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Dr. Kristina Baltutis

Dr. Kristina is a reproductive medicine enthusiast with an okapi obsession. She lives in Burlington, NC with her dogs, cats, chinchilla, and spouse.

Guessing Games vs. Genetic Testing

“What do you think he is, Doc?”  The squirmy brown-and-white puppy kisses my face. Immediately after his pet parent asks me this all-too-frequent question, my brain jumps to answer it. Maybe a little beagle with some chihuahua? Although that coat could be some type of terrier…. I stop myself. The Read more…

By Dr. Kristina Baltutis, 3 years3 years ago

How to Find a Responsible Dog Breeder

You’ve decided that it’s time to add a new canine family member. Congratulations! You understand that a puppy is forever and, accordingly, you want your puppy to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible. You know that you need to ensure that your puppy comes from a Read more…

By Dr. Kristina Baltutis, 3 years3 years ago

New Research on Timing of Spay/Neuter

For decades, the standard approach to spay and neuter in dogs has been to have it done asap – ideally before a female’s first heat cycle or before a male has the opportunity to breed. The given reason for this approach was that it would decrease the pet’s chance of Read more…

By Dr. Kristina Baltutis, 3 years3 years ago

The Agonizing Process of Deciding When It’s “Time”

My dog is sick.  Sort of.  He’s old. “Slowing down.”  But that’s not a disease. Let me start again.  As a house call veterinarian, I am frequently asked to peacefully end a pet’s life. It’s an honor to be trusted with this responsibility. I give my patient an injection of Read more…

By Dr. Kristina Baltutis, 3 years3 years ago

What Should I Feed My Pet? A List of My Favorite Pet Foods

We love to feed our pets. Food and love are so deeply intertwined in human culture that it’s no surprise we want to ensure that our pet gets the “best” food and enthusiastically enjoy every bite. The pet store shelves are lined with hundreds of options, all of which claim Read more…

By Dr. Kristina Baltutis, 3 years3 years ago

Why I Want to Trust Vaccines Given by Dog Breeders and What’s Standing In the Way

Imagine you are a small animal veterinarian (aka…me). You love puppies, and you’re excited to see that you have a new puppy appointment scheduled this morning. You walk into the exam room to meet the newest member of your client’s family and are immediately greeted with excited wiggles and kisses. Read more…

By Dr. Kristina Baltutis, 3 years3 years ago

All Dogs Deserve Basic Training (And Some Great Resources To Get You Started)

The number one reason that dogs are relinquished to shelters is behavioral, and unfortunately many behavioral issues are actually training issues. Therefore, I truly believe that basic dog training saves lives!  Sometimes when I’m talking to a client during a puppy visit, they look very confused when I mention training. Read more…

By Dr. Kristina Baltutis, 3 years3 years ago

The Birds and the Bees and Me With a Pipette: Methods of Insemination

Fundamentally, producing puppies involves combining oocytes (eggs) and sperm. However, there are actually multiple options to accomplish that task. When you’re first getting started, it can be overwhelming to keep track of the lingo, but this article can help!  When discussing methods of insemination, there are two components: the processing Read more…

By Dr. Kristina Baltutis, 3 years3 years ago

Basics of Canine Breeding Management Every Breeder Should Know

I believe that canine reproduction is a team sport. When I’m working with a client, we need to trust each other and to be on the same page every step of the way. For that reason, I believe it’s very important that responsible breeders understand the “why” behind our breeding Read more…

By Dr. Kristina Baltutis, 3 years3 years ago

To Store or Not To Store – A Brief Introduction to Canine Semen Freezing

The following article was originally written for the Scottish Terrier Club of America (STCA) Handbook. For more information on requesting scientific content for your own breed club publication, please contact Dr. Kristina at kbaltutis.dvm@gmail.com   To Store or Not to Store A Brief Introduction to Canine Semen Freezing   By Dr. Read more…

By Dr. Kristina Baltutis, 3 years3 years ago

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