Call us today. 651.777.1393

Our Veterinarians

You’ve come to the right place to meet our proud team of outstanding veterinarians!

Veterinarian, Owner
Veterinarian, Owner
Associate Veterinarian
Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Stuart Dalton – Veterinarian, Owner

Dr. Dalton was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky surrounded by dogs, horses, snakes, turtles and whatever else he and his two brothers could catch. He earned his first bachelor’s degree in Geology from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island in 1985.

His first, second and third careers involved outdoor education, environmental consulting and contract archeology. For a final career path, he discovered veterinary medicine because it combined his love of animals, science, problem solving and helping others.

To qualify for veterinary school, he earned his second bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Louisville in 1993. Dr. Dalton graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in St. Paul in 1998 and has been employed at White Bear Animal Hospital since 1999. Dr. Dalton proudly purchased White Bear Animal Hospital in January of 2010.

Areas of veterinary interest for Dr. Dalton include pain management, dentistry, behavior, practice management, client education and community outreach.

Professional Associations

  • American Animal Hospital Association AAHA
  • American Veterinary Dental Society AVDS
  • American Veterinary Medical Association AVMA
  • International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management IVAPM
  • Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association MVMA
  • Fear Free Certified Professional

When outside of the veterinary hospital, Dr. Dalton enjoys indoor rowing, mountain climbing, traveling, reading, watching movies, and working in the yard.

When not at work, Dr. Dalton shares his home with his wife, two cats named Roxy and Kyo, and Joska, a Great Pyrenees mix dog.

Dr. Dalton in the community and in the news

  • Interviewed by WCCO Channel 4 for a story on Ticks and Pets, April 2022.
  • Check our Dr. Dalton’s first podcast with Pheasants Forever’s Bob St. Pierre and Andrew Vavra by clicking HERE. They enjoyed discussing a wide range of topics for bird dog owners as well as for dog owners in general, including preventing tick-borne diseases, knee injuries, what to have in your dog’s first aid kit, toxins, arthritis, and much, much more.
  • Dr. Dalton was interviewed for the article Fido, Fit as a Fiddle in the September 2016 issue of White Bear Lake Magazine.
  • Member of the Board of Directors for the Animal Emergency and Referral Center of Minnesota from February 2016 to present, BOD President March 2018 to present.
  • Interviewed on the Fan Outdoors  program on KFAN 100.3 FM local sports radio, April 11, 2015, click here to listen (the interview starts just before the “T”)
  • Featured Panelist at the Center for Ethical Business Cultures Business Ethics Panel Discussion – Doing It Right Matters, Ethics and Values in Small to Mid-Sized Companies, March 21, 2013.
  • Featured Panelist at the BBB/University of St. Thomas Business Ethics Summit, February 20, 2013.
  • Dr. Stuart Dalton was featured in the first ever University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni E-newsletter article in January 2013. Click here to read the article.
  • The Scoop on Poop! Dr. Dalton shared some insights with service dog owners, as well as every pet owner on this often overlooked topic in the newsletter ‘PawPADs Unleashed.’
  • Ramsey/Washington County Suburban Cable Commission – The Government Television Network – Channel 16 – Lake Area Beat – Dr. Dalton has been interviewed on a variety of pet issues:

2018 Summer Pet Safety

2016 Summer Pet Safety

Summer Pet Safety

Fireworks Safety

Winter Pet Safety

  • Golden Valley Patch – Golden Valley Pet Owner Dubs Vet ‘Miracle Man.’ An assistance dog is alive and well thanks to the kind efforts of a veterinarian.
  • White Bear Press – Pesky insects aren’t just a country problem anymore.

Dr. Gwen Zupancich – Veterinarian, Owner

Dr. Zupancich has been a veterinarian at White Bear Animal Hospital for more than 20 years. She is grateful to be able to help clients with all stages of their pet’s lives and takes great pride in being considered people’s trusted family veterinarian. Her love of animals started as a child growing up on a cattle farm near Clark, SD. Little did she know that all those hours spent with the barn cats was actually training for her future career.

She earned her BA in Biology from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD in 1997 and her DVM from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. Special areas of interest include geriatric pet care, ultrasonography, and feline medicine.

Dr. Zupancich is available for preventive care and medical appointments on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays and every third Saturday. She performs a wide variety of routine and soft tissue surgical procedures as well as comprehensive dental procedures on Friday mornings.

Dr. Z lives in Roseville, MN with her husband and 3 boys. She enjoys watching her boys participate in cross country running and basketball and is an active volunteer with their BSA scout troop. Her family enjoys downhill skiing and boating. She currently has one very spoiled cat named Lucy.

Professional Associations
  • American Animal Hospital Association AAHA
  • American Veterinary Medical Association AVMA
  • Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association MVMA
  • Fear Free Certified Professional

Dr. Sarah Prochnow – Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Sarah Prochnow grew up in Dellwood, MN and has always loved animals. For her undergraduate studies, she attended Drake University and graduated with a degree in Biochemistry. She knew that she wanted to go into the sciences and has always enjoyed studying biology, but she did not decide on becoming a veterinarian until her final year at Drake. She decided to attend the University of Missouri for veterinary school and earned her DVM in 2014.

She joined the team at White Bear Animal Hospital in 2020 and is excited to be back in the White Bear Lake area. Her interests include internal medicine, emergency medicine, and preventative care.

When not at the clinic, she lives with her young daughter. She has a terrier mix named Star and a cat named Ghost. Her hobbies include hiking, biking, traveling, craft projects and listening to podcasts.

Dr. Mikayla Nicklay – Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Mikayla Nicklay grew up on a small hobby farm in southeastern Minnesota where she spent much of her time caring for horses, sheep, and the occasional barn cat. She originally directed her studies toward large animal medicine after completing her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science through University of Wisconsin-River Falls. After a year of veterinary school, she decided to focus exclusively on small animals and graduated from University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2020. After graduation, she completed a year-long small animal rotating internship focused on internal medicine, surgery, and emergency veterinary care.

Mikayla is the newest member of White Bear Animal Hospital and is eager to serve such a wonderful community. Professionally, Mikayla has a special affinity for preventive medicine and caring for geriatric patients.

To unwind after a busy week, Mikayla enjoys spending time with family at the cabin, boating, and hiking. Her fur family includes a Lhasapoo (Fletcher), a Labrador (Murphy), and a cat (Percy).

White Bear Animal Hospital