Growing up surrounded by many different kinds of exotic pets, Dr. Vandenbruggen developed a passion for exotic animals from an early age. It was therefore only natural that she oriented her veterinary training toward exotic animal medicine.
During her six years of veterinary studies, she completed externships in several countries around the world, gaining experience with a wide variety of exotic species and learning from veterinarians with different areas of expertise.
Dr. Vandenbruggen graduated from the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca (USAMV), Romania, in 2020. Following graduation, she completed a zoological medicine internship at the University of Liège in Belgium.
The following year, she moved to Canada to pursue a specialty internship with the Zoo, Exotics and Wildlife Service at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She subsequently completed a three-year residency in exotic companion animal medicine and surgery at the same institution.
After completing her residency, Dr. Vandenbruggen remained with the Zoo, Exotics and Wildlife Service for an additional year in a clinical supervisory role, where she continued to provide advanced medical and surgical care to exotic patients while contributing to the clinical training of veterinary students and interns.
Dr. Vandenbruggen is currently board-eligible and in the final stages of her specialization in exotic companion animal medicine and surgery. Her professional interests include preventive medicine, advanced diagnostics, internal medicine, dentistry, and soft tissue and orthopedic surgery in exotic species.
Outside of the hospital, Dr. Vandenbruggen shares her life with a wonderfully diverse group of animals. Her exotic companions include Artemis, a Rex rabbit and the clinic's official blood donor; Athena, a cockatoo; and Rainbow, a fennec fox. She is also the proud owner of three dogs: Holiday and Nessie, two Shetland Sheepdogs, and Luna, a Border Collie.
Her own experience living with exotic pets gives her a strong appreciation for the unique bond owners share with these animals and reinforces her commitment to providing individualized, compassionate care for every patient.
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