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A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

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Jennifer Coates, DVM

location-pin Fort Collins, Colorado

School: Virginia Tech

Expertise: Pets

Jennifer Coates, DVM

  • Veterinarian with more than 25 years of experience
  • Produced thousands of veterinary and pet-related articles for different publications, platforms and organizations
  • Author of several books and short stories, including Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-Speak Deciphered for the Non-Veterinarian and “Scouting Out a Home” in Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul
  • Worked for the Animal Welfare Institute and Society for Animal Protective Legislation
  • Media representative and spokesperson for the launch of Hill’s Science Diet Ideal Balance Dog Food
  • Developed and wrote course content for two veterinary technician courses

Experience

Jennifer is a veterinarian and writer with more than 30 years of experience in the fields of veterinary medicine and animal welfare. Since being named valedictorian of her graduating class at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, she has been an associate veterinarian and chief of staff in several veterinary practices in Virginia, Wyoming and Colorado.

She has written numerous articles relating to veterinary medicine, pet care and the human-animal bond, working with a range of publications and companies including Reader's Digest, Colorado State University, PennFoster College, Kroger Pet Insurance, Pet360 Media, PetMD, Chewy, Pet Life Today, Pet News Daily, The Farmer's Dog, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, Many Pets, The Spruce Pets, Petco and many more. Jennifer is also the author of several books and short stories, including the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-Speak Deciphered for the Non-Veterinarian and "Scouting Out a Home" in Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul.

Education

Virginia Tech

DVM, Veterinary Medicine

McGill University

BSc, Biology

Articles

dog with bow tie and dog with pink collar to represent the difference between boy and girl dogs

Male vs. Female Dogs: What Are the Real Differences?

Male and female dogs are not the same, but do those differences really matter? We asked a vet to find out.
A dog smiling and laying with puppies

How Long Are Dogs Pregnant? When to Expect Adorable Puppies

Whether you have a pregnant dog at home or you’re just curious, here’s what you should know about how long it takes for a dog to have puppies … and just how many might be on the way
close up of dog sleeping on the floor with a focus on its snout with whiskers

Why Do Dogs Have Whiskers? 5 Reasons, According to a Vet

Whiskers aren't just adorable—they also play an important role in your pup's life. Here's everything you need to know about dog whiskers.