Amherst Animal Hospital continues legacy of care for pets

Amherst Animal Hospital continues legacy of care for pets

It’s raining cats and dogs.

And, an occasional rabbit.

At least that is what it seems like at one of Lorain County’s most successful and long operating veterinary clinics, where staffers treat pets like family and quite literally have for generations.

Amherst Animal Hospital, 1425 Cooper Foster Park Road in Amherst, may be a name familiar with many area residents, as it has been treating and
proactively caring for family pets for nearly 70 years.

The hospital now is owned by Dr. Kristin Yacobozzi, who purchased the veterinary clinic four years ago from Dr. Mark Gigliotti.

The practice was in the Gigliotti family since the 1950s.

Yacobozzi joined the practice after she graduated from The Ohio State University in 2006, then became a partner in the practice in 2012.

Amherst Animal Hospital has a 20-person team that cares for the pets and works to help train pet parents on best practices in caring for their precious little treasures.

And while they currently work mostly with pets of the canine and feline variety, Yacobozzi said she’s not averse to branching out into the equine arena and perhaps even more exotic pets in the future as the practice grows.

The Amherst Animal Hospital also offers some basic service for birds, as well.

Yacobozzi said she expects to expand the practice and add more veterinarians yet this year.

“I think we’re renowned for our commitment to personalized, compassionate service, and we’ve garnered the unwavering trust and loyalty of our clientele, nurturing relationships one customer at a time,” she said. “As a family owned, comprehensive animal hospital, we prioritize creating a warm, inviting atmosphere tailored to fulfilling all pets’ requirements.

“We employ leading-edge technology and contemporary methodologies, we maintain a hands-on approach to ensure the highest quality of care. Our array of services encompasses medical, surgical, and preventative care mostly for dogs and cats.

“We have a really tight knit group. Definitely more like a family than a staff.”

Wellness for pets

Amherst Animal Hospital provides comprehensive physical wellness assessments to vaccinations and in-house lab testing for comprehensive blood profiles, heartworm and intestinal parasite detection.

It also offers Class 4 laser therapy, dental cleanings and a wide range of surgeries, encompassing routine to intricate procedures.

Class 4 laser therapy is an innovative treatment that reduces pain and inflammation while boosting healing.

Yacobozzi said it’s perfect for post-surgery, arthritic and dermatological cases.

The most common procedures are having a pet spayed or neutered, but one area she wants to encourage pet parents to do more often is having an annual dental checkup.

The routine cleaning helps to prevent cavities and other common mouth problems, including a build up of bad bacteria, that Yacobozzi said she sees all too often.

In addition to brushing or even an ultrasonic scaler, there are simple additives to food or water than can improve overall mouth and teeth health.

“All too often, what we’re having to do is extract teeth because of severe infection or cavities, most of which is entirely preventable,” Yacobozzi said. “Often, there is no obvious sign, especially with cats.

“Unfortunately for us, animals are excellent at hiding pain because in the animal kingdom, pain is a sign of weakness. It’s instinctual for them.”

The Animal Hospital also provides a comprehensive wellness care system that aims to keep a pet healthy, offering physical exams, parasite and heartworm testing, vaccinations and diet consultations.

Yacobozzi said she’s on a mission to educate pet parents of the dangers of over feeding and obesity in a pet.

She said she sees pets that are very obviously overfed, which poses serious health threats to the pet, taking two years off the average life expectancy.

And while Yacobozzi said all pets benefit from exercise, controlling the amount of food they eat is key.

She also wants to stress to pet parents the dangers of spreading Lyme disease from parasites like ticks.

“It’s endemic in Northeast Ohio; it’s really scary,” Yacobozzi said. “A good flea and tick preventative is the first line of defense, and unfortunately, pets don’t really show any symptoms from it.

“And, it’s a myth that they can’t get a tick in the cold winter months. I absolutely see pets with ticks in the winter. We want to be sure we’re protecting our pets, which in turn protects people.

“I’m here to be that voice for the pet and help to educate the owners. I’m big into preventative health care and for pets living a long and healthy life. They can’t speak for themselves. Get those checkups. Take your dog for a walk. Don’t overfeed. And love your pet longer.”

Boarding facilities

Beyond health care, Amherst Animal Hospital extends its offerings to encompass full boarding facilities, day-stays and comprehensive grooming services.

Pet parents can treat their furry friend to a spa day.

The baths include shampoo, conditioner that is tailored to breed needs, toenail trim and ear cleaning.

And, the Animal Hospital offers a variety of specialized shampoos and conditioners for different skin conditions.

It also provides behavioral counselling, as sometimes, it’s not just about physical health.

Yacobozzi said her team can uncover the root causes of behavioral issues like aggression or separation anxiety.

With behavior modification techniques, the aim is to bring positive change, she said.

The practice can be found online at www.AmherstAnimal.com.

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