Dr. Edie DeMaria
My career as a veterinarian began in 1998 when I graduated with my doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. I then completed a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Oradell Animal Hospital. I continued on at Oradell as a staff doctor for ten years. This privilege enabled me to expand and hone my medical and surgical skills working alongside some of the finest veterinary specialists in the field.
My commitment to Low-Stress Handling and the Fear-Free philosophy was inspired, in part, by a handsome, bay Quarter Horse named Freckles. He came into my life in May 2008. As a former professional horse trainer, I have always had a keen interest in animal behavior and training strategies. After the first few months that Freckles was with me, I grew to realize that he suffered from a shattered spirit. I was to learn that his previous owner had trained him in a very forceful way. The harsh methods used left emotional and physical scars. Freckles was extremely fearful, and at times, explosive and angry—towards other horses and humans. I was determined to help this horse and would not give up on him. After researching many different methodologies, I made a commitment to provide Freckles with only a positive-reinforcement approach.
Over time, Freckles rediscovered his curiosity and self-confidence. Now, he is always the first horse to greet visitors. He has even made himself available for wedding photos, Brownie troop tours, and introducing puppies to horses. This experience was personally gratifying and awakened me to the potential of what was possible by being patient, observant and use positive-reinforcement at all times.
Inspired by my increased interest and commitment to behavior science – particularly with its applications to veterinary medicine—I decided to pursue additional education to refine my training.
- Completion of advanced courses in behavioral medicine with Dr. Karen Overall, V.D.M, PhD.
- Completion of the course “Living and Learning with Animals” with Dr. Susan Friedman, PhD.
- Graduation from the Karen Pryor Academy – achieving Dog Trainer Professional status.
I am very proud that Pets Aloud Veterinary, as a practice, has achieved Silver Certification in Low Stress Handling ™ Techniques. My latest personal achievement is being certified as a Fear Free Professional, and my next goal is to pursue Fear Free certification for the hospital as a whole.
Some of my other interests include surgery and pain management, including acupuncture. Outside of the veterinary office, I also enjoy equine activities, skiing, mountain biking, and of course, family time.
My long-term mission is to continue to explore ways to improve the quality of life for patients and their humans…
…with a foundation based in kindness, caring, and high-quality medicine.
Manda Kaplan DVM
Veterinarian
I grew up in Bergen County and first decided to become a veterinarian while studying psychology as an undergraduate at Columbia University. After college, I worked for several years as a veterinary technician in large teaching hospitals, which further fueled my passion for animal care. I went on to earn my DVM at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
I’ve always been deeply interested in pain recognition and management. During my time at Tufts, I was honored to receive the Pain Management Award and was a founding member of the Tufts Low Stress Handling Committee—a multi-specialty group dedicated to minimizing anxiety for our patients during visits and hospital stays.
After veterinary school, I completed an internship in medicine and surgery at the Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center in Westbury, NY, where I honed my clinical skills.
When I saw how much acupuncture helped my own dog with arthritis, I was inspired to study Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) at Chi University in Reddick, Florida. I’m now a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and love integrating both western and Chinese techniques to improve my patients’ quality of life.
In my free time, I enjoy being with family and friends—both human and animal—reading, spending time in nature, and working on fiber arts projects.
Derek Gadino, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
I was born and raised in Bergen County and knew I wanted to pursue a career in veterinary medicine from the age of 5. I spent my high school years working at a local animal hospital and earned an Animal Science degree at Cornell University in 1997. In 2002, I earned my DVM degree from Ross University and have been working to improve the lives of pets and their owners ever since. Outside of veterinary medicine, I play guitar. In fact, I’ve been playing in bands since I was 14 years old. I also enjoy traveling and hiking.
