Ellenton Animal Hospital

Dr. Dana and Dr. Suzanne saved both of my dogs lives! With the instructions and intense observations from both doctors and staff of our Maggie we were able to keep her alive and well three years after being diagnosed with diabetes, Cushing's Disease and glaucoma. When it came time to say goodbye to our doggie daughter, they were so supportive and took care of the arrangements when I couldn't even see to walk out of the vet because of my tears. When our new puppy got poisoned, they stayed with us well after their closing hours and when we chose not to take her to the 24 hour vet because we felt that if she were going to pass away we wanted it to be at home, they understood and gave us their home phone numbers so we could call them at any time of the night for help or support. I cannot thank them for the care and concern for both of our Miniature Schnauzers and the wonderful staff that they have working for them. They are truly a blessing!! more

We have been taking our 2 ,now 8 year old beagles, to Dr. Dana and his staff for the past 4 years. The first week we moved here, one was sick & we appreciated the fact that Dr. Dana Walstead wasn't too quick to ""rush' into giving her pills and run all kinds of tests like the vet we just left in Atlanta had done just for the past several months earlier for the same issue. Instead, he used good judgement and seemed to know how to treat her with minimal meds and her problem never returned! After spending several hundred dollars on all those tests & meds in Atlanta that never even worked!\r \r For the past 4 years, because of the extra attention he & Dr Suzanne & staff have given my girls, we have only had to go in on 1 other occassion until we moved 45 miles away to St. Peterburg. We had already interviewed several vets &/or staff in the St. Petersburg area and just didn't get the same feel for any of them as Dr. Dana Walstead & his staff. So, we had pretty much decided we'd take the girls back to him for their annual ""check-up"" but we had an emergency (the other beagle, this time)and one got very sick about a month before our ""check-up"". We were torn as to whether to make the drive for a very sick dog 45 miles to Ellenton Aniumal Clinic & I'm so glad we did! After our first visit with this emergency, he spent days on the phone with me asking how my little beagle was doing & explaining the serious and often fatal illness she had. He was very careful with his diagnosis and helped me decipher what was truth and not truth about what I had read on-line. Our little girl is well on her way to being much better and we will have to continue to go for several more visits to make sure she continues her successful recovery. We are so happy that we stayed with Dr. Dana and will tell anyone, he is well worth the drive. Although he is a VERY busy man himself, he will take the time to talk with you and work with you in the explanations and treatment options and discuss the prices of each. And he will never recommend unecessary tests, vaccines and medications-which is something we felt like the vets in our new hometown were doing just by speaking to their staffs & listening to our new neighbors. He is much more discriminating in his diagnosis and knowledgeable than the 4 or 5 vets we have spoken to inthis part of Florida. I do not want to say that they are not good, but in my opinion, Dr. Dana just seemed to have a certain edge that the others do not have! Not to mention, he saved my little beagle's life! We would highly recommend him to anyone in the South Tampa Bay & Sarasota area! Sincerely, The Hendersons Pros: Best Doctor & Very Caring Staff more

I was so happy to find this congenial vet conveniently located near my new home! I was thoroughly satisfied with my first appt; but took my pup the following week for a recommended dental cleaning. Upon picking up my little guy following the cleaning, I was informed numerous teeth had been pulled - without even a phonecall to alert me during the procedure! I had asked at the first visit the previous week, if my pup would lose any teeth during his cleaning. The vet then briefly re-examined my pup's mouth, pushed on several of his front teeth, and said possibly one or two. I was saddened by the possibility of him losing one or two, so you can only imagine my shock and disbelief upon picking him up to find, they had not only pulled possibly one or two, but ELEVEN! Needless to say, I was devastated, since my little guy is only four. I have another pup, same breed, that had his teeth cleaned in Ohio, that did not lose one tooth at his cleaning at this same age. My husband and I realize that all dogs are different, but come on, 11 teeth without as little as a phonecall to prepare us. Needless to say, we will unfortunately not continue to use this practice. This was a nightmarish experience, that I would have highly considered going elsewhere for a second opinion before allowing them to pull that many teeth, had I been made aware! They may give great care at this practice, but one may want to ask questions before taking their beloved pet there for a dental cleaning, as I was and still am extremely disappointed and quite unhappy that my pup is missing most of his front teeth at this young an age! Don't get me wrong, I do realize that our pup was in dire need of a good dental cleaning, but I feel common courtesy would have been for the practice to give us a call to alert us. This has left me forever wondering whether my pup truly needed this many teeth pulled. Pros: May very well be an awesome vet! but... Cons: Practice extracted 11 teeth without a mere phonecall! more