A woman in a green jacket and blue jeans standing in a room with a tan dog leaning against her. Behind them is a wooden sideboard with glass doors and decorative items, and above it a colorful flower painting.

About Dr. Salge

Dr. Leigh Salge earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.  During veterinary school she additionally became certified in Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians through MAV (now CuraCore) and participated in special training in Foreign Animal Diseases with the USDA APHIS.  Afterwards, Dr. Salge completed a year-long rotating internship in small animal medicine and emergency at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver, Colorado.  She has since worked in general practice and emergency hospitals in both Colorado and California prior to joining the Pet Emergency and Specialty Center of Marin as an emergency veterinarian.  

Over the last few years Dr. Salge has become increasingly focused on caring for families with pets facing chronic and life-limiting conditions.  She pursued additional training and became certified in palliative and hospice medicine through the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care.  

A tabby cat sitting on a wooden surface outdoors, with purple flowering trees in the background.

Recognizing the critical role of in-home supportive care for these patients, Dr. Salge has dedicated herself to elevating its delivery by combining her extensive emergency and critical care experience with modern technology, comprehensive medical management, and expanded family support.  This approach led to her creating ElderPaws Palliative Veterinary Care- tailored medical care by an integrated team of specially trained veterinarians and nurses deeply familiar with each patient’s history and dedicated to collaborating with families.

In her free time you can find Leigh cooking, reading, traveling, and starting but not finishing craft/house projects.  She lives in San Anselmo with her family including her husband, two kids, two cats adopted from the Macy’s SFSPCA holiday windows, and a chihuahua-terrier mix adopted from Marin Humane Society who has a hearty dislike of bikes and ceiling fans.

A woman with glasses and long hair kneels next to a sitting golden retriever dog on a black rug in a living room, with a gray sofa and cushions in the background.

Background

  • Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
    Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

  • Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians (now CuraCore)
    Certification in medical acupuncture (MAV)

  • International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care
    Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian (CHPV)

  • ElderPaws Palliative Veterinary Care
    Founder and Medical Director

  • "We are deeply grateful to our friend and veterinarian, Dr. Salge, for the compassion, kindness, and gentle care shown to Marley during the final chapter of his life. Your support brought peace to both Marley and our family during a heartbreaking time, and we will always be thankful."

    -Montine & Justin

  • “We had a wonderful visit with Dr. Leigh Salge. She came to our home and spent a generous amount of time with us and our sweet dog. We sought her out because our dog is getting older and needs some care to minimize pain and increase his appetite. We also wanted to make sure we were providing him with the best possible care overall. While we have a regular vet in town, Dr. Salge’s support was at a different level - much more thorough and individualized.”

     - Ruth Ann

  • "Leigh guided us through that incredibly hard moment with such compassion—talking us through every step, comforting Oscar, and helping us preserve a few last memories of our Chili. We’ll always be grateful for her calm presence and the care she gave our family."

    -Amber & Joe

  • “Dr. Salge was so patient, listening to our concerns, doing a hands-on exam of our dog, and providing us with very helpful suggestions. Our dog is eating and moving much better since we implemented Dr. Salge’s recommendations,. And just as important, we have much great peace of mind knowing we can reach out to her with questions and will get informed and caring support at any time.”

    -Marin Pet Parent