Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Veterinary Care in Avon Park, FL
Highlands Animal Hospital has been serving Highlands County for over 60 years as the first and oldest veterinary clinic in the region. Our dedicated team provides comprehensive veterinary care tailored to each pet's unique needs, emphasizing preventative healthcare through annual wellness exams, vaccinations, and parasite prevention. With a focus on building strong client relationships, we offer specialized services for puppies, kittens, and senior pets, along with surgical procedures and compassionate end-of-life care.Our experienced veterinarians and technicians, including Dr. John Young and staff members with decades of combined experience, maintain close ties to the local community. We prioritize both medical excellence and emotional support, recognizing pets as integral family members. Our facility is equipped for routine care, emergency procedures, and in-house diagnostics, ensuring pets receive timely, high-quality treatment throughout their lives.
Services
Wellness Exams
Puppy/Kitten Care
Senior Pet Services
Surgical Procedures
Pet Hospice
Details
- Year established: 1963
Highlights and features
- We've provided veterinary care in Highlands County for over 60 years
- Our team includes experienced veterinarians and certified technicians
- We offer comprehensive services from preventative care to surgical treatments
- We maintain strong community ties and personalized client relationships
- We provide compassionate end-of-life care and emergency services
Services
Wellness Exams
Our comprehensive wellness exams focus on early disease detection and preventative healthcare. We customize vaccination schedules and parasite prevention plans for each pet's specific needs. Annual checkups help maintain optimal health through tailored nutrition and exercise recommendations while monitoring for age-related conditions.
Puppy/Kitten Care
We provide essential vaccinations, microchipping, and developmental assessments for new pets. Our early care programs establish proper nutrition, deworming schedules, and behavioral training foundations. We guide owners through critical socialization periods and developmental milestones during the first year of life.
Senior Pet Services
Our senior care program addresses age-related health changes through specialized bloodwork, mobility assessments, and chronic condition management. We monitor for arthritis, kidney disease, and cognitive decline while implementing pain management strategies to maintain quality of life for older pets.
Surgical Procedures
We perform spays, neuters, orthopedic repairs, and emergency surgeries using modern anesthesia protocols. Our surgical services include pre-operative blood testing, intraoperative monitoring, and post-operative pain management. We maintain sterile surgical environments with in-house diagnostic laboratory support for safe procedures.
Pet Hospice
Our compassionate hospice services provide comfort-focused care for terminally ill pets. We offer pain management, mobility assistance, and nutritional support while guiding families through difficult decisions. We provide counseling to help owners recognize quality-of-life indicators and make informed choices about euthanasia options.
People
John H. Young
Veterinarian
Dr. Young has served Highlands County since joining the practice in 1989 and assuming ownership in 2000. He maintains strong community ties while providing veterinary care across multiple generations of local pets.
Christy Reed
Office Manager
Christy manages office operations, bookkeeping, and reception services with over 5 years of veterinary experience. She brings healthcare administration expertise from her previous human medicine career background.
Trey Barfield
Veterinary Technician
Trey provides technical support with over 10 years of veterinary experience. He maintains medical equipment while assisting with patient care and procedures at the clinic.
Destiney Turner
Veterinary Technician
Destiney brings shelter medicine experience and a passion for animal care developed through childhood farm animal exposure. She joined the team in 2016 after completing veterinary technology training.
Kaycee Mercure
Veterinary Technician
Kaycee contributes 8 years of technical experience with a lifelong passion for animal care. She provides compassionate patient handling while balancing photography and family life in Avon Park.
Questions
What services does Highlands Animal Hospital offer?
We provide wellness exams, vaccinations, surgical procedures, senior pet care, and compassionate end-of-life services for dogs and cats in Highlands County.
Do you offer emergency veterinary care?
Yes, we provide emergency veterinary services and encourage immediate contact at (863) 385-7743 for urgent pet health concerns.
How can I schedule an appointment?
Call us directly at (863) 385-7743 to schedule wellness exams, sick visits, or surgical consultations during regular business hours.
How long has the hospital been operating?
We've been serving Highlands County pet owners since 1963, providing continuous veterinary care for over six decades.
