Dr. Diana Watkins

 

Dr. Diana Watkins comes to The Animal Hospital of Lynnfield from a busy hospital in Dorchester.  Dr. Watkins is a 2010 graduate of Tufts University Veterinary School where she was president of their student chapter of the American Veterinary Medicine Association.

Dr. Watkins has a strong interest in surgery, and during school she designed and pioneered an extensive externship for student surgery on shelter animals.  This allowed her to combine both her love of surgery with her passion for non-profit work.  She also volunteered her time spaying and neutering feral dogs and cats in Vieques, Puerto Rico. 

Since graduation, Dr. Watkins has developed an interest in dermatology, in particular the skin allergies, of dogs and cats.  She also has a keen interest in upper respiratory diseases of cats as well as behavioral problems and anxiety in both dogs and cats.     

Dr. Watkins chose to work in small animal general practice so that she could follow animals from youth through their geriatric years.  She loves forming this long-term bond with clients and pets, and believes that giving our pets comfort in their golden years is of utmost importance. She believes, that after all that pets give us throughout their lives, the best gift we can repay them with is dignity and comfort when they need it the most.  Dr. Watkins enjoys working with the owners of senior pets in order to develop the best plan to fit each particular family as well as the individual pet.  She uses a combination of preventative medicine, pain management, and physical therapy to help these pets achieve maximal comfort.  She also likes to help guide owners of geriatric pets through difficult decisions that come up, forming a cohesive unit that is joined to make these decisions as painless and as well-educated as possible. 

Originally from Michigan, Dr. Watkins currently lives with her husband just south of Boston.  They share their home with a rescued hound mix named Rudy, and a turtle named Amos.  Just recently they lost an integral part of their family, Skunk, their dear cat.  Dr. Watkins enjoys weekly runs on the beach with her dog, as well as yoga, rollerblading with her husband, and nearly any other physical activity.  Until recently she was working her way through hiking every 4000 foot mountain in the White Mountain range… this goal has been put on hold as she and her husband are expecting their first child, a son, due this August.