KAYLE NEIS

Located in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine is the small animals clinic which specializes in a variety of treatments and rehabilitations and singles itself out as the main referral centre for all Saskatchewan veterinary clinics.

Darryl the bunny, who is under anesthesia, awaits surgery to have his eye removed.

Dr. Caitlin Wright (left) uses a tonometer to check eye pressure.

Dr. Heather Joseph (center) cleans Darryls eye after surgery.

The large facility contains a cancer treatment centre, dentistry clinic, rehabilitation, medical imaging centre and a zoo, exotic and wildlife medicine department.

Within the small animals clinic are five women who specialize in small, exotic and wildlife animals coming in from across Saskatchewan and out-of-province. This group of medical professionals consists of one lead doctor, three interns and a lab technician.

Dr. Katarina Bennett scrubs down her arms before walking into surgery at the U of S.

Jacqui Valmont looks into a quarantine bay where a wild badger is located. Animals are quarantined when they first arrive at the zoo.

The Dr. Dennilyn Parker from the zoo, exotics and wildlife department quizzes her interns on bird feathers after a walk-in patient.

The exotics team is responsible for treatments from basic check-ups to surgery in a variety of patients ranging from household animals to wildlife and zoo patients.

The head of this team is Dr. Dennilyn Parker, who is responsible for all the animals that go through the clinic. Parker received her master’s in veterinary science from the University of Saskatchewan and is a diplomate for the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Avian).

Test samples of Avery’s fecal matter. The doctors are looking for a bacterial overgrowth.

An ophthalmology resident observes Darryl removed eye.

Dr. Bennett holds bloody Q-tips while operating on Darryl the bunny who is receiving surgery to remove one of his eyes.

Alongside Parker is her clinical associate, Dr. Katarina Bennett, as well as three interns and a veterinary technician who assist and treat all cases.

Born in Halifax, Bennett recently completed an internship at the U of S before getting the position as clinical associate.

Zoey the lovebird is being anesthetized during a biopsy for defects in her dermatitis, located in her axilla, which is due to self mutilation.

Dr. Kristin Britton inspects a turkey, during a routine check-up at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm & Zoo.

Daren Mandrusiak, a U of S student who is in his second year of veterinary medicine, does flight tests with the hawk, Jafar.

Dr. Kristin Britton from Bakersfield, Calif. and Dr. Heather Joseph from Ohio, are on one-year internships while Dr. Caitlin Wright is the rotating intern for small animals.

The full-time lab technician is Jacqui Valmont, a Saskatchewan Polytechnic graduate from Prince Albert, Sask.

Chavo the crested gecko, was being examined because his hemipenes prolapsed.

A snake under anesthesia waits to have an abscess in his side removed.

Jacqui Valmont takes Jafar, the Swainson’s hawk out to treat lesions on his feet from consistent perching.

The medical professionals at the small animals clinic take in privately owned patients that range from bunnies to lizards during 10 a.m to 1 p.m, then focus on treating the overnight patients and wildlife.

Included in the weekly check-ups and appointments, the doctors and technicians of the exotics clinic take weekly visits to the Saskatoon Forestry Farm and Zoo on Wednesdays for non-immediate surgeries.

Dr. Kristin Britton inspects Egyptian spiny mice during a routine visit at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm & Zoo.

Dr. Kristin Britton (left) takes blood from Boo the bunny, while Jacqui Valmont comforts and holds down the animal. Boo is being tested for chronic ulcers.

Dr. Kristin Britton holds Bubbles the guinea pig during a check up.

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Photos: Kayle Neis