BEING A veterinarian is anything but predictable. Most mornings begin with a routine schedule that includes checkups, vaccinations, and possibly a puppy’s first visit. One could say it’s calm, almost peaceful. But a quiet morning can change in a heartbeat. Suddenly, there’s an emergency: a dog may be seizing, a cat that can’t breathe, or an owner brings in a pet that’s just not acting right. A veterinarian must be able to think fast, stay calm, and act with precision.
And while care is at the top of the list, you can’t forget the paperwork that has to be done to document a plan of care for the pet properly. There are also lab results to review, medications to prescribe, and lots of conversations with pet owners. Some of these conversations are easy, while others are tough when a veterinarian explains a diagnosis or discusses end-of-life care. It takes empathy, patience, and a whole lot of heart.
No two days are the same. One minute you can be cuddling a kitten, the next you’re scrubbing in for surgery. While it can be exhausting, it can also be rewarding. Vets get to be healers, educators, and sometimes even emotional support for families going through tough times.
Ultimately, it’s all about making a difference — for the animals and the people who love them. And that’s what keeps vets going, even when the days are long and the challenges are real.
Dr. Amy Nickels knows all too well the ups and downs of the veterinarian profession. For the last 35 years, she has seen it all and helped countless four-legged patients live their best lives.
Since childhood, it has seemed written in the stars that Nickels should spend her life caring for animals. A native of Manchester, Nickels said she has always had a love for animals.
“I grew up around horses and just always had a love for animals,” she said. “And when I went to college, I just decided I wanted to pursue it. I always wanted to be a veterinarian.”
She pursued her undergraduate degree at East Tennessee State University and the University of New Haven and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She then started her veterinary career in North Carolina, her first year out of medical school.
“I then moved to Johnson City, where I worked for 12 years and then moved back to Middle Tennessee,” explained Nickels. “I worked for Town and Country Vet Hospital in McMinnville for three years, and then I came and opened a practice in Tullahoma in 2004.”
She opened Pet Medical Center in 2004. After being located off of Lincoln Street for four years, she moved to her current location off of Mitchel Boulevard in Tullahoma.
Nickels said the clinic sees small animals such as cats, dogs, and even birds and reptiles. They are a range of services that include pet emergency and critical care, dental care, internal medicine, pain management, microchipping, on-site laboratory and diagnostics, hospice care, and much more. She credits her hardworking staff for the continued success of the clinic and notes that local veterinarians are crucial to the community.
“My staff is wonderful, some of them have been with me for 20 years,” she said. “You definitely need a good local vet for regular checkups and everyday care — kind of like having a family doctor. But sometimes, when something more serious comes up, like cancer or orthopedic issues, you’ve got to travel to see a specialist. It’s all about getting the best care possible.”
With almost four decades in the business of caring for animals, Nickels said the profession continues to challenge her and bring her joy.
“I love what I do, because it’s never boring,” she said. “I learn something new almost every day, even though I’ve been doing it as long as I have. Veterinary medicines have changed so much since I started with new technologies and new treatments,” said Nickels. “There seems to be something new every week. And I like keeping up with it all. But I also have some things that I don’t change, because they work and continue to be effective.”
Nickels added that even with all the advances, the heart of the practice stays the same: caring for animals and their owners. That part hasn’t changed, and for Nickels and her staff, it never will. GN
Pet Medical Center is located at 100 Mitchell Blvd. in Tullahoma.
