LafeberVet Contributors
of Text, Photographs, and/or Video Clips
Dr. Natalie Antinoff is director of the bird and exotic pet referral practice, Gulf Coast Avian and Exotics, a member of Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston, Texas. Dr. Antinoff is board certified in avian practice. She completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery, and a residency in avian and exotic pet medicine and surgery at The Animal Medical Center in New York.
Dr. Antinoff is the narrator and editor of LafeberVet Emergency and Critical Care video clips. She is also the author of Diagnosing and Treating Avian Neurologic Disease.
Dr. Jeffrey Applegate is an associate veterinarian in the Avian and Exotics Department of the Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital.
Dr. Applegate received his doctorate of veterinary medicine at Kansas State University and completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York city. Jeff is the 2009-2010 President-elect of the Mid-Atlantic States Association of Avian Veterinarians. Dr. Applegate worked as a student representative all through veterinary school and has continued to be active with Lafeber Company since graduation.
See Dr. Applegate’s Ectoparasite Control in Small Mammals.
Dr. Heather Barron is the chair of veterinary clinical sciences and professor of Small & Exotic Animal Medicine at St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in the Cayman Islands. Dr. Barron is an editor of the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery and the author of numerous publications. Dr. Barron is board certified in avian medicine and she is the 2010-2011 president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians.
She is a graduate of the University of Georgia at Athens (UGA) College of Veterinary Medicine, where she also completed a residency in avian and exotic animal medicine. Heather remained at UGA for 10 years, and she has also spent several years in private practice.
See the Avian Physical Examination and History Forms contributed by Dr. Barron from the University of Georgia and Enterocolitis in Hamsters written by Dr. Barron.
John E. Bauer is Professor of Small Animal Clinical Sciences and holder of the Mark L. Morris Professorship of Clinical Nutrition in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University. Dr. Bauer is a past Chair and current member of the Intercollegiate Graduate Faculty of Nutrition at Texas A&M. His areas of specialization are lipid biochemistry, disorders of lipid metabolism, and comparative biomedicine and nutrition. His studies have included lipoprotein and fatty acid metabolism of domestic and exotic animals as well as animal models of hypercholesterolemia and atherogenesis in humans. Dr. Bauer received a Ph.D. in nutritional sciences from the University of Illinois, and he is a charter Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.
Read Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Atherosclerosis in Birds co-authored by Dr. Bauer.
Dr. Cyndi Brown is board-certified in avian medicine and surgery. Cyndi initially worked as a licensed veterinary technician at the Animal Medical Center (AMC) in New York City. Although she was primarily an intensive care nurse, Cyndi spent a great deal of time with the exotics team, often joining doctors for house call visits. After two years, Cyndi decided to return to school and complete prerequisites for veterinary school. Dr. Brown graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999 and returned to the AMC for a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery. She then began a residency in avian and exotic pet medicine at the AMC. Upon completion of her training in 2003, she remained on staff teaching interns, residents and technicians until 2005. Dr. Cyndi Brown currently practices at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.
See the articles contributed by Dr. Brown on Air Sac Cannula Placement and Restraint Collars in Birds.
Dr. Terry Campbell is an associate professor of zoological medicine at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Campbell has over 30 years of experience in exotic animal medicine. His research interests focus on exotic animal cytology, hematology, and plasma biochemistry and he is the co-author of Avian and Exotic Animal Hematology and Cytology, the definitive hematologic and cytologic reference for all veterinarians and researchers working with avian and exotic animals. Dr. Campbell is also the co-author of Clinical Cases in Avian & Exotic Animal Hematology & Cytology , a hands-on guide that takes the reader through nearly 100 clinical cases.
Read Basic Cytology of the Avian Gastrointestinal Tract by Dr. Campbell.
James W. Carpenter, MS, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, has been a clinical and research veterinarian for over 34 years. He has assisted in developing an internationally recognized program in zoological medicine at Kansas State University and has trained over 30 interns and residents. Dr. Carpenter is the author of over 365 publications including 136 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 25 book chapters. He is also the editor of the Exotic Animal Formulary, and co-editor of Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery. Jim has also served as editor of the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, member of the editorial board for Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, on the Wildlife Scientific Advisory Board of the Morris Animal Foundation. He is currently the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery and a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine. Dr. Carpenter has served as a past- president of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV), the Association of Avian Veterinarians, as well as the American College of Zoological Medicine. He is also the recipient of numerous awards including Exotic DVM of the Year (2000) and the AAZV Emil Dolensek Award (2004).
See Encephalitazoonosis in Pet Rabbits by Dr. Carpenter.
Dr. Gretchen Cole completed internships in avian and exotic animal medicine at Gulf Coast Avian and Exotics Veterinary Specialists and in zoological medicine at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She then went onto a residency in zoological medicine and surgery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Cole currently serves as an associate veterinarian at Indianapolis zoo. Dr. Cole has donated a variety of images for LafeberVet.com.
Shown here, Gretchen in Costa Rica with a three-toed sloth.
Dr. Carolyn Cray is a Professor of Clinical Pathology and holds a secondary appointment in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She also serves as the Associate Director of the Division of Comparative Pathology and is a member of the staff of the Avian and Wildlife Laboratory. Dr. Cray is an author of numerous publications and a frequent presenter at the annual Association of Avian Veterinarians meeting. Her clinical interests include clinical pathology and infectious diseases of avian, exotic, and wildlife species as well as the development of animal models of human disease.
Read Protein Electrophoresis in Avian Patients by Dr. Cray.
Dr. David A. Crossley qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1978. He spent the next 9 years working as a small animal clinician in general practice. On obtaining his own practice he pursued post-graduate training in dentistry and oral surgery. In 1993 he became the second UK veterinary surgeon to be awarded a Fellowship of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry, and in 1998 he became a European Veterinary Specialist in Dentistry. In 2002, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons recognized David as a specialist. In 2003 he was awarded a Ph.D. in Oral Pathology by the University of Manchester for his research on dental disease in chinchillas. David regularly lecturers in the UK and abroad, and he teaches a range of courses on veterinary dentistry and maxillofacial surgery. He provides a clinical service in veterinary orofacial medicine, dentistry, maxillofacial, ear, nose and throat surgery.
Read Dental Anatomy of Rabbits and Rodents, Dental Disease in Rabbits and Rodents, and Dental Caries in Herbivores by Dr. Crossley.
Heather Darbo-McClellan completed a veterinary technology program at Snead State Community College and she is certified as a veterinary technician specialist in Emergency and Critical Care (ECC). Heather has worked at the University of Alabama/Birmingham as well as the Animal Emergency Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Heather has also advanced her veterinary technical skills by volunteering at both the Birmingham Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo, and by completing an internship at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Heather also participated in the veterinary internship program at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Heather currently pursues her love for exotic companion animals by working at Brook-Falls Veterinary Hospital & Exotic Care in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Heather has also presented lectures at veterinary technology programs through the United States.
Read Intravenous Catheter Placement in Rabbits reviewed by Heather.
Dr. Stephen Divers is an associate professor in Exotic Animal, Wildlife, and Zoological Medicine at the University of Georgia. Dr. Divers is board-certified in zoological medicine through the American College of Zoological Medicine and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. His research interests include minimally invasive endoscopy and endosurgery, and he coordinates an avian and reptile endoscopy training symposia. Dr. Divers is also an associate editor for Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, chairman of the editorial board for the Journal of Herpetological Medicine & Surgery, and a member of the development committees for the ABVP exotic mammal and herp specialties. Dr. Divers has contributed a variety of images for use on LafeberVet.
Dr. Gerry M. Dorrestein is the director of the Dutch Research Institute for Avian and Exotic Animals (NOIVBD) and the head of its diagnostic pathology laboratory. Dr. Dorrestein also serves as a professor of avian and reptile pathology at the Clinic for Birds and Reptiles of the Veterinärmedizinische Fakultät (VMF) in Leipzig, Germany and at the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno, Czech Republic. Dr. Dorrestein is also an honorary professor at the Uludag University of Bursa, Turkey. Prior to 2006, Dr. Dorrestein served as a veterinary pathologist at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands for 30 years. For the last 15 years of his tenure at the university, he also served as the head of the Avian, Exotic Animal and Wildlife section. Dr. Dorrestein is a honorary member of the European College of Avian Medicine (ECAMS), and the author and editor of several books related to avian and exotic animal medicine. He has published over 350 scientific and veterinary papers, and he is also a well-known national and international speaker on topics related to the pathology and medicine of pet birds, zoo animals and wildlife. He also plays an active role in the coordination and rehabilitation of oil spill victims in and outside of the Netherlands.
Read the paper reviewed by Dr. Dorrestein: Iron Storage Disease in Birds
Dr. Rebecca Duerr is staff veterinarian at the International Bird Rescue Center in Cordelia, CA. She received her DVM from the University of California at Davis. She subsequently completed an MPVM degree on “The usefulness of initial physical examination findings and simple diagnostics in predicting survival of oiled seabirds through the rehabilitation process”. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at UC Davis on the critical care nutrition of marine birds, with Dr. Kirk Klasing and the Oiled Wildlife Care Network . She also has a long-standing interest in avian pediatrics, and has worked with several California wildlife rehabilitation organizations over the past 23 years. She co-edited and authored four chapters in Hand-Rearing Birds, and penned the avian section of the Hand Rearing Orphaned Native Birds and Mammals chapter of the upcoming 10th edition of the Merck Veterinary Manual.
Read Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Information for the Veterinary Health Professional by Dr. Duerr.
Dr. Michael Dutton is a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) in both avian and canine/feline specialties. Dr. Dutton obtained his undergraduate degree of doctorate of veterinary medicine from Michigan State University. He is the owner of Exotic and Bird Clinic of New Hampshire as well as Weare Animal Hospital, a companion animal veterinary hospital which serves as a local referral source for area veterinarians. Dr. Dutton is also medical director of the Capital Area Veterinary Emergency Service in Concord, New Hampshire. Dr. Dutton co-founded the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians and he was chairperson of the organizing committee for the ABVP exotic companion mammal (ECM) specialty. Since approval of the ABVP-ECM specialty in 2007, he has served as its Regent on the ABVP Council. Dr. Dutton has also published articles and lectures on various aspects of ECM care.
Read Respiratory Disease in Rats written by Dr. Dutton and Physical Examination of Small Exotic Mammals reviewed by Dr. Dutton.
Dr. M. Scott Echols practices throughout the United States working in various hospitals and veterinary schools. Dr. Echols completed a residency at the Oakley Veterinary Medical Center in California and is board-certified in avian practice. Dr. Echols is the 2007-2008 president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) and he is also an adjunct professor to at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Echols was the 2005 recipient of the Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year Award, the 2007 Texas Veterinary Medical Association Non-Traditional Species Practitioner of the Year Award, and he is also the creator of several educational DVDs including the Captive Foraging DVD and The Expert Companion Bird Care Series.
Dr. Echols is the videographer, editor, and producer of LafeberVet Emergency and Critical Care video clips. Dr. Echols is also the author of Foraging as Behavioral Modification and the reviewer of Fluid Administration in Reptiles.
Ariana Finkelstein DVM, was born and raised in the Tri-state area. She graduated as a George H. Cook Scholar with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science from Cook College, Rutgers University. She then attended The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. After working with companion and exotic animals for 5 years in private practice, Dr. Finkelstein completed an internship in avian, exotic and zoological medicine at Oklahoma State University. Upon completion of the internship, Dr. Finkelstein worked at the San Antonio Zoo. After 2 years at the zoo, Dr. Finkelstein returned to small animal practice. She now works in emergency medicine and critical care full-time, practicing at I-10 Pet Emergency where she is available for exotic animals exclusively one day a week.
Ariana has contributed many images to LafeberVet.
Dr. Peter Fisher is the owner of Pet Care Veterinary Hospital in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Dr. Fisher is a graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. He earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1980. After 4 years of associate work in Virginia, Peter opened Pet Care Veterinary Hospital in 1984 with the help of one receptionist and one assistant. This hospital has grown to a 5-doctor, 25-employee facility today. Dr. Fisher is an active author and lecturer on exotic animal health. He was named the 2004 Exotic DVM of the Year, and he served as the president of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians from 2003-2004.
Read Gastrointestinal problems in rabbits reviewed by Dr. Fisher.
Dr. Keven Flammer is a professor in Companion and Wild Avian Medicine at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Flammer is board-certified in avian practice. His research focus includes pharmacology of antimicrobial drugs and control of infectious diseases, particularly those caused by bacteria, Chlamydophila psittaci, and fungi.
Dr. Flammer was named the 2010 Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year and he was awarded the Association of Avian Veterinarians Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Read Antimicrobial drug selection: How to select an antibiotic by Dr. Flammer.
Dr. Paul Flecknell is the director of the Comparative Biology Centre at The Medical School of the University of Newcastle in Newcastle upon the Tyne. Dr. Flecknell’s research interests focus on the welfare of animals used in biomedical research, and in particular issues associated with pain and distress. He has studied comparative aspects of pain assessment and alleviation and how this relates to animal anesthesia and the neurophysiogical effects of anesthesia. Dr. Flecknell is a diplomate of the European College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and an honorary diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. Dr. Flecknell is also a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, and an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Dr. Flecknell is the author of many journal papers as well as the text, Laboratory Animal Anesthesia, Third Edition.
Read Analgesia in small mammals by Dr. Flecknell.
Dr. Gwen Flinchum is the director of All Bird Clinic of the Palm Beaches. She is board-certified in avian practice and has co-authored chapters in the newly released “Clinical Avian Medicine.” Dr. Flinchum also serves on the advisory board of The Wildlife Care Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Dr. Flinchum has donated a variety of images for LafeberVet.com.
Dr. Neil Forbes practices at Great Western Referrals in Swindon, United Kingdom. Dr. Forbes qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1983. He has gained specialist status in the field of avian medicine and surgery (RCVS in 1992, FRCVS in 1997), and he is also a diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine (ECZM).
Dr. Forbes formerly served as President of ECZM and chair of the education committee. He also oversees an ECZM-approved residency program. Dr. Forbes is also a Senior Lecturer at Bristol University, and he has authored and edited many publications on avian medicine.
Dr. Forbes contributions to LafeberVet.com include: Avian Biochemistry Panels, Avian Hematology, Avian Radiology: Imaging the Possibilities, Avian Chlamydiosis, and Zoonotic Avian Infections.
Dr. Scott Ford is an associate veterinarian at The Medical Center for Birds in Oakley, California and proprietor of the Avian Veterinary Specialty Services of Alaska. Dr. Ford is board-certified in avian practice and he serves as a consult for the Veterinary Information Network (VIN).
Read Subcutaneous Fluids in Birds and Wild Bird Restraint by Dr. Ford.
Dr. James G. Fox is director and professor of the Division of Comparative Medicine and a professor in the Department of Biological Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also an adjunct professor at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Fox is a diplomate and past president of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, past president of the Massachusetts Society of Medical Research, past chairman of AAALAC Council, past chairman of the NCCR/NIH Comparative Medicine Study Section and past president of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges. Professor Fox is the author of over 490 articles, 80 chapters, 4 patents and has edited and authored 13 texts, in the field of in vivomodel development and comparative medicine. He has lectured and consulted nationally and internationally with government, academia and industry.
Dr. Fox has received numerous scientific awards including the AVMA Charles River Prize in Comparative Medicine, the AALAS Nathan Brewer Scientific Achievement Award, the AVMA/ASLAP Excellence in Research Award, and the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science Charles A. Griffin Award.
Dr. Fox is considered an international authority on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of enterohepatic helicobacters in humans and animals. He has studied infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract for the past 35 years and has focused on the pathogenesis of >em>Campylobacter spp. and Helicobacter spp. infection in humans and animals. His laboratory developed the ferret as a model for both campylobacter and helicobacter associated disease as well as the first rodent model to study helicobacter associated gastric disease, including gastric cancer.
See Helicobacter in small mammals reviewed by Dr. Fox.
Keri Franco received her DVM from the University of California at Davis in 2005 where she was a student in the zoological medicine track. She went on to complete an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Sonora Veterinary Specialists and a second internship in zoo, exotic and wildlife medicine shared between Oklahoma State University and the Tulsa City Zoo. During her time at OSU, she received a Phi Zeta research award for her work with a hypothyroid tortoise. She currently practices at Studio City Animal Hospital in Southern California where she treats a wide variety of domestic and exotic animals.
Read Pasteurellosis in rabbis co-written by Dr. Franco.
Valerie Garuccio, LVT, VTS (ECC) works as a critical care technician at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls NJ. Valerie’s passion for avian and exotic animal medicine began early in her career after graduating from Manor College in 2001. She then completed an externship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City working exclusively with their Avian and Exotic department. Since then Valerie has worked in small animal general and emergency medicine with per diem work in avian and exotics. She continues to see avian and exotic species that come in through the ER, and she has special interests in psittacine and passerine species.
Read Restraint and Handling of Exotic Small Mammals reviewed by Valerie.
Dr. Paul Gibbons is managing director of The Behler Chelonian Center. Paul completed a residency in exotic animal medicine followed by a master’s degree in comparative pathology at the University of California-Davis. Dr. Gibbons is a certified avian veterinarian and served as chairperson of the ABVP organizing committee for certification in reptile and amphibian practice. He is an associate editor for the Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery and the 2010-2011 President of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians. Paul has served on veterinary teams for sled dog races since 2004 and as Chief Vet for the UP200 & Midnight Run sled dog races in Michigan. Dr. Gibbons has presented at numerous national and international conferences and he is widely published. In 2009 he was awarded “Exotic DVM of the Year”.
Read
Mammary tumors in small mammals reviewed by Dr. Gibbons.
Dr. Cheryl Greenacre is a professor of Avian and Zoological Medicine at the University of Tennessee (UT) College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Greenacre graduated from the University of Georgia (UGA), then she completed an internship and residency in avian and exotic animal medicine at UGA. Dr. Greenacre has been ABVP- board certified in avian medicine since 1996, and in small mammals since 2009. After moving from a faculty position at UGA to join UT, Dr. Greenacre has focused on pain research in reptiles and hypothyroidism in birds.
Dr. Elinor Granzow is an associate veterinarian at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Elinor completed an internship in small medicine and surgery at Red Bank. Elinor is also the recipient of the 2007 School of Veterinary Medicine Medal for her distinguished academic achievement, clinical performance and willingness to help others through her four-year program. Elinor was a student in the zoological medicine track at the University of California at Davis. Read the article on Microchip Placement for identification of birds contributed by Dr. Granzow.
Dr. Michelle Hawkins is an assistant professor in the Companion Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine Service at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Hawkins is board-certified in avian practice, and her research interests include anesthesia, analgesia, and critical patient care of all exotic animals.
See the article on Avian Analgesia by Dr. Hawkins, as well as the Nutritional Equivalency Report co-authored by Dr. Hawkins.
J. Jill Heatley is an associate professor in the Zoological Service at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Heatley is board certified in both avian medicine and zoological medicine. She completed an internship in bird zoo & exotic Animal Medicine, a residency in zoological medicine, and a Master’s degree program at Louisiana State University.She served as a clinical assistant professor at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine for 4 years, before joining TAMU in 2006. Read Omega-3 fatty acids and atherosclerosis in birds co-authored by Dr. Heatley.
Dr. Laurie Hess is a board-certified avian specialist and owner of Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics in Bedford Hills, New York. Dr. Hess received her DVM from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and interned at the Animal Medical Center in New York city. Dr. Hess then progressed through a residency in avian and exotic animal medicine and went on to become head of the avian and exotic pet service.
Dr. Hess is a frequent speaker at both national and international veterinary educational conferences, and she has contributed to many veterinary texts and scientific literature related to exotic animal medicine. She is an associate editor of the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, a member of the executive board of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV), and she serves as the 2009-2010 president of AAV. See The nutritional content of pet bird diets by Dr. Hess.
Dr. Heidi Hoefer is a 1987 graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center (AMC) in New York in 1987 and continued there in a two year residency program in avian and exotic pets. From 1990-1999, Dr. Hoefer maintained a staff appointment in the avian and exotic pet department at the AMC, and she has been board-certified in avian practice since 1993. Heidi is now the head of exotic veterinary care at Island Exotic Veterinary Care in Huntington Station, New York where her clinical practice is limited to birds, reptiles, ferrets, rabbits, rodents and other small companion mammals. She has made many literary contributions and has lectured nationally and internationally on avian and exotic pet topics.
Read Cardiac disease in ferrets by Dr. Hoefer.
Nancy Irlbeck, M.S., Ph.D is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. Dr. Irlbeck received a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and a master’s degree in animal nutrition at Iowa State University. Her Ph.D. work in ruminant nutrition was completed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Prior to her administrative appointment, Nancy served as a comparative animal nutritionist within the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University. She also wrote a textbook entitled Nutrition and Care of Companion Animals which was used in many universities around the country. Dr. Irlbeck held an appointment with the School of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State where she taught Veterinary Feeds and Feeding for 14 years, and she has served as the consulting nutritionist for the Denver Zoo since 1992.
Read How to feed the small herbivore gastrointestinal tract by Dr. Irlbeck.
Dr. Evelyn Ivey practices at Four Corners Veterinary Hospital in Concord, California. She graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University and received her veterinary degree from the University of California at Davis. Following an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, Evelyn completed an exotic pet residency and received her ABVP board certification in avian medicine in 1999. Dr. Ivey then served as a staff veterinarian at the veterinary school of The University of Pennsylvania. Evelyn has lectured extensively and she has authored several papers on avian and exotic animal medicine. Read Equipment List for Small Mammal Practice by Dr. Ivey.
Dr. Jeffrey Jenkins has been the owner of the Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital in San Diego, California since 1987. Dr. Jenkins holds Diplomate status in the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Avian Practice and he has been a member since 1993 when the first group of veterinarians achieved this honor. Jeff is a past president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) and he has been actively involved with numerous veterinary organizations. Dr. Jenkins was also instrumental in forming the San Diego Chapter of the House Rabbit Society and Ferrets Anonymous. Dr. Jenkins has lectured nationally and internationally on a variety of subjects and he has published extensively. Dr. Jenkins is also a member of the editorial review board for the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine.
See Dr. Jenkins’ avian medical articles on: Burns, Poisonings, and Supplemental heat in the avian patient.
Dr. Cathy Johnson-Delaney has practiced avian and exotic animal medicine in the greater Puget Sound area of Washington State for more than 30 years. She currently practices at Eastside Avian & Exotic Animal Medical Center. Dr. Johnson-Delaney also serves as a consulting veterinarian for the Washington Ferret Rescue & Shelter, the Oregon Tiger Sanctuary and the Pacific Primate Sanctuary Dr. Johnson-Delaney is board certified in both avian and exotic companion animal medicine and she has helped to advance the fields of exotic animal and laboratory animal medicine. She is the 2009-2010 president of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians. Cathy was named the 2009 recipient of the Oxbow Exotic Mammal Health Award and the 2003 Exotic DVM of the Year. Cathy has presented internationally on all aspects of non-traditional companion animals and she has also written extensively on related topics. She is co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets.
See Diseases of the Ferret Gastrointestinal Tract by Dr. Johnson-Delaney.
LoraKim Joyner’s hope for avian flourishing led her to a B.S. in avian sciences and then later to a D.V.M. A later Masters in preventive veterinary medicine emphasized avian research. Consulting in avian medicine and conservation, she worked in the Philippines and Latin America, including Guatemala where she lived for several years. She worked as a clinical instructor and research assistant professor at the Non-domestic Avian Clinic at the College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University.
There she later served as the Community Advocate, where she taught ethics and grief management as well as assisted staff, faculty, and clients in dealing with grief and ethical issues. Today she serves as the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, Florida, president of Unitarian Universalists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (UFETA), consultant for Wings of Compassion , a website dedicated to grieving, healing, and hope in avian-human relationships, and Director of Lafeber Conservation.
Read the articles written by Dr. Joyner Ten Things Every Avian Veterinarian Should Know about Conservation Medicine, Ten Things You Can Do to Promote Avian Conservation , and Supplies for the Avian Conservation Medicine Field Kit.
Dr. Susan Kelleher owns Broward Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital in Coral Springs, Florida. Susan received her Bachelor’s degree with a dual major in chemistry and biology from Alfred University in Alfred, New York and went on to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Throughout veterinary medical school, Susan was active in the University’s avian, exotic and wildlife program as well as the Clinch River Raptor Center. After graduation, Dr. Kelleher worked as an associate in small animal practices in Florida before opening her own practice. She hosts veterinary students from across the United States and abroad for externships at the clinic and she is a well-known lecturer at both national and international meetings.
Read Respiratory disease in the rabbit, Radiology An introduction to common radiographic findings in rabbits, and Gastrointestinal problems in rabbits.
Dr. Eric Klaphake is an associate veterinarian at the Animal Medical Center of Bozeman, Montana, and he also provides veterinary care for ZooMontana. Dr. Klaphake is involved in several local wildlife research projects, including studies involving wolverines of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and lesser scaup migration and nesting research in association with Montana State University. Dr. Klaphake completed a residency in avian and zoological medicine at the University of Tennessee and he is a board-certified zoo medicine (American Association of Zoological Medicine) and bird specialist (American Board of Veterinary Practitioners). Dr. Klaphake is the 2007-2008 president of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians and has been an active member of that organization for many years. Eric is also an associate editor of the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery. Read the Client Educational Handouts contributed by Dr. Klaphake: Cold Weather Tips for Exotic Animal Pets, Egg Laying Problems, Feather Picking, Avian Polyomavirus, and Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease.
Dr. Michael S. Kent is an assistant professor in the department of surgery and radiology at the University of California at Davis (UCD) School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Kent received his DVM at UCD and completed an internship in small animal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He then went on to complete residencies in both Medical and Radiation Oncology at UCD as well as an NIH sponsored 2-year clinical research training program. He is now a diplomate of both the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. The Morris Animal Foundation and the National Canine Cancer Foundation have funded Dr. Kent’s research investigations into canine neoplasia, including studies on innovative therapy for lymphoma.
Read Lymphoma in the ferret reviewed by Dr. Kent.
Dr. Isabelle Langlois is a clinical instructor at the Universitè de Montrèal in Quebec, Canada. Dr. Langlois completed an internship at the University of Saskatchewan and a residency in avian and exotic animal medicine at the University of Tennessee. She is board-certified in avian practice and chair of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners practical examination committee.
In addition to several images contributed to LafeberVet.com, see Dr. Langlois’ video clip demonstrating Dyspnea in the avian patient.
Dr. Marla Lichtenberger is board certified in emergency and critical care. Dr. Lichtenberger completed an internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York and a residency at the Animal Emergency Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She currently practices at the Milwaukee Emergency Center for Animals.
See Measuring avian blood pressure, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and Fluid therapy in the avian patient by Dr. Lichtenberger.
Amanda Marino is a veterinary medical student at Oklahoma State University (c/o 2013) and a Lafeber Company student representative. Amanda completed teen internships at the Wildlife Conservation Society-Bronx Zoo and Busch Gardens-Tampa, Florida. She also works as a field assistant for the Biodiversity Research Institute’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation where she monitors color-banded adult loons and chicks to determine their reproductive status and behavior. Amanda received a grant from Wild Gift to create wildlife conservation guidelines to protect the common loon’s habitat. See the brochure Loons and People: Guidelines for “Nesting” Together on Adirondack Lakes by Amanda.
Dr. Jörg Mayer is an associate professor of Zoological Medicine in the department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Mayer received his doctorate of veterinary medicine from the University of Budapest in Hungary and his Master’s from the Royal Veterinary College in London. Dr. Mayer is particularly interested in reptiles, amphibians, and fish as well as small mammals such as rabbits and ferrets. He is the 2010-2011 president of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians and the co-author and editor of Avian and Exotic Pet Behavior. Jörg also has many other publications and presentations to his credit. Additional information on Dr. Mayer may be found in Lab Animal Volume 34 No. 6 June 2005.
See the avian examination and history forms contributed by Dr. Mayer.
Dr. Anna Meredith leads the Exotic Animal and Wildlife Service in the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Anna graduated from Oxford University in 1986 and obtained her veterinary degree from Cambridge University in 1991. In 1992, Dr. Meredith single-handedly set up theExotic Animal and Wildlife Service, and has continued to develop this program into one that now contains eight veterinarians. Anna holds the RCVS Diploma in Zoological Medicine, is an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, and is a recipient of the BSAVA Blaine Award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal veterinary medicine or surgery. Anna lectures internationally on all aspects of exotic animal and wildlife medicine and has published widely in this field. She is an author and co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery, the BSAVA Manual of Rodents and Ferrets , and the Self-Assessment Colour review of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery.
Read Respiratory disease in the rabbits reviewed by Dr. Meredith.
Mark A. Mitchell received his DVM in 1992 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MS in clinical epidemiology with an emphasis on wildlife medicine from the University of Illinois in 1997. He completed his Ph.D in clinical epidemiology with an emphasis on Salmonella spp. in reptiles at Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2001. From 1996-2007, Dr. Mitchell served as a member of the zoological medicine faculty at LSU. In 2007, Dr. Mitchell returned to his veterinary alma mater, the University of Illinois. He is currently a Professor of Zoological Medicine. Dr. Mitchell is a past-president of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians. His interests include invertebrate, fish, amphibian, reptile, avian, and non-domestic mammal medicine and surgery, as well as conservation medicine and clinical issues in non-domestic species. Dr. Mitchell has published over 300 book chapters, peer-reviewed manuscripts, and scientific abstracts. He currently serves as the co-editor of the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine and the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery Dr. Mitchell is also the co-editor of the Manual of Exotic Pet Practice.
Read Mange or acariasis in exotic small mammals and Clinical pathology for exotic small mammals by Dr. Mitchell.
Dr. Sandra Mitchell is a 1995 graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University. She is the only board certified practitioner in both feline and exotic companion medicine in Maine, and one of the few small mammal veterinary specialists in the world. Dr. Mitchell practices at Animal Medical Associates in Saco, Maine, and she has campaigned on the state and federal levels for better protection of exotic mammals. When not working, Sandra may be found white-water canoeing with her husband, Bob.
Dr. Jamie Morrisey is a lecturer in exotic and wildlife medicine at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Morrisey completed an internship at Kansas State University and a residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York, and he is board-certified in avian practice.
See Transfusion in avian patients by Dr. Morrisey.
Dr. Christopher Murphy received his BS, DVM and PhD degrees from Cornell University. He then went onto the University of California at Davis (UC Davis) for his residency training in Comparative Ophthalmology at the School of Veterinary Medicine. Chris previously served as a professor of Comparative Ophthalmology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and he is currently a professor at UC Davis.
Dr. Murphy has received a number of awards including the lifetime achievement award for research from the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Pfizer award for research excellence. He has over 150 peer-reviewed publications to his credit, and is the co-founder of Platypus Technologies LLC, a biotech startup based on the use of liquid crystals for reporting molecular interaction with nanostructured surfaces. Chris is also an avid fly fisherman, hobbyist blues harmonica player and co-author of the children’s book, Lucille Lost.
See the articles on Raptor ophthalmology co-written by Dr. Murphy: Anatomy of the Avian Eye, The Ophthalmic Examination, and Ocular Lesions.
Jill Murray is a registered veterinary technician in the Avian, Exotic & Zoo Animal Medicine Service at Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. Originally from Guelph, Ontario, Jill received her education at Seneca College in Ontario. Her research interests focus on zoological medicine as well as emergency and critical care. In fact, Jill has presented talks on “Whole blood transfusion in a duck to correct anemia due to acorn toxicosis” at the 2010 International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium and “Avian critical care and analgesia” at the Association of Avian Veterinarians conference in 2009. Jill has provided testimonials and photographs for LafeberVet.
Dr. Larry Nemetz received a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of California at Davis and a Master’s in veterinary anatomy. He attended Veterinary School at Purdue University in Indiana. In 1987, Dr. Nemetz returned to his home state of California and founded The BIRD Clinic as a veterinary practice limited strictly to pet bird medicine. Dr. Nemetz has given numerous lectures to veterinary organizations and bird clubs, and he has taught veterinary medical students from around the world.
Please see the Client Educational Handouts on Cockatiels and Vitamin A contributed by Dr. Nemetz.
Jody Nugent-Deal is a registered veterinary technician and a board-certified veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia. Jody graduated from Yuba College with an Associate of Science degree in Veterinary Technology. She worked at several small animal practices in northern California over a 5-year period before joining the Companion Avian and Exotic Pet Service at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the University of California at Davis in 1999. In 2009, Jody transferred to the Small Animal Anesthesia Department, where she focuses on anesthesia in dogs, cats, and exotic animals. Ms. Nugent-Deal also teaches the wildlife and exotic animal medicine class for the Yuba College Veterinary Technology program. Jody is currently pursing a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology. She has lectured on various exotic animal topics and has written several articles for the Veterinary Technician Journal. Jody was featured on the cover of Veterinary Technician in 2004 and she has served on the editorial board for the journal since that time. Read Physical examination of exotic small mammals, Restraint and handling of small exotic mammals and Venipuncture in small mammals by Jody.
Dr. Barbara Oglesbee has over 20 years of experience in the clinical care of companion birds and exotic pets. Dr. Oglesbee practices at Capital Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Oglesbee also serves as an associate professor of avian and exotic animal medicine at The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Oglesbee previously served as the head of Companion Avian and Exotic Animal clinical services for over 15 years at OSU, and she has continued to teach courses in avian, rabbit, and ferret medicine. Barbara has been board-certified in avian medicine and surgery for over 13 years, and she is the editor of the clinical textbook, Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Small Mammal, 2nd edition.
Read Thoracocentesis in the ferret by Dr. Oglesbee.
Dorcas O’Rourke earned a BS in zoology, an MS in neuroanatomy, and a DVM from Louisiana State University. Upon completion of her residency in laboratory animal medicine, Dorcas remained at LSU for four years as a faculty member. Dorcas then relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee, where she became Director of the animal facilities at the College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1998, she was promoted to Director of the Office of Laboratory Animal Care and Attending Veterinarian. In 2006, Dorcas joined the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University as Department Chair of Comparative Medicine. She also serves as Attending Veterinarian for East Carolina University’s animal care and use program. Dorcas is a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, a member of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AALAC) International, the Council of Accreditation, and a member of the Scientists Center for Animal Welfare board of trustees. She has authored numerous publications and presented seminars for a variety of organizations including AALAS, AAALAC, ACLAM, and SCAW. See Sexing or Gender Determination in Small Mammals co-written by Dr. O’Rourke.
Dr. Susan Orosz is director of the Bird and Exotic Pet Wellness Center in Toledo, Ohio. Dr. Orosz is a past president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) and was awarded the 2007 Lafeber Practitioner of the Year Award. She is one of only 7 avian veterinarians in the world who are board-certified both in the United States and in Europe through the European College of Zoological Medicine and the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.
See Dr. Orosz’s articles on Use of Nutri-An Cakes for Weight Reduction and Maintenance, Formulated Diets in Avian Nutrition and Clinical Perspectives on the Principles of Avian Nutrition, as well as a Behavioral History Form for birds exhibiting feather damaging or self-mutilation. Dr. Orosz is also the narrator of several LafeberVet Emergency and Critical Care video clips.
Dr. Joanne Paul-Murphy is a Professor in the Companion Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine Program at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Paul-Murphy is board-certified in zoological medicine, and her research interests focus on comparative analgesia.
Read Nasogastric tube placement in rabbits by Dr. Paul-Murphy.
Christina Petzinger is a Master of Science student in the Intercollegiate Faculty of Nutrition at Texas A&M University. She is currently studying under Dr. J. Jill Heatley and Dr. John E. Bauer. Christina completed her Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Animal Science at Berry College. Read Omega-3 fatty acids and atherosclerosis in birds by Christina.
Dr. Anthony Pilny is the owner of an avian and exotic pet practice at Lenox Hill Veterinarians in New York City. Dr. Pilny completed an internship at Florida Veterinary Specialists in Tampa, Florida and a residency at the The Animal Medical Center in New York. Dr. Pilny is board-certified in avian practice.
Dr. Pilny is co-author of Air sac cannula placement.
Dr. Christal Pollock is a veterinary consultant for Lafeber Company. She serves as the veterinary website editor and technical writer for LafeberVet.com and she is also co-manager of the Lafeber Company veterinary student program. Dr. Pollock earned her DVM from The Ohio State University in 1995. Dr. Pollock completed an internship in small medicine and surgery and then went onto a residency at the University of Tennessee in avian and zoological medicine. Christal served as an assistant professor in the zoological medicine service at Kansas State University for five years, and she currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Pollock has edited, written, and presented extensively on topics related to zoological animal medicine. She is board-certified in avian medicine and serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery.
Dr. Julia Ponder is a 1984 graduate of the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is currently the Executive Director of The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and a candidate for the Master of Public Health degree. Dr. Ponder has 17 years of private practice experience prior to joining The Raptor Center as staff veterinarian in 2000. She has presented extensively on raptor medicine and surgery, and her current focus is the wildlife health component of the ecosystem health convergence.
See Dr. Pondor’s Fungal disease in avian patients and the Raptor Center’s Avian ophthalmic exam form.
Dr. Lauren Powers is service chief of the Avian and Exotic Pet Service at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Huntersville, North Carolina. Dr. Powers graduated from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed a residency at North Carolina State University. She is board-certified in avian practice and a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine. Dr. Powers also provides veterinary care for the Carolina Raptor Center.
Read Dr. Power’s Abdominocentesis, Administration of medications: injections, Esophagostomy tube placement, and Venipuncture in the avian patient.
Dr. Edward Ramsay is a professor at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Ramsay completed a residency at the University of California at Davis in zoological medicine and is board-certified in zoological medicine. He is the 2007-2008 president of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, and the author of numerous publications related to zoo medicine.
Dr. Ramsay has donated a variety of images for LafeberVet.com.
Beverly Rayman.
Throughout her life, Beverly has been a student of biology in one form or another. She has a degree in biology with an ecology concentration from Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland and has worked as an environmental biologist for the state of Maryland Water Quality Monitoring Division. After moving to Virginia, Beverly shifted her interest to animals and was employed as a Wildlife Rehabilitator for the Wildlife Center of Virginia. She is currently attending college in pursuit of a nursing degree but still maintains her license as a wildlife rehabilitator and regularly volunteers at the Wildlife Center.
Read Raising Orphaned Raptors by Ms. Rayman
Dr. Patrick Redig is a professor at the University of Minnesota and honorary director and founder of the world-renowned Raptor Center. Dr. Redig has been responsible for many advances in avian orthopedic surgery and raptor medicine; he is the author of numerous publications.
See the images donated by Dr. Redig in External coaptation in the avian patient and the Raptor Center’s Avian ophthalmic exam form.
Dr. Sharon Redrobe is an associate professor in zoo, wild, & exotic animal medicine at The University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine which provides veterinary care for Twycross Zoo. She also serves as a consultant for Greendale Veterinary Diagnostics. Sharon has worked exclusively with exotic species for over 15 years. She is one of only five holders of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) diploma in zoological medicine that also holds the RCVS certificate in laboratory animal science. She has published over 50 journal and book articles, and has presented at numerous international conferences.
Read Calcium homeostasis in rabbits by Dr. Redrobe.
Dr. Gregory A. Rich (left) is the owner of West Esplanade Veterinary Clinic in Metairie, Louisiana and he also manages an online pet supply store. Dr. Rich has over 20 years of experience in avian and exotic animal medicine and surgery. Dr. Rich has been a member of AVMA and the Association of Avian Veterinarians for 23 years and is a past Board Member of the AAV. He has lectured nationally at a wide variety of veterinary and avicultural conferences and has been featured in several veterinary texts and periodicals. See the article on Diarrhea in avian patients by Dr. Rich.
Dr. Tracey Ritzman graduated from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. During the first year of her veterinary career, she completed an avian and exotic animal medicine internship with Kaytee Products, Inc. She then remained on staff at Kaytee Products for several years after her internship with a focus on avicultural medicine and avian nutritional research. Dr. Ritzman became board certified in avian practice with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 2002, and she served as a staff veterinarian in the Avian/Exotics Section of Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts from 1998 until 2006. Dr. Ritzman became certified in exotic companion practice in 2010. Tracey currently resides with her husband and son in western Michigan where she is an associate veterinarian at Cascade Hospital for Animals.
Read Adrenocortical disease in ferrets by Dr. Ritzman.
Dr. Samuel Rivera is an associate veterinarian at Zoo Atlanta. Dr. Rivera received his doctorate of veterinary medicine from Kansas State University, and he is board certified in avian medicine. Dr. Rivera is an associate editor of the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery and a member of the Steering Committee of the Turtle Survival Alliance.
Dr. Rivera has contributed several articles on avicultural and pediatric medicine in the avian patient which are listed primarily on the General Avian Medicine homepage.
Dr. April Romagnano is the co-owner of Animal Health Clinic, Inc. in Jupiter, Florida. Dr. Romagnano has worked extensively with rare and endangered species, and she previously served as staff veterinarian at the Avicultural Breeding and Research Center in Loxahatchee, Florida. April completed an internship in wildlife and small animal medicine at the University of Florida as well as a residency in non-domestic avian medicine at North Carolina State University. Dr. Romagnano is a board certified in avian medicine and surgery and she speaks internationally. She also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine and a clinical staff veterinarian for Scripps Research Institute, Florida.
Dr. Romagnano has provided a testimonial for LafeberVet.com.
Dr. Miguel Saggese A native of Argentina, Dr. Miguel Saggese joined Western University of Health Sciences in 2007 as an assistant professor in microbiology and avian diseases. He obtained his veterinary degree in 1995 at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 2004, Dr. Saggese completed a 3-year residency and a masters program at The Raptor Center, University of Minnesota. During these years, he studied the effect of West Nile virus (WNV) on birds of prey and the efficacy of WNV vaccines. Between 2004 and 2007, his research focused on avian tuberculosis while completing his Ph.D. in microbiology at The Schubot Center, Texas A&M University. Dr. Saggese defines himself as an ornithologist as well as veterinarian and he combines both disciplines to better understand the effect of diseases in avian populations. He is an associate editor of the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine and is actively involved in several organizations, including the Raptor Research Foundation, the Association of Avian Veterinarians, and the Eagle Conservation Alliance. Read Austral peregrine falcons in Patagonia, Argentina by Dr. Saggese.
Susan Sanchez, MSc, PhD, MlBiol, CBiol is a Professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Section head of Microbiology and Molecular Biology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia. Her research focuses on antimicrobial resistance and its spread both in animals and people. Dr. Sanchez is also the Director of the Georgia Veterinary Scholars Program and a member of the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities Advisory Board.
Read Pasteurellosis in rabbis reviewed by Dr. Sanchez.
Dr. Nico Schoemaker is a staff veterinarian in the Division of Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine from Utrecht University. Nico graduated and completed an internship in companion animal medicine, followed by a residency in avian medicine and surgery at Utrecht University. Dr. Schoemaker is a diplomate of the European College of Avian Medicine and Surgery, a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners certified in avian medicine, and a Dutch avian specialist. This specialty training was followed by a PhD study on hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets. He has written numerous articles on avian and ferret medicine, and he has presented at many conferences, workshops and post graduate courses locally and internationally.
Read Adrenocortical disease in ferrets reviewed by Dr. Schoemaker.
Dr. Lynne Seibert, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist, supervises a behavior specialty referral practice in Kirkland, Washington. Dr. Seibert is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She also has a master’s degree and a doctorate in psychology from the University of Georgia. Dr. Seibert is the author of numerous publications including a chapter on antipsychotic agents in Veterinary Psychopharmacology and a frequent presenter at national meetings including the Association of Avian Veterinarians.
See the avian Behavioral history form contributed by Dr. Seibert.
S. Ray Smith, MS, Ph.D is a professor and forage extension specialist in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. Ray has a doctorate and a master’s degree in agronomy from the University of Georgia. Dr. Smith conducts applied forage research and he provides continuing education resources such as conferences and publications on forage crops.
Read Hay: Feeding small herbivores reviewed by Dr. Smith
Dr. Brian Speer is the owner and the director of the Oakley Veterinary Medical Center and The Medical Center for Birds in northern California. Dr. Speer is past president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV), and a consultant for the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). He is certified in avian practice through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and is also certified in Europe through the European College of Avian Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Speer is the recipient of the Speaker of the Year award for the North American Veterinary Conference, 2006, and he is co-author of The Large Macaws and Birds for Dummies.
See Psittacine behavior, handling, and restraint by Dr. Speer
Lorelei Tibbetts, LVT, is practice manager and director of nursing at The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine in New York City, New York. Lorelei has worked primarily with birds and exotic pets since graduating from the Mercy College Veterinary Technology program in 2001. Lorelei has taught at local veterinary technology programs, and has lectured at various national avian conferences. Lorelei is an active committee member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians and she is also the Chair of the Avian and Exotics section of the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice; the ninth officially recognized veterinary technician specialty. Read Venipuncture in small mammals reviewed by Lorelei.
Dr. Thomas Tully is chief of the Zoological Medicine Service at Louisiana State University. He is a member of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in avian practice as well as a diplomate of the European College of Avian Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Tully’s research interests include aviculture preventive medicine, feather problems, avian nutrition, infectious disease, and ratites. Dr. Tully has numerous presentations and publications to his credit including publication of the text, Handbook of Avian Medicine.
See Louisiana State’s avian History and physical examination forms donated by Dr. Tully.
Patricia V. Turner is an associate professor in the Department of Pathobiology at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. Dr Turner received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Doctorate of Veterinary Sciences (DVSc) (Comparative Pathology) from the Ontario Veterinary College. She has been a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine since 2000. In 2008, Dr Turner was awarded the Charles River Canada Award for outstanding achievements in laboratory animal science, and in 2007 she received the Procter & Gamble/Humane Society of the United States – North American Animal Welfare Award.
Read Pasteurellosis in rabbis reviewed by Dr. Turner.
Dr. David Vella is an Australian small mammal and reptile veterinarian. In 2009, he became the first and only Australian veterinarian to become a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Exotic Companion Mammal Practice. David consults as a primary accession and second opinion exotic small mammal and reptile/ amphibian vet in Sydney at North Shore Specialists and Animal Referral Hospital. Dr. Vella graduated with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Sydney. Currently volunteering for the Wildlife Information Rescue & Emergency Service, Dr Vella is involved in reptile and amphibian rescue. He also trains in handling, rehabilitation, foster care and rescue. Dr. Vella has donated a variety of images to LafeberVet.
Dr. Laura Wade works at Broadway Veterinary Clinic in
Lancaster, New York. Dr. Wade completed a residency in avian and exotic pet medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, and she is board-certified in avian medicine. Dr. Wade’s primary practice interests are psittacine medicine and behavior, but she also enjoys working with wildlife. She was named 2004 veterinarian of the year by the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.
Dr. Wade has provided testimonials and images for LafeberVet.com.
Liz Wilson is a certified veterinary technician and a certified parrot behavior consultant, with over 30 years of experience specializing in avian and exotic animal care. In addition to doing in-home behavior consultations in the Philadelphia region and in areas where she travels and lectures, Liz does phone consultations with parrot owners all over the world. She has gained international recognition through extensive lecturing at avian veterinary conferences, avicultural conferences, companion parrot conferences, and bird clubs both here and in Europe. Liz has also written extensively for Bird Talk magazine and Birds USA, numerous international publications, as well as veterinary journals and eight veterinary textbook chapters including co-authorship of three chapters in the Manual of Parrot Behavior. Liz founded the Parrot Division of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and served on their Board of Directors for 2 and a half years.
See Ms. Wilson’s avian Behavioral history form.
Tina Wismer, DVM, DABVT, DABT is the Senior Director of Veterinary Educational Outreach at the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) in Urbana, Illinois. Dr. Wismer earned her undergraduate degree from Ohio’s University of Findlay and her DVM from Purdue University in 1994. Dr. Wismer’s first job was in a small animal practice in Michigan, and she then went on to work in an emergency practice in Indiana before joining the APCC in 1998. In July 2003, Dr. Wismer became a diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology and the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology. Dr. Wismer has written several peer-reviewed toxicology articles and book chapters. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois, a visiting professor at St. Matthew’s University, and a consultant for the Veterinary Information Network.
Read Heavy Metal Toxicity in Birds reviewed by Dr. Wismer.
Dr. Kevin Wright is co-founder of Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital in Mesa, Arizona. In the first year this specialty was offered (2010), Dr. Wright became a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners specializing in Reptile and Amphibian Practice. In 2008 Dr. Wright was named the Exotic DVM of the Year. Kevin earned his DVM from the University of Florida. He then worked in private practice for a couple of years, before completing a residency in zoological medicine at the Philadelphia Zoo and the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Wright then served as the veterinarian and curator for the amphibian and reptile collection at the Philadelphia Zoo. In 1999, he went to work for The Phoenix Zoo, but returned to private practice in 2005, co-founding his practice in 2007. Dr. Wright is the co-author of Amphibian Medicine and Captive Husbandry. He has also contributed chapters to many other texts, and has written over 150 articles related to zoological medicine for both professional and lay audiences.
See Basic Husbandry: Hospitalizing Non-traditional Pets reviewed by Dr. Wright.
