Life is Beautiful. The Five Freedoms.

Ah, the joys of life: blue skies, romping in the woods, running in the rain, bounding in fluffy snow, greeting neighbors,  racing your buddies, performing at your best, chasing real or imaginary mice, filling your hungry belly, a cold drink after herding your beasts (sheep, cats, kids) or simply snuggling on the couch. Animals would like to live a simple life and they have basic yet important needs. 
As a veterinarian, I always keep the Five Freedoms in mind when I am offering preventative care or treating an illness in my patients. Ultimately, ensuring these freedoms are what drives our profession to care for the animals of the world. 

The Five Freedoms: 

1. Freedom from hunger or thirst
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain, injury or disease
4. Freedom to express normal behaviour
5. Freedom from fear and distress 

Preventive care, treating illness, managing conditions, providing humane and ethical medical advice is how veterinarians, veterinary nurses and technicians and the staff at veterinary clinics help you keep this promise to the animals you've taken into your custody. When you seek our services, achieving these goals is what drives the recommendations we make. 

Ask yourself how these freedoms address both the general needs of your animals, but also the specific quirks and personality of your each of your furry, hairless, slick, slimy, or feathered friend. Your veterinarian, walker, trainer, pet sitter, family, friends, neighbors and your local, state and federal community all play a part in helping your care for your pet, so if you aren't sure how to achieve these freedoms, or you suspect a problem with your pet- it may be because one or more of these simple needs isn't met. What's missing may be subtle or non intuitive to the non trained professional. Ask for help! That's what we're all here for.