Dr Melissa Richards has been a small animal veterinarian in the greater Sacramento area since 2011. She joined the team at Goldorado Animal Hospital in 2022. Dr Richards graduated with honors from UC Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, in 2011, and then pursued a rotating 1-year internship at a local small animal referral hospital before entering private practice. Dr Richards is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, but attended college at UC San Diego where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with dual degrees in Biochemistry and Cell Biology as well as Psychology. 

Dr Richards always knew she wanted to be a veterinarian and loves working in general practice where she can form relationships with her clients and their family pets over the years. Dr Richards has a special interest in dermatology and allergies, behavior, and internal medicine. 

When Dr Richards is not working, she is spending time with her husband and two young children or training her new Australian Cattle Dog, Cricket. She enjoys yoga, running, golf, camping, hiking and stand-up paddleboarding, and loves when she can bring Cricket along!