Meet the Doctor: Krissy Cooney, DVM

When Dr. Krissy Cooney was growing up, she dreamed of becoming a surgeon, just not the kind who performs C-sections on bulldogs or removes squeaky toys from beagles. She imagined scrubbing in on human surgeries, inspired by her mom’s nursing career. But after some encouragement from a high school counselor who saw her love for medicine and animals, Dr. Cooney found her calling in veterinary medicine.

Veterinary School Meets Real Life

Dr. Cooney graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, where her favorite part of school was getting out into the field. “I really liked field services for large animals, where we went out to farms and worked with animals and their owners.”

But as most DVMs know, the leap from vet school to practice can be a culture shock.

“There's a big difference between by-the-book medicine and the real world. It takes some adjusting to realize that people may not accept every treatment you could possibly offer. You learn to adapt and offer the best options for the client and the pet. People want to do what is best for their pets, so you have to be understanding.”

A Passion for People and Pets

Though she originally pursued exotic and zoo medicine with internships at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Bronx Zoo, Dr. Cooney's path took a turn during clinic rotations. “I really liked interacting with people whose pets are part of their family.”

That shift led her to general practice vet med, where she now leads with empathy and balance at Vetco Total Care in Providence, RI.

Teamwork, Mentorship, and the Power of Showing Up

These days, Dr. Cooney is not only a clinician, but a mentor, selected to help guide new graduates as part of the PACKS mentorship program. (PACKS is Vetco Total Care’s Personalized, Autonomous Career + Knowledge Support mentorship program which empowers early-career veterinarians with proven coaching and resources they need to succeed.)

“It really means a lot to me that my supervisors feel I would be a good person to guide a new grad!”

When She’s Not in the Clinic…

Dr. Cooney keeps active outside of work, too. Rugby in the spring and fall, softball through the summer, and lots of low-key beach days with her family. Her favorite benefit at Vetco Total Care is open time off, which gives her plenty of days to play in the sun.

What Clients Should Know

Dr. Cooney wants pet parents to know one thing: veterinarians care. Deeply. Every single doctor she’s worked with wants what is best for the pet. And that love shows up in every appointment.

Whether she’s helping a new puppy parent navigate wellness care or guiding a family through a difficult decision, Dr. Krissy Cooney brings compassion, clinical skill, and an unwavering belief in doing her best for every pet and parent.

“It’s great when people come back because they trust you and your medicine. It's a great feeling when people have faith in you to care for their pet. It really makes it all worth it.”

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