About Us

Meet Our Doctors

Ashley Mott, DVM

Medical Director, Buffalo Veterinary Group

As a Western New York native, Dr. Mott is excited to be a part of the Wheatfield Animal Hospital team. After receiving her B.A. in Biology and A.S. in Veterinary Technology from Medaille College, Dr. Mott attended the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine. During her time spent in the United Kingdom, she traveled to several countries to gain further experience in emergency medicine and critical care. Dr. Mott is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Her clinical interests include emergency care, ultrasonography, and surgery.

Elizabeth Potalivo, DVM

Medical Director, Wheatfield Animal Hospital

Dr. Potalivo graduated from Lincoln Memorial University in 2023. Her professional interests include behavior, shelter medicine, and preventative care. She is a member of the AVMA. Her rescue pup is named Gus, and she is actively involved in fostering animals.

Julia Miska, DVM

Dr. Miska earned her undergraduate degree from Cornell University before receiving her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Florida. She is passionate about building lasting relationships with both her patients and the families who love them. Dr. Miska believes that partnering with pet owners is the foundation of helping animals live long, healthy, and happy lives, and she is dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized care through every stage of a pet’s life. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Miska enjoys spending time with her husband, their two sons, and their lively household of pets. Their furry family includes two small dogs, Peanut and Bunny, a beloved rabbit named Flopper, and a big fluffy cat named Binx. Dr. Miska is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and serves on the Board of Directors for the Buffalo Academy of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Miska is excited to join the Wheatfield Animal Hospital team and looks forward to getting to know you and your pets!

Christohper Christia, DVM

Christopher Christia Jr. grew up in the Town of Tonawanda and is returning to the area after 7 years away. He’s always had a passion for veterinary medicine: he worked as a veterinary assistant before becoming a licensed veterinary technician through Medaille College, and then pursuing his doctorate of veterinary medicine at the Tuskegee College of Veterinary Medicine. His already well-rounded education was complemented by internships at Brighton-Eggert Animal Clinic and Veterinary Dentistry Specialists in Chadds Ford, PA, among others. His areas of clinical interest include Internal Medicine, Clinical Pathology, Surgery, Preventative Medicine, and Anesthesia. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Christia enjoys working out, playing video games, watching the Buffalo Bills and Ohio State Football, and staying in with his wife Lyndsay and their blue pitbull, Luca.

Hospital Tour

Our Policies

Appointments

For your convenience, we offer “drop-off” appointments. A “drop off” means you could bring your pet at the time that works best for you and leave him/her with us for a couple of hours. Once the doctor has examined your pet, she/he will give you a call to go over the exam findings. You will then be instructed as to what time to pick up your pet.

For your protection and the safety of others, we require that pets be placed on a leash and properly controlled or in pet carriers while in the waiting room and exam room.

Payments

For your convenience, we accept a variety of payment options including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Amex, cash payments, and Care Credit pet health insurance.

Accreditation

AAHA Accredited

You’ve chosen a veterinary hospital that is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. Wheatfield Animal Hospital is among only 14% of hospitals in the country who voluntarily go through a comprehensive, stringent evaluation every three years. We are evaluated on over 900 standards established to ensure our patients and clients receive the highest level of care.

Accredited practices must meet specific standards in the following areas:

Anesthesia
Client Service
Contagious Disease
Dentistry
Diagnostic Imaging
Emergency/Urgent Care
Examination Room
Housekeeping
Human Resources
Laboratory
Medical Records
Pain Management
Patient Care
Pharmacy
Practice Leadership
Safety
Surgery

We were awarded this accreditation status because we provide high-quality pet care in a compassionate environment. Our standards are very high, and we are proud to offer this level of excellence to you. You can learn more about what our accreditation means for your pet family member at AAHA’s Healthy Pets website: Why Standards Are Important.

Our veterinarians are members of the Buffalo Academy of Veterinary Medicine and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Buffalo Academy of Veterinary Medicine was organized in 1952 as a continuing education venture. Since then, the academy has been dedicated to educating members beyond the academic environment. Along with monthly meetings to continue education, we give our veterinarians time away from the practice to attend a national meeting to remain updated on the best medical practices for your pets.