The Ankeny Veterinary Clinic is a full service animal healthcare practice specializing in the treatment of mammalian companion animals. Our principal focus is the health and well-being of your pets through reactionary care as well as preventative medicine. It is our mission to create long-lasting relationships with clients and patients by fostering an atmosphere of trust and compassion coupled with the highest quality animal care. At the Ankeny Veterinary Clinic, we treat you and your pets like members of the family because YOU ARE members of the AVC family. If you’re in need of quality animal healthcare, an appointment for one of your pets, or an answer to some animal health related question/concern, contact us today. We can’t wait to meet you and your furry companions!
(New Pictures Coming Soon)
Doctor Bios
Dr. Dennis Riordan
Co-Owner & DVM
Dr. Dennis Riordan received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University in 1981. His interest in animals was inspired by his father, Robert, a Des Moines veterinarian, and his mother, Elizabeth, who tolerated the many critters brought into the house. He wasn’t the only one in the house with an animal aptitude as 2 of his brothers are practicing veterinarians, one of whom he works with at Ankeny Veterinary Clinic (Dr. Terry Riordan). His professional interests include small animal medicine and surgery as well as zoo and wildlife medicine. Dr. Riordan was the consulting veterinarian at Blank Park Zoo for 18 years while he was practicing at Riordan Pet Hospital in Des Moines. He has practiced at Ankeny Veterinary Clinic since 2004.
His interests outside of practicing veterinary medicine include wildlife photography (some of his photos are displayed in the clinic waiting room) and wildlife conservation. He has been active with the reintroduction of osprey and peregrine falcons into the native habitat of Iowa. He enjoys consulting with the DNR regarding wildlife issues. He has lived in Ankeny since 1999 with his wife Carolyn (the practice’s business manager) and their 3 children, Conor, Deaglan, and Fiona, as well as their multiple pets. Along with supporting many Ankeny community activities, family time often involves camping, hiking, and bike riding.
Dr. Terry Riordan
Co-Owner & DVM
Dr. Terry Riordan followed his grandfather, father, and two brothers into the veterinary profession. After graduating from Iowa State in 1990 he practiced in Phoenix, Arizona for 13 years. During that time he served one term on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association (AzVMA). He also served on the Executive Board of the AzVMA as Secretary/Treasurer and Vice President. For 13 consecutive years he was a member of the Arizona Academy of Veterinary Practice which requires a minimum of 50 hours of continuing education per year to be a member. In 2003, he was granted the Veterinary Service Award from the AzVMA for his contributions to the profession. In September 2003, Terry returned to Central Iowa and joined his brother Dennis in managing Ankeny Veterinary Clinic. Since returning to Iowa, he has served as Treasurer and as President of the Greater Des Moines Veterinary Association. Terry and his wife Janean have two children, Maddie and Daniel.
Dr. Katie Lundquist
DVM
Dr. Katie Lundquist’s passion for helping animals began as a young child. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University in 2018. She practiced mixed animal medicine in the Quad City area for 2 years, during which she developed an interest in small animal dermatology and dentistry. Dr. Katie returned to central Iowa and joined the Ankeny Veterinary Clinic in January 2020. She enjoys getting to know clients in the community and working alongside them to help their pet feel their best. Katie, her husband Matt (also a veterinarian), son- Reece, and daughter- Blair enjoy spending time with their many 4-legged family members (dogs Rip, Jasmine, and Kaia, and cats). Her hobbies include gardening, fishing, horseback riding, reading, and crafting.
Dr. Karen Neff
DVM
Dr. Karen Neff graduated from Iowa State University in 1989. Following graduation she practiced small animal medicine for 1 year in Chicago and 2 years in Kewanee, Illinois before returning back to Iowa. She did relief work for over 15 years before joining Ankeny Veterinary Clinic in July 2021.
Dr. Neff’s special interests are in integrative medicine and nutrition. She earned her certifications in Chinese veterinary acupuncture from The Chi Institute in 2008 and in Animal Normalization Therapy © (a form of manual therapy that listens to the body’s rhythms and movements) in 2016. Dr. Neff also earned her Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine in 2019 from the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies.
She enjoys spending her free time with her cat, Renny, her life-partner, Mark, and family and friends.
Dr. Lauren Larsen
DVM
Dr. Dr. Lauren Larsen graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. She joined Ankeny Veterinary Clinic in 2021 after spending 7 years in emergency practice in Des Moines, IA and Madison, WI. Dr. Larsen has special interests in veterinary behavior and internal medicine. She enjoys solving difficult cases, but also enjoys getting to know pets and their owners during routine wellness visits. She stays busy with 4 kids, 2 dogs, 3 cats and several horses on an acreage near Cambridge.
Staff Bios
Leah Vera Ortega
Registered Veterinary Technician
Leah started out at Ankeny Veterinary Clinic as kennel staff in 2014. After a couple months, she started to help part time as a Veterinary Technician. She began to attend the Des Moines Area Community College Veterinary Technician program in 2015 and continued working at the clinic. In 2017, after graduating DMACC veterinary technician program and passing her State and National exams, she started working full time as a veterinary technician. She also fixes any computer issues the clinic has.
Outside of the clinic, Leah enjoys walking multiple dogs together (up to 7 dogs, possibly more), riding horses, camping, and spending time with her- retired pet therapy- dog Frankie, cat Lily, and cat Luka.
Gracie George
Veterinary Technician
Gracie has been with our clinic since 2019. She graduated from San Joaquin Valley college with AA animal science. She has been a veterinary technician since 2010. Gracie is originally from northern California. She loves being there for pets and their owners during difficult times. In her free time, she spends time with her family and three dogs.
Laura Gilbert
Registered Veterinary Technician
Laura has always had a passion for animals and science, her love for dogs stemmed from her father who showed and trained German Shepherds. Originally she started school to be a lab technician but changed her career path to the veterinary field. Laura graduated from DMACC with an AAS specializing in Veterinary Technology, in 2010 she started interning at Anderson Animal Hospital and shortly after became a full time Veterinary Technician, working there 13 years. Laura has most of her experience in small animal and exotics, but also has worked with large animal and wildlife. Laura joined the Ankeny Veterinary Clinic in February, 2023 as a full time Veterinary Technician. Her hobbies include watersports, jogging, reading, traveling, and activities with her animals. She enjoys spending her free time with her fiancé, family, dogs, and cats.
Florrie
Receptionist
Florrie retired from Bank of America after working there for 37 years. In 2010, she started at Ankeny Veterinary Clinic. She was excited to have the opportunity to work at the clinic for Dr Dennis and Dr. Terry. Florrie grew up always having pets – dogs, cats and birds. She and her husband adopted their first dog together several months before they were married 45 years ago. She has 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren. Unfortunately, she lost her dog a couple years ago. She now gets to visit her children’s pets, which include 5 dogs, 6 cats, 4 goats, 5 sheep and 10 chickens.
Amber Claerhout
Receptionist
Amber grew up working at a horse training facility. She graduated from Des Moines Area Community College with a degree in culinary arts. Not using the degree, she moved out of state and worked as a breeding manager on a show horse farm. After 4 years, she returned to Iowa and was hired at Ankeny Veterinary Clinic in 2012 as a veterinary technician. She now answers phones, does the day to day ordering, and helping out where needed. She loves spending time on her farm with her 5 year old daughter, menagerie of animals (mostly rescues), and gardening.
Jean Scigliano
Receptionist
Jean began working at Ankeny Veterinary Clinic in December 2016. From 1990 until 2012, Jean worked as a Resource Case Coordinator at Mercy Medical Center working with uninsured patients and those needing disability or placement. Jean loves the atmosphere of working at Ankeny Veterinary clinic with so many caring doctors and co-workers who take care of the beloved pets in Ankeny and the surrounding community.
Jean has a married daughter, two grandkids and also a step daughter, two step grandchildren and two step great grandchildren and grand-dog named Cooper. Jean’s five siblings and their spouses along with extended family keep her busy as well being an administrator for a Neil Diamond website and her interest in politics.
Stacie Westrope
Receptionist
Stacie began working at Ankeny Veterinary Clinic in March 2022.
From 2002-2022 Stacie and her husband Dave owned and operated Precision Painting. In 2022 they made the difficult decision to close their business and pursue other paths in life.
Stacie has always had a love and passion for animals, so she was extremely thrilled when Ankeny Veterinary Clinic offered her a position in the company. Stacie is ready for her next adventure in life.
The doctor’s, technicians and staff at Ankeny Veterinary Clinic are all so very friendly here. You feel like family, and she’s proud to be a part of this family!
Stacie and Dave live in Ankeny. She has a beautiful stepdaughter named Taylor who lives in Florida. Stacie and Dave have 3 dogs- Dexter, Douglas and Kinnick.
Chelsey Evans
Receptionist
More info coming soon.