The Best Care for Your Best Friend
Chelsea Dawson was born and raised in Brantford, Ontario in a home filled with pets. Before becoming a vet she held various positions within the OSPCA including animal control officer. This foundation led to a job as a vet assistant and ultimately to becoming a veterinarian.
Chelsea attended the University of Ottawa before moving to the UK to attend the University of Glasgow Veterinary School. Following graduation Chelsea spent several years practicing at a small animal hospital in Lancashire, England. While there she obtained an ESVPS certificate in Chronic Pain Management and Western Veterinary Acupuncture. This led to her launching a pain clinic at the practice where she was working.
The more Chelsea worked in the pain clinic the more she came to appreciate the holistic/integrated approach to veterinary medicine. It became clear to her that there was more to it than simply medications.
Chelsea began courses and training in other areas to expand her abilities and repertoire of treatment options. These courses included physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, chiropractics, nutrition, raw/fresh food feeding, and herbal medicine. She has since become a veterinary herbalist and continues her education in all areas of veterinary medicine.
In 2018 Chelsea launched True North Veterinary Wellness, a referral service in the north of England. She also started teaching as a way to share her knowledge and passion with other veterinary professionals.
In 2023 Chelsea and her family decided it was time to head back to Canada. She has moved back to her hometown of Brantford and her family have settled into Canadian life. She is now running True North Veterinary Wellness in Brantford, Ontario.
Because of her training Chelsea is able to use both complimentary therapies and conventional medicines (where needed) to give animals the best quality of life she can. Chelsea believes that treatments should not be conventional versus complementary. Both can be used individually or combined to give optimal results for your pet. It is about looking at the animal as a whole, getting to know them (and the owners) and finding a treatment plan that is tailored specifically to the individual.
Chelsea is passionate about what she does and is eager to learn. She keeps the lines of communication open with clients and is happy to discuss all available options (and research ones she has not heard of). She loves to teach and takes a very honest and open approach to the way she treats her patients and their owners!
Chelsea’s passion for teaching continues and she has brought some of the UK courses to Canada. This includes the Western Veterinary Acupuncture Foundation Course as well as the Veterinary Herbal Training courses. Chelsea believes so deeply in what she does and feels it is important to share this knowledge with as many veterinary professionals as possible.
Outside of work Chelsea spends most of her time with her husband, son and their little dog (Brian). Her boys certainly keep her on her toes! Chelsea loves being outdoors (walking, hiking, swimming) and when she is indoors you can find her in a yoga studio!
It is about looking at the animal as a whole, getting to know them (and the owners) and finding a treatment plan that is tailored specifically to the individual.