Alanna Cleland

Alanna and Iggy

While performing all the various and multifold functions of a technical assistant at FPH, Alanna plans to learn as much as she can about small animal and exotic patient care and medicine.  Her ultimate goal is to continue to pursue her dream of going to veterinary school and pursuing a career in aquatic veterinary medicine.

While patient comfort, well-being, and care are always our #1 priority, Alanna performs many other tasks at FPH.  These include assisting Dr. Rittenberg (Dr. Ritt) with examinations and procedures, assisting the other technicians with patient treatments and procedures, assisting clients with their loved ones, assisting in surgery, taking x-rays, performing in-hospital lab tests, and maintaining hospital cleanliness.

For pets, Alanna brought her shelter-rescued, long-haired Dachshund named Ignatius (Iggy) with her from home.  Iggy was very lucky to have found Alanna.  When she adopted him and took him to the hospital she worked at in Louisiana, it was discovered that he was infected with heartworms. 

If left untreated, these mosquito transmitted parasites can lead to serious respiratory and heart conditions and ultimately death.  While much more prevalent in the south and other areas of the country where mosquitoes are more numerous, we too have heartworm infection and disease concerns here in California.  Luckily, Iggy did very well with the treatments for heartworm disease (arsenic compounds are used to treat the adult worms), and Alanna continues to enjoy his sassiness and smarts.