Walter Cronkite, a 12-year-old bulldog, is no stranger to advanced, long-term veterinary care.

In 2015, he first landed at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) with a partial tear in his ACL, one of the major ligaments in the knee. His owner, Michelle Webster, remembers the surgeon laying out their options, including the option to forgo surgery and instead see if physical rehabilitation could help him make a full recovery.

“He was so young, and I wanted to do for Walter what I would do for myself,” Webster says. “I would want to avoid surgery.”

The six rigorous months of physical rehabilitation Walter completed at the VMC worked.

“His results were amazing. It was a long recovery, but he has continued to be healthy and athletic throughout his life because of his [rehabilitation] experience, and he avoided surgery,” Webster says.

As Walter got older, he developed food allergies and was seeing his regular veterinarian without much progress until 2021. That’s when Webster brought him back to the VMC, this time to seek guidance from a primary care veterinarian, who collaborated with VMC’s allergists on Walter’s case. His eyes were bright pink and itchy, and he was groggy, and Webster was not able to get the care he needed at his regular clinic. When he came to the VMC, a collaborative team that included the Primary Care, Nutrition, and Dermatology services worked with Webster to refine his diet and try medications that kept his allergies at bay. It’s the only place he has received care since.

“Being in a teaching hospital that has all of these specialties in one place is unparalleled,” Webster says.

Amy O’Brien, Walter’s primary care veterinarian and an associate professor of primary care in CVM’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, says forming partnerships to provide quality care at the VMC goes beyond specialists.

“We really try to take a collaborative approach with the owners, taking into account what is working well with a family's pet and what isn’t,” O’Brien says.

The VMC is also uniquely positioned to offer cutting-edge care through clinical trials and research studies conducted by faculty, students, and residents. This research also shapes everyday care.

“Thanks to clinical research led by residents, we are always discovering new approaches to improve screening and monitoring. Often, these new approaches make visits more cost-effective or less invasive,” O’Brien says.

During one of his regular check-ups, a resident spotted a tumor in Walter’s mouth, which turned out to be benign. Webster says having so many eyes on each pet is one of the reasons she exclusively takes Walter to the VMC.

“The doctors and residents have also seen so many different things, just from working in a teaching hospital that has all of these specialties in one place,” Webster says. “Especially if you have a pet that has some complicated issues, it’s the only place to go.”

Walter’s story reflects how well the VMC’s care plans are coordinated for patients over their lifetimes. Over the last 10 years, Walter has been treated by the Ophthalmology Service and had a routine dental cleaning that revealed a loose tooth that needed to be surgically extracted. Last year, Webster rushed Walter to the Emergency and Critical Care Service when he was having trouble standing and eating. He spent four days in the intensive care unit and was monitored by a team of specialists.

“We almost lost Walter several times, but they stabilized him enough over those four days that he could finally come home,” Webster says.

Walter’s journey at the VMC has been long, and Michelle credits his many clinicians for why he’s been able to enjoy a long, happy life—he turns 13 in January. Walter is still energetic and loves food, as he always has. His best friend is a Poodle named Ted, and his favorite activities are short hikes in the country, puzzles, and snuffle toys filled with healthy, low-calorie treats.

Giving from gratitude

Out of gratitude for his care, Webster has decided to include a charitable bequest to benefit the VMC’s Lewis Small Animal Hospital in her estate plan.

“It’s really important to be involved with and fund our treasured community institutions in times like these,” she says. “If you love it, fund it.”

Thanks to generous charitable gifts from hundreds of clients and animal lovers like Michelle each year, the Veterinary Medical Center remains ready to care for more than 15,000 patients per year across four hospitals and 20 unique specialty services. Gifts of all sizes allow the team to invest in state-of-the-art clinical equipment and innovative procedures to provide the very best patient care possible. 

Check out the VMC’s Annual Impact Report to learn more about how the VMC is the leading home for advanced veterinary care in Minnesota.

Want to share your pet’s care story with us? Drop us a line at [email protected].