I’m an emergency veterinarian who has worked in more than 50 veterinary hospitals, and a lifelong dog person. I’m also the second generation in my family to become a veterinarian.
I grew up on a farm in Michigan and spent much of my childhood in my mom’s veterinary clinic. Today, I’m based in North Texas, where I work in emergency medicine and independently with veterinary hospitals that need doctor coverage.
My interest in dogs goes far beyond caring for them when they’re sick. I’ve spent most of my life learning about dogs, what makes them different, and how we can give them the best lives possible.
Years Of Experiences
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Growing up with a veterinarian for a mom meant I got an early look at what caring for animals really involves. I spent time at her clinic cleaning cages, helping where I could, watching procedures, and learning from the animals and people around me.
At home, life revolved around animals too. I grew up on a farm with dogs, cats, horses, goats, birds, small animals, and plenty of rescues. I spent years training and competing with my Quarter and Paint Horses at the state and national level.
Dogs were always a big part of my life. I became fascinated by dog breeds and learned about purebred dogs and responsible breeding while helping a Cairn Terrier breeder at dog shows, and later showed my own Whippet.
Those experiences sparked my interest in breed traits, structure, temperament, and genetics, and the many things that make dogs so different from one another.
I studied biology at Grand Valley State University before earning early admission to The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During veterinary school, I looked for opportunities to explore different sides of veterinary medicine. I worked in a large specialty hospital, learned about veterinary research and animal policy, and completed an internship at a veterinary hospital in Beijing.
After graduating, I began my career at a busy veterinary hospital in Northern Virginia, treating both everyday appointments and emergencies. I later worked as an emergency veterinarian at a specialty referral hospital alongside board-certified specialists.
In 2020, I started Skylight Veterinary Relief Services and began working independently with veterinary hospitals that need additional doctor coverage. Since then, I’ve worked in more than 50 hospitals across several states, from general practices and nonprofit clinics to urgent care, emergency, and specialty hospitals.
Working in so many different settings has also shown me how often the same questions and concerns come up. I’ve seen how much easier it is to care for our dogs when we understand what’s happening and have good information to guide our decisions.
There’s a lot to navigate as a dog owner. What’s normal? When should you worry? What does your dog actually need? And if you’re looking for a new dog, how do you make sense of breeds, breeders, rescues, health testing, and everything else that comes with that decision?
I started sharing what I’ve learned online to help answer those questions. My goal is to give dog people reliable, practical information they can use to better understand their dogs, care for them well, and make good decisions for them.
contact@drduckpetdoctor.com
