10 Questions with Dr. Dawn Brooks, veterinarian

CHELMSFORD - Dr. Dawn Brooks is a veterinarian at Countryside Veterinary Hospital. She has been treating animals for the past nine years and has a special interest in extoic animals and birds. A fourth-generation Westford resident, Brooks lives with her golden retriever, K.C. and her cat, Arlene.

Q: What's your favorite animal?

A: Birds. They're facinating. Birds are very intuitive when they interact with people. You can train a bird to talk. They look at you and tilt their head, almost like a 2-year-old. Dogs and cats are pretty finite, but with birds, we don't know a lot about their diseases and ways to treate them. It's a constanly evolving area of veterinary medicine. It's exciting in that way.

Q: What should people know about birds?

A: Birds shouldn't just eat seeds. They need a formulated diet similar to dog food. The owner should also be feeding them fresh foods like fruits, vegetables and grains. Birds also need social interaction. Most people put them in the cage and don't interact with them. Birds live in a flock and aren't solitary animals. A bird that's ignored is an unhealthy bird.

Q: What's the most difficult thing about handling an unusual animal, like an iguana?

A: Knowing how to handle them safely. You can easily get hurt or injure the animal if you don't know what you're doing. Iguanas are strong and thrash their bodies around. They whip their tail and can claw you if you're not prepared for it. They can also injure themselves and fall off the table or break their tail.

Q: If you could be any animal, what whould it be?

A: A cat. They can be independent but dependent at the same time. They're graceful and athletic.

Q: Jack Hanna or Steve Irwin?

A: Probably Jack Hanna. I think his personality is more me.

Q: How do you communicate with animals?

A: You have to pay attention to them and read their body language. You have to get on their level to some degree to find what makes them comfortable.

Q: What's the funniest thing that has happened with an animal?

A: There was a dog that had to have something removed from its belly and it turned out to be a pair of ladies underwear. But it didn't belong to the dog's female owner. She looked at her husband. It was embarrassing to be there.

Q: What's the most dangerous animal you had to deal with?

A: I had a monitor lizard that was not well-trained when I first started practicing medicine and didn't have a lot of experience with lizards. Certain species of lizards can be aggressive when they're not socialized, and have a nasty bite. I remember having gloves on and sweating, thinking, how can I get a hold of this guy without getting bit?

Q: Have you ever had to deal with an illegal animal?

A: Yes, a prairie dog, which is similar to a squirrel. Prairie dogs are illegal because they can pass viruses to people. Under the law, we're obligated to treat any sick animal.

Q: What should people know about veterinarians that they don't know?

A: I think people know we're compassionate and truly care about the animals we take care of. People probably don't realize how hard we work beyond office hours. We don't have 9-to-5 jobs. If we're closed and a sick animal comes in, we stay and take care of it.