Growing up in Glasgow, Fiona graduated from the city's veterinary school in 2005 before relocating to Scotland's north-east where she worked as a companion animal and exotic animal vet for several years. A desire to volunteer at a charity vet clinic in a Pacific Island nation brought her to the Southern Hemisphere where she has since settled in New Zealand. Although private practice has been the mainstay of her work, Fiona has continued to support not-for-profits through additional volunteering in a South American vet clinic, and regular voluntary support of a local wildlife hospital alongside becoming a conservation researcher. Through these roles she has developed particular interests in feline behaviour, husbandry and symptom recognition in exotic species, and wildlife rehabilitation and research.
Her clinical articles are edited by David Harris BVSc MRCVS for the UK readership.
Latest articles by Fiona Gilston
Where's the best place to put a cat's bed?
Our pet cats sleep a lot. In fact, most adult cats sleep on average 15 hours a day. Senior cats and kittens may even sleep more than that. As devoted owners, we want to provide a safe and cosy spot for our feline compani…
May 1, 2024
• 135 shares
All about Acromegaly in cats
You’re probably familiar with the concept that hormones are the body’s messengers. Released in one part of the body, they travel to another prompting some kind of response in a target organ. Hormones have many functions,…
April 26, 2024
• 21 shares
What is a sebaceous gland adenoma in dogs?
As our domesticated pets live longer lives, the potential for diseases to occur in their lifetime also increases. Of the common conditions afflicting our canine companions, lumps and bumps often result in a trip to the v…
April 24, 2024
• 19 shares
"Weak" Immune systems: Immunocompromising disorders of dogs
As you and your dog go about your daily chores and routines, the immune system is constantly on patrol, scouring the body for signs of impending invasion and weeding out abnormal or cancerous cells. Just like a healthy h…
Why does my dog only eat from my hand?
It is often said that the way to a dog’s heart is through its stomach. We often see dogs as lovers of food, eager to get into everything and anything. But for some dogs, getting them to eat food can be a challenge. And t…
February 1, 2024
• 99 shares
Is sedation before euthanasia right for dogs?
Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the hardest parts of sharing our lives with an animal companion. The word euthanasia comes from the Greek language and means ‘good death’. It is used to describe a stress-free en…
January 30, 2024
• 318 shares