DVM, Diplomate American College Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care | Medical Director

Dr. Alisa Reniker graduated Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree. She has been practicing emergency and critical care medicine exclusively since graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1998. Since then, she has been fortunate to have a diversity of experiences in both university and private practice settings, providing a unique perspective into the challenges each type of practice faces on a daily basis.

After several years of practice in a large, multihospital emergency facility in Phoenix, she began residency training in January 2001 through the University of Missouri. Upon completing residency training and board certification, she was promoted to Clinical Assistant Professor, teaching interns, students, and mentoring residents in the Emergency and Critical Care department.

In September 2006, she returned to Arizona to develop the Critical Care department, and was later promoted to Medical Director of 1st Pet Veterinary Centers’ three hospitals.
Dr. Reniker has been involved in the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Medicine since 2004, first serving as the chair of the Residency Training Committee, and has finished her second term on the Board of Regents for ACVECC. Other professional affiliations include the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association, the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, and the American Animal Hospital Association. She enjoys teaching both locally and at national and international educational meetings. She is an invited reviewer for several scientific journals, and has published articles about critical care topics such as heatstroke, parenteral nutrition, lactate, and rattlesnake envenomation.

Areas of clinical interest include renal pathophysiology, rattlesnake envenomation, sepsis and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome. She is a pug-fanatic and enjoys riding her horses (Hunter and Jumper) and competitive trail riding.

“Critical illness of a pet can be overwhelming. I will do everything I can to explain the problem, clarify your options, and offer you the best treatment possible by networking with your veterinarian, the emergency doctors, and other veterinary specialists.”