Slidell Veterinarians
Blaine J. Firmin, DVM, Owner
A Metarie, LA native, Dr. Blaine J. Firmin credits the time he spent during his childhood on both his maternal and paternal grandparents' farms with motivating him to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. "Between the two farms, they raised quail, ducks, chickens, hogs, cows, and horses," he recalls. "The farms taught me the care and respect it took to raise animals. I just used my education to go one step further."
Dr. Firmin served for six years in the United States Navy on the nuclear cruiser USS California. After the Navy, he attended the University of New Orleans, where he was a pre-med and biology major. Following his junior year, Dr. Firmin was accepted to Louisiana State University's School of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated in 1994 with his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and purchased Slidell Veterinary Hospital in 2005.
For Dr. Firmin, it's the problem solving aspects of veterinary medicine that he finds the most rewarding. "Everyday is a new challenge and totally unique, so you have to make the solution fit the individual patient," he says.
Dr. Firmin is a member of the Southeast Louisiana Veterinary Association (as well as its past president), the Florida Parishes Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association. His professional interests include orthopedics, ophthalmology, and ear surgery.
When not working at the hospital, Dr. Firmin stays active in veterinary organizations. He also enjoys fishing and woodworking. He and his wife, Cheryl, have two sons: Christian, who is following his father's footsteps at LSU's School of Veterinary Medicine, and Jacob, who is 6 years old. The family has two pets at home: Cole, a black Labrador, and Demon, a grey tabby cat. Dr. Firmin also cares for Puff, his clinic cat, and a golden retriever named Stanley.
Robert C. Gros, DVM
Dr. Robert C. Gros has been an associate veterinarian with Slidell Veterinary Hospital since July 2008. Originally from New Orleans, Dr. Gros wanted to become a veterinarian ever since a compassionate veterinarian treated and saved his first puppy from distemper, even though Dr. Gros had very little money for payment.
While curing illness and returning happy, healthy pets to their parents are his greatest sources of satisfaction, it was Dr. Gros's brush with local fame that is one of the most memorable of his veterinary career. "Joey Heatherton, a singer and actress, flew into New Orleans to play at the Blue Room with a Yorkie puppy in her coat pocket," he recalls. "On arrival, the puppy started having seizures due to hypoglycemia. On an emergency call after midnight, I treated and saved her puppy. The incident made the paper. In the article she said, 'A very cute veterinarian saved my puppy.'"
Dr. Gros earned his bachelor's degree in veterinary science from Louisiana State University. He went on to Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, where he earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1972.
Dr. Gros is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association (past president), the Southeast Louisiana Veterinary Association, and the South Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association. He is also a past member of the Louisiana Animal Welfare Commission and an alternate delegate representing Louisiana in the American Veterinary Medical Association. His areas of professional interest include soft tissue surgery and dentistry.
In his spare time, Dr. Gros enjoys travel, photography, boating, and fishing. He and his wife Gerri have two daughters, Stephanie and Kimberley, and four grandchildren. They also have a cat, Jumper.
Rayna Campos, DVM
Dr. Campos has been an associate veterinarian with Slidell Veterinary Hospital since June of 2022. She attained an undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of New Orleans in 2003, and then went on to attend the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Growing up in Terrytown, LA, Dr. Campos was inspired to become a veterinarian because of her passion for horses and her childhood equine veterinarian, Dr. Chapman.
Today, the most rewarding part of being a veterinarian for her is the human and animal bond.
Dr. Campos is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Florida Parishes Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and the Southeast Louisiana Veterinary Association. She is also USDA accredited.
In her free time, Dr. Campos loves riding horses, listening to live music, and gathering with family and friends. She has two toy poodles named Andi and Rikki, a quarter horse named Forrest, and a pony named Gump.