Paula West

As a young child I had a huge love of animals, a love which remains strong in me today. I often brought home stray dogs or injured wildlife. In undergraduate school I was fascinated with a physiology course I took as a biology major, which became the first indication that medicine would be my passion. Caring for dogs as part of a job I had while I was in school helped me to realize I needed to combine these passions and pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

I was accepted to Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1988. Immediately after, I completed an internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, followed by a surgical residency at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine where I was presented the resident of the year award.

Surgery became my focus early on. Surgery is a rewarding specialty because you can literally ‘fix’ problems. You can return function to animals who would otherwise be disabled and you can save animals who may have a life-threatening illness or injury. There is nothing more gratifying than making someone’s beloved pet healthy again through surgery.

My philosophy of patient care is to treat each animal that comes in as if it were my own pet. How I communicate with clients, how I interact with the animal, the medical decisions and recommendations I make, all center around the belief that each pet has an owner who wants the very best for their companion. Every animal that I see is important to me.