Dr. Mallory Wong
Co-Founder/Veterinarian
Hi, my name is Dr. Mallory Wong, and I am a Co-Founder and Veterinarian at Solana Vet. I am passionate about helping my patients and their owners feel comfortable and confident in our treatment plan.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
Outside of veterinary medicine, I am a creative person who loves making things. I have a lifelong fascination with miniatures and especially enjoy creating tiny, intricate pieces. I also love home renovation and interior design and seem to have endless ideas for the next project. When I can find the time, and a safe spot away from curious kids and cats, I deeply love working on jigsaw puzzles.
Favorite Part of My Job
Honestly, puppies and kittens! I never get tired of meeting them, and I consider it one of the greatest perks of this job. Beyond that, I appreciate the human-animal bond. I find it especially rewarding when clients feel their concerns have truly been heard, then working with each family on a plan that improves life for everyone. I also feel strongly about caring for pets through their senior years, because getting older should not mean that chronic disease, dental pain, mobility problems, or anxiety are simply accepted as part of aging. When a pet I have cared for over many years reaches the end of life, helping that family keep their pet comfortable and guiding them through that transition is one of the hardest, but most meaningful, parts of my job.
Why I Chose This Profession
Animals have always been a big part of my life, even though I did not originally plan to become a veterinarian. My mom was an animal lover who fostered kittens for a local rescue, and I naturally gravitated toward animals as I got older. For most of my childhood and college years, I assumed I would become a physician like my father, who was an anesthesiologist, and I followed a pre-med path at UCSD. Outside of school, though, the experiences I chose for myself kept involving animals, not because I was building a veterinary school application, but simply because that was where I wanted to spend my time. After graduating, I realized my interests had been pointing toward veterinary medicine all along, and in 2011 I decided to pursue veterinary school instead of medical school. It felt less like changing direction and more like recognizing the path that had been the better fit from the start.
Education
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California, San Diego in 2011. I then moved to Australia to attend the University of Melbourne, Melbourne Veterinary School, where I earned my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2016.
Professional Background
I enjoy the variety of general practice, with particular interests in behavioral medicine, dentistry, and senior pet care. Dentistry has been a favorite throughout my career, and I look forward to performing dental procedures more regularly at Solana Vet and pursuing additional hands-on training to keep developing my skills.
Memberships
I am a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Work History
While at UCSD, I volunteered with the San Diego Humane Society and the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter, and I worked as a Kennel Assistant at Talega Animal Hospital in San Clemente from 2011 to 2012. After veterinary school, I returned to Southern California and joined Banfield Pet Hospital in Laguna Hills as an Associate Veterinarian, where I practiced from 2016 to 2022, first full time and then part time after starting my family. In 2022, I began working as a relief veterinarian, mostly with Banfield as well as independent practices in San Clemente and surrounding communities. Working in so many different hospitals helped me identify what I value most in veterinary medicine and shaped many of the ideas behind Solana Vet. In 2026, I co-founded Solana Vet with Dr. Cedric Koch in San Clemente, the community where I grew up, first became involved in animal care, and where we are now raising our own family.