Behzad Farokhzad

Behzad Farokhzad's Bio

Animals have always been a part of my family. Growing up on a farm instilled in me a deep love and respect for both animals and nature. I moved from Tehran-Iran to our family farm in Rasht northern Iran when I was 11, close to the Caspian Sea and its rich diversity of wildlife. I have lots of fond memories nurturing, caring for and playing with many farm animals (sheep, cattle, horses, dogs, cats and birds). In my daily work as a vet, my numerous childhood memories on the farm, some sweet and some unpleasant, often resurface—raising animals, assisting with the delivery of babies and relieving animals from suffering by euthanizing them. It was a natural inclination for me to want to do more to help them.

From the time I was a teenager, it was clear to me that my future profession would involve working with animals. I began to spend lots of time at the local veterinary clinic watching veterinarians doing their jobs. Inspired by their dedication to healing and making the lives of animals more comfortable, I enrolled in veterinary school. After taking competitive admissions exams, I was admitted to Tehran University. Seven years later, I started to work as a vet, a few kilometers from the farm I grew up on.

Today, I am a veterinarian with 20 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of small animals, livestock and birds. The first few years are the most challenging for all new graduates. I was not surprised by how tough it was working with a wide range of animals but my love for the animals and enjoyment being with them made everything easy. For the first 10 years, I ran a mixed animal practice and my family poultry farm.

I thrived in veterinary school and remained connected to my school and the faculty after graduation. Among my rewarding experiences, I participated in research projects with the Tehran Veterinary College and continue to actively follow current research. By far, the most exciting experience was working with Mrs. Louise Firouz who helped save the Caspian ponies from extinction http://www.caspians.com/rediscovery.htm. Although the Caspian ponies were rediscovered in 1965, Mrs. Firouz spent decades looking for new bloodlines in all provinces around the Caspian Sea.

In 2002, I decided to make one of the most important decisions in my life. I immigrated to Canada and after taking my North American licence exam, I started working as a small animal vet in Canada. Since arriving in Canada, I have had the opportunity to work in different clinics. Practicing veterinarian care in Canada was not a big career change but I was far from my country and missed the farm animals. Hope soon to fulfill my dream of having my own farm and mixed animal practice in rural Ontario. In 2009, I opened Donlands Animal Hospital in East York Toronto, where I enjoy a thriving and growing business and really love the community and its friendly people.

Having worked with both farm animals and small animals, I find small animals much easier. It is a less stressful environment and the work is more manageable with these smarter creatures, but small animal practice requires more up-to-date knowledge and skills. In large animal medicine, the cost efficiency of procedures is the main factor whereas in small animal medicine, the best procedures and treatments must be taken regardless of the cost.

Currently I work full time at the clinic and provide house call services for those people who need vet services at home. My main interest is in surgeries that help the animal feel better and improve his or her quality of life, although I do not like to downgrade the importance of routine surgeries, such as spaying and neutering. Certainly, dogs and cats benefit from getting neutered, in terms of experiencing a lower rate of mammary and genital organ cancers and infection. I personally enjoy doing orthopaedic surgeries and dentistry.

It is very rewarding to see how quickly the animal recovers. A week after an abscessed tooth extraction or treatment of gingivitis, your pet returns to a normal life—wagging his tail and showing an appetite that the owner has not seen from the dog for a while. These are symptoms that the poor animal was in severe and chronic pain before surgery. It is easy to imagine how painful a broken bone or an arthritic joint can be. Following treatment, there will be a huge change in your pet’s mood and lifestyle.

To keep current in veterinary medicine and practice, I actively attend conferences and workshops, and work closely with referral clinics. In addition, I proudly help foreign-trained veterinarians in my clinic to prepare for North American licensure examinations.

Truth is, animal medicine is always evolving and changing. Like you, I want the best for your animal. I am dedicated to keeping on top of current veterinary practices.

Doctor at Donlands Animal Hospital

Toronto, Canada

Behzad Farokhzad's Bio

View Behzad Farokhzad's Full Profile

People Search