Exotic Medicine

Kara Burns is an LVT with master’s degrees in physiology and counseling psychology. She began her career in human medicine working as an emergency psychologist and a poison specialist for humans and animals. Kara is the founder and president of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians and has attained her VTS (Nutrition). She is the editor in chief of Today’s Veterinary Nurse. She also works as an independent nutritional consultant, and is the immediate past president of NAVTA. She has authored many articles, textbooks, and textbook chapters and is an internationally invited speaker, focusing on topics of nutrition, leadership, and technician utilization.

After obtaining her Bachelor of Applied Science in Veterinary Nursing from St. Petersburg College in 2018, Sarah earned the Veterinary Technician Specialty (Exotic Companion Animals) in 2015. She currently works at ISU Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, Ames, Iowa. She is a member of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, Central Iowa Veterinary Technician Association, and International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She also serves on the Association of Avian Veterinarians Technician Committee. Sarah has had numerous articles published and she has lectured extensively on exotic animal topics. She has fostered birds for the Des Moines Animal Rescue League since 2014. Her interests include avian anatomy, physiology, behavior and enrichment; wildlife rehabilitation; and anesthesia.

Sarah earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Veterinary Nursing from St. Petersburg College and the Veterinary Technician Specialty (Exotic Companion Animals). She currently works at ISU Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center in Ames, Iowa. She is a member of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America and International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Sarah has written numerous articles and lectured extensively on exotic animal topics. She has fostered birds for the Des Moines Animal Rescue League since 2014. Her interests include avian anatomy, physiology, behavior and enrichment; wildlife rehabilitation; and anesthesia.

Janyce is a 2003 graduate of the veterinary technology program at Blue Ridge Community College. Her professional interest in animal dentistry began in early 2004, when she began working at Pet Care Veterinary Hospital in Virginia Beach. Her fascination with exotics mixed well with her passion to educate and improve the dental health of clients’ pets. Promoting quality dental care became her ambition, and as a result she has brought a higher standard of care to Pet Care Veterinary Hospital. In 2013, Janyce obtained her veterinary technician specialty in dentistry.