Just who are these people coming to your house?
Here’s a little bit about all of us!
We are pleased to offer two veterinarians that can come to your house to treat your pets!
From Dr. Karen Louis:
Hello! I chose being a veterinarian as a sort of “second career” and have never looked back! I was earning a PhD in molecular cell biology at Washington University School of Medicine, when I adopted two rescued dogs. After becoming more involved with dog rescue, I realized veterinary medicine would be the best career for me. After being accepted into multiple veterinary schools, I chose University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2004. My favorite topics are dermatology and internal medicine, which also happens to be the majority of what I see on a day-to-day basis.
I base my practice on a simple concept: treat people the way I would want to be treated. I take the time to explain diagnostic and treatment options, no matter how complex. My clients appreciate my directness and honesty the most, even when it’s “brutal honesty” sometimes. And, I have learned that laughing a little goes a long way in this job!
My clients know I am a doctor, but I am a real person. (Some of my dogs eat poop, no matter what I try.) I am a pet owner, and I know what it is like to love your pet like any “human” member of your family. Home hospice care, which helps improve the quality of life for geriatric dogs and cats, is a passion of mine. I am a member of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, and serve on the Veterinary Council for Breed Stewardship.
I currently am “mom” to three rescue dogs: Lucy, a chihuahua mix with chronic brain disease that can still boss us; Sam, an old dachshund who lives for tummy rubs, and Linus, a 6-year-old chow mix who’s blind from a genetic disorder (don’t tell him that though!) I also foster homeless dogs for a couple area rescue groups, as well as rescue dogs from puppy mills.
Recently I started a blog in order to create an accurate, truthful online resource for pet owners. It’s called VetChick.com, and it contains articles covering a wide variety of pet health topics. It’s ever growing!
I also recently became certified in veterinary medical acupuncture. This is different from Chinese Medicine. I learned acupuncture from a scientific point of view, communicating with nerves and blood vessels with acupuncture needles. (Here’s the basics, and here’s the science-y stuff).
I look forward to getting to know new people and their pets! Nothing makes me happier than helping a cat or dog who has been itching, sick, or hurting, and making life better for the whole family.
Karen Louis DVM, MS, cVMA
We’re thrilled to have Dr. Laura Boeren on our team!
Dr. Boeren graduated from University of Illinois College of Veterinary medicine in 2001, with honors! She enjoyed practicing in high quality clinics for years, then took some time off to raise her four children. Now they are older, and she’s eager to get back to the work she loves. Dr. Boeren particularly enjoys house call practice, because she can take the time to explain all options and diagnoses to clients, as well as get to know the patients better. Her particular passion is behavior, and helping animals live better, less-stressful lives.
In her free time, Dr. Boeren is active in her church, performing with the praise team. She also practices martial arts, and coaches her kids’ soccer teams.
I can’t believe how lucky I am to have such amazing technicians work with me! They have mad skills, are fun to be with, and our patients love them….most of the time!
Kelly has a bachelors degree in psychology from McKendree University, which she jokes she uses more often then you’d think in this job! She worked with me years ago at Four Paws Animal Hospital. She left the veterinary field for several years to be a mom to her daughter, but missed working with animals. Kelly is a cat person to her core, while her experience with her own very nervous dog makes her skilled at working with anxious dogs as well! When not working, Kelly home schools her daughter and is learning martial arts.
Nikki is a registered veterinary technician who works one day a week at a local animal hospital, and a couple days a week for us. She loves the big dogs who are babies and the cats that might not love us. Nikki was raised on an Elk Farm, but is happy to see smaller pets. She’s the proud mom of two boys, and is currently in the process of looking for the right large breed dog for their active family.
Melissa S. is a registered veterinary technician with a degree from Jefferson College. She worked at the Humane Society of Missouri with me for years. She’s proud mom of a “human” kid (as we call them in this field) named Ethan, as well as four dogs. She is an active volunteer with the local wildlife rehab organization, and has been known to help orphaned opossums from time to time. She also loves anything Harry Potter! Melissa is great at calming the nerves of anxious pets, with pit bulls being among her favorites.
Melissa F. is a registered veterinary technician who graduated with a bachelors degree in animal health technology from Murray State University. She works at Breese Animal Hospital, but makes house calls with me on her days off. Melissa was raised on a beef cattle farm, but she just sticks to dogs and cats now! She has 2 cats and a border collie.
Here’s me explaining all we offer to the Belleville News Democrat!