About

Dr. Heidi Shafford entered vet school at Colorado State University intent on becoming a dairy veterinarian. Instead, she discovered her passion for alleviating pain in animals and went on to complete residency and graduate training in veterinary anesthesiology and pain management at the University of Missouri. Dr. Shafford attained board certification by the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists in 2005. Inspired to share her anesthesia and pain management knowledge and skills with colleagues in private practice, she started an anesthesia consulting practice.

When people ask whether Dr. Shafford is a large or small animal veterinarian, she smiles and responds “both!” One of the things that attracted her to the field of veterinary anesthesia was the opportunity to work with all creatures. Over the years, she has anesthetized a wide range of animals, from mice to elephants, birds to snakes. Chances are, if it swims, slithers, crawls, hops, jumps, walks, runs or flies, Dr. Shafford can assist with anesthesia and pain management. Always one to take on a challenge, Dr. Shafford particularly enjoys anesthetizing what she refers to as “crazy critters” – uncommon and unusual pets and zoo animals.

Though busy building her business, Dr. Shafford takes time for activities that sustain her, like backpacking, gardening, fishing and knitting.