science, art, and love: Lucy Tongen, DVM

Animals, animals everywhere. That’s Banfield veterinarian Lucy Tongen’s childhood story, and her love for pets – and petcare – is as strong as ever today. We loved our conversation with Dr. Tongen, and hope you do too!

I grew up in Minnesota on a small hobby farm with my brother and sister, who are ten and eight years older than me. So I was almost like an only child, and I spent a lot of time outside. We had chickens, geese, ducks, dogs, and cats, and I lived across the street from a horse barn. A lot of my childhood was spent just hanging out with animals.

When I was little, when people asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I’d say “wildlife rescue.” Then, as I got older, I found that I really liked science. So it all just kind of came together – veterinary medicine is a great match for me. I get to combine my love for pets with my interest in science and my passion for educating pet owners.

How does preventive care help keep pets healthy?

Pets a big part of people’s lives, and we all want to take care of our pets with the same quality of care that we take care of each other. That’s something I really love about preventive care – I love seeing pets come in twice a year and taking care of them at every age. It's especially fun to see them when they’re starting out as puppies and kittens, watching them grow and develop, and getting to know them. That is definitely one of the best parts of my job. It makes me really happy.

Why is dental care so important for pets?

Preventive care – including dental care – can help us catch problems early. For example, pet owners don't always notice if there's a problem in their pet’s mouth. They might say something like “My dog (or cat) has bad breath,” but that’s kind of the biggest thing they notice. But dogs and cats can have dental pain, can get fractured teeth, and even periodontal disease. And it’s just not something they can verbalize to us, so they need our help.

I did a lot of dentistry when I first graduated from school, and I’ve expanded on it since I've been with Banfield. I enjoy doing dentistry and dental cleanings, solving problems in pets’ mouths, helping owners understand what’s going on, and doing continuing education to always be learning more about dental health and treatment. As a veterinarian, I can make a difference in a pet’s quality of life by helping their mouths to be pain- and infection-free.

What do you like doing when you’re not taking care of pets?

I really love art. I was a studio arts minor in college, and I’m a painter – oils and watercolors. I paint a wide variety of things: horses, llamas, locations like Piccadilly Circus and a bridge in Minneapolis. And I like combining my interests in art and science with my interest in education – I think if I hadn’t become a veterinarian, I probably would have been a professor, either in biology or art history.