Upleash Veterinary Hospital

06/18/2026

Winnie Wednesdays 🐾

One of the most common puppy exercise questions I get is:
“How much exercise is too much?”

The answer is a little more nuanced than most people expect.

I firmly believe exercise is one of the keys to a long, healthy, active life. The goal isn’t to keep puppies sedentary, it’s to exercise them appropriately.

For growing puppies, I try to avoid:
❌ Repetitive exercise on hard surfaces
❌ Long runs alongside people
❌ Repeated jumping from high places
❌ Exercising to the point of fatigue

Instead, I prefer to let the puppy set the pace.

Winnie and I go on two longer outings most days, but she’s the one deciding how those walks unfold. She stops to investigate smells, explores the world, runs a little, rests a little, and generally acts like a puppy.

On one of those outings, I also mix in a little training, recall work and “hup,” so she learns that future exercise sessions won’t always be a free-for-all. But the emphasis is still on keeping things fun and enjoyable.

The goal during puppyhood isn’t to create an endurance athlete.

The goal is to build strong bones, healthy joints, a confident mind, and a dog that loves being active.

What are your favorite ways to exercise your puppy?


06/16/2026

One of the questions we get most often is:

“Do you do regular veterinary medicine?”

The answer is absolutely yes.

While Upleash was built around advanced diagnostics, specialty services, and sports medicine, we are also a full-service veterinary hospital. Wellness care, vaccines, sick pets, surgery, dentistry, urgent care, and everything in between are at the heart of what we do every day.

Our vision has never been to build a hospital where one doctor does everything.

It’s to build a team of exceptional people with different skills, experiences, and interests who work together to provide the best possible care for your pets.

No veterinarian is an expert in everything.

But together, we’re building a team that can help you navigate just about anything life throws at your dog or cat.

Whether your pet needs a routine wellness visit, urgent medical care, or advanced diagnostics, we’re here for you.

🐾 Upleash Veterinary Hospital
Compassion and Care at Both Ends of the Leash.

06/03/2026

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Evan Ward to Upleash Veterinary Hospital.

While this may look like a new hire announcement, the truth is this relationship has been years in the making.

I first met Evan during his time at Augustana, and over the years he has become one of my closest friends. I've watched him grow into an exceptional veterinarian, but more importantly, I know him as an exceptional person.

He is thoughtful, compassionate, incredibly intelligent, and genuinely cares about the people and pets he serves. Those qualities matter far more to me than any degree, certification, or line on a resume.

That said, he has those too.

Evan joins us after practicing in Winona, Minnesota, and will be helping expand our general practice services, including wellness care, surgery, and dentistry.

At Upleash, we aren't trying to build the biggest veterinary hospital. We're trying to build a team of people we would trust with our own pets.

I can say without hesitation that I trust Evan with mine.

Welcome home, Dr. Ward.

🐾 Appointments are now available.�
📞 Give us a call to schedule.

06/01/2026

Many of you know me as Dr. Spoo from Upleash Veterinary Hospital.

Some know me as the GunDogDoc.

For the last three years, I've been working on a project that combines both of those worlds, a book that will be released this fall.

At its heart, the book is about the same thing that brought me into veterinary medicine nearly 25 years ago: helping dogs stay healthy, active, and able to do the things they love for as long as possible.

As part of the launch, the publisher sent a videographer and photographer to create a short film about the project. During those early conversations, AJ asked if I was familiar with Andy Anderson's work. I said yes, but wasn't sure what that had to do with my book.

Never in a million years did I expect Andy and Byron Banasiak (all the cool SD Tourism footage) to be the ones behind the camera.
What I definitely didn't expect was to gain two lifelong friends in the process.

They are incredibly talented storytellers, but even better human beings.

This book has been years in the making. The idea started shortly after veterinary school, but I'm grateful it took this long to become reality. The lessons, successes, failures, and experiences that come from twenty-five years of practice simply can't be learned at the beginning of a career.

I've had many moments that I thought were career highlights, publishing my first scientific paper, purchasing my first clinic, becoming board certified…but this book feels different.

This book is my attempt to share what I've learned from a career spent helping active dogs remain healthy and capable of doing the jobs they were bred and born to do.

In many ways, it represents the same mission that drives everything we do at Upleash.

I hope you enjoy the film, and I can't wait to share the book with all of you this fall.

From a small-town Iowa kid with big dreams to one of the most respected sporting dog veterinarians in America, Gun Dog Doc tells the story of Dr. Joe Spoo. F...

05/25/2026

A friendly reminder before the holiday weekend comes to a close, today is expected to be a hot one, and our dogs are counting on us to keep them safe.

Fresh water. Shade. Cool breaks. And keep a close eye for signs of heat stress: excessive panting, drooling, red gums, vomiting, weakness, or collapse. These situations can escalate quickly.

Upleash is closed today in observance of Memorial Day, but we’re thinking of you and your pets.

We’ll see you tomorrow.

05/15/2026

Meet Bindi, a brave 4-year-old spayed Golden Retriever who was diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma. �

💛 After completing 6 rounds of chemotherapy, Bindi has officially graduated from treatment! 🎓🐾|�

Throughout her journey, Bindi continued to brighten our days with her sweet personality and resilient spirit. While her treatment phase is complete, she’ll continue coming in every few months for monitoring so we can keep a close eye on her health moving forward.�

Cancer treatment is never easy, but patients like Bindi remind us why we do what we do. We are incredibly proud of her and grateful to her family for their dedication every step of the way.

Please join us in congratulating Bindi on this huge milestone! 💕🐶

05/10/2026

Small businesses aren’t built alone.

They’re built in the early mornings, late nights, and in the quiet sacrifices most people never see.

For us, so much of that has come from the moms in our lives.

Today is for them.

Happy Mother’s Day.

04/29/2026

A busy week at Upleash, in the best ways.

We’re starting to see more patients, Dr. Hardy performed our first surgical procedure, and our CT is now up and running. It’s been a big step forward.

With that comes our first need to grow the team, starting at the front.

We’re looking for someone who is just as passionate about the client experience as we are about the medicine. This role sets the tone for everything that follows, and we don’t take that lightly.

If that sounds like you (or someone you know), reach out here or contact me directly at [email protected].

04/10/2026

Today we celebrate a veterinarian with a heart of gold. We hope the year ahead is filled with as much happiness as you bring to those around you. Thank you for your unwavering dedication and care! Your passion for veterinary medicine is the reason Upleash is now a reality! Please join us in wishing Dr. Spoo a “paw-some” birthday! 🎂🐾

03/30/2026

Do you know what to do if your dog starts bleeding from the mouth during an outdoor activity? In this video I cover that topic as Boomer and I dealt with it yesterday on our run.