Dr Dawson was raised in Brantford, Ontario in a home filled with pets. Her family was active volunteering for the local ASPCA, and Chelsea worked in the kennels, as a volunteer coordinator, and as a humane agent before earning her veterinary degree from the University of Glasgow in 2011.

She was introduced to holistic medicine by one of her instructors in veterinary school, Samantha Lindley, who taught pain management as well as acupuncture.

After graduation, she took a position in a multi-doctor small animal practice in England and earned her General Practitioner's Certificate in Western Veterinary Acupuncture and Chronic Pain Management. She began to see pain patients at the practice, and after many client requests regarding herbal medicine, took an introductory Western Herbal medicine course through CIVT. 

Dr Dawson has advanced training in nutrition and behavior, and has taught acupuncture to veterinarians and veterinary nurses and co-founded a UK-based herbal medicine course as well.

She currently has her own referral practice in the North of England where she focuses on multi-modal pain management, nutrition, herbal medicine, and behavior.