We pride ourselves on our friendly and knowledgeable staff who never forget your pet’s name or the details of their health. We know it can be scary to come to the vet and our goal is to make your pet’s visit as comfortable as possible.

We have three exam rooms. Here you will have the opportunity to discuss any medical or behavioural questions or concerns with your doctor. We also love to hear stories about your pets that help us get to know them better. Our Doctors will perform physical exams, provide vaccines, discuss treatment plans, prescribe medications, and make nutritional recommendations to help keep your furry friends healthy and happy.

Ever wonder where your cat or dog goes when they are taken away?

Our treatment room is the centre of the hospital, it is in this area that your pet will receive snuggles and hugs from our assistants while our Doctors and technicians prepare treatment plans. Samples of blood, fecal, ear, urine and skin samples are taken for diagnosis in the lab. Our trained staff will also provide your pet with nail trims and anal gland expression. If your pet requires medication to aid in their recovery, it is here that they will receive injections.

Surgical patients wait patiently in kennels in this area for their pre-surgical exams, sedation, intravenous catheters and their surgery. They are closely monitored as they recover from anesthetic and wait to go home.

Hartzel Animal Hospital provides a full array of diagnostic tests for our patients. Our highly trained technicians evaluate urine, skin scrapings, ear swabs and fecal samples using a variety of equipment like the microscope, refractometer and centrifuge. Our blood machine runs tests that evaluate kidney and liver functions, which is important information that can be used prior to surgery or to help create a medical treatment plan for a sick patient.

Specialized blood work and tissue samples are sent to a central laboratory for the utmost diagnostic accuracy.

Our hospital’s radiology department provides state-of-the-art digital x-rays.

Our pharmacy carries the medication that the doctors prescribe to aid in the treatment of your pets.

Dental disease in our pets causes pain, infection and illness. Dental cleaning and polishing removes tartar before the teeth are lost. Dental X-rays identify teeth that are infected or damaged and help in determining whether they require removal or can be treated. We offer these services because we believe they are integral to your pet’s health and well being. There is evidence that dental health can actually prolong your pet’s life.

A full dental procedure is always done under general anesthesia. If extractions are required, regional nerve blocks are used to reduce post operative pain. Dentistry involves a thorough cleaning, scaling and polishing of each tooth, and then charting and examining for damage, pockets, or root lesions. Some teeth are beyond repair, and may require removal to prevent infection and pain. Most owners are surprised by how much better a pet feels after a serious dental problem is treated.

An owner may not be aware of serious dental disease in their pet. A physical examination is the beginning of the discovery. Once recommended, dentistry involves a day stay in our hospital. Full mouth radiographs are recommended for all cats since tooth defects can be very well hidden. In dogs radiographs are usually done on individual teeth of concern.

In our fully equipped surgery suite, we provide a full range of surgeries for our patients. We use the most up-to-date anesthetic protocols and our technicians ensure the safety of your loved ones while they are with us. Our highly-trained veterinarians perform surgeries, including routine spay and neuters as well as more complex surgeries including soft-tissue surgeries. When your pet is having surgery in our hospital, they have a dedicated technician who monitors their vital signs, assists during the procedures and provides them with post-operative care including pain medication.

Large, clean runs include thermostatically controlled heated floors for your pet’s comfort. Dimmer lighting lets us control the illumination at night time, and during recovery from surgery. Separate ward areas assist with noise reduction through sound insulation for sick and recovering animals.

Our runs have clear tempered glass doors. This gives large dogs a good view around them and feels less confined whether you are big or small. Cleaning protocols provide consistent cleanliness. Blankets and kennel pads are used for every animal. Raised beds are provided where needed.

At Westbridge Veterinary Hospital, our cat ward is insulated for external sounds. Large, cozy, padded bedding and extra comforts are provided to all patients. Warming bags help if kitties are sick. All this provides a soothing setting for cats that require hospitalization. A large glass window from the doctor’s office keeps our feline friends in sight and provides interest for recovering animals.