Veterinarians
Martha M. Davis, DVM
Dr. Martha M. Davis is a General Practitioner and the owner of Terra Linda Veterinary Hospital. She has been a practicing veterinarian since graduating from veterinary school in 1984 and owner of the Terra Linda Veterinary Hospital since 1998.
Though she was born in Fort Worth, Texas, Dr. Davis spent her early childhood in Maryland where she was surrounded by animals of all kinds. "We spent a lot of time at our neighbor's farm and to this day I still love the smell of a barn," she says. "There was a horse that I loved who lived across the street and some of my mom's students would bring their pony over for us to ride. We also had chickens, goats, cats, dogs, and even kept a Racer snake in the basement to control the rodents."
"One time, my dad had to go remove the snake from an area of the basement because the meter man refused to go in with the snake. That snake also made its way into our house and wrapped itself around the base of the toilet, frightening my younger sister when she went to use the bathroom."
Perhaps more than any other experience, she says, it was her time in Maryland that compelled her to become a veterinarian. "I was the kid who was always bringing home the injured animal," she says, "and I have always felt connected with animals and the natural world. I feel a spiritual connection with nature and animals and I feel very blessed to be able to care for animals as my career."
After Dr. Davis turned seven years old the family moved from Maryland to Southern California where her love of animals continued unabated. The sciences called to her and in 1974 she entered the University of California at Irvine where she double-majored in Biology and Chemistry. After graduating with a BS in Biology in 1978, she spent the next couple of years testing the veterinary waters by spending a year as a Veterinary Technician at a specialty practice in Orange County, California. This was followed by a year working in the Radiology Department at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California at Davis.
Then in 1980, Dr. Davis entered the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. In 1984, she graduated with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and spent the next 12 years as an emergency veterinarian.
Throughout her career there have been many reminders of the importance of good veterinary care and how strong the human-animal bond can be. For example, while working in an emergency clinic in Berkeley, a dog came in that had been shot by a burglar in the face with a spear after the dog had charged the intruder. The dog's owner, a former Army medic who had served in Vietnam, was nearly overcome with grief as the spear was being removed from his dog. The dog survived the incident, but for Dr. Davis it was a very important reminder that no matter how tough we are, our pets can melt our hearts.
She also has seen firsthand how important state-of-the-art and compassionate care is to the clients she serves after her own dog, a Border Collie named Tora, required spinal surgery. The delicate nature of the surgery required that the dog remain calm and still for a couple of days, which meant Dr. Davis could not visit her beloved pet. Though Tora has completely recovered and is now in her senior years, Dr. Davis says, "This episode helped me to know how surgery and separation can deeply affect a pet owner and how strong the bond with a pet can be."
As the owner of Terra Linda Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Davis is free to fully explore her areas of particular veterinary interest, which include dentistry, dermatology (especially complicated ear issues), acupuncture, geriatric medicine, internal medicine, orthopedic and arthritic care. She is also a member of the American Animal Hospital Association, California Veterinary Medical Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, Marin County Veterinary Medical Association, American Veterinary Dental Society, and the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association. Dr. Davis has also completed continuing education certification in dentistry, a year of acupuncture coursework at the Chi Institute in Florida, and the American Animal Hospital Association's Veterinary Management Institute and Leadership Academy.
Her love of animals does not end at the Hospital's doors. Dr. Davis has two Border Collie sisters named Tora and Zero, two cats named Tiger and Maggie, and a pond filled with Koi and Goldfish. When not spending time at work or caring for her pets, she also enjoys swimming, hiking, yoga, gardening, cooking, bicycling, skiing, botanical drawing and watercolor painting, and remodeling.
Chiropractic Care
As with humans, the health of your pet’s spine is important to maintaining a pain-free and active life. However, the spine is a complicated piece of natural machinery with more than 100 joints and numerous interconnected muscles, all of which must be in alignment in order to perform effectively. Misalignment of even a single joint can cause pain and immobility in your pet and in some cases lead to a range of illnesses. For this reason, chiropractic care is an important resource for treating a range of musculoskeletal pain and mobility issues.
To provide this important therapy Terra Linda Veterinary Hospital created a partnership with Dr. Gina Keelin, a chiropractor in Marin County who has undergone training in Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation. She is an animal lover and brings a gentle touch with her expertise in providing healing spinal adjustments to our clients’ pets.
Gina R. Keelin, DC, CVCP
Dr. Keelin is a Veterinary Chiropractor and a practitioner who has been working with Terra
Linda Veterinary Hospital since early 2009. As the Hospital's animal Chiropractor, she is
responsible for treating pets—primarily canines and felines—suffering from a variety of
musculoskeletal ailments such as arthritis, muscle strain, injuries, gait issues, and
spinal conditions.
Asked what she finds most rewarding about her work, Dr. Keelin says, "Working with animals in any capacity is very nurturing for me, but seeing animals I have worked with feel better, move better or with less pain, is very gratifying."
She goes on to add, "Pets can’t tell us what is wrong as humans can, so they need a little extra time and attention to determine what is bothering them. I enjoy spending extra time working with our patients and seeing their behaviors change and personality become more lively as they start to heal. That healing process is very heartwarming to observe."
Dr. Keelin earned a Bachelor’s degree from the California State University at Chico and a Doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic and certification from the Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation Association.
She is also a volunteer with Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California, and a member of the Best Friends Animal Society. Dr. Keelin has pets of her own, which includes an 11-year-old Labrador Retriever and two rescued cats. Beyond caring for her own pets and providing chiropractic care for our clients’ pets, Dr. Keelin enjoys hiking, traveling, waterskiing, boating, and spending time with her family and friends.