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Chew on This : Your Pet ' s Dental Health
By Kim Welsh
Dr . Melissa Blazevich , DVM grew up on a farm where her love for animals blossomed . She enjoyed caring for all the animals , but especially the cows and horses on her father ’ s farm . She was later inspired by the late Dr . Robert “ Bob ” Hancock , who founded South Paws Veterinary Surgical Specialists with his wife , Jennifer . Dr . Melissa served as a Registered Veterinary Technician at South Paws in Mandeville before attending veterinary school . Dr . Melissa always knew she wanted to return to South Paws upon completion of her specialty training to uphold Dr . Bob ’ s legacy and to continue to offer the highest quality care based on the mission upon which South Paws was founded : “ Healing Hands with a Passion for Paws .”
During her freshman year at Southeastern Louisiana University , she made the decision to commit to a career in veterinary medicine . She graduated from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2016 , where she developed a strong interest in veterinary dentistry . After graduation , she completed a rigorous one-year small animal rotating internship at Texas A & M University , followed by a three-year residency in Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston , Texas .
Dr . Melissa explains , “ Dentistry and oral surgery is a very specialized area . When I was a student at LSU , there was not a dentistry program during my clinical rotations , so I went to Houston to complete an externship . After going through the rotation in dentistry and oral surgery , I immediately knew I had found my niche . As this specialty grows . we can learn more and treat more . Returning to South Paws to offer dentistry and oral services in October of 2020 felt like coming home .”
Dental health is a very important part of your pet ’ s overall health , and dental problems can cause pain and oral discomfort . Your pet ’ s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian to look for early signs of a problem and to keep your pet ’ s oral cavity healthy .
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