Dr. Michael Dix, Clinic Medical Director
Michael Dix, DVM, is the medical director for the Best Friends Clinic. He works closely with the other veterinarians and the rest of the medical team to provide care to the sanctuary's animal residents - which is no small task. On any given day, more than 1,500 cats, dogs, rabbits, horses and other companion animals call Best Friends home. The clinic is fully outfitted to provide comprehensive medical care, including x-rays, blood work, state-of-the-art dental care and ultrasound. In addition, the clinic provides spay/neuter for the local community and runs a trap/neuter/return (TNR) program for area feral cats. A day at the clinic includes treating emergencies, providing preventive care and performing surgical procedures.
Dr. Mike graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine in 1998, completed a small-animal medicine and surgery internship at the University of Illinois in 1999, and completed the Colorado State University Veterinary Medical Acupuncture course in 2001.
Dr. Mike became a veterinarian so that he could help animals. Though he enjoyed private practice, he was ready for a new challenge. At Best Friends, he is able to make decisions based on which medical treatment is best for each animal. He feels that this environment allows him to improve his veterinary skills, as well as satisfy his desire to put the animal's welfare first in medical decision-making.
Dr. Mike and the other veterinarians on staff can treat lifetime illnesses like feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and diabetes, which means that Best Friends can care for many special-needs animals. Because the sanctuary has a large population of aging dogs and cats and animals recovering from surgery or injuries, his acupuncture skills are a valuable addition to traditional pain management.
At Best Friends Dr. Mike enjoys the strong sense of community that comes from working with a group of people who want to make the world better for animals - and people. He feels that he is doing something to decrease animal suffering.
In his time away from work, Dr. Mike enjoys hiking, backpacking, going to the movies, and spending time with his family, which includes a wife (who also works at Best Friends) and their cats and dogs. He did most of his growing up in Michigan and moved to Kanab after practicing veterinary medicine in Portland, Oregon, for five years.
