Perth Vet Emergency Assistant Nurse Manager Danielle Wood with a grey cat

Danielle Wood

RVN
Assistant Nurse Manager

Having a love for the rehabilitation of wild animals, Danielle Wood worked for five years in the husbandry. As well as a passion for wildlife, Dani has also been a foster mum for kittens. But she always wanted to take her knowledge to the next level to further support the animals she loves. Knowing gaining medical knowledge was her next step, Dani pursued her career ambitions with further study before joining our team.

When talking of the most memorable case she has seen since joining the team one in particular springs to mind. It is a dog who had collapsed whose family had no idea what might have happened. Dani was able to assist the Senior Vet in diagnostics work, including ultrasound imaging on the poor pooches’ gall bladder. They were quickly able to diagnose a bee sting causing the pooch to go into an anaphylaxis state. This quick diagnosis was so important in the case. “I remember thinking, this is what they talk about when they say animals will collapse from anaphylaxis. We’ve seen similar cases before through the hospital, but never one this bad,” Dani recalls.

“I always think about that case, because it was crucial for us to have acted quickly in using ultrasound as a tool to find out what was wrong with the patient. It’s really great to be working with such a talented team of vets and nurses who truly make a difference in animals’ lives,” says Dani.

Dani’s favourite part of working in the veterinary industry is the feeling she gets from being able to reunite the sickest of animals with their owners. “Seeing a pet come into our clinic with life-threatening illnesses and injuries and being able to help turn around that animals’ life in a matter of hours and send them out the door with their families – it’s pretty incredible. It’s an amazing feeling. Those cases are what we do it for – to save lives.”

Dani loves working with the team at Perth Vet Emergency, where she can always count on support from her teammates. “Everyone knows their skills and strengths and knows when to jump on in and help with a patient,” says Dani.

Dani is enjoying her chosen career path in the emergency medicine field where each day brings new challenges. Every day Dani is continuing to build her skills and learn from the team around her.

Outside of life as Nurse Danielle Wood, wildlife and exotic animals will always be her passion, which she continues to take on as a hobby.