Staff Profile: Dr Alisha Borglund – Veterinarian

What do you love most about being a vet?

I love the variety that comes with this line of work. Every day is different and no two cases are the same. There’s something really rewarding about putting all the pieces of a puzzle together from an animal’s history, physical examination, and diagnostic test results and then formulating a treatment plan to improve a patient’s quality of life. The more challenging the case, the more satisfying it is when we achieve a great outcome for the animal and client involved.

What experience and knowledge have you brought to the team at Turramurra Veterinary Hospital that you have learned through your work in emergency and critical care?

ER work is very fast-paced. When you are managing multiple emergency cases at once, time is such a critical factor in ensuring a successful outcome, and these cases include tick paralysis, trauma, poisonings, intestinal obstructions, seizures and haemabdomen. This has enabled me to become an efficient multi-tasker, think quickly and prioritise diagnostics and treatments to ensure the patient is stabilised as rapidly as possible. It has taught me to operate calmly in a methodical way in the face of all kinds of chaotic and high pressure situations. It takes a lot to frazzle me these days!

What is your favourite animal and why? 

Can I choose more than one? Whilst I genuinely love all animals, I have a keen interest in African wildlife. I’ve been to South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe multiple times, learning from and assisting a group of wildlife vets with anti-poaching efforts including elephant collaring for tracking and preventative rhino dehorning. I’d love to get back over there sometime in the next few years.

What skills have you learnt as a parent that you use to help you be a better vet?

Being a vet has made me a better parent, just as parenting has influenced how I operate as a vet. Our kids, just like our patients, always come first. Parenting has upped my detective game as young kids, like our patients, can’t always tell us what’s wrong, so it’s up to parents to determine what the problem is and how best to fix it. It has made me realise to always expect the unexpected and that no two kids, just as no two pets, have the same needs. In both jobs you don’t stop when you’re tired – you stop when you’re done and everyone is happy and taken care of.