Turquoise Animal Hospital has 3 veterinarians on staff, including one doctor who is Board Certified in Canine & Feline Practice. Our veterinarians are experienced in all areas of veterinary medicine, ranging from wellness care to surgery to exotic pets. Read below for more information on each of our veterinarians. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at 858-488-0658!

Dr. Al Atkinson, DVM, ABVP

Dr. Atkinson is the head veterinarian and owner of Turquoise Animal Hospital. “Dr. A” graduated Texas A&M Veterinary School in 1982 and practiced mixed animal medicine (dog, cat, cattle and horses) until 1986 when he specialized in companion animal practice. He worked in Oceanside until taking over Turquoise Animal Hospital in 2003. Dr. Atkinson is a Board Certified Practitioner with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners since 1992. He is also a past president of the San Diego Veterinary Medical Association, member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and a member of the American Animal Hospital Association. He is also certified in the PENN HIP procedure for hip dysplasia evaluation. His pet collection includes a Labrador Retriever, two cats, a chinchilla and a tortoise. In his spare time, Dr. Atkinson participates in triathlons, is an active Boy Scout leader and SCUBA dive master, plays guitar and even dabbles in acting (you may see him on local commercials).

Why did you become a veterinarian?

I had a variety of animals growing up and I enjoyed them all; coupled with a keen interest in medicine and science, it just seemed like a natural fit. Thirty years later I know I made the right choice.

What are your special interests in veterinary medicine, and why?

I really love working up difficult cases and I enjoy surgery, especially orthopedic surgery.

What is the best part of your job?

It’s a toss up, but it’s hard to beat playing with someone’s new puppy or kitten!

What is the hardest part of your job?

The hardest part of my job is not being able to cure all of the ill pets that I see.

Dr. Mauricio Guayasamin, DVM

Dr. Guayasamin was born in Brazil, but he has lived in Sunny San Diego for the last 17 years. Dr. Guayasamin speaks both English and Portuguese. He graduated from Western University Veterinary School in Pomona, California in May of 2008. Following graduation, “Dr. G” completed a small animal surgery and medicine internship in San Diego. There he gained valuable experience in emergency medicine, internal medicine, surgery and exotic animal medicine. Dr. Guayasamin has a special interest in internal medicine and exotics. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and San Diego Veterinary Medical Association. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, going to the beach and taking his puppy ‘Glo’ to dog beach. Dr. Guayasamin’s big ambition is to save enough money to attend the World Cup in 2014 in his native Brazil.

Why did you become a veterinarian?

I’ve loved animals since I was a child. At one point, I had turtles, dogs, birds, and fish. When I was 12, I learned that veterinarians treated animals and decided that is the career I was going to pursue.

What are your special interests in veterinary medicine, and why?

I enjoy treating exotic animals because I find them very interesting. I also like internal medicine because those cases are challenging, and dermatology because I spent a lot of time learning about skin disease from a dermatology specialist. She made skin disease fun!

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is making sick pets feel better, while making clients happy that their pet is healthy.

What is the hardest part of your job?

The hardest part of my job is telling clients bad news regarding their pet’s health.

Dr. Melissa Reed, DVM

Melissa Reed, DVM is the newest veterinarian here at Turquoise Animal Hospital. She has four dogs, two cats, and two leopard geckos: Shyla, Carapa, Nacho, Bacchus, Voltaire, Chorizo, Pinky, and Brain. Dr. Reed graduated from the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She completed several exotic animal externships. Dr. Reed enjoys dancing, hiking, music, and travel.

Why did you become a veterinarian?

My mom grew up on a farm so we were allowed to have any non-venomous pet as long as it wasn’t a tarantula. Growing up we had cats, dogs, green iguanas, garter snakes, hermit crabs, mice, rats, hamsters, hedgehogs, ferrets, a guinea pig, a rosy boa, a rabbit, budgies, a cockatiel, an Australian tree frog, an alligator lizard, a crawdad, many fish, axolotls, a bull snake, box turtles, red eared sliders, a soft shell turtle, ducks and chickens. Being a veterinarian was the coolest, most rewarding job I could think of!

What are your special interests in veterinary medicine, and why?

I love exotics! I think this is because I grew up with a wide variety of interesting critters. I also really love geriatric dogs and cats. I’m delighted to work at a hospital that treats ‘small animals’ (dogs and cats) as well as exotics.

What is the best part of your job?

I enjoy taking an animal that is in pretty bad shape and ‘putting them back together again.’ My dogs and cats were all strays I found in Trinidad. I also enjoy teaching people how to take better care of their pets.

What is the hardest part of your job?

It’s tough to tell people their pet is terminally ill.

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