Dr. H

Associate Veterinarian

Hi, I’m Dr. Shanna Hickenbottom, a small animal veterinarian at the Animal Hospital of Roxbury. I’m a proud native of Warren County and earned my Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bethany College in West Virginia in 2007. I went on to earn my DVM from The Ohio State University in 2011. After graduation, I practiced small animal medicine in rural Ohio for four years before becoming the staff veterinarian at the Humane Society of Parkersburg in West Virginia. In 2019, my family and I returned to New Jersey to be closer to our roots, and I joined the team at Animal Hospital of Roxbury.

Why I Chose This Profession

I became a veterinarian because I’ve always wanted to help pets and their people. Supporting the health and well-being of animals while building trusting relationships with their families is so rewarding to me.

My Favorite Part of My Job

I absolutely love working with senior pets; keeping them happy, comfortable, and well-cared for in their golden years brings me so much joy. I also have a special place in my heart for feline medicine. Cats are fascinating creatures, and I really appreciate the honesty in their behaviors – especially when they’re about to bite you! I also enjoy shelter medicine, rabbit care, small animal surgery, and behavior cases, and I’m incredibly passionate about client communication and education.

Outside of the medical aspect of veterinary work, some of the best parts of this job are the laughs, stories, and getting to know each pet’s personality and quirks through their loving (and often hilarious) families.

My Personal Hobbies and Interests

When I’m not in the clinic, I’m usually outdoors riding and clicker training our horses, gardening, or trying out new recipes in the kitchen. I also enjoy spending time caring for our other farm animals.

My family and I are always kept busy by our crew of pets, who have come into our lives through shelter and rescue work. We currently have:

  • Clover & Cutter – Our trail-riding horses who keep us safe on the trail… as long as we bring enough snacks!

  • Maggie & Oliver – Our rescue dogs who split their time between being farm helpers and world-class couch potatoes.

  • Gatsby – The laziest member of our family, and a cat who is always in the mood for a nap.

  • Doc – Our oldest and most loyal cat, who has followed us on many moves since our Ohio days.