Sharon Shields

DVM, DACVS
Grey Paw Print
Veterinary Specialist
Small Animal Surgery
Grey Paw Print

At a Glance

Practicing Since:

1997

Board Certified:

American College of Veterinary Surgeons

Specialties Include:

Small Animal Surgery

My Pets:

Winnebago, Thomas, Booger, Sebastian
Dr. Shields has been practicing specialty surgery for over 20 years and is well accomplished in orthopedic, general, soft tissue, and basic neurologic surgical procedures. She is also qualified to perform some minimally invasive procedures such as laparoscopy. While there is not much Dr. Shields has not seen or operated on, distal limb fractures, wound management, surgical oncology, and stifle surgery make her smile! (A little weird, but we still love her!)

Dr. Shields did all of her veterinary training in California. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in Biological Sciences and received her veterinary degree from the University of California, College of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, California in 1997 where she graduated with academic honors (Phi Zeta). She completed her one-year internship and a three-year residency in Small Animal Surgery at Animal Specialty and Emergency Center (formerly California Animal Hospital) in Los Angeles, California and became Board Certified in Surgery in 2002.

Dr. Shields founded a small animal surgery service in Santa Barbara, California at Advanced Veterinary Specialists in 2012 and has maintained a busy surgery practice there for the last 13 years. Prior to this, Dr. Shields was part of the busy surgery team at Animal Specialty and Emergency Center in Los Angeles for 6 years and Veterinary Specialty Center in Tucson, Arizona for 4 years.

Dr. Shields is excited to bring her experience to the Okanagan Valley where she can help the pets in the community, work closely with local veterinarians through continuing education, case review prior to formal consultation, and if needed, evaluate radiographs and other diagnostic tests prior to referral. Through this collaboration, Dr. Shields can play an important part of the comprehensive care that our beloved canines and felines deserve (sorry no horses, the one in the photo above is a fake!).

Outside of AVS, Dr. Shields enjoys running, cooking, hiking, creating cool (and occasionally lopsided) ceramics. But most of all, she is grateful to spend time with her family which includes her kilt-wearing ever-supportive husband, her teenage son who loves to play with his border collie Winnebago, the outspoken chihuahua Thomas (also known as the Burrito), and the two fuzzy felines who rule the house and hearts –Booger the Supervisor and Sebastian the Snuggler. She and her family are very excited to explore the beautiful Okanagan Valley and make it their new home!
See our departments

Small Animal Surgery

Our Specialist in small animal surgery provides a broad range of diagnostic and surgical procedures for a variety of orthopedic (i.e. TPLO), soft tissue, and selective neurological disorders.

First, we will meet with patients to fully assess their condition, and we will discuss treatment options and goals, expected outcomes, estimates and aftercare in detail with you. Pre- and post-operative pain management ensures your furry family member is as comfortable as possible during their stay with us, as well as throughout their recovery at home. Your pet will be monitored by a veterinary nurse not just during the procedure but through the night, and there is always a doctor either in the clinic or on call to our hospital team 24 hours a day.

When your pet is ready to go home, a veterinary nurse will review their recovery plan in detail with you. Additionally, all information will be provided in writing as sometimes there is a lot to remember. Once your pet has returned home, we will monitor their progress through regular phone calls and rechecks. For many pets having undergone surgery, a structured rehabilitation program can help ensure that they are back on all paws as soon as possible. A consultation with our board-certified rehabilitation Specialist, Dr. Tara Edwards, is encouraged for those pets who would benefit from her care. Dr. Tara Edwards uses a multimodal approach in the care of your pet which may also include hydrotherapy in the Okanagan’s only underwater treadmill.

Your family vet will be kept up to date and will receive copies of all reports, radiographs (if done) and test results so they have a complete record of your pet’s care at our hospital.

The following list of services is offered at VCA Canada Tri Lake Animal Hospital and Referral Centre. The list is not exhaustive and surgeries offered are case dependent. We encourage you to contact us if you have any case questions or concerns, and we can see how we can help.

Orthopedics

  • lameness evaluation

  • fractures, joint luxations, tendon injuries

  • management of cranial cruciate ligament disease: TPLO, lateral fabellotibial suture

  • patellar luxation

  • evaluation of hip dysplasia

  • femoral head and neck ostectomy

  • arthroscopy

 

Soft Tissue

  • wound management and reconstruction

  • various abdominal surgeries: exploratory laparotomy, biopsies, enterotomy and intestinal resection and anastomosis, treatment of gastrointestinal foreign bodies, intussusception, volvulus, portosystemic shunt, cholecystectomy, liver lobe resection, splenectomy, diaphragmatic hernia repair, lymphadenectomy, body wall hernia repair

  • urogenital surgeries: cystotomy, ureteral surgery, nephrectomy , episioplasty, perineal urethrostomy, ovariohysterectomy, Caesarean section, neuter/orchiectomy, paraprostatic cyst excision and omentalization

  • assessment and treatment of upper airway obstruction: brachycephalic airway disease and laryngeal paralysis

  • sialoceles

  • total ear canal ablation and ventral bulla osteotomy

  • anal sacculectomy, caudectomy, perineal herniorrhaphy

  • laparoscopy: ovariectomy, gastropexy, cryptorchidectomy

  • amputations: digit, forequarter, hindleg

  • oncologic surgery

 

Neurology

  • neurological examination

  • surgical management of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease

Tri Lake Animal Hospital & Referral Centre

10564 Powley Court

Winfield, BC V4V 1V5

Main: 250-766-3236

Fax: 250-766-3237

Emergency Hours:

    Mon-Sun: Open 24 hours

Referral Hours:

Mon - Fri
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

By appointment only

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