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About Us

Our Clinic

Dr Tom Dougherty started our practice in 1971 after he had completed an internship in surgery at Auburn University Veterinary School and a residency in surgery at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School. Dougherty Veterinary was, and still is, dedicated to caring, knowledgeable, and open client informed treatment of companion animals. The practice has been blessed by a dedicated cadre of veterinarians and with the extremely valuable support of the paraprofessional staff.

Dougherty Veterinary Clinics has had and is continuing a series of firsts in the Duluth-Superior area. We had the first automatic x-ray film processor, the first digital xray system, the first flexible endoscope, the first ultrasound machine (newly upgraded in 2014), the first arthroscopy equipment, the first clinic to have staff surgeons (Dr. Dougherty and Dr. Jeanetta) perform cranial cruciate ligament repair utilizing Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy, and since 2007 the first clinic outside of the Twin Cities metro area to perform Total Hip Replacement (Dr. Tom Dougherty and Dr. Jeannetta) for diseased hip joints utilizing the Biomedtrix instrumentation and implants for both cemented and press fit replacement.

Dr. Lisa Jeanetta heads our Feline Medicine program and we are proud to be a Certified Feline Friendly practice. We realize that cats are different than dogs and we strive to provide a more calm, safe visit for you and your cat.

Our clinic has a dental program led by Dr. Powell utilizing the most up to date operating as well as digital dental radiography equipment. Cancer care has been aided by our training in cancer reconstruction surgery, our chemotherapy protocols provided in clinic, and consultation with Dr Roger Pitts and cancer centers throughout the United States.

Dr. Kayla Lilyquist heads our ultrasound department and has had extensive & ongoing training at the Academy of Ultrasound Imaging in Arlington, Texas. A new, state-of-the-art ultrasound machine was installed in December 2013.

We have been willing to invest in the training and equipment to provide services in Duluth that are usually available only at referral institutions such as the University of Minnesota in St Paul. When needed- we have the capacity and willingness to invite specialists to our office such as Dr Roger Pitts (internal medicine) and Dr. Ralph Weichselbaum (ultrasound and radiology) or to refer you to other specialists at their practice locations.

At Dougherty Veterinary Clinics we take our own post surgical and on going medical care call. Acute injury or illness at night or on weekends is taken care of at the Emergency Clinic located at 2314 West Michigan St. The phone number for the Emergency Clinic is 218-302-8000.


Dougherty Veterinary Clinic Staff


Dr. Tom Dougherty DVM

Tom Dougherty DVM graduated from the University of Minnesota Veterinary School in 1969, served as an intern in surgery at Auburn University from 1969 to 1970 and a resident in surgery at the University of Pennsylvania from 1970 to 1971. He returned to his hometown of Duluth in 1971 and started the Dougherty Veterinary Clinic. He is a member of American Veterinary Medical Association, Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (where he has served as a board member and president) and the Arrowhead Veterinary Medical Association. Civic involvement includes 8 years on the Duluth city council and service on a number of boards in Duluth. He is married to Mary Moyer Dougherty and has 3 daughters Sara, Mina, and Katherine plus 4 grandchildren and dog Madison-smartest and most beautiful dog in the whole wide world. 

He is also a member of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society, AOVET(an international organization dedicated to excellence in orthopedic care and education), the Veterinary Society for Surgical Oncology(affiliate member) and the Veterinary Cancer Society. His continuing education interests include attending the annual meetings of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Cancer Society, Veterinary Orthopedic Society, as well as state and local association meetings. He continues to be a Hanson Scholar of the Minnesota Academy of Veterinary Practice by maintaining a minimum of 50 continuing education credit hours per year achieved.

He has taken specific courses (lecture and laboratory) in shoulder, elbow, and knee arthroscopy. Because of his interest in oncology he has also attended a course in reconstructive surgery for the canine and feline oncology patient. He also has attended the course given by the Slocum Group to learn an additional technique for repair of a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament known as tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) as well as the course for performing the Tightrope technique for cranial cruciate ligament rupture. In the the fall of 2006 he attended two courses given by Biomedtrix instructing veterinary surgeons on how to perform total hip replacement(both cemented and non cemented techniques) for the dog that suffers from severe hip joint arthritis. He is also a graduate of both the basic and advanced course for fracture repair given by the Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (ASIF/AO). He also has taken an advanced course in TPLO surgery and a masters AOVET course for the correction of angular limb deformities. He has a special interest in canine ear problems and has been trained to perform surgery of the ear canal that has not responded to medical therapy. Surgical correction of laryngeal paralysis in the geriatric dog also is a special interest of his.

In addition to the above interests, he maintains a general practice at the Dougherty Veterinary Clinic. 


Dr. Lisa Jeanetta DVM

Dr. Lisa Jeanetta is a native of Duluth. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and graduated from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine. After practicing companion animal medicine in St. Paul for several years, she returned to Duluth and joined the Dougherty Veterinary Clinics is 1997. Dr. Jeanetta's interests include avian and exotic animal medicine, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. She regularly attends the Association of Avian Veterinarians and the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology annual meetings.


Dr. Kelly (Coughlan) Powell DVM

Dr Kelly Powell is originally from southern Ohio, she graduated with a B.A. in Biology from Cornell University and went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. She is licensed to practice in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Alaska.

Dr Kelly's experiences have been extensive in the years since her graduation. In addition to many years in private practice, she has worked exclusively as a small animal emergency clinician, a job she enjoyed for the fast pace and challenging cases. Dr Kelly's focus at DVC is dental surgery/oral health and general small animal health.

She has also consulted with the area shelters, developing vaccine protocols, advocating spay/neuter programs, and treating the unique diseases associated with animals housed in group situations.

Dr, Powell is a member of the American Veterinary Dental Society, American Veterinary Medical Association, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, and the Arrowhead Veterinary Association. She attends the annual Veterinary Dental Forum, Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association Dental Conference and the North American Veterinary Conference.

Dr Kelly lives in Duluth and is mom, taxi-driver, math tutor, sports fan, and music booster for children Sara, Christian, and Megan. As a direct result of her years in shelter medicine, she has four adopted cats and one very large Golden Retriever. In her limited spare time she enjoys downhill skiing, reading, traveling, and Italian cooking.


Dr Kayla Johnson Lilyquist

Dr Kayla is a Duluth native and received her undergraduate degree from the College of St. Scholastica. She graduated from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2012 with an emphasis is small animal practice. Since joining the Dougherty Veterinary Team, Dr Kayla has done extensive training with our new Ultrasound machine to provide the most up to date imaging in the area.