clients and patients; having trust and rapport is essential. It’s also a lot of fun to watch the animals grow up. New puppy visits are some of my favorites because they come in every few weeks for several months, and I really get to know them. Whenever we have extra time in the day, we see how we can help other departments. We might assist the receptionists with phone calls or help the doctors catch up on their notes. I love the teamwork here. Everyone is always willing to help and support each other. We see our last patient at 5 p.m. and work together to close the office at 6 p.m. Being a veterinary assistant is hard work, and the days can be long, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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4 oz chicken (or your cat’s favorite protein)
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4 tbsp water
Directions
1. In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add chicken and boil for 5–6 minutes or until the center is no longer pink. 2. Once chicken is cooked, cut into small pieces. Add sliced chicken to food processor, then add 4 tbsp of water. 3. Purée the chicken and water together until it reaches a paste consistency. Avoid having any chicken chunks. 4. Pour the liquid cat treat into a plastic squeeze bottle.
Cut the tip of the bottle to make the hole bigger as needed, then let your cat snack! (You can put any remaining liquid treat in the freezer for use later.)
–Mason Froyd
406.755.6886
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