In some cases, veterinarians at Fairfield may recommend that your pet be seen by a specialist at
one of our two sister clinics: Westbank Animal Care Hospital and Central Valley Vet Hospital.
Specialty services are available by referral from your regular veterinarian.
Referral forms for veterinarians can be found HERE.
one of our two sister clinics: Westbank Animal Care Hospital and Central Valley Vet Hospital.
Specialty services are available by referral from your regular veterinarian.
Referral forms for veterinarians can be found HERE.
Dr. Kinga Gortel, D.V.M., MS Diplomate, ACVD
Dermatology Specialist Dr. Kinga Gortel has been in private dermatology practice since completing her dermatology residency in 1999. She practiced for 7 years in California then relocated to Canada in 2006. A native of Edmonton, she graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995 and completed an internship, dermatology residency, and masters degree program at the University of Illinois. She became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 1999. In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Gortel lectures in both the United States and Canada, and teaches veterinary students and interns. Her most recent publications include chapters in the Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the Veterinary Clinics of North America. Dr. Gortel sees dermatology referrals at Westbank Animal Care Hospital several days a month. |
Dr. Jitender Bhandal, BVSc & AH, Diplomate ACVS-SA
Surgical Specialist Dr Bhandal is an ACVS Board Certified Surgeon whose clinical practice is dedicated to surgery. He completed his ACVS approved residency in Small Animal Surgery at Michigan Veterinary Specialists, Auburn Hills and Southfield, MI. He also completed an Orthopedic Research Fellowship at UC Davis in California, and surgical internships in Vancouver and Saskatoon. Dr Bhandal brings advanced surgical skills to Westbank and Central Valley Vet Hospitals, allowing us to offer procedures which formerly had to be referred to specialist centres. Among the surgeries we are now able to offer are complex orthopedic procedures such as TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) for Cranial Cruciate Repair, Brachiocephalic Airway syndrome surgery for brachiocephalic dogs (English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Pug, Pekinese, etc.) and spinal decompressive surgery, to name a few. |
Dr. Charlotte Keller, D.V.M, Opthalmology Specialist Charlotte Keller is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (1990) as well as the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (1998). Dr. Keller spent 14 years as a faculty ophthalmologist at The Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph. Dr. Keller has been serving the West Coast/Lower Mainland area as a Board Certified Veterinary Opthalmologist since 2002. She has been making visits to the Interior of British Columbia on a regular re-occuring basis for the past few years and will continue to be available for consultations at Westbank Animal Care every few weeks. |
Dr. Hans Gelens, DVM, MSc, Diplomate ACVIM, Past Diplomate ECVIM,
Adjunct Professor AVC Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist Dr Hans Gelens is board certified in Small Animal Medicine by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine as well as the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. After years of teaching at the Atlantic Veterinary College (University of Prince Edward Island), as well as working in various specialty practices in BC and Ontario, Dr Gelens has settled in the Okanagan. Dr Gelens is available for internal medicine consults by referral at Westbank Animal Care Hospital. |
Dr. Geri Reimer, D.V.M.
Ultrasonography At Central Valley Vet Hospital, Dr. Reimer utilizes a state of the art, super high resolution, ultrasound machine that is not unlike what is found in today's human hospitals and clinics. With this technology she can explore the inner workings of your pet without having to perform invasive surgery. Examining your pet's abdominal organs, chest cavity and even monitoring their beating heart is made easy and pain free. |
Laser Therapy for Pets
Infrared laser light from therapy lasers harmlessly penetrates deep into tissues where it is absorbed in the cells, and this energy is converted into chemical, not thermal, energy. In athletic environments, therapy lasers are primarily used to reduce swelling, reduce pain, and speed the healing process. These mechanisms allow practitioners at Central Valley Veterinary Hospital to successfully treat a wide range of conditions non-invasively and without drugs. |