Catalina Thurstin
Hearne,Texas
Summary
Compassionate Veterinarian with over 29 years serving clients and animals with excellent health services. Skilled in leveraging medical history and symptoms to reach efficient and accurate diagnoses small animal emergency and internal medicine. animal Dedicated shelter veterinarian with over 15 years of experience delivering high quality spay neuter surgery and infectious disease control. Experienced in treating animal cruelty cases, including going to court to testify in behalf of the animal cruelty investigator.
Creative problem solver, providing expert patient triage and systematic care. Empathetic professional, relating to pet owners and listening closely to concerns to determine best care protocol for individual health.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Emergency Veterinarian
Southeast Texas Animal Emergency Clinic
02.2021 - Current
- Communicated with pet owners regarding pet diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
- Performed both scheduled and emergent surgeries on small animals and exotic species.
- Reviewed pet health history, examined animals, conducted tests and prescribed treatments for diagnosed conditions.
- Developed dietary and nutritional plans to help animals reach and maintain optimal weight.
- Worked with local animal rescue organizations, wildlife officers and county shelter to provide veterinary services to animals on pro bono basis.
- Gathered pet health histories and symptoms to identify root cause of medical issues.
- Managed medication administration, dispensed prescriptions and replenished inventory, carefully accounting for controlled substances.
- Practiced veterinary medicine with emphasis on preventive care, chronic disease management and emergency medicine in small animals.
- Induced anesthesia by inhalation or intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection.
- Maintained detailed diagnosis and treatment records for future reference.
- Helped improve animal wellbeing by advising owners on better care strategies and treatment options.
- Diagnosed animal diseases through examinations, observation and testing.
- Quarantined infected animals for specialized treatment to curtail disease spread.
- Euthanized animals humanely due to conditions such as cancer or advanced age.
- Dressed wounds and prescribed medication to prevent infection.
- Collected animal blood samples and prepared specimens for shipment and laboratory testing.
- Set animals' bones to promote proper healing.
Medical Director
Poodle Rescue Of Houston
07.2011 - 08.2022
- Supervised clinical staff, providing continuous professional development opportunities and training to maintain and strengthen competencies.
- Verified effective, consistent communication between department heads, medical staff and governing boards through board meeting attendance and synchronization of interdepartmental functions.
- Attended healthcare conferences to stay abreast of evolution of technology and implemented improvements in practice.
- Maintained compliance with local, national and federal requirements for staff education and certifications.
- Performed both scheduled and emergent surgeries on small animals and exotic species.
- Reviewed pet health history, examined animals, conducted tests and prescribed treatments for diagnosed conditions.
- Managed medication administration, dispensed prescriptions and replenished inventory, carefully accounting for controlled substances.
- Induced anesthesia by inhalation or intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection.
- Worked with local animal rescue organizations, wildlife officers and county shelter to provide veterinary services to animals on pro bono basis.
- Diagnosed animal diseases through examinations, observation and testing.
- Collected animal blood samples and prepared specimens for shipment and laboratory testing.
- Dressed wounds and prescribed medication to prevent infection.
- Maintained detailed diagnosis and treatment records for future reference.
- Developed and implemented safety protocols to protect staff, guests and animals.
- Quarantined infected animals for specialized treatment to curtail disease spread.
- Euthanized animals humanely due to conditions such as cancer or advanced age.
Associate Veterinarian
Easton Commons Animal Hospital
10.2016 - 05.2022
- Communicated with pet owners regarding pet diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
- Performed both scheduled and emergent surgeries on small animals and exotic species.
- Reviewed pet health history, examined animals, conducted tests and prescribed treatments for diagnosed conditions.
- Developed dietary and nutritional plans to help animals reach and maintain optimal weight.
- Worked with local animal rescue organizations, wildlife officers and county shelter to provide veterinary services to animals on pro bono basis.
- Gathered pet health histories and symptoms to identify root cause of medical issues.
- Managed medication administration, dispensed prescriptions and replenished inventory, carefully accounting for controlled substances.
- Practiced veterinary medicine with emphasis on preventive care, chronic disease management and emergency medicine in small animals.
- Induced anesthesia by inhalation or intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection.
- Maintained detailed diagnosis and treatment records for future reference.
- Helped improve animal wellbeing by advising owners on better care strategies and treatment options.
- Diagnosed animal diseases through examinations, observation and testing.
- Quarantined infected animals for specialized treatment to curtail disease spread.
- Euthanized animals humanely due to conditions such as cancer or advanced age.
- Dressed wounds and prescribed medication to prevent infection.
- Collected animal blood samples and prepared specimens for shipment and laboratory testing.
Shelter Veterinarian
Houston Humane Society
08.2016 - 02.2021
- Communicated with pet owners regarding pet diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
- Practiced veterinary medicine with emphasis on preventive care, chronic disease management and emergency medicine in small animals.
- Performed both scheduled and emergent surgeries on small animals and exotic species.
- Reviewed pet health history, examined animals, conducted tests and prescribed treatments for diagnosed conditions.
- Managed medication administration, dispensed prescriptions and replenished inventory, carefully accounting for controlled substances.
- Worked with local animal rescue organizations, wildlife officers and county shelter to provide veterinary services to animals on pro bono basis.
- Diagnosed animal diseases through examinations, observation and testing.
- Helped improve animal wellbeing by advising owners on better care strategies and treatment options.
- Maintained detailed diagnosis and treatment records for future reference.
- Dressed wounds and prescribed medication to prevent infection.
- Collected animal blood samples and prepared specimens for shipment and laboratory testing.
- Quarantined infected animals for specialized treatment to curtail disease spread.
- Euthanized animals humanely due to conditions such as cancer or advanced age.
Interim Medical Director
Houston Humane Society
01.2017 - 07.2017
- Supervised clinical staff, providing continuous professional development opportunities and training to maintain and strengthen competencies.
- Improved patient outcomes and delivery of care through improved clinical quality processes.
- Verified effective, consistent communication between department heads, medical staff and governing boards through board meeting attendance and synchronization of interdepartmental functions.
- Attended healthcare conferences to stay abreast of evolution of technology and implemented improvements in practice.
- Maintained compliance with local, national and federal requirements for staff education and certifications.
- Represented staff at meetings and on designated committees relative to areas of specialty or service.
- Assessed performance of medical care, equipment, supplies and pharmaceutical drugs.
- Conducted care strategy evaluations to identify areas requiring improvement.
- Focused on preventive care and proactive identification in care management of high-risk patients to lower costs.
- Developed criteria for test orders and trained staff regarding data acquisition methods and escalation protocol.
Relief Veterinarian
Cyfair Pet Clinic
11.2008 - 01.2017
Veterinarian and Owner
CCC Animal Clinic
06.2013 - 07.2015
- Managed day-to-day business operations.
- Consulted with customers to assess needs and propose optimal solutions.
- Trained and motivated employees to perform daily business functions.
- Established foundational processes for business operations.
- Prepared bank deposits and handled business sales, returns and transaction reports.
- High Quality Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic
- Low cost vaccinations and preventative medicine
- Provided spay and neuter services to City of Bryan Animal Care Center
- Provided spay and neuter services to Aggieland Humane Society
- Provided spay and neuter services to BCS Spay Neuter program
- Provided spay and neuter services to Brazos Pet Alive
Shelter Veterinarian
Houston SPCA
07.2007 - 11.2008
Shelter Veterinarian
Southeast Texas Humane Society
05.2006 - 07.2007
Associate Veterinarian
West End Animal Clinic
05.2005 - 05.2006
Emergency Veterinarian
Southeast Texas Animal Emergency Clinic
05.2002 - 05.2005
Education
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine - Veterinary Medicine
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX05.1994
Bachelor of Science - Biomedical Sciences
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX05.1989
Skills
- Chart Management
- Inpatient Care
- Animal Surgery
- Positive Pet Interactions
- Complex Problem-Solving
- Medical Recordkeeping
- Critical Thinking
- Illness Assessment and Treatment
- Veterinarian Communication
- Time Management
- Diagnosing Conditions
- General Anesthesia Monitoring
- Emergency Pet Care
- Emergency Surgery
- Pain Management
- Medical Charts and Records
- Injury Treatment
- Emergency Situations
- Cardiac Arrest
- Chronic Disease Management
- Physical Examinations
Certification
Global AFAST / TFAST Certification
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Emergency Veterinarian
Southeast Texas Animal Emergency Clinic
02.2021 - Current
Interim Medical Director
Houston Humane Society
01.2017 - 07.2017
Associate Veterinarian
Easton Commons Animal Hospital
10.2016 - 05.2022
Shelter Veterinarian
Houston Humane Society
08.2016 - 02.2021
Veterinarian and Owner
CCC Animal Clinic
06.2013 - 07.2015
Medical Director
Poodle Rescue Of Houston
07.2011 - 08.2022
Relief Veterinarian
Cyfair Pet Clinic
11.2008 - 01.2017
Shelter Veterinarian
Houston SPCA
07.2007 - 11.2008
Shelter Veterinarian
Southeast Texas Humane Society
05.2006 - 07.2007
Associate Veterinarian
West End Animal Clinic
05.2005 - 05.2006
Emergency Veterinarian
Southeast Texas Animal Emergency Clinic
05.2002 - 05.2005
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine - Veterinary Medicine
Texas A&M University
Bachelor of Science - Biomedical Sciences
Texas A&M University