Dr. Molly Brinkmann (@drmollysays)

Fresh dog food is popular for so many reasons and I get it! It's a great way to feed our pets. Whether we use it to replace their meals or as a topper it can add moisture, palatability and low caloric density to their nutrition. @Freshpet is a brand I now recommend as an option for any client considering fresh. They follow WSAVA guidelines, offer so many formulation options and are readily available online and in many common grocery and pet stores. If you're interested in trying FreshPet click the link in my bio for more info! #freshpetpartner #ad

I wonder if he knows that one day… our son… will tell his friends about the dog we had when he was a kid. He’ll smile because he will remember the powdered sugar sprinkled muzzle of a dog that was patient and kind and loyal and hungry. But we will remember the one who was our first. Who stayed up while I studied. Who moved to the mountains with us and back again. Who “bought” our first house with us and laid in the floor while we put together the crib. Who, when that baby died and the world spun on and that house felt so quiet was always there. Who helped me through it. And I wonder if he knows. He is our friend and our family and the thought of life without him seems wrong. His hair should always gather in the corner of the house and his nails should always click across the wood floor and one day we know it will be too clean and too quiet and a piece of us will be gone. I’m his best friend but he’s my best friend too. And I wonder if he knows. #drmollysays

#ad Leaving an abusive situation is already incredibly difficult. Imagine finally finding the courage and opportunity to leave, only to discover the safe place you’re going won’t allow your pet. For many survivors of domestic violence, that’s a very real barrier. Pets can also be threatened, harmed, or used as a way to maintain control, making the decision to leave even more complicated when someone you love could be left behind. That’s why I’m proud to partner with @Purina to share the Purple Leash Project, an initiative working to help make more domestic violence shelters pet-friendly. Because no one should have to choose between their own safety and the safety of their pet. 💜🐾 From 09/01–11/15/2026, Purina will donate $0.05 for every purchase of specially marked packs to RedRover, up to $500K. Learn more about the Purple Leash Project and how you can help at the link in my bio. #PurpleLeashProject #PurinaPartner

Why yes a tootie tuck is in fact the proper term. #drmollysays

Do you live with a Bella?

I want you to know I realize this is confusing and concerning. It’s frustrating to do what we do which is hard enough as it is and then have to combat a very small group of our colleagues telling you we’re lying to you. Please find a local vet you trust and do just that. Love, Dr. Molly #drmollysays

Choosing the right diet can be really stressful for pet parents and I know there's a lot of information about it online that can be confusing. For clients wanting to try a fresh gently cooked diet, Freshpet is one of my go to recommendations. For those with concerns with the cost of feeding all fresh, I also like using foods like Freshpet as a topper for kibble as well. @Freshpet has so many diet options that range from puppy formulations to senior. To learn more check out the link in my bio, including a list of some of my favorite options from Freshpet! #ad #freshpetpartner #dogfood #petparents

😂😂😂😂😂 Labs really do want to be helpful….. Who do we invite for part 2? #dogbreedhumor #drmollysays #funndydogs

To be very clear I AM a cat person #cats #funny #cathumor #catpeople #catperson

This week Ryan and I got a special treat! An early screening of @heartofthebeastmovie from @Paramount Pictures PLUS an afternoon with friends from the movie and large breed dogs up for adoption through @Wags & Walks Nashville Ryan and I loved the movie-it is truly special and such an important watch for anyone who loves dogs or is or knows someone who has served in the military. Don’t miss Heart of the Beast in theaters everywhere September 25! #paramountpartner #heartofthebeast #heartofthebeastmovie

I’ll give you two guesses! This guy is a senior with a few medical issues to work out before he gets adopted out so he’s going to hang out with me, the fam and @The Local Vets team for now 🥰 He’s hilarious and adorable! #foster #rescuedogs #fosterdog

We put a lot of thought into making the cat experience as comfortable as possible, from the cat wall, to having everything we need in the exam rooms so we aren't constantly taking them in and out of the room, and our Casco cat kennels to provide a safe comfy space for them while they're here for longer periods. We're so excited to see you and your cats at @The Local Vets 🐈‍⬛ ❤️ #drmollysays #thelocalvets #franklintn #veterinarian

Don’t worry, Cooper was paid handsomely in treats for his time and effort 🤣🤣 #drmollysays #labrador #doghumor

Cooper has tried a lot of dog beds, but this one genuinely impressed us. As a veterinarian, I love that the @Lesure Pet RealOrtho Dog Bed is backed by scientific testing and provides 2.4x more support than standard egg crate foam to help protect joints, especially for aging large breed dogs. It's supportive without feeling stiff, and it's held up incredibly well over time. #lesurepartner #largebreeddogs #orthopedicdogbed

Did you know we can do this?? If you work in the human ER tell me a weirder injury you’ve seen 😂😆 #erstories #erstory #vetmed

Coming soon…👀👀 We wrapped up week 1 of training and can’t wait to see some patients verryyy soon! @The Local Vets #TheLocalVets #DrMollySays #FranklinVet

It’s never a good time for diarrhea. That’s exactly why the FortiFlora Diarrhea Response Kit exists — quick relief when accidents happen, then ongoing probiotic support to help keep your pup or kitty’s gut balanced. Vet-recommended. No Rx required. Grab yours before you need it through the link in my bio! #FortiFlora #VetRecommended #DigestiveSupport @proplanvetsupplements #purinapartner #ad

It’s really simple! #vetmed #vetlife #petparents #vettips

Turns out if you buy a building and build a vet clinic you can spend an evening dancing around in it the night before you start training staff with your friend who also owns a vet clinic and is opening a second one! @Dr Crocker - Pet Vet #womenowners #womeninbusiness #vetpracticeowners #womeninvetmed

🦟

Oh and I would also let the general public wrongfully vilify the veterinary community made up of a lot of people that work for my company and really just want to take care of pets. And I would accomplish all of this in a shockingly short amount of time. Wow! #vetmed #vpa #bluepearl #banfield

One of the questions I get asked all the time is: “What pet insurance should I choose?” 🐾 And honestly—there are so many options that it can feel overwhelming. Pumpkin Pet Insurance is one of the companies I often tell all of my patients to look into and consider. Check out www.pumpkin.care for information about plans with Pumpkin.@Pumpkin #pumpkinpartner #pumpkincares #petinsurance #veterinarycare #sponsoredad

One of my favorite moments in vet med is seeing a patient (especially a cat) for the first time who, per their records, is fearful and difficult but then after spending a few minutes figuring out what makes them comfortable we can accomplish what someone previously deemed impossible. This patient, a sweet old crunchy cat, I was seeing for the first time and we needed to do a thorough exam and get bloodwork. Historically, per the record, that sounded like a daunting task. But we sat in the floor while he checked me out in the room and I talked to his owners through the plan, I offered a churu which he loved, then we did an exam and he got a little annoyed with that when I was finishing so we took a break and when he came back for more churu he got wrapped in a "purrito" and enjoyed more churu wrapped up, in my lap, while we drew his blood with no major complaints. 🙌🏼 This is the beauty of low stress handling. There are plenty of people who think we don't have time for this kind of approach. I was one of them in some ways a few years ago. But I've learned so much from my patients when taking the time and making the effort to do this. One of those lessons learned is that most of the time we save time by doing these things. By not struggling with our patients. By trying something different. By stopping and saying let's do this differently on a different day. By taking the five minutes to talk to the pet parent about trying meds to lower anxiety next time and really explaining why. #vetmed #lowstresshandling #drmollysays #catsoftiktok

As a veterinarian in general practice, clients often ask me about options for feeding their dog that aren't kibble. There are many misconceptions about pet food in general and when it comes to fresh commercial diets there are several options so- how do you pick? There's several important things I want to know about a food company before I recommend their diets, and after learning more about @Freshpet l'm grateful it's an option I can tell pet owners about. They are one of very few fresh food companies that seem to make following WSAVA guidelines a priority. SO, what are the things I love about Freshpet as a fresh food brand? 1. Diets are formulated by veterinary nutritionists and nutrition PhDs . PLUS Freshpet employs a boarded veterinary nutritionist. 2. There's several diet options that cater to specific needs, flavor preferences and life stages. 3. Their diets are made in their own facilities with excellent quality control. 4. Diets are extensively tested with feeding trials included. 5. Freshpet is much more accessible than many other fresh options as it is found in many stores and online. #freshpetpartner #freshdogfood #drmollysays #ad

@Dr. Whitney C. Terrell thank you for your contribution to this series. 🤣🤣🤣🤣Feel free to submit your classic voicemails for me to do next! #vetmed #vetlife

When I saw this mom post about a breeder selling her a “hypoallergenic” poodle mix it reminded me of so many clients who I’ve encountered that buy doodles because they’ve been convinced that these breeds mixed together guarantee a low maintenance hypoallergenic perfect family dog…. only to realize that couldn’t be more wrong for their dog and they’re shocked at the time and money required for their pet to be healthy and well behaved. And in some really frustrating situations they get these dogs simply because a breeder promised a “hypoallergenic” dog and when that isn’t the case things like family member health is at risk. Which puts everyone involved in a difficult situation. And to boot: people in the vet world are afraid to talk about breeders and finding good ones so the general public often buys from back yard breeders and puppy mills unknowingly. I’m not saying all poodle mixes are a bad idea- I just don’t want any more pet parents to fall prey to false advertising especially when it comes to something like allergies. #hypoallergenicdog #dogbreeders #doodles

This is my "nephew" Warner and he is the most adorable, goofy and entertaining dufus you've ever met. (Aka a boxer) 😂 #boxersoftiktok #drmollysays #dogsbeingdogs

Ok so am I ordering 6 more? @Safavieh care to weigh in? #vetclinic #construction #thelocalvets

This is my favorite iteration of the “let them” theory 🤍 #drmollysays

It’ll be fine!!! #labmom #labradorretriever