Dr Caitlin Antes (she/they) has been a practicing family veterinarian right here in Vancouver since 2015. She grew up in Tacoma, and earned her DVM from Washington State University. Go Cougs!!!
The families she serves all have a shared goal (giving their pets the happiest healthiest lives possible!) but Dr Antes knows that what exactly that looks like will be different for everyone. Getting creative, building relationships, and figuring out the RIGHT solution is just as important to her as getting the right diagnosis. For that reason, her first goal is always to connect with her patients and their families; learning what’s unique to them, and then talking through options to find the best fit.
Special interests include emergency and internal medicine, mobility management, communication, and teaching. Helping senior pets take a proactive approach to aging is a particular passion. Dr Antes believes there’s no reason the last few years of your pet’s life can’t be just as happy and fulfilling as the first few were! If you know your pet is getting up in years and want to make the most of whatever time is left, Dr Antes can help. If your pet has a chronic condition, but you think there’s no way to manage it without negatively impacting their quality of life, Dr Antes can help. Quality of life is always top priority, so when planning treatments or interventions, Dr Antes always makes sure your pet gets a vote too.
To contribute to her field, Dr Antes volunteers as a Diagnostic Challenge facilitator with the WSU College of Veterinary medicine, and has both formally and informally mentored several amazing vets and licensed techs. She is a proud mental-health advocate, LGBTQ+ ally, and aims to serve every client from every background with the same respect, compassion, and care. She extends that courtesy to her patients as well, as a tireless advocate for the Fear Free practice of veterinary medicine.
At home, Dr Antes cares for two small humans, three cats, a rather wild garden, and a rotating array of foster animals. She practices ceramics, painting, gardening, and building. She also loves climbing, paddling, and is currently training to repeat the 100 mile Portland to Astoria bike ride (a fundraiser for the American Lung Association).