Hi everyone! My name is Laura Teeger and I am a small animal veterinarian from Thornhill, Ontario. I graduated from veterinary school in 2020 and worked in small animal general practice for nearly 5 years, which is where my interest in veterinary nutrition developed into a real passion. I am very excited to join the OVC Nutrition Team and pursue my Doctor of Veterinary Sciences (DVSc) Degree and Residency for the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (ECVCN)!
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as kind, curious, and committed to helping others (humans and animals alike). I am motivated to learn and enjoy seeking opportunities to grow, both personally and professionally. I aim to be approachable, understanding, and always keep an open mind – all of which have been quite helpful during my time as a veterinarian.
What interests or motivates you most?
What motivates me most are opportunities to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of animals, as well as supporting their human counterparts. I also hope to make meaningful contributions to the field of veterinary nutrition through research, collaborating with colleagues, and teaching others who share a passion for the field.
What program were you in before?
I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph, where I majored in Biological Science and minored in Zoology. I then attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2020. Since then, I have worked in general practice at a few different veterinary clinics, where I gained valuable clinical experience through managing a wide range of medical, surgical, and nutritional cases.
When did you become interested in nutrition?
I have always had an interest in nutrition (I had actually wanted to be a human nutritionist when I first started my undergraduate degree at Guelph). This interest has followed me throughout my veterinary career and really grew throughout my years in general practice. During that time, I could see firsthand the benefits of appropriate nutrition as well as the devastating impacts of imbalanced diets. I was therefore very excited when I came across the opportunity to pursue nutrition as a specialty at OVC.
What made you choose this graduate program, and what are you looking forward to most about it?
There are many aspects about this graduate program that make it the perfect fit for me. I am of course eager to dive into the world of veterinary nutrition, but I am also very much looking forward to working alongside the veterinary students, managing nutrition consultations in the teaching hospital, and for the opportunity to conduct thought provoking research.
I loved my time at Guelph during my undergraduate degree and am excited to be back!
Tell us about your pets, past and present.
Growing up, there were always dogs (Labradors of course) and cats in the house. When I was in high school, I adopted a lop-eared bunny, and since then I have been obsessed with rabbits (as well as their nutritional requirements!). While in vet school, I adopted my cat, Po, a hamster (Bernard), and an axolotl (Mudkip). Here are some photos of my pets, (past and present!):
