Dr Debby Burnett was raised in Greeley, Colorado. She was interested in veterinary medicine, but a high school teacher told her that she wasn't good enough in science to pursue it. She started university in journalism, then switched to kinesiology and later earned a Master's Degree in Physical Therapy in 1995.

As a pediatric physical therapist, she rekindled her interest in veterinary medicine when working with her patients using hippotherapy. She earned her DVM from Texas A&M in 2003. Afterwards, she did an equine reproduction internship, then transitioned to mixed animal practice in Wyoming while still working as a physical therapist part time.

After completing the CSU acupuncture course in 2006, she starting using it in mixed animal practice in Wyoming and Colorado. Looking for a change from traditional practice, she completed the chiropractic training program at ACES in 2024 and has established her own practice, Burnett Animal Chiropractic in Gunnison, Colorado.