Biography

From Boston Terriers to bearded dragons, horses to backyard chickens, Dr. Cali Elliott grew up surrounded by animals. Raised in Texas on a family beef cattle operation, she spent weekends building fences, driving the tractor, and sneaking corn tortillas to the donkeys. Countless hours were also spent at her grandparents’ horse ranch — trail-riding through the woods and playing with the foals — and as a teenager she volunteered at local small animal and equine veterinary clinics. Those early experiences cemented a lifelong passion for medicine, and it came as no surprise when she declared her intention to become a veterinarian.

Dr. Elliott earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with a minor in Equine Science from the University of Arkansas in 2015, then went on to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, where she served as her class Ethics Committee Chair and volunteered extensively in the ICU. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. Her clinical training spans small animals, equine, and exotic species, including a summer internship at The Royal School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she worked alongside surgeons treating dogs, cats, and horses.

After graduation, Dr. Elliott began her career as a small animal veterinarian in Southlake, Texas, before relocating to Pennsylvania, where she spent three years at a high-volume emergency small animal clinic managing critical cases. She now owns and operates CE Veterinary Relief LLC, working as an independent relief veterinarian across general practice, urgent care, and emergency hospitals throughout the region. This breadth of experience has given her a comprehensive view of canine and feline medicine — from preventative wellness and behavioral consultations to time-critical emergencies — and a practical understanding of how the standard of care is delivered in everyday practice.

Dr. Elliott’s professional interests include animal welfare, behavioral science, and wound care. In the exam room, she emphasizes balancing compassion with practicality: ensuring owners are well-informed about vaccines, nutrition, preventative care, and disease management, while recognizing that the “gold standard” is not always within every family’s reach. In emergency settings, she focuses on giving owners clear, current information so they can make sound decisions under pressure.

As an expert witness, Dr. Elliott offers measured, evidence-based opinions grounded in current veterinary science. Her primary expertise is in small animal medicine — addressing matters of canine and feline standard of care, husbandry, behavior, and welfare — and she is equally well-positioned to consult on cases involving horses, drawing on a lifetime of horsemanship, formal undergraduate training in equine science, and clinical experience with equine patients. This dual focus makes her particularly well-suited to matters involving both horses and dogs, as well as to cases focused exclusively on dogs and cats, or canine or feline veterinary practice.

Outside of work, Dr. Elliott enjoys reading, hiking, crafting, and traveling. She hopes to use her background in medicine and animal advocacy to better serve the four-legged friends who cannot speak for themselves.