‘Better going into things double than alone’: Twin brothers share a passion for treating exotic pets

Will and Wyatt Brintnell are taking their passion of exotic animals to the next level as they prepare to head to veterinary school. CTV News Edmonton's Connor H

Inside a south Edmonton vet clinic, staff work to treat a number of exotic animals. A guinea pig is being treated on an operating table, a parrot gets an x-ray, and an iguana has an ultrasound, to name a few.

And on some days, there is another special sighting that will have you seeing double.

Twin brothers Wyatt and Will Brintnell have worked as tech assistants since last fall after spending the summer volunteering at Harvest Pointe Animal Hospital.

The 23-year-olds are also set to convocate from the University of Alberta on Monday with Bachelor of Science degrees in animal health.

“We’ve grown up loving animals and we’ve had quite a few exotic pets growing up, so that really accelerated our love,” Will said, adding that most of the animals they treat at the clinic are exotic like reptiles, birds and rodents.

He said only 20 to 25 per-cent of the patients are dogs and cats.

Quite often, the twin brothers finish each other’s sentences. They made the switch to exotic pets at home because their sister was highly allergic to cats and also had an allergy to dog hair.

“It started pretty young. Probably we got our first exotic on our seventh birthday,” Wyatt recalled.

“Which was a leopard gecko,” Will continued.

For eight years growing up, they even had 12 exotic pets: the leopard gecko, two crested geckos, a tortoise, six budgie birds, a fish tank and two ferrets.

• Download our app to get Edmonton alerts on your device

Wyatt said they first found the vet clinic that specializes in treating exotic pets of all shapes, sizes and species when they brought in a ferret with an ear infection.

“We see lots of rabbits and guinea pigs … birds. People even bring in their pet mice,” Will said. “It’s pretty cool.”

“We’ve done (an) ultrasound on fish,” Wyatt added. “Everything. Emus.”

Wyatt and Will usually work alternate days at the clinic since they both perform the same job at the animal hospital. But there are days they get to work together, which they enjoy even if their peers get them mixed up.

“They obviously know us apart and we have different personalities,” said Wyatt. “And we do have shirts that say Wyatt and Will.”

The brothers say they often fill each other in on what was missed by the other at work.

Wyatt said the most difficult procedure he has helped with was a mammary tumour removal on a mouse. While Will recalled an ovariectomy on a crested gecko that was his own pet.

“I’m in that surgery room .. that was awesome. She’s still alive (and) recovering well.”

The twins have only spent three days apart in their 23 years of life together. Both say getting to share a passion, an education, a job, and career goals is “pretty lucky.”

“You always have someone to watch your back,” Will said.

“It’s better going into things double than alone,” Wyatt continued.

According to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, the industry is facing a severe shortage of professionals which is affecting the workforce and level of care for pet owners in the country.

The University of Calgary is expected to double their vet-med seats to 100 once a new learning commons building is complete.

The next goal for the Brintnell brothers is to get into veterinary school and then come back to open their own clinic together in Edmonton.

“Probably the reason why we’re so close is because we have the same interests,” Will explained.

“You’re never bored,” Wyatt added. “(You) always have someone to do something with.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Connor Hogg and Dave Mitchell