Meet Our Doctors
Get to know the experienced, compassionate veterinarians who make South Shore Veterinary Hospital the trusted choice for pet owners throughout the Forest Lake area and beyond.
A Team Built on Expertise, Relationships, and Genuine Care
South Shore Veterinary Hospital is home to one of the largest veterinary teams in the region — a group of dedicated doctors whose collective expertise spans internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, dentistry, dermatology, behavioral medicine, emergency and urgent care, and more.
Whether your pet is coming in for their first wellness visit or navigating a complex health challenge, you will find a doctor on our team who is genuinely invested in them — as an individual, not just a patient.
Our Doctors
Dr. Tracy Skwiot
Veterinarian
Dr. Tracy grew up in southern Minnesota. After high school, she attended undergraduate school at South Dakota State University and then pursued her veterinary degree at the University of Minnesota. She has been with South Shore Veterinary Hospital since her graduation in 2003. In 2015, she solidified her commitment to South Shore and became an owner of the practice.
Some of Dr. Tracy’s hobbies include reading, dancing, and spending time with family and friends. When she is not at work, you can find her enjoying time with her husband and two children.
Dr. Joe Vislisel
Veterinarian
Dr. Joe was raised on a family farm in eastern Iowa. He attended Iowa State University for both his undergraduate and professional training, graduating from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. Following graduation, Dr. Joe joined the staff at South Shore Veterinary Hospital. In 2018, he became an owner of the practice. Dr. Joe has professional interests and advanced training in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and endoscopy. He also enjoys making lasting relationships with his clients and patients and giving the extra effort it takes to make sure his patients have a Fear Free visit.
Outside of work, Dr. Joe can be found spending time on the farm with his wife, Amy, children Henry and Elsie, and his dog. Dr. Joe raises lambs, keeps honey bees, and if he’s lucky enough to find a few extra minutes, enjoys fishing on the lake.
Dr. Michelle Buhr
Veterinarian
Dr. Michelle grew up in Iowa. She received her Bachelor of Science and DVM degrees at Iowa State and then continued on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Veterinary Pathology from Iowa State as well. In 1996, she joined South Shore Veterinary Hospital after practicing at Blaine Animal Hospital and has been an integral member of our hospital ever since.
Dr. Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her husband, two children, one dog, and one cat. Her hobbies are flower gardening, reading, and walking with her dog, Zoey. She also enjoys volunteering at church and at school.
Dr. Emily Van Arsdale Treml
Veterinarian
Dr. Emily grew up in Minnesota and earned her undergraduate degree in Biology Education and Marine Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2005. After teaching high-school science in Andover, MN, and the Florida Keys, she studied veterinary medicine and received her DVM from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2012, she joined South Shore Veterinary Hospital.
Dr. Emily enjoys spending time with her husband and their new baby boy. She has three horses and an adorable cockatiel named Spike. Her hobbies include horseback riding, kayaking, water skiing, and traveling.
Dr. Karrie Zahorik
Veterinarian
Dr. Karrie grew up in southeastern Minnesota and graduated with an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences. She spent the following years attending veterinary school in Glasgow, Scotland, graduating in the class of 2014. Afterwards, she completed an internship at Stillwater Equine Veterinary Clinic and subsequently joined South Shore Veterinary Hospital in 2015.
Karrie spends as much time as possible with her husband, Josh, and their family and friends. She has two cats (Remy and Tink) who run the household. Her interests include traveling, running, hiking, reading, and the occasional nap.
Dr. Kate Lottman
Veterinarian
Dr. Kate grew up in rural Minnesota and graduated with an undergraduate degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 2014. She then took a short break from the Minnesota winters to run a dog walking company in Portland, Oregon, prior to returning to Minnesota to pursue her DVM degree at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She joined South Shore Veterinary Hospital in 2021.
Kate enjoys spending her spare time baking bread and other goodies, hanging out with friends and family, hiking in national parks, and traveling the world. She has two cats (Mr. Feeny and Wilson).
Dr. Tori Brua
Veterinarian
Dr. Brua grew up in central Minnesota. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota, Morris, before attending Michigan State University for her veterinary degree. Upon completion of her doctorate in 2021, she was excited to move back to her home state and join the team at South Shore Veterinary Hospital. Her veterinary interests include behavior medicine, soft tissue surgery, and preventative care.
Dr. Brua enjoys spending time with her husband, Conor, son, and their two dogs, Oscar and Kaisa. She enjoys swimming, traveling, hiking, camping, and playing board games and video games.
Dr. Laura Mayer
Veterinarian
Dr. Laura grew up in Minnesota and earned her undergraduate degree in Animal Science and Spanish from the University of Minnesota in 2018. She then went on to complete her DVM degree at the University of Minnesota. After the completion of her doctorate in 2023, she joined South Shore Veterinary Hospital. Her veterinary interests include dermatology, nutrition, rehab, and internal medicine.
Outside of work, Laura enjoys spending time outdoors, running, cross-country skiing, camping, and traveling. She has two cats, Cider and Lip, and a house full of plants.
Dr. Anna Hedger
Veterinarian
Dr. Anna grew up overseas before returning to Minnesota to pursue her higher education. She received her undergraduate degree in Animal Science from the University of Minnesota in 2021, then completed her DVM degree at the University of Minnesota in 2026. Upon completion of her doctorate, she joined South Shore Veterinary Hospital. Her veterinary interests include surgery, internal medicine, and advocating for affordable access to veterinary care. She is also passionate about making vet visits as stress-free as possible for pets, striving to create a calm, positive experience at every appointment.
Outside of veterinary medicine, Anna enjoys traveling, running, hiking, arts and crafts, and spending time with family and friends. She shares her home with her high school sweetheart, Michael, and their two cats, Rose and T’Challa, who keep them on their toes.