Kirsten M. Ura-Barton, DVM

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there! 🩷

From all of us at the AVMA, we would like to wish a very Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

05/09/2026

It is fawn season in Michigan

What you should know

Fawns are born without a scent and left by their mother throughout the day so she does not attract predators to them. She comes back to nurse them four or five times a day.

If you see a fawn alone, what should you do? We suggest you send a picture with information to your local Fawn rehabilitator.

Do not touch the fawn but take a picture from afar. Fawns under three weeks of age will generally not have a fear response and run from you. They stay still, curled in a ball. Older fawns will run in fear.

When you should be concerned. If a Fawn is walking around and crying for more than a few hours, it is starving. If a fawn has flies on it, it needs help immediately. If a fawn has wounds ,broken legs, cant stand or diarrhea It needs help immediately. If a fawn is laying on its side lateral and not on its abdomen or curled in a ball, it needs help immediately ….it is dying!

There are also more subtle signs that an experienced rehabilitator can see like sunken eyes, divots by the eye that are fat pads that are depleted, hair standing up instead of laying flat are all signs the fawn needs immediate help. Curled eartips can signify dehydration, but often times it does not correlate so that alone is not a reason to bring a fawn in.
As the largest fawn rehabilitation center in the state , every year we receive many calls where people are concerned about fawns but they have left them for too long because they posted on Facebook and were told to leave the fawn alone that the mother would come back. However, as we know, many does get killed by predators and cars and they don’t come back, and sadly the fawn dies a slow death… and they call us too late. Young fawns can only survive approximately two days without nursing from their mother so it is a very short window to save them. If you are concerned, please send a picture to your local rehabilitator for advice. Please do not rely on uneducated or inexperienced commenters on social media. You can text us at 586-354-8500 and we are happy to help guide you with our Michigan fawns!

05/06/2026

Today's theme of is "Love your pet? See your vet!" Regular preventive care is critical to keep pets healthy and improve both quality and length of life. Here are 7️⃣ things you can do (and your veterinarian can help with) to keep your pet healthy.

05/04/2026

Our pets are always there for us, and we want what’s best for them. There are certain actions we can take to keep pets happy and healthy for as long as possible and build the bond we share with them. Your veterinarian can answer any questions you have and make recommendations tailored to the needs of your current or future pet, you, and your family.

In today's National Pet Week theme of "Choose Well: Commit for Life", here are the 🔟 pillars of pet ownership: https://bit.ly/4vypqbd

04/25/2026

It's always best to feed your pets commercially made food that is complete and balanced and appropriate for their species! If you try to make your own pet food, it may not contain all the nutrients they need or in the correct amounts. Websites like BalanceIT and pet diets.com can be useful resources for pet parents that still want to feed a homemade diet.

04/21/2026

Michigan has been seeing an explosion in tick populations, including the Black-Legged Tick that carries and transmits Lyme Disease. Check yourselves and your pets over after spending time outside and make sure to have your dogs and outdoor cats on flea/tick preventative!

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reports Lyme disease cases have quadrupled over the past several years, rising to more than 2,000 this past year.

More information at the link in the comments.

04/02/2026

A timely reminder of the importance of keeping your pets vaccines up-to-date, even if they don't spend time outside!

A skunk has tested positive for rabies after biting a resident in Oakland County. (link in comments)

03/24/2026

Women veterinarians and veterinary technicians outnumber men these days but that wasn't always the case. Check out this book recommendation for the future women veterinarian in your life about the first female veterinarian during Women's History Month!

Today's A Mighty Girl Community Pick: "Elinor McGrath, Pet Doctor: The Story of America's First Female Veterinarian" by Jacqueline Johnson. Elinor knew she wanted to be a veterinarian, but in 1907, people did NOT think a woman could do the job. Was she strong enough to work with horses, cows, and other farm animals? Was she smart enough to prove to the 137 male students at her veterinary school that she could learn everything she needed to know?

Elinor knew she was smart and strong enough -- and that she had some big ideas to share! She realized that people needed vets willing to treat companion animals like cats, dogs, and even monkeys, as well as farm animals, paving the way for the veterinarian practices of today. With expressive illustrations and back matter that tells the story of more pioneering women in veterinary science, this is a gorgeous picture book tribute to a pioneering animal-lover. Highly recommended for ages 5 to 9.

"Elinor McGrath, Pet Doctor" is available at https://www.amightygirl.com/elinor-mcgrath-pet-doctor

For several children’s books about Mighty Girls who care for or rescue animals, we recommend "Ladybug Girl and the Rescue Dogs" for ages 3 to 6 (https://www.amightygirl.com/ladybug-girl-rescue-dogs), “The Rescuers of Tiny Creatures” for ages 4 to 8 (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-rescuer-of-tiny-creatures), "Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog" for ages 4 to 8 (https://www.amightygirl.com/madeline-finn-shelter-dog), "Skunked! Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet" for ages 6 to 9 (https://www.amightygirl.com/skunked-calpurnia-tate), and "Home Sweet Forever Home" for ages 7 to 10 (https://www.amightygirl.com/home-sweet-forever-home)

If you have a child who dreams of being a vet, you can foster their interest in animal welfare with the Melissa & Doug Examine & Treat Pet Vet set for ages 3 to 6 at https://www.amightygirl.com/examine-and-treat-set

For more books that celebrate the special role that animal companions play in our lives, visit our blog post "Her Best Friend: 60 Books About Mighty Girls and Their Pets" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=11577

03/20/2026

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.”
Anatole France

Paula Belle Flores - Dancing in the Rain.

03/20/2026