A 40 year history of saving lives
Article courtesy of Suncoast Pet
By Terri Romano, Veterinary Practice Manager Humane Society of Manatee County
Click here to download a PDF of this article.
At the Humane Society of Manatee County Pet Health Center/Veterinary Clinic, we firmly believe that no pet should go without affordable health care. vices to the public with no income or residency requirements. We also offer reduced prices to qualifying shelters and rescues.
Spay/Neuter Services
We are your spay/neuter headquarters. Since 2009, our Pet Health Center has completed more than 35,000 spay/neuter surgeries for local pet owners and shelter animals looking for a second chance at life. Our veterinarians and technicians are trained in high volume, high quality spay/neuter. This is a core function of our business, and we do not take this procedure lightly. Each animal is prepped, sedat- ed and monitored throughout his or her surgery process
Neutering your male dog at an appropriate age will keep him in check around unspayed females, reduce the risk of prostate disor- ders, help your dog re-focus on you to minimize his dominance and aggression and virtually eliminate his need to find the closest in-heat female and risk getting hit by a car.
Spaying your female dog avoids that “oops” litter, along with all the work and expense that goes along with caring for unexpected puppies. Early spaying of your female also prevents uterine infections called Pyometra, a life-threatening condition that risks the life of your female canine companion. Additionally, spaying at an early age min- imizes her risk of developing malignant mammary cancer. With each heat cycle, her chances of developing cancer increase exponentially.
In addition to our qualified surgeons, we also believe that a physi- cal exam and vaccines are essential in keeping your pet healthy. An- nual exams can help prevent medical problems before they become life threatening and can also give us a clearer picture of your pet’s health.
Pet Vaccinations
Vaccinations are a critical component to preventative health. We have administered more than 45,000 vaccines to pets in our commu- nity, and we tailor our vaccine protocols to the risk situations specific to each pet. Does your dog go to dog parks? Does your cat spend time outdoors? We know that each dog and cat is different, so we determine each animal’s vaccine protocol on an individual basis.
Puppies and kittens should also complete a series of core vaccines within their first six months. This is important information in order to individualize the vaccine package needed for your pet while respect- ing your budget.
Affordable Wellness Visits
The Pet Health Center now offers wellness visits for your animal companions by appointment. Dog wellness exams start at $60.00 and include vaccines and heartworm testing, while cat wellness visits start at $50.00, including vaccines.
Ongoing Education
We are committed to educating pet owners on the importance of heart worm prevention, flea prevention and overall parasite control. We back this education with low cost and affordable medications to maintain the continued care of your pet.
We also have recently launched an Online Pet Pharmacy for our patients. Visit our website at www.humanemanatee.org and click on “BUY PET MEDS.” These nonprofit-priced meds include free shipping!
Low-Cost Dental Services
We now offer low-cost dentals in the Pet Health Center. Periodon- tal disease is the most common clinical condition occurring in adult dogs and cats, and is entirely preventable.
By three years of age, many dogs and cats have some evidence of periodontal disease. Unfortunately, other than bad breath, there are few signs of the disease evident to the owner, and professional den- tal cleaning and periodontal therapy often comes too late to prevent extensive disease or to save teeth.
We have heard from many of our clients that this procedure is so expensive that they ignore the need and just assume this to be part of “getting old”. We have created a pricing structure that is affordable while not jeopardizing care for the animals, beginning with antibiot- ics, an examination and pre-operative blood work prior to perform- ing the procedure.
Available by appointment, Dental services for dogs are priced at $250.00 and for cats, $200.00.
Appointments can be made by calling 941-747-8808 or by sending an email at clinic@humanesocietymanatee.org.
Why Should I Take My Pet to the Humane Society of Manatee County Pet Health Center?
Bottom line – we care about your pet and your budget. We do not believe that you must choose between health care for your furry family and relinquishing your pet to a local shelter. Excellent affordable health care for your pet is what we strive to achieve.
Anyone can utilize the services offered at our facility.
One final bonus—any and all profits realized by our Pet Health Center allows us to continue supporting our no-kill shelter, which provides a temporary home for hundreds of homeless pets awaiting their FUREVER home.
Thank you for your continued support! Come and see us soon!
