Dr. Francis V. Schwenk’s extensive expertise ranges from invasive surgeries to proper pet training methods. His current veterinary practice averages approximately 4,000 appointments each year. Dr. Schwenk, alongside his professional animal health care staff, takes on a vast variety of appointments, from routine checkups to emergency medical surgeries. One of the most notable recent procedures involved the removal of an entire, intact shoe from the stomach of a curious patient. And yes, the Rottweiler went on to make a full recover and is now in great health.
When he isn’t busy with his veterinary duties, Dr. Francis V. Schwenk uses his free time to write. He writes informative books on pet health and training. His work often appears in nationally recognized publications. His topics generally cover areas such as information on different breed types, common illnesses and simple training methods. Dr. Schwenk also has more specialized areas of knowledge and writes about the dangers of controversial surgeries and treatments for specific diseases.
Dr. Schwenk always puts the wellbeing of his patients first and refuses to perform any surgery that is not needed. Some animal owners choose to put their pets through surgeries purely for cosmetic reasons. Dr. Schwenk does not stand by these types of surgeries, which include ear cropping and tail docking. He is also vehemently against debarking dogs. Rather than perform any of these unnecessary surgeries, Dr. Schwenk prefers to educate these clients on the dangers these procedures pose their loving pets.
Dr. Francis V. Schwenk has had a passion for taking care of animals since his years as a young child. Growing up, he had two beloved pets. His first pet was a beagle-lab mix his family got when he was five years old. One year later, his family adopted a small domestic kitten that enjoyed wandering the perimeters of the lawn. With no siblings, these animals became Dr. Schwenk’s cherished playmates. This encouraged his love of animals, which would eventually lead him down his career path.
During his high school years, Dr. Francis V. Schwenk volunteered at a local animal shelter. This continued to further his devotion to the animals. He handled animals from the instant they entered the shelter’s doors, helping them become acclimated with human interaction. To accomplish this, Dr. Schwenk had to do what he does best, continuously interact with the new additions until the animals finally grew used to him. He would sit in a room full of cats and dogs and soothingly speak to them. He would pet any animals that came near to him. Each animal would eventually come out of his or her shell and come closer for a nice scratch. Once they became acclimated with humans, the friendly animals were then ready to make loving, adoptable pets.
Working at the local shelter gave Dr. Schwenk many fond memories. Yet, there were also a number of animals brought in that were way beyond help. Sometimes, animals would be brought in from neglectful and abusive situations. Other times, strays were brought in with various diseases or critical injuries. Dr. Schwenk was forced to see these animals suffer, but these cases only encouraged his attachment to the animals and his desire to help them.
Continued Education
Before graduating high school, Dr. Francis V. Schwenk already knew where his future was heading. He knew he wanted to continue his education and study to become a professional veterinarian. He attended Oklahoma State University in 1992, where he went on to earn a Bachelor’s of Veterinary Science. Following his graduation in 1996, Dr. Schwenk returned to the local animal shelter he worked in as a high school student.
Two years later, he enrolled full-time at the University of Phoenix, where he spent four years learning the finer details of veterinary practices. In 2002, he finally received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. After this achievement, he decided to take his contributions to the next level by opening his own veterinary clinic.
This was a huge step for the doctor. At first, he was the only licensed veterinarian at his practice. This had Dr. Schwenk working busy, long hours for over a year, forcing him to orchestrate all the major medical work himself. His hard work during this time paid off. As he gained more and more patients, his practice flourished. In 2004, he was able to hire another professional veterinarian to help handle the sizeable workload.
Out of the 4,000 annual appointments, Dr. Francis V. Schwenk now handles approximately 20 of these everyday.
Supporting ASPCA
Today, Dr. Francis V. Schwenk is an avid supporter of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Founded in 1866, ASPCA was the first humane organization created in the Western Hemisphere. Its mission is to “provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.” Its members work nationally to rescues animals from abuse, pass humane legislation and share resources with many shelters across the nation.
Dr. Francis V. Schwenk’s devotion to helping animals goes beyond his practice’s work and his involvement in the ASPCA. He aims to personally help animals across the United States and abroad through other methods.
His other vehicle for change is his writing. He has written various publications on the proper health care of pets for the overall welfare and wellbeing of these animals. He has also collaborated with other animal health care professionals to create informative publications. Provided below are some of the topics covered in Dr. Francis V. Schwenk’s writings.
• Animal nutrition
• Animal illness and disease
• How to effectively train your pet
• What to expect from different breeds
• Different forms of animal abuse and neglect
• The benefits of owning a pet
• The dangers of unnecessary pet surgeries
Tips For Preventing Costly Future Animal Problems
1. Brush your cat or dog’s teeth.
It may seem silly, but brushing your pet’s teeth is an effective preventive measure. Like human tooth plaque, animal tooth plaque can lead to periodontal disease. This disease can later cause kidney and lung disease. Some veterinarians recommend brushing your pet’s teeth every day, but if this isn’t possible, try giving them dental chews. The ingredients in these chews are specially designed to minimize and remove plaque bacteria.
2. Spay or neuter your animal.
Research shows that spaying reduces the number of mammary tumors in female animals. Many believe neutering male animals reduces aggression, as well as some diseases.
3. Don’t forget the shots.
Make sure you keep your animal’s shots and vaccinations up-to-date. However, also make sure not to over-vaccinate. The core vaccines are needed every three years, not annually.
4. Don’t overfeed your pet.
This is a tough one. You sit down to enjoy a delectable meal, look to your right and stare into the most precious pair of puppy eyes. It’s hard to say no, but if saying no is what it takes to keep your pet at an optimal weight – it must be done. Even for pets, being overweight can mean an array of health problems, including arthritis and diabetes. This will result in suffering for you and your pet.
5. Keep animals leashed or fenced in.
This not only protects your animal, but also your neighbors. Keeping your animal on a leash doesn’t mean the pet is misbehaved. However, some animals are very protective of their family and it’s better to not risk the animal mistaking a friendly gesture for a threat. Dr. Francis V. Schwenk also recommends early obedience training and socialization with other animals and people.
Time and time again, Dr. Francis V. Schwenk experiences that magnitude of benefits that come with having a pet. People love companionship. From dogs and cats, to snakes and mice, to hamsters and guinea pigs, pets provide unconditional support to their owners. Dr. Schwenk hopes to continue spreading awareness of these many benefits.
Pets help their owners develop character because they require a lot of care and attention - especially dogs. Dogs require daily feedings, walking, playing, bathing and more. While having a dog is known to be almost like having a child, even fish require a decent amount of your time and attention. Pet owners learn to be responsible. If they aren’t responsible, their animal can be in danger and potentially fall ill. Regardless of how the owner’s day is going - good mood or bad – caring for a pet is a must.
Dr. Francis V. Schwenk is also a firm advocator of the emotional support animals provide their owners. Owners almost always form a close, emotional bond with their pets. And in return for the owner care, animals offer unconditional love. For those who feel they don’t receive enough emotional support from other people, cats and dogs can often fill that void. This helps enlighten the owner’s mood, while relieving many symptoms of stress.
Dr. Schwenk will continue to spread his knowledge about the importance of pets in peoples’ lives while raising issues of animal cruelty and neglect. He plans on continuing the expansion his own veterinary practice to further fulfill the needs of pets and their owners.