Meet the Veterinarians

Prior to attending veterinary school, Dr. Cecil worked as a zookeeper at the San Francisco Zoological Society where he developed a keen interest in exotic species. He received his veterinary degree from U.C. Davis and a postdoctoral fellowship at Mississippi State. Todd has been with the PESC since 2006. He received his Aquatic Veterinarian Certification in 2014. Dr. Cecil is very active in local organizations that support the care, ownership, and rescue of exotic pets and wildlife.

In 2008, Dr. Harrison earned his Certification in Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (VOM) and has found that working and serving animals with this technique has been fulfilling and inspiring.

Offering services in Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (VOM), under the supervision of Dr. Bausone, to patients at the Companion Animal Wellness Center of Carlsbad, Dr. Harrison continues to care for his human patients, offering chiropractic care and exercise therapy at his office in Encinitas.

Dr. Aleks Canseco is an exotic and small animal relief veterinarian in San Diego County, servicing numerous Veterinary hospitals, including but not limited to; Palomar Animal Hospital (Vista), Feathers and Fur Animal Hospital (La Mesa), La Jolla veterinary Hospital and Towne Centre Animal Hospital (La Jolla). She has over 10 years of experience treating exotic animals, including rabbits.

Dr. Canseco has been involved with the Bunnyfest event and the San Diego House Rabbit Society for almost 10 years. She is extremely passionate about educating pet owners as well as veterinarians on various exotic animal topics, and teaches Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care to veterinary interns.

Dr. Isabelle Tancioni grew up in São Paulo, Brazil, and moved to the U.S. in 2007. She is a licensed veterinarian in California and São Paulo with a Master’s and Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of São Paulo. Before entering clinical practice, she spent two decades in research—first at Brazil’s Butantan Institute studying snake venom effects on blood vessels and cancer cells, then at UC San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center developing treatments for breast and ovarian cancers.

Today, Dr. Tancioni focuses on small mammal medicine and rabbit welfare. She is pursuing a GPCert in Exotic Animal Practice and is a member of RWAF, AEMV, AVMA, and HSVMA. Certified in Fear Free Pets, Fear Free Shelters, and Human-Animal Bond practices, she has volunteered with San Diego House Rabbit Society, SNAP, and San Diego Humane Society, and provided veterinary aid through RAVS and World Vets.

Dr. Tancioni also writes and lectures on rabbit-friendly medicine for Portuguese-speaking veterinarians and uses social media to promote small mammal welfare worldwide.

Dr. Kristina Vuong was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She always had a love for bunnies and all things exotic animal. She went to veterinary school at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada where she got extensive experience with rabbit anesthesia and wildlife medicine. Dr. Vuong completed a year-long small animal rotating internship at the Pet Emergency and Specialty Center in La Mesa, California to further develop her skills. She then moved to Knoxville, Tennessee and completed a residency focused on avian and exotic animal medicine and surgery.

Dr. Linda Knox has 30 years of experience in avian and exotics medicine.  She received both a master’s degree in epidemiology and veterinary degree from UC Davis.  In 1992, she began her practice in the San Fernando Valley where she grew up.  Although initially interested in becoming a zoo vet, she changed course early on and shifted to a companion animal specialty with a special focus on exotic pets.  After moving to San Diego in 2006, Dr. Knox quickly became affiliated with the San Diego House Rabbit Society and rabbits became the center of her practice.  Of the avian and exotic pets that she now treats, 90% are rabbits.

Dr. Wilson grew up in Michigan with a deep passion for marine biology and everything ocean-related. She majored in marine biology, worked as a research scientist, and pursued a master’s in aquatic animal health, where her love for medicine flourished. After completing veterinary school at the Western University of Health Sciences, Dr. Wilson's biggest passion became her exotic furry, feathered, finned, and scaled patients.

 She completed a specialty internship in exotic animal and emergency medicine and is actively pursuing a specialty in exotics and a certificate in acupuncture. In her free time, Dr. Wilson enjoys diving, surfing, paddle boarding in San Diego, or relaxing with a Star Wars book and her beloved coffee. She never says no to a snack, learning something new, or a PokémonGo raid.

 Dr. Wilson's background in marine biology and passion for exotic animal medicine make her a fantastic addition to our team. She looks forward to helping you ensure your pets—whether furry, scaled, feathered, or finned—live their best lives.

Dr Dillon is originally from Canada and began her veterinary career in an avian specialty practice in Vancouver, BC. She completed a veterinary technician program in Canada and then followed her family when they relocated to New Zealand in 2009. Dr Dillon eventually decided to further her studies to become a veterinarian and graduated from Massey University in 2015.

During her time in New Zealand, Dr Dillon worked in general practice veterinary clinics, an emergency/specialty hospital, the Auckland Zoo, and the Massey University wildlife hospital. She also completed several zoo training programs at a variety of zoos around the world including the San Diego Zoo.

Dr Dillon fell in love with San Diego and moved to the area in 2016. She completed both a 1-year rotating internship and a 3-year avian and exotic animal specialty residency at the Pet Emergency & Specialty Center (PESC). She completed her residency training in July 2021. Dr Dillon is now the medical director of a mobile wellness clinic based in San Diego which provides preventative health services for birds and rabbits. She enjoys hiking, travel and dance.

Dr. Bausone is the owner of Companion Animal Wellness Center.  He is passionate about combining the best of Western and Eastern medicine to treat and keep your dog, cat and exotic companions healthy and thriving.  

A native of Los Angeles, Dr. Bausone graduated from the University of California at Davis, with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1996.  He has a special interest in working with birds, rabbits, reptiles and other exotic animals and in addition, he has a passion for providing holistic medical therapies to all species.  Dr. Bausone has had extensive training in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), and received his Certificate in Veterinary Acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 2008.  He is also trained in Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation, which is similar to chiropractic medicine in humans.  Dr. Bausone is skilled in the use of both Chinese and Western herbs, and he uses laser therapy and prolotherapy to help achieve healing for his patients.  With the mantra of “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food”, Dr. Bausone is keenly interested in dietary therapy and how food is the cornerstone of health and well being.  

Dr. Bausone has lived in San Diego County for over 20 years, and shares his home with his wife, 2 sons and a variety of animal companions.