Nights, weekends, and holidays, our team at Urgent Pet Care Omaha is here for you if your pet experiences an emergency. During such a scary and upsetting time, your main concern is your pet’s welfare, but do you stop to wonder who is responsible for your pet’s care? Our veterinary professionals are dedicated to ensuring your pet receives the attention they deserve, but they also have lives outside the exam room. Dr. Mike Skidmore, who has been a team member for several years, recently earned his veterinary degree. We would like you to get to know Dr. Mike, so the next time we treat your pet at our hospital, you will know exactly who is caring for your four-legged friend.

Dr. Mike’s pre-veterinary years

Dr. Mike grew up in Upper Michigan, and joined the United States Air Force, before becoming interested in veterinary medicine. He was promoted to Master Sergeant in the Air Force before retiring. A few years before his military retirement, he came across a listing for a veterinarian position on the Department of Labor’s website. He was intrigued by this possible new career path. 

Dr. Mike’s veterinary experience

Dr. Mike needed to shadow at a veterinary hospital to gain experience before he could attend veterinary school, so he spent time at Urgent Pet Care Omaha. He loved the practice so much, he joined our team and became a dedicated team member. His favorite part about being a veterinarian, he says, is being able to help hurting pets and their stressed owners in need. He has no preference between cats and dogs, he says—he loves them all.

Dr. Mike’s family life

Dr. Mike has been married for 20 years to his beautiful wife, Sandra, who, he says, “wants to be a school teacher when she grows up.” They have two children, Aerin and Keith, who are figuring out what they want to do in life. Their furry family contingent includes:

  • Kya — A 10-year-old Alaskan malamute, Kya is a retired therapy dog.
  • Rey — A 4-year-old domestic shorthair cat whom Dr. Mike helped deliver by C-section, Rey likes to “help” Dr. Mike practice the guitar by leaning against his strings when he plays.
  • Squirrel — A 10-year-old golden retriever who retired from therapy work, Squirrel was a team leader for bikejoring, a sport that was created by sled dog racers to train and maintain their dogs’ fitness level during the warmer months. Sadly, Squirrel recently developed a cancerous tumor, and Dr. Mike’s family made the difficult decision to euthanize him to prevent pain and suffering. 

Dr. Mike’s leisure time

You can usually find Dr. Mike treating pets at Urgent Pet Care Omaha, but when he does decide to take time off, he likes to unwind playing video games. He definitely prefers a camping trip to a spa getaway, and when deciding where to set up the tent, he looks for wide open spaces that aren’t too far away from a city. A few other interesting tidbits about Dr. Mike:

  • Favorite food — Orange chicken from Panda Express
  • Unexpected talent — Juggling clubs, torches, and machetes
  • Bucket list item — Scuba diving somewhere amazing, like Australia or Fiji
  • Biggest fear — That his kids won’t figure out what they want to be when they grow up until they are 40, like their father—of course, we think Dr. Mike turned out pretty well, and are sure his kids will be fine!

We are a close-knit group at Urgent Pet Care Omaha, and we are extremely happy that Dr. Mike is on our team. His Air Force years made him a hard worker with a strong work ethic. Not many people can boast the title of Air Force Master Sergeant as well as Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and our team benefits from his commitment, discipline, and love of animals.

The next time your pet has an emergency, you can trust that Dr. Mike and everyone else on our team will provide them with the best possible care. If your pet needs urgent care, contact our team at Urgent Pet Care Omaha immediately.