BUFFALO VETERINARIANS
SERVING BUFFALO MINNESOTA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
BUFFALO COMPANION ANIMAL CLINIC
One year after graduating from Iowa State
University in 1989, Dr. Merz joined the Buffalo clinic.
Born and raised in Dubuque, IA, Dr. Merz spent
summers at his uncle’s farm. His lifelong dream of
being a veterinarian had already taken shape but
working on the farm cemented his dream forever.
At the time he joined the Buffalo practice, it still
addressed the health needs of both large and small
animals. He liked working with dairy animals and intended to focus his practice on them. But he soon discovered that serving the health needs of small, companion animals was even more interesting and gratifying. To Dr. Merz, restoring an injured or ill animal to health and happiness, watching young companion animals grow into healthy adults and helping people understand their pets' needs is what being a veterinarian is all about.
The Buffalo Companion Animal Clinic continues to grow and incorporate new technologies, treatments and services. That progressive approach is what first attracted Dr. Merz to the practice. Most recently, we’ve added veterinary dental services, an aspect of general health that is often given scarce attention but that is of paramount importance to the quality of your companion animal’s life.
Fishing, camping and other family activities keep Dr. Merz busy when he's not working at the clinic.
Dr. Moore has been with the BCAC since 1985. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, he interned at what was then the Buffalo Veterinary Clinic, and never left. Growing up on a dairy farm in Clear Lake, South Dakota, Dr. Moore’s early experiences cultivated an interest in animal health and fostered an enduring love and respect for animals.
What Dr. Moore finds rewarding about the art and science of veterinary medicine is the problem-solving involved in keeping animals in good health or returning them to it. He is also fascinated with the complex bond that exists between people and their companion animals. Understanding the dynamic between them and communicating that understanding, helps people and their animals form a healthy relationship that meets not just the animal's physical needs, but the emotional needs of both owner and pet.
Dr. Moore enjoys sharing his knowledge, educating clients and working with them to enhance communication and maximize the rewards of the human-animal bond. Clear communication and attentive listening are part of the Buffalo Companion Animal Clinic’s philosophy of how to practice medicine.
When he’s not working, Dr. Moore enjoys spending time with his family and friends, traveling, canoeing, camping, and hiking. He volunteers in church groups and takes great pleasure in restoring his family’s vintage 1920’s era home.
Dr. Nicklaus joined the BCAC in 2004 after spending several years at a practice in Mankato, MN. She graduated from Iowa State University in 2001, fulfilling a lifelong ambition of becoming a veterinarian.
She was raised in the small town of Eagle Grove, IA which prompted her search for an area offering the small town “feel” yet having the availability of big city amenities. When she found Buffalo, she knew it was the perfect fit.
Dr. Nicklaus has particular interest in the areas of pain management, geriatrics, internal medicine and dermatology. She is a member of both the Minnesota and American Veterinary Medical Associations as well as the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. She understands the deep emotional connection that many people have with their pets and realizes that this plays a vital role in the well being of both the patient and client. Advancements in veterinary medicine and standards of care for our companion animals are evolving rapidly and Dr. Nicklaus strives to stay abreast of these changes to provide her patients with the quality and compassionate care that they deserve.
Away from the clinic, Dr. Nicklaus enjoys spending time with her two rescued dogs, Barley & Nihoa. She also frequents the gym, travels back to IA often to visit family, enjoys reading and also dabbles in interior design.
Although Dr. St.Amant originated in Gary, Indiana, he has lived throughout the Midwest, mostly in small towns and communities not unlike Buffalo. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with an undergraduate degree in zoology. He considered an academic career or a career in zoological research but wanted to put his knowledge and skill to a more immediate and practical use. Plus, he wanted daily interaction with animals and their owners — becoming a veterinarian was the perfect solution.
After graduating in 1988 from the University of Minnesota, Dr. St.Amant worked part-time for several metropolitan area veterinarians before joining the Buffalo clinic full time in 1993.
As with the other doctors of the Buffalo Companion Animal Clinic, Dr. St.Amant is a skilled veterinary surgeon. For him, surgery of the knee is particularly interesting. Before surgery, animals with a torn cruciate ligament, a common cause for knee surgery, display marked discomfort and their mobility is restricted. Restoring an animal to an active lifestyle and seeing the owner’s joy at getting their pet back on track is one of the huge rewards of being a surgeon.
Dr. St.Amant is an avid hobby horticulturist. From “common” houseplants to various species of exotic orchids, Dr. St.Amant’s knowledge of plants and careful nurturing results in beautiful, healthy plants. His success is evident throughout the clinic where it is common to see plants blooming all seasons of the year. When he’s not at the clinic, Dr. St.Amant enjoys camping with his wife and two children and tending his own companion animals.