Located conveniently in Sanford, FL, our veterinary clinic offers primary care, diagnostics, advanced care, emergency, and surgical services for our patients. Click on our services below for a more detailed description of what we offer. To make an appointment with us, fill out our online appointment request form or call us at 407-915-5730.
Our services are all administered by Dr. Z and our trained staff of veterinary technicians. In some cases, it may be in the patient’s best interests to refer them to a specialist. We have numerous colleagues in Central Florida and will be happy to assist you in locating a specialist that can take care of your pet’s needs.
If your pet needs emergency care when our office isn’t open, please contact the Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Central Florida, with locations in Casselberry, Leesburg and South Orlando. They can be reached at 407-644-4449.
Cleared by the FDA for therapeutic use, cold laser therapy is a safe, non-invasive therapy used to treat conditions involving pain and inflammation. It has no negative side-effects. The only preparation needed for the procedure is protective eyewear for the operator and the patient. Cold lasers are often used as a complement to other treatments. They help improve conditions involving pain and inflammation, such as arthritis, tendonitis, muscle strain, soft tissue injuries, back pain, dermatological issues, and wounds. Cold lasers have also been shown to speed up healing in injuries. Learn more about cold laser therapy.
We provide comprehensive wellness exams for dogs and cats. We recommend administering this exam annually to develop a detailed medical history for your pet and to screen your pet for any signs of illness or disease. This preventative measure helps detect conditions and diseases early in their development, which improves the prognosis and reduces the need for future visits.
During the exam, Dr. Z will ask you about your pet’s routine and whether or not you have any specific concerns about their health. A thorough hands-on exam will follow, where Dr. Z will examine all of your pet’s body systems. Afterward, Dr. Z may order additional diagnostic tests as needed. The tests and other annual procedures, such as vaccinations, may also be performed during the exam, but they are not part of the wellness exam.
Please visit this page to make an appointment for a wellness exam.
Spaying and neutering is the removal of a female or male animal’s reproductive organs, respectively. This common procedure requires general anesthesia and pain management. We highly recommend this procedure for all cats and dogs due to health and behavioral reasons. Visit this ASPCA page to learn more about the advantages of spaying and neutering your pets. We use our advanced surgical laser equipment for this procedure to ensure your pet’s comfort, safety, and fast recovery.
We offer services for the examination, maintanence, and treatment of your pet’s teeth, gums, and mouth. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, periodontal disease (i.e., gum disease) is the most common health problem that veterinarians find in pets. By the age of two, it’s estimated that about 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some form of periodontal disease. Because dental diseases are so common, we highly recommend that you bring in your pet for a dental evaluation at least once a year.
Microchips for pets are safe, permanent, and affordable. Because collars and tags can be torn or taken off, microchips are the only way to ensure that your pet will be quickly identified if they become lost. Each chip has a unique identification number that links your pet to your contact information, which can later be modified if it changes. When a lost pet arrives at an animal shelter, they are scanned for a microchip and, if they have one, their owner is contacted and they are quickly returned home. If a lost pet does not have a microchip, it might be difficult or even impossible to return them to their owner. Therefore, we highly recommend that owners microchip their pets. Read our blog post on microchipping your dog or cat for more information.
Routine vaccinations protect our pets from deadly infectious diseases by stimulating their immune system to fight off viruses. There are different types of vaccines available. Core vaccines are given to all pets, while other vaccines may be administered to a pet depending on their level of contact with sources of infectious disease. We recommend that both dogs and cats begin their schedule of vaccinations at about 8 weeks of age. In most cases, adult pets will receive annual vaccinations to maintain their immunity; certain vaccines may need to be administered semiannually, though. Read our blog post on vaccines for more information on why you should vaccinate your dog or cat.
Fleas and ticks are not only uncomfortable for pets–they cause serious health problems too. We offer a variety of options for flea and tick treatment and prevention.
Heartworms are deadly parasitic worms transferred by mosquitoes that can infect the hearts and lungs of dogs and cats. Heartworm prevention should typically start around 6 to 8 weeks of age and be administered monthly to pets for the rest of their lives. We recommend testing dogs semiannually for heartworms.
Although heartworms can be treated in dogs, it is a long, difficult, and expensive process. There is no treatment available for cats. Because of this, we emphasize the importance of preventing heartworm disease before it begins. We have multiple options for prevention of heartworms to make the process quick and easy for you and your pet.
Deworming is a procedure where pets are administered a drug that expels intestinal parasites from their bodies. Puppies and kittens are most susceptible to intestinal parasites, so they need to be dewormed more frequently, while adult dogs and cats need to be dewormed about twice a year.
Diabetes is a disease where sugar cannot enter the body’s cells due to an insensitivity to the pancreatic hormone insulin or deficiency of insulin (Type I and Type II, respectively). This results in too much sugar in the body’s bloodstream, while cells are deprived of their source of chemical energy. We are equipped with monitoring systems that are used to examine our diabetic patients and manage their health. With regular treatment and observation, the impact of diabetes on a patient’s daily life will usually be minimal.
Dermatology in veterinary medicine is concerned with the health of the fur, claws, and skin of an animal. Dermatological diseases can be caused by allergies, parasites, infections, hormonal imbalances, and sometimes autoimmune disorders and may include symptoms such as itchiness, excessive dander, loss of fur, bumps, lumps, inflammation, and redness of the skin. We have a variety of treatment options available to manage these diseases and their symptoms.
Our animal hospital is equipped with a cutting-edge laboratory where we can perform a variety of tests that can be used to diagnose and treat your pet.
Urinalysis is a diagnostic method where the content of the patient’s urine is examined using an array of tests. This method can reveal diseases that may otherwise go undetected, such as diabetes, urinary tract infections and kidney disease.
Tonometry is a test used to measure the level of pressure inside the eyes. It is used to screen for glaucoma.
Blood pressure is one of the primary vital signs next to body temperature, pulse, and breathing rate. It can tell us about the condition of the circulatory system. Blood pressure should be neither too high (hypertension) nor too low (hypotension). We are well-equipped with instruments that measure the blood pressure of your pet for both diagnostic and monitoring purposes.
Radiology is the interpretation of medical images for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment. At Towne Center Animal Hospital, we are equipped with modern digital X-ray equipment used to generate high quality internal images of the body. This equipment allows us to safely and non-invasively diagnose diseases and monitor the status of our patients.
Orthopedic surgery is surgery involving the musculoskeletal system. We offer basic orthopedic surgery at our animal hospital. Patients that require advanced attention may be referred to a specialist.
Soft tissue surgery is surgery that encompasses cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, endocrine, oncologic, and reconstructive procedures. For many of our surgeries, we use advanced laser equipment when appropriate to improve the patient’s rate of healing and reduce postoperative pain.
Declawing is an orthopedic surgical procedure where the animal’s claws are permanently removed. With our advanced laser equipment, declawing has become safer and more comfortable for our patients. The medical laser seals off nerves and blood vessels, reducing postoperative pain and blood loss, which leads faster healing compared to traditional methods. This procedure is only offered for cats and requires general anesthesia and pain management.
Anesthesia is a procedure where we temporarily induce unconsciousness, lack of pain and muscle relaxation in our patients in order to perform other medical interventions. There are risks associated with anesthesia, which is why we are equipped with advanced anesthesia equipment and monitoring systems for the safety and comfort of our patients. We recommend that our patients have pre-anesthetic blood work done before the procedure to minimize associated risks.
When other options have been exhausted, we offer euthanasia as a compassionate option to minimize suffering in terminally ill patients. Our caring staff will help you through the process and ensure that your pet is comfortable and at peace in their final moments.