Our Team
Without a doubt, the staff at Heartland Veterinary Clinic is our greatest asset. The people you see when you stop in and those who work behind the scenes are dedicated to excellence and providing the highest quality of patient care. Once you step through our doors, your experience will begin with a smile and a friendly face. When you leave, we hope you do so with the knowledge and education you desire to make the most of your pet’s life. We hope you enjoy reading a little more about the people who help care for your pets.
Our Veterinarians
Veterinarians’ heads are so full of information! At school, veterinarians learn about the anatomy and specific illnesses of many different animals (cows, sheep, horses, dogs, cats, some exotics, and much more!). They also become proficient in pharmacy, nutrition, and preventative healthcare. Pretty much every veterinarian has an extensive library of textbooks and medical journals to refer to as well.
Veterinarians usually have an undergraduate degree in additional to their DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) degree. Veterinary school in Canada is a 4 year program, with it being extended to a full 7 years for specialties.
During school and after they graduate, veterinarians must belong to various associations and follow their medical and ethical guidelines. One of the requirements to keep a veterinary licence up to date is to take courses on a continuous basis.
Our Administrative Staff
Judi Dunston, General Manager
Our Animal Health Assistant Staff
Our Animal Health Assistants are a vital part of our team. While they are not able to perform medical procedures, such as giving injections, they are highly educated about all sorts of topics that are relevant to your pets. They can help you with nutritional, behavioural, and preventative health questions. Please feel free to ask them any questions you may have. If they don’t have the answer right away, they’ll enjoy searching for the answer and getting back to you!
Our Technician Staff
Brooke Hinchliff
Animal Health Technologists have a diploma after graduating from a 2-year course. They are often compared to human nurses, but just like veterinarians, they also have to be familiar with several different species of animals. Also like veterinarians, they are required to take several continuing education courses each year.
As an example of some of the duties AHTs have, just follow a patient through a surgery. In the morning, the technologist will collect history from the owner – is the pet fasted? Are there are concerns from the owner about coughing, vomiting, etc? The AHT will also measure vital signs such as weight, temperature, and heart rate. The AHT and the veterinarian determine which pre-surgical medications to give based on these values and the pet’s history. The AHT gives the medications after placing an IV catheter. During surgery, while the veterinarian focuses on the procedure, the AHT monitors the patient, making detailed notes in the patient’s medical record. After surgery, the AHT monitors the patient’s recovery, watching for any complications and adjusting medications as the pet wakes up. When the patient goes home, it’s usually the AHT who goes over home care instructions, answering any basic questions that the owner may have.
AHTs are proud of their education – please feel free to ask us any questions you may have about the veterinary profession, or to address any concerns you have about your pet.