Dr Collatos can’t remember a time when she wasn’t passionate about horses. Growing up in New England, she began riding under the instruction of a retired US Cavalry officer when she was 6 years old, and according to her parents and second grade teacher, announced her intention to become an equine veterinarian when she was 7.
Her dedication to everything equine has never wavered. During the 1980's she took a break from college to ride and train show jumpers in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Camden, South Carolina before returning to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine where she received her Veterinary Degree with Honors in 1988. She then went on to complete a large animal internship, residency, and Post Doctoral degree at the University of Georgia.
Chrysann was awarded Diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1993 and her PhD from the University of Georgia in 1994. Her doctoral research involved ground breaking work on the blood clotting system of horses and the role that it plays in colic, specifically the formation of life-threatening abdominal adhesions in horses with severe abdominal disease.
Upon completion of her residency and PhD program, Chrysann earned a position as Assistant Professor of Large Animal Internal Medicine at the Atlantic Veterinary College in eastern Canada. She remained in Canada for 4 years, teaching 4th year veterinary students, conducting research on the high speed treadmill studying the respiratory system of Standardbred racehorses, and serving as senior clinician in the busy hospital clinic as well as out in the field.
While her career as a specialist in a hospital setting was both challenging and rewarding, Chrysann missed the long term, personal relationships with clients and patients that private ambulatory practice offers, as well as the thrill of never knowing what the day might bring, from ultrasounding an acute tendon injury to tubing a horse with sand colic to tapping the chest of a horse with pleuropneumonia! So, after a year and a half of planning, in 1996 Chrysann made a BIG career change, opening her own private ambulatory equine practice here in Reno.
Over the years, in addition to her ongoing interest in internal medicine, Chrysann has dedicated much of her practice to performance horses and the variety of injuries that can threaten their athletic careers. With the help of advanced diagnostic imaging from ultrasound to MRI, treatment modalities such as Stem Cells, PRP, IRAP and Tildren all are offered when appropriate. Dr. Collatos works closely with colleagues specializing in complex lameness challenges and is able to provide seamless referral of cases for further specialized evaluation and treatment when indicated.
Today, August 24, 2011, Dr. Chrysann is proud to offer state of the art technology hand in hand with personalized, compassionate service to all her patients. Portable digital X-rays, digital ultrasound, and endoscopy accompany Dr. C in her truck every day in practice. Her continued avid interest and participation in showjumping and cross-country riding have worked hand in hand with her veterinary skills to deepen her understanding and appreciation for the special needs of the equine athlete, particularly in recognizing the importance of “Whole Horse Health” when working to keep our horses sound and healthy. This means paying attention to hoof care and balance, dental alignment, nutrition, conditioning programs, and parasite control as a means of minimizing the chance of musculoskeletal injury or illness. When injuries or illness do occur, High Desert Equine is prepared to address your horse’s problem quickly and appropriately.
