Man and cat


At Central Nova Animal Hospital we understand the unique bond between a person and their pet. As animal owners and lovers in a medical field we know the importance of pet health and it is our goal to treat every patient with compassion and care. 

We are a nine veterinarian AAHA accredited animal hospital offering a full range of preventative care, in-house diagnostics, surgical, dental and medical treatments using state-of-the art equipment. We strive to maintain a progressive hospital with high standards for patient care.


But most importantly, at Central Nova Animal Hospital, we treat your pets like the valued family members they are!




Our Veterinarians

Dr. Jennifer McKay                              Dr. Ed Macmillan

Dr. Kim Babineau                                 Dr. Lane Yuill

Dr. Kayla Collins                                   Dr. Candace Zwicker

Dr. Troye MacPherson                        Dr. Dove Mitton




Pet Emergency?   Call us anytime at  (902) 893-4331 

  to use our on call emergency services.

   Central Nova Animal Hospital, Where Pets Are Family!!


AAHA logo

Stay informed by visiting aaha.org/pet_owner.

American Animal Hospital Association | Copyright ©2017


Monday:

8:00 am-8:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-8:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-8:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-8:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-7:00 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am-12:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Meet Our Skilled Doctors

  • Dr.
    Kayla Collins

    Dr. Kayla grew up in the small town of Lewisporte, Newfoundland with a younger sister and brother.  Kayla attended Memorial University where she completed her Chemistry Degree. While there she worked at an animal shelter and a medical research laboratory.  From there she headed to the Atlantic Veterinary College and graduated in 2013.  Kayla joined our team to cover a maternity leave and we are happy that she has become a permanent member. Kayla's family includes her partner, Derrick, his son and their daughter as well as several pets. She has two snakes, two cats, a dog and a Leopard Gecko.  Her days are busy looking after her young daughter but in her spare time she volunteers with the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and she also loves to read.

  • Dr.
    Candace Zwicker

    Dr. Candace grew up in Chester Basin and had wanted to become a veterinarian since her early childhood.  After high school she moved to Truro to attend the Nova Scotia Agricultural College where she completed the Animal Health Technology program before continuing onto Pre-Vet. Candace graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College in 2010.

    Candace and her husband Patrick continue to reside in Truro with their two young girls, Addison and Elise.  They also have fur children including two cats, Hali and Leah, as well as a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Brisket.

    Candace worked in the Halifax area after graduating.  During vet school she worked with our team here at Central Nova and is very happy to be back joining the team full time!  Candace enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine including pocket and exotic pets.

    Outside of work Candace spends much of her free time visiting friends and family.  She enjoys many outdoor activities such as swimming, skating and strolling through Victoria Park.  During the summer she spends as much time as possible at the beach or camping with her family.

  • Dr.
    Kim Babineau

    Dr. Kim grew up in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia on her parent's blueberry farm. Her career decision to become a veterinarian was made early so upon graduating from high school, she headed to Truro to attend the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. She was accepted into the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, PEI after finishing her third year at the NSAC. She graduated from AVC in 1993. She worked briefly as an emergency veterinarian in Calgary, Alberta before she started working full time at Central Nova Animal Hospital in the summer of 1994. Kim enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine - the challenges of medicine and surgery as well as the opportunity to meet and care for all the healthy pets that come in for wellness exams. In her spare time Kim likes to cycle, run, paddle, read and spent time outdoors with her family.  Married with two kids, her family also includes 2 cats, Sinamin & Rosie, and a black Labrador Retriever, Aspen. 

  • Dr.
    Ed Macmillan

    Dr. Ed grew up in the Annapolis Valley before heading off to University. During this time, he spent his summers working for a neighboring farmer. There he developed a keen interest in animals of all sizes. After high school, he began his formal education at the Dalhousie University's Faculty of Agriculture completing a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and nutrition. He was then accepted into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown.

    After graduating in 1992, Ed began practice in Picton, Ontario where he worked in a large mixed animal practice. Working with both pets and farm animals gave Ed a broad base of experience to draw from. He moved back to Nova Scotia in 1994, where he began working at CNAH. He has a special interest in orthopedic diseases, oncology and surgery of dogs and cats. Hence, many of the broken bones and ruptured ligaments that come in end up being diagnosed and repaired by Ed.  Ed recently won the Dr. Hubert S. Bennet Award for Leadership in Veterinary Medicine for 2023!  

    Outside of work Ed has taught curriculum through Dalhousie's Animal Health Technician program, lectured for the Pawsitive Direction program at the Women's Correctional Centre, served on the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association Board of directors as a member, president, and chair of the NSVMA Small Animal Committee. Coaching hockey and keeping up to a busy family use up the remainder of his spare time. Ed is married and has four children.

  • Dr.
    Jennifer McKay

    Dr. Jennifer grew up in Lower Onslow but after high school headed for Acadia University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science. She returned to Truro in 1998 to attend the Agricultural College where she did her research in Animal Science. While there, she volunteered with us and this gradually turned into a part time job. In 1999 Jennifer headed to PEI to attend the Veterinary College and graduated in 2003 and joined our team as a Veterinarian.  Jennifer was the 2020 president of the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association and serves on the advisory committee for the Dalhousie AHT program and the NSVMA AGM committee.  She has also been on the board of the NSSPCA and enjoys volunteering for her profession.

    She continues to love helping animals as well as their people and her enthusiasm is contagious to the rest of our team. Jennifer lives with her husband Tom and three boys, Ty, Jay and Coen. Her family also include a golden retrievers, Levi, three cats, Opie, Stripes and Bobby, two guinea pigs, Becky and Bella and several chickens and pocket pets. 

    Jennifer's interests include playing and coaching sports, spending time with her family and volunteering to help associations her children are involved in.  She currently sits on the boards for the West Colchester Minor Hockey Association, Cantabile Choirs, and the Lower Onslow Community Center where we have built two beautiful play spaces for the Lower Onslow and Masstown communities.  

  • Dr.
    Dove Mitton

    Dr. Dove was born and raised outside of Scotsburn in rural Pictou County. She grew up on a small hobby farm caring for a wide variety of animals and spent most of her free time riding horses. She received her Bachelor of Science from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in 2006, following which, she received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Atlantic Veterinary College in 2010. 

    After working in Dartmouth for several years, Dove and her husband Greg, are happy to be back home in rural Pictou County raising their three boys Ashton, Brody and Caleb. Their Boxer mix Layla is also enjoying all of the squirrel chasing that comes with country living. In her spare time Dove enjoys spending time with family and living an active outdoor lifestyle skiing, canoeing, hiking, camping, horseback riding and motorcycling. Dove is very excited to  join the Central Nova Animal Hospital team in 2020 and looks forward to seeing you and your fur babies. 

  • Dr.
    Troye McPherson

    Dr. Troye McPherson graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1989 and joined our team on March 1, 2018. She has a special interest in medicine, animal behaviour and ultrasound.  Troye is involved with various governing bodies and has served as President of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, President of the Nova Scotia Veterinary Association and was the Canadian representative for the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe. She was also one of two North American Councillors for the World Veterinary Association.

    Troye is originally form Cape Breton but has worked in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Nova Scotia.  She currently lives in Dartmouth with her husband, 3 cats and 9 Border Collies.  She is very active in dog sports, namely agility, rally obedience and sheep herding.  A good portion of Troye's downtime is spent at her farm in Pictou County.

  • Dr.
    Lane Yuill

    Dr. Lane Yuill has joined us after her 2023 graduation from AVC!  You may recognize her as she has been working with us on and off over the past few years.  We are so happy she has come home and is joining us as our newest veterinarian.  

Featured Articles

Read about interesting topics

Newsletter Sign Up

Sign up for more Articles.

Testimonials

Read What Our Clients Say

  • ""They are so kind & understanding. They treat our babies like their own. Very compassionate.""
    Judy Laing
  • ""Extremely caring and professional staff.
    Helpful and accommodating and go the extra mile to make sure their clients are comfortable and well informed.""
    Shirley Currie
  • ""I cannot say enough good things about this business. My cat Lucy was in bad shape and these lovely people took her right in for emergency surgery. Thank you so much. She is doing great and we named her baby Corey the quarantine kitty.""
    Michelle Pearce
  • ""Cannot say enough good things about our vet. From the very first appointment to the very last visit, our pets are treated as if they are their very own. Jennifer McKay is amazing and we are so lucky to have her. The ladies on the front desk (especially Melanie) have always been so kind and go above and beyond on a regular basis. We wouldn't trust our babies with anyone else!""
    Renee MacDonald LeBlanc
  • ""Very knowledgeable vets who are kind and caring. They always take good care of our fur babies💜""
    Stephanie Gale
  • ""They are extremely helpful and always willing to answer any questions I have. They always take great care of my fur baby.""
    Lindsay Ruston
  • ""Great kindhearted staff that treats me and my dog Dixie as if they know us for ever. Very cautious, courteous and good at explaining everything they are doing and asking if everything is going good or if there’s and concerns. Couldn’t ask for anything better.""
    Stewart Gault