meet dr. julie Blossom

Dr. Julie grew up in Los Alamos, New Mexico.  Her career interest in veterinary medicine was sparked at an early age by observing nature and our inextricable link with the animal world.  

Dr. Julie approaches all of her patients and clients with a positive attitude, a warm heart, and flexibility.  She enjoys partnering with pet parents and using thoughtful communication to help achieve great care.  It is a constant honor and privilege to be allowed to share in the relationship between animals and their humans and to help provide what every animal needs and deserves: a peaceful and comfortable existence.

Education and Training 

Dr. Julie is a 1999 graduate of Los Alamos High School.  She attended Colby College in Maine for a BA in Biology (2003), worked as an assistant in a vet clinic for 2 years while fulfilling additional vet school pre-requisites, and then went to Colorado State University for her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2009.  She completed a surgical and medical internship at Atlantic Veterinary College on Prince Edward Island, Canada before returning to New Mexico to practice in 2010.  Her veterinary medical practice has ranged from private small animal practice to exotic, zoo and wildlife. 

Dr. Julie has a special interest in understanding the neuroanatomic and molecular bases for how animals experience pain and discomfort, as well as how a painful state influences animal behavior. Dr. Julie is an empathetic and compassionate individual, and she extends this to her animal patients as well as their humans.

 In veterinary school, Dr. Julie worked alongside several other pioneers in the field of veterinary pain management to create Colorado State University’s Equine Pain Scoring System, a behavioral ethogram for measuring pain in horses.  She also served as president of the Student Chapter of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.  She took an elective, two semester course in Comparative Vertebrate Pain Medicine during her final year at CSU, learning about the physiologic mechanisms of pain in all species and furthering her understanding of how pain affects behavior.  In 2023, she completed over 120 hours of training in scientific veterinary medical acupuncture and related techniques with Dr. Narda Robinson (of CuraCore Vet), and is now a Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist (CVMA).

After spending more than 10 years in general practice, Dr. Julie was honored to spend two and a half years as part of the veterinary team at the ABQ BioPark Zoo and Aquarium.  It was here that she encountered several very special patients who taught her more about the power of using integrative medicine for managing pain and achieving optimal comfort and mobility. 

Dr. Julie made the decision to start practicing integrative medicine in 2023.   By specializing, this allows her to spend more time listening to what her non-verbal patients are telling her.  She is an expert observer of animal movement and behavior.  She also examines gently for the specific locations of an animal’s discomfort, including any and all affected bones, muscles, organs, nerves and connective tissue. This is generally the most in-depth evaluation of behavior, mobility and comfort that an animal ever receives.  The more accurately the areas of pain and dysfunction can be identified, the more effective a treatment plan Dr. Julie can help design for your animal.

When she is not engaged with private clients and animals, Dr. Julie loves skiing, hiking, yoga, climbing and adventuring in the high desert with her human family and sweetest dog, Sky.

Degrees and Certifications 

• BA Biology - Colby College, Waterville ME, 2003
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, 2009
• Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist - CuraCore, 2023
• Safe Capture Certification, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, 2022
• FearFree Vet Practitioner Certification, 2019
• Advanced Veterinary Dental Academy Graduate Level 2, 2018
• New Mexico House Rabbit Society - Exceptional Rabbit Practitioner Award, 2014
• New Mexico Veterinary Medical Association -  Emerging Leader Award,  2013

Publications

• Bradford et al, Multispecies outbreak of Shigella flexneri in a zoological collection, coinciding with cluster in the local human population.  Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 2023.
• Blossom et al, Transvenous Occlusion of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in 56 dogs. Journal of Veterinary Cardiology, 2010.
• Chief Developer - Equine Pain Scoring System for the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University, 2007.

Community Outreach

• Podcast Guest - The REhab Lab
• Northeast Director for the New Mexico Veterinary Medical Association, 2015 to 2018
• Director for NMVMA Peer Assistance & Wellness Support (PAWS), 2012 to date
• Committee Member - NMVMA “Power of 10” Leadership Development Program, 2013 to date
• Volunteer Spay/Neuter Surgeon - City of ABQ Animal Welfare,  2018