Dr. Heather Spain grew up in rural Vermont surrounded by all sorts of animals. From a young age, she learned that it was easiest to just bring animals home, and ask permission to keep them later. With this approach, she collected numerous cats and dogs. Additionally, horses were a major part of her life. Heather developed a passion for horses and riding from her mother, and competed in dressage and eventing through high school. Of course, you can’t live in rural Vermont without extensive exposure to farm animals, especially because her Aunt and Uncle owned a produce and production farm just a few miles down the road.

Dr. Spain completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Vermont. It wasn’t until her last year of undergraduate study that she decided veterinary medicine was the career she wanted to pursue. To gain more experience prior to applying to veterinary school, she worked as a technician at a specialty hospital in Vermont for a year, followed by a year at a private practice in Massachusetts. In 2014 she moved halfway across the country to Columbia, Missouri, where she attended veterinary school. Heather graduated in May 2017. She then traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a one year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery.

During her final year in vet school and her year practicing in Louisiana, she developed a passion for emergency medicine. The varied caseload, fast paced environment, and ability to help people and their pets in their greatest time of need is what drew her to this facet of veterinary medicine. Dr. Spain's special interests include immune mediated disease, wound management, and trauma case management.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, going to the beach and plans to get back into the horseback riding scene ASAP! She lives in Charleston with her boyfriend Travis, their three dogs (Bindi, Charlie, and Moose), and their polydactyl cat Toulouse.