Dr. Courtney Zwahlen comes to us from Southern California, where she established the oncology service at a large specialty hospital and practiced there for twenty years. She is no stranger to Peak and our referring veterinary community, as she served as a locum for us during each of Dr. Knapik’s maternity leaves. She grew up in the Albany, NY, region and is excited to be moving permanently to Vermont.

Dr. Zwahlen graduated from Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, earning her DVM degree in 1994. She completed her internship at the All Care Animal Referral Center in 1996 and residency at UC Davis in 1998, becoming board certified in medical oncology in 1999. She is an active member of the Veterinary Cancer Society as well as the Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology.

Dr. Zwahlen’s goal as an oncologist is to improve and maintain an excellent quality of life and her approach is to incorporate herself, her staff, and the pet owner as a team to ensure that each unique patient receives the ideal therapy for its particular situation and tumor type. Helping patients and their human companions through cancer treatment is a great challenge that continues to bring her much satisfaction.

Published Articles

• Primary nodal hemangiosarcoma in four dogs, Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association, 2016.
• Evaluation of carboplatin sustained-release delivery system in dogs with cancer, Veterinary Medicine and Science, 2016.
• Lomustine for treatment of mast cell tumors in cats: 38 cases (1999–2005), Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2008.
• Adjuvant Therapy for Melanoma in Dogs: Results of Randomized Clinical Trials Using Surgery, Liposome-encapsulated Muramyl Tripeptide, and Granulocyte Macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor, Clinical Cancer Research, 1999.
• Results of chemotherapy for cats with alimentary malignant  lymphoma: 21 cases (1993-1997), Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Associaton, 1998.