Author Archives: Justin Jornigan

The emergency phone rang at 4:35am and I woke up with the racing heart that it always seems to cause when I’m deep asleep. The young woman spoke through tears, deep breaths, and sniffles to tell me that her pot-bellied pig was having difficulty breathing. She was panicking. She is a regular client of anotherContinue reading “More Than a Pig Doctor”

I woke up this Sunday morning, my back float on the mattress thinking about everything I wanted to accomplish this weekend. We got some much needed rain all day long yesterday – that steady mist that my pasture seed and fertilizer desperately needed. Megan’s parents are in town this weekend and we had plans toContinue reading “Morning Walk”

Monday mornings and Friday afternoons are typically chaotic in a veterinary practice. On top of scheduled appointments, Monday morning is a time for adding appointments for the issues that owners have sat on all weekend and that are now urgent. Friday afternoon is a mad dash to get things seen before the weekend, or justContinue reading “Friday Rodeo”

Do you ever find yourself just wanting to escape? A quick escape from your daily routine and stressors, a break from the same faces you see day in and out. I sometimes find myself wanting to be completely alone and working on an outdoor project, sweating all day without saying a single word to anotherContinue reading “Weekend Escape”

We have made it to April. March is always one of the busiest months of the year in large animal medicine. As the temperatures warm up, our horse clients get prepared for the riding season. Horses receive annual vaccines to protect against diseases spread by mosquitoes and usually have a physical exam and dental examContinue reading “Spring Rush”

I was off duty this weekend, a welcomed reprieve after a sleep-deprived start to the week. Megan and I enjoyed Saturday morning with the horses, schooling the 10 month old and the 3 year old at an obstacle course. We made it back to the farm at lunch and spent the rest of the afternoonContinue reading “Weekend Review”

What’s going through the vet’s mind? A personal collection. Yikes. Why? At what point did you become concerned enough to call the vet? Maggots. Oh, in labor for 2 days. Where is that blood coming from? Yes, I could smell his breath from inside my truck. Dumpster fire. Left fore. No, right hind. Uhhh, let’sContinue reading “Internal Thoughts”

17 years ago I began job shadowing with my first veterinary mentor. I was a kid in high school with two grade mares that were my pride and joy. Dr. Schutz was my veterinarian and he welcomed me to tag along. I was enamored by the whole thing – the people, the animals, the changeContinue reading “Dreaming and Doing”