Dr. Lauren Thielen Wiki-bio, age, net worth, husband? boyfriend.

From working under Dr. Susan Kelleher to having her own television show, Dr. Lauren Thielen has come a long way. As an exotic animal veterinarian, Dr. Thielen is best equipped to treat animals like birds, reptiles, and all sorts of unusual pets, and it is unlikely for her patients to be dogs and cats. At home, Dr. Thielen is open to having all kinds of animals and has raised pets like American short-hair cat named Theo, a Bronze-winged Pionus parrot named Evie, and two rabbits- Livvy and Benjamin. In this article, we take a closer look at the wiki/bio of this good doctor.

Dr. Lauren Thielen is an avian and exotic animal veterinarian and reality television personality best known for her leading role in National Geography show “Dr. T, Lone Star Vet” and sidekick on ” Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER.” She works as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York. She is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in avian practice and an adjunct professor for the University of Miami.

Early Life & Education:

Dr. Lauren Thielen was born on August 3, 1987, in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. She is the only child of Steve and Gretchen Thielen and was raised in Texas. She began her formal education in a local school in her hometown.  She attended Fossil Ridge High School and graduated in the class of 2005. For her Bachelor, she joined the science stream at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. There she graduated in 2009 with a major in Biology/Chemistry. Following the completion of her pre-vet studies she enrolled at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. She received her DVM degree from the university in 2013. Also while trying to gain ground in the avian field of veterinary, she did research on Macaws at the Tambopata Research Center in Peru. Her research was conducted in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, where she would even climb 100-foot trees to enter the nests of macaw pairs to examine their chicks, collect data, and provide care if needed.

Career and Progression

The pet health practitioner Dr. Thielen was passionate about exotic animals. She followed her instincts by learning from one of the top exotic vet doctors Susan Kelleher. She did an internship with Dr. Kelleher in exotic animal medicine at Broward Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital from 2013-2014.

She then did 2 years of Avian residency at the Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics in Bedford Hills, New York from 2014-2016 where she received a certificate of board-certified Avian specialist. Thereafter, she returned to Dr. Kelleher in Deerfield Beach, FL, and worked at Broward Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital as an Avian and exotic care veterinarian.

Dr. K Exotic Animal ER and leaving the show

Working under Susan Kelleher in Florida Thielen became part of the Nat Geo Wild reality show “Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER.” Thielen made her debut during the first season premiere on October 4, 2014. She appeared in 40 episodes before leaving the show in 2018. Not just she left her job at Broward Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital she also left Florida in favor of staying close to her home in Texas. During her time in Florida, Dr. Thielen performed the treatment on different kinds of avian and exotic pets including rabbits, ferrets, foxes, fish, birds, reptiles, marsupials, and even primates.

Dr. T, Lone Star Vet

Her move back home presented a new opportunity as Thielen plunged into a business of her own. Dr. T started her exotic vet hospital  Texas Avian & Exotic Hospital in Grapevine, Texas. Alongside the new clinic, she got the opportunity to work on her own reality show “Dr. T, Lone Star Vet.” The first season of the show premiered on Nat Geo Wild on October 13, 2019, and concluded after eight episodes. Following her time on the show, Dr. T has practiced her veterinary medicine in a number of different cities including New York.

Recent Works:

As of 2023, Dr. Thielen serves as Assistant Clinical Professor, Section of Exotic Animal Medicine for Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is also a Diplomate for the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Avian Practice since 2020. Also, she serves as an adjunct professor for the University of Miami within the Miller School of Medicine Comparative Pathology, Avian and Wildlife laboratory providing clinical pathology case consultations. One of the active veterinarians in the United States, Dr. T is also a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians and the American Veterinary Medical Association and serves as the Marketing Chair for the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians.

Awards:

In the years in her line of work, Dr, T has been on the receiving end of several honors and accolades. In 2013, Dr. T received “Kaytee Avian and Special Species Award, Texas A&M.”

Social Media Presence:

Dr. Lauren Thielen has a strong social media presence on Facebook and Twitter where she has over 107,000 and 10,000 followers respectively. She also has a popular Instagram account with over 68,000 followers where she posts pictures of the exotic animals she treats. She uses her social media platforms to promote her job, share her personal life, and connect with her fans.

Physical Traits:

Dr. Thielen is a woman of average height and slim build. She has a fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. She usually wears casual clothes, such as jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers. And when working at the clinic she wears a white coat with her name and title on it and sometimes a dark blue gown. Her dressing style reflects her personality as a friendly, down-to-earth, and passionate veterinarian.

Personal Life:

Dr. Tielen is neither single nor married, she is currently in a relationship with Nicola Di Girolamo. Her boyfriend Nicola is also an Exotic animal doctor. Nicola doubles down as a professor for Oklahoma State University. For now, the pair has not shared when exactly the two started seeing each other. However, judging by their common interest in exotic animals we can say it is their profession that brought them together.

In the past, Dr. Theilen was in a relationship with  Sean Samaniego. Not much is known about Sean besides the fact he and Dr. Thielen dated back in 2014. The relationship did not last long.

Personal Tragedy

Under the calm and composed demeanor, Dr. Thielen hides her fears. This is how she is able to work under pressure and make a name in the competitive veterinary world. Her decorated career is a testament to her hard work and dedication. However, life has not always presented like she would have wanted. She suffered from a family tragedy in her early twenties. Dr. Thielen’s mother Gretchen Theilen passed away at the age of 47 on April 29, 2009.

Net Worth

In her career that has spanned over a decade, Dr. Thielen has achieved both in terms of fame and wealth. She makes her money from her veterinary profession and television shows. As of now, Dr. Thielen has an estimated net worth of $600,000.

Wiki/Bio facts

Full name	Lauren Thielen
Age	37 years old
Date of Birth	August 3, 1987
Place of Birth	Fort Worth, Texas
Profession	Television Personality, Exotic animals Veterinarian
Net worth	$600,000
Husband	Not Married
Boyfriend	Nicola Di Girolamo, Sean Samaniego (ex)
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Caucasian
Zodiac Sign	Leo
Parents	Steve Thielen, Gretchen Thielen
Social Media Handle	Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Website