Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Family Veterinarian in Altoona, PA
Pleasant Valley Animal Hospital has been a trusted name in Altoona since 1971, founded by Dr. Denny Stachmus. Our family-owned practice transitioned from walk-in care to scheduled appointments in 1986, expanding our ability to provide personalized attention. With three generations of veterinary expertise, including Dr. Matt Stachmus and Business Manager Andrew Stachmus, we combine decades of experience with modern medical practices. Our team treats every pet as part of the family, offering comprehensive services from wellness exams to critical care. We maintain an in-house pharmacy and laboratory for immediate diagnostics, ensuring timely treatment.Our commitment to compassionate care extends to emergency services for regular clients after hours. As a locally owned LLC since 2013, we prioritize community trust and pet health. Our staff's diverse backgrounds, including international veterinary work, enrich our approach to animal care. We partner with specialists for advanced consultations while maintaining affordability through competitive pricing. This legacy of excellence continues to define our mission in serving Altoona's pets and their families.
Services
Wellness Exams
Vaccinations
Pharmacy
Surgery
Dentistry
Lab Work
Emergency Services
Prescription Diets
Laser Therapy
Critical Care
Details
- Year established: 1971
Highlights and features
- Family-owned veterinary practice serving Altoona since 1971
- Three generations of veterinary expertise and community knowledge
- In-house pharmacy and laboratory for immediate diagnostics
- Emergency services available for regular clients after hours
- Personalized care treating pets as family members
What people say
Caring staff
Great service
Family-like treatment
Experienced doctors
Successful treatments
Services
Wellness Exams
Our 30-minute wellness exams ensure comprehensive health assessments for pets. These annual visits include physical evaluations, vaccination updates, and preventive care planning. Our experienced veterinarians detect early signs of illness and provide tailored health recommendations to maintain your pet's long-term wellbeing.
Vaccinations
We offer complete vaccination protocols to protect pets against common diseases. Our staff administers core vaccines and customized preventive treatments based on age, lifestyle, and exposure risks. This proactive approach maintains herd immunity while safeguarding individual pet health through scientifically proven protocols.
Surgical Services
Our surgical suite handles routine and complex procedures with modern anesthesia protocols. Services include spays/neuters, dental surgeries, and soft tissue operations. Patients receive continuous monitoring with IV therapy and post-operative pain management to ensure safe recoveries under our experienced team's care.
Emergency Care
After-hours emergency services are available for established clients until 9 PM. Our team addresses critical conditions like trauma, poisoning, and severe illness with immediate diagnostics and stabilization measures. Regular clients receive priority access to our urgent care resources during extended hours.
Diagnostic Lab
In-house laboratory capabilities enable rapid bloodwork, urinalysis, and parasite screening during appointments. We perform tick-borne disease tests and send specialized samples to local veterinary pathologists for detailed analysis. This combination ensures timely diagnosis while maintaining accuracy for complex cases.
People
Dr. Matt Stachmus
Veterinarian
Dr. Matt Stachmus graduated from VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. He brings experience from diverse veterinary settings including emergency care and international development work in Guatemala. As second-generation veterinarian, he continues the family legacy of compassionate pet care.
Andrew Stachmus
Business Manager
Andrew Stachmus joined the team in 2013 after graduating from Penn State with art history and business degrees. He manages clinic operations while maintaining family values in business practices. His administrative leadership ensures efficient service delivery while preserving personalized client interactions.
Dr. Denny Stachmus
Founder
Dr. Denny Stachmus established the clinic in 1971 after graduating from University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine. He practiced for over 40 years before transitioning to mentorship roles. His vision created Altoona's oldest family veterinary practice, setting standards for compassionate animal care in the region.
Questions
What are your emergency service hours?
Emergency services are available for regular clients until 9 PM daily. After-hours emergencies beyond this time receive referral assistance to other clinics.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept cash, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover for all veterinary services and pet pharmacy purchases at time of service.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Contact us directly at (814) 946-0010 during business hours to schedule wellness exams, sick visits, or specialized treatments with our veterinary team.
What surgical services do you offer?
Our surgical services include spays/neuters, dental procedures, and soft tissue operations performed with modern anesthesia and continuous patient monitoring.
Do you have in-house diagnostic capabilities?
Yes, we perform complete in-house lab work including blood tests, urinalysis, and parasite screening during regular appointments for immediate diagnostic results.
