Roanoke Animal Hospital Veterinarian Mark Finkler, platinum winner for Best Veterinarian in this year’s Best of Roanoke reader’s poll, has seen his share of interesting cases in his nearly 30 years in The Roanoke Valley.
“I’ve seen a little baby quail with a limp, a 10-foot boa constrictor that got run over by a car, and once there was a puppy that swallowed so many coins that it sounded like a piggy bank when you rolled him over on his side,” he recalls. “He did fine in surgery, and we were able to deduct about $1.67 from the owner’s bill.”
A married father of two, Finkler earned his degrees at Ohio State and came to Roanoke after spending his first few years of practice in Southern West Virginia.
His favorite part of the job? Helping pets and their owners, often for the entire lives of the animals.
“I get a double reward whenever I can do that. I like to help keep pets healthy and live as long as possible, and when the time comes, if necessary, it’s rewarding to be able to provide them a peaceful and humane exit.”
What advice does he have for valley pet owners? For starters, don’t let your pets run loose.
“We see a lot of trauma cases, so a leash can be a very good friend and money saver,” he says. “I would also suggest you treat your pet just like you’d want to be treated, lots of common sense things, such as ‘everything in moderation.’ Don’t overfeed your pet. Exercise your pet. Get preventative vaccines. And an annual checkup will help your pet live longer.”
