Dr. Kaitlin McDonald

Equine Veterinarian

Kaitlin was born and raised in Edmonton, where her grandparents encouraged her to ride at a very early age. She first began taking riding lessons at age 8, then showed in Hunters and Jumpers all through her grade school and undergrad years, even managing to show a little bit during vet school! After completing her BSc in Physiology from the U of A, Kaitlin worked as a groom to a high-level Hunter/Jumper trainer, and as an equine massage therapist before making the decision to go to vet school.

During her summer breaks while studying at the U of C: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kaitlin worked with chuckwagon horses for a research project on cardiovascular performance; with Dr Dan French at Spruce Meadows; and externed at equine veterinary practices in Edmonton, Calgary, Langley, Colorado and Tennessee. After attaining her DVM degree, Kaitlin was offered a very competitive Internship position at Tennessee Equine Hospital, a 14-veterinarian specialty referral practice near Nashville, TN and spent a year there learning from some very talented veterinarians.

Since moving to the Island in 2016, Kaitlin has pursued further training in dentistry, sports medicine, and chiropractic, and as of the fall of 2026 she will complete her training in veterinary acupuncture. At work, Kaitlin particularly enjoys sports medicine and the overall management of the sport horse, complex dentistry cases, and closing up big, messy wounds. In her spare time, Kaitlin enjoys riding and showing her horse Roux, a 2017 model Warmblood mare, and spending time with (read: feeding treats to) her now-retired 2006 Warmblood, Belle. Outside of horses, she enjoys trail running, hiking, eating cheese, camping, and occasionally kayaking with her husband and fellow veterinarian Adam, and their two dogs, Scout and Glia.