Matthew Wheelock, DVM
Dr. Wheelock is a 2002 graduate of Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. While in school he was keeper for LSU’s live tiger mascot and a co-chair for the LSU Wildlife and Raptor Rehabilitation Unit. He did a preceptorship with the Baton Rouge Zoo before graduation.
After graduation, Dr. Wheelock spent a year practicing small animal medicine and emergency care at Roanoke Animal Hospital in Roanoke Rapids, NC. He spent two years practicing at the Animal Medical Hospital in Charlotte, NC, and then acted as Chief of Staff at Harris Blvd Veterinary Clinic in north Charlotte for almost 3 years. He has a special interest in surgery, dentistry and exotics.
Dr. Wheelock published (Feb 2007) an online article about one of his pet interests: Chameleons! The article is about Calcium Supplementation in Chameleons and gives an overview of the supplementation and care needs of these special little guys. To read the article, please go to http://www.chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=102
Dr. Wheelock is married to Dr. Jill Smith-Wheelock. They have two sons, 2 pomeranians, 1 quaker parrot, and 1 leachianus gecko.
Jill Smith-Wheelock, DVM
Dr. Smith is a 2000 graduate of Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. While in school, Dr. Smith pursued her special interest in dermatology and feline medicine. Dr. Smith was awarded “Outstanding Feline Practitioner” for her veterinary class.
Currently, Dr. Smith is overseeing the design and construction plans for our hospital facilities at 814 East Blvd.
Dr. Smith is married to Dr. Matthew Wheelock. She has two sons, 2 Pomeranians, 1 blue quaker parrot, and 1 leachianus gecko.
Michelle Cameron, DVM
Dr. Cameron received her BS in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M in 2004. She then graduated with a DVM from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. During veterinary school, she was awarded the American Association of Feline Practitioners Senior Student Award.
After graduation, she completed a 1 year internship in small animal medicine and surgery here in Charlotte at Carolina Veterinary Specialists. Now done with her internship, she has been drawn to Dilworth’s close knit community and the continuity of a neighborhood family practice. Her interests include feline medicine, dentistry, and emergency medicine. Outside of the clinic, Dr. Cameron enjoys traveling and reading.
The Cameron household is ruled by a Persian cat named Peggy. The Camerons also have two sweet and energetic Labradoodles named Ellie & Kevin.
Carolyn Collier, DVM
Dr. Collier graduated with a DVM from the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. During veterinary school, she was the rehabilitation coordinator for the Turtle Rescue Team and an aquarist for the school's saltwater aquarium and poison dart-frog vivarium. Prior to graduation, she completed clinical rotations at the Carolina Raptor Center; North Carolina Zoo; and South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston.
After graduation, Dr. Collier completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Coral Springs Animal Hospital in Coral Springs, FL. Having completed her internship, Dr. Collier was happy to return to the Mid-Atlantic and join the Dilworth Animal Hospital team. Her interests include internal medicine, soft-tissue surgery, and exotic-animal medicine.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Collier enjoys Zumba dancing, playing handbells, swimming, and reading. Dr. Collier has one cat named Jenny.
Laura Theobald, DVM
Dr. Theobald graduated with her B.S. in biology from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fl. in 2006. She then attended the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2010. During veterinary school, she took elective courses in internal medicine, preventative medicine and dentistry.
Dr. Theobald practiced for two years in Florida before relocating to Charlotte, NC to be closer to family. The following five years were spent in general practice, where three of those years included consulting in hospice and geriatric care in the Greater Charlotte area. She has a special interest in dentistry, preventative care and end of life care.
Dr. Theobald met her husband, Joseph, at Eckerd College. They have a son, Christopher, and two dogs, a corgi mix named Cassiopeia and a labrador mix name Timber. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, knitting, running and hiking.
McKenzie Toth, DVM
Dr. Toth received her BS in Biology from the University of Florida in 2016, followed by a DVM from the University of Georgia in 2020. During veterinary school, she pursued leadership and involvement opportunities in exotic animal medicine and wildlife/conservation medicine.
After graduating, Dr. Toth and her husband moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where she joined the Dilworth Animal Hospital team. Her professional interests include dermatology, behavior, and exotic animal medicine.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Toth enjoys gardening, drawing, spending time outdoors, and working alongside the conservation nonprofit organization Wild Green Future, of which she is a board member with other UF graduates. She and her husband have a Boston Terrier named Pua and a Ball Python named Darwin (pictured).
Melanie Ruch, DVM
Dr. Ruch is a double dawg of the University of Georgia. She earned her B.S. in Genetics and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine with a focus on small animal medicine. She is passionate about feline medicine, dermatology, neurology, pain management, and general surgery.
Dr. Ruch enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, gardening, and visiting local breweries and restaurants in the Charlotte area. She and her husband Chris’ menagerie include two dogs: Petey, a boxer mix, and Debra, a German shepherd; three cats: Biscuit, Pepper, and Erin; and one leopard gecko named Toby.
