About Us
How can PetDerm help?
Welcome to PetDerm, one of Calgary’s first independently owned and operated specialty veterinary clinics. Founded by Dr. Becky Valentine DVM, DACVD© , our clinic is renowned for its Dermatology expertise and proudly offers comprehensive Internal Medicine services. PetDerm aims to understand, diagnose, treat, and improve the health of pets and the lives of their owners. Many of our patients can suffer chronically, and Dr. Valentine has created a centre of expertise and compassion with the goal to alleviate their suffering and improve their quality of life.
PetDerm wants to be part of your pet’s path to stable health.
Our board certified Veterinarians are specialists within their respective fields.
Dr. Becky Valentine, DVM, DACVD©
A Board-Certified Veterinary Dermatologist
Dr. Valentine was born and raised in Calgary and completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. After completing a rotating small animal internship at Ontario Veterinary College in 2002, Becky spent several years as an emergency veterinarian before returning to school to complete a residency in dermatology at the OVC. It was during her residency that she came to understand the profound impact that skin diseases and allergies can have on a pet and their family. She became board-certified in Veterinary Dermatology in 2015, and has made a huge difference in the lives of pets and their owners ever since.
Becky’s interests include the treatment of antibiotic-resistant skin infections and the diagnosis and management of allergic dermatitis in small animals and horses.
Dr. Chantal McMillan, DVM, MVSc, DACVIM©
Board-Certified Small Animal Internal Medicine
Dr. Chantal McMillan is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). She completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in 2000. Upon graduating, she worked in small animal practice before pursuing her specialty designation. She completed her internship at the University of Illinois in 2002 and became board-certified by the ACVIM in 2006 after completing her residency.
Since then, Dr. McMillan joined the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2007 as an associate professor of teaching. She has enjoyed educating future veterinarians in the classroom, lab, and clinics.
She values the important relationship between pets and their families. She aims to develop individualized approaches to cases with clients and their primary veterinarians. Ultimately, she aims to improve your pet’s quality of life while considering goals, concurrent conditions, and other factors that may influence the decision-making process.
Dr. Ciara Milicevic, DVM
Dermatology Resident
Dr. Ciara Milicevic is a recent graduate, completing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine. Her curiosity about pets started at a young age as she grew up without family pets, she jokingly told my parents that she’d work with animals every day. This joke quickly developed into a passion as Dr. Milicevic solidified her desire to advocate for non-verbal pets. Inspired by Sherlock Holmes, she enjoys deciphering clues from her patients to solve health mysteries, especially in the field of Dermatology. Dr. Milicevic’s experiences with problematic skin issues sparked an interest in human dermatology, which naturally extended to veterinary care.
As a member of the PetDerm team, Dr. Milicevic strives to provide warm, collaborative, and insightful care. Her approach creates an environment where clients are collectively making decisions with the Doctor for the betterment of their pet’s welfare. She wants to empower clients to trust their instincts—if something feels off, don’t hesitate to reach out.
The value in visiting a board-certified veterinarian
A board-certified veterinarian completes an additional 4 years of dermatology or internal medicine residency before they become board-certified. The residency program involves extensive training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, clinical diagnosis, research, and more. A board-certified veterinarian dedicates at least 10 years to education and residency, similar to a doctor in human medicine.
After completing the required residency, certification involves completing and presenting original research, and demonstrating exceptional case management. The final step is passing a comprehensive multi-day exam administered by the American College of Veterinary Dermatology or the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Only veterinarians with diplomate status are recognized as experts by the medical community.
A board-certified Veterinary Dermatologist is
trained in diagnosing and treating various skin, ear, hair, nail, hoof, and mouth disease in animals. They possess extensive training and experience in managing allergic and infectious skin diseases (bacterial, fungal, viral), parasitic conditions, alopecia, congenital and autoimmune skin disorders, benign/malignant skin cancer, hormonal-related skin problems, and internal causes of skin abnormalities. They also treat chronic ear disorders often associated with skin conditions.
A board-certified Veterinary Internist is
trained in diagnosing and treating a broad spectrum of internal health issues in animals. They are highly trained and experienced in managing gastroenterology, endocrinology, infectious disease, urology, nephrology, respiratory medicine and hematology & immunology. It is common for a patient’s disease to impact multiple organs, requiring a detailed understanding on how to balance multiple issues for the best quality of life.
We are itching to help! Explore PetDerm's services.