Cristina Metral, DVM
Dr. Cristina Metral is a Florida native who currently works as an emergency clinician at Epic Specialty and Emergency Pet Care in St. Petersburg. The daughter of a Navy veteran, she lived in multiple areas of Florida during her childhood. Her interest in veterinary medicine began when she completed the Vet Assistant program at West Broward High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida. She then earned her Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Florida in just three years before continuing her veterinary education at St. George’s University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she graduated magna cum laude. She went on to complete a small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Clearwater, Florida, and has been practicing as an emergency clinician ever since.
Throughout her career, Dr. Metral has developed a strong interest in wildlife, exotic, and zoological medicine. This passion has led to numerous opportunities, including additional training at the Alabama House Rabbit Society, Belize Zoo, ZooTampa, Zoo Miami, Busch Gardens, Amakhala Game Reserve in South Africa, and in exotic radiology through Antech Imaging Services. She is honored to have gained these experiences and continues to apply her knowledge to treating exotic pets in emergency situations. Her work has been published in both the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine and the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Currently, Dr. Metral is proud to be one of the founding emergency clinicians at Epic Pet Care, a doctor-owned emergency and specialty clinic where patient care always comes first. She takes great pride in providing efficient, high-quality emergency care to pets throughout the Tampa Bay area. Understanding firsthand what it’s like to face a pet emergency in the middle of the night, she strives to make the experience as smooth and stress-free as possible.
3250 5th Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713 | 727-473-3845 | epicvetcare.com | c.metral@epicvetcare.com
