Highlands Veterinary Center

Highlands Veterinary Center We are a full service small animal veterinary hospital in Chesapeake, VA Stromlund as Highlands Pet Clinic in the Norfolk Highlands section of Chesapeake.

About Our Veterinary Center

Highlands Veterinary Center was established in July 1972 by Dr. E.V. In May of 1980, Dr. Wayne T. Springer purchased Highlands Pet Clinic from Dr. Stromlund, who was retiring. The clinic grew over the next 20 years.

Mega Mutt Mondays!The breed of the week is the XOLOITZCUINTLI!!! (pronounced "show-low-eats-QUEENT-lee")AKA: The Mexica...
06/16/2025

Mega Mutt Mondays!

The breed of the week is the XOLOITZCUINTLI!!!
(pronounced "show-low-eats-QUEENT-lee")
AKA: The Mexican Hairless Dog

🐾 The Xoloitzcuintli, or more commonly known as the Xolo is an ancient dog breed, thought to have been around over 3000 years, originating in Mexico, and associated with the Aztec empire. According to Aztec legend the Xolo was created by the god Xolotl, the god of death. The legend states that the Xolo was created from a piece of the "bone of life" and were highly regarded. Xolos were often given the role of leading or guiding the dead to the underworld.

🐾 The Xolo, while famous for it's lack of hair, actually can be found in a coated variety. While much less common, their coat is very short and can be found in several colors including black, gray, liver, and red. The Xolo also comes in three different sizes: toy, miniature, and standard.

🐾 Due to their hairlessness, Xolos can be prone to sunburn and occasional skin problems. Owners should be aware of this and be sure to have special dog specific sunscreen.

🐾 Xolos make fantastic personal heaters! The Xolo was also thought to possess healing powers or gifts and were highly regarded. This may be because of the amount of heat they give off as a result of their hairlessness.

🐾 Xolos are a fairly easy-going breed and while they can have a high prey drive, they don't require a large amount of exercise.

🐾 Fit as a fiddle! Xolos are known to be a fairly healthy breed! They can be prone to hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, and skin problems.

06/13/2025

Someone’s teddy bear has come to life!! What a minute, it’s just Maxx the beautiful Bichon Frise! Looks like he’s ready to party! Give some love to our Pet of the Day!! ❤️❤️❤️

06/13/2025

What dog breeds are my coworkers?

Oh my Gracious! Look at that precious punim (that's Yiddish for "face")! 🥰 Meet Ventus, our Pet of the Day! He is so ado...
06/12/2025

Oh my Gracious! Look at that precious punim (that's Yiddish for "face")! 🥰 Meet Ventus, our Pet of the Day! He is so adorable! 💕

Always a fun morning when puppies are involved! The mama to be was very interested in Dr. Springer sharing the ultrasou...
06/10/2025

Always a fun morning when puppies are involved! The mama to be was very interested in Dr. Springer sharing the ultrasound results with her. 😆 Congratulations to Miss Lacey Rose! We know your puppies will be as sweet as you are 💕

Vet Tip Tuesday!All is well, it's just anxiety.Do you have an anxious kiddo at home? Lots of people have pets who suffer...
06/10/2025

Vet Tip Tuesday!

All is well, it's just anxiety.

Do you have an anxious kiddo at home? Lots of people have pets who suffer from anxiety on a regular basis or pets who become fearful in specific situations, such as visiting the vet. It can be easy to brush aside or ignore certain anxious behaviors as mere quirks but anxiety can have significant long term effects. Anxiety can cause decreased lifespans, an increase in chance for disease, digestive issues, and possible increase in allergies. The thing is, anxiety happens, but it's not a place you need to live in. There are many things you can do for your pet to help reduce their anxiety and build them up into more confident and happy go lucky animals.

1. Work with a professional dog behaviorist and trainer.

"But he's already been through training." This is a phrase we commonly hear from most people, including families who have severely anxious and fearful dogs. It's important to note that behavioral consults and training is VERY different from basic obedience training. Teaching your dog to sit, stay, and come is not the same as teaching your dog how to be calm, confident, and well mannered in social or even stressful situations. A trained professional dog behaviorist will not only work on your beloved pooch, but will make it a point to work with you as well and build upon your relationship with your pup. Remember, your dog often looks to you on how to appropriately respond to situations. In situations where they may be stressed it's important to know how to react appropriately so as to best communicate to your pup the appropriate response.

2. Exercise!

Exercise is an often overlooked tool to helping your stressed or anxious dog and even your cat. Allowing your dog to run around the yard is not sufficient exercise and does not provide proper mental stimulation for your pet. It's important to recognize that dogs were selectively bred to do specific jobs. While your pet Yorkie may be far removed from it's ratter descendants it is vital and beneficial to remember that these ingrained traits can present themselves in negative ways if not appropriately fulfilled. Exercise is a great way to do that! Your pet doesn't need to be the best athlete around, but a good 30-60 minute walk around the neighborhood works wonders for your pooch. Don't be afraid to incorporate training into your daily walks as well so as to not just tire out your pup but to also build your relationship with your little one. Regular exercise not only physically benefits your pet but also can reduce anxiety and stress!

3. Socialization

No we're not talking about an Instagram page. Your puppy needs to experience face time in person. Socialization is something that is often recommended but is rarely discussed on how to properly achieve this. It's often misunderstood that socialization requires your dog to meet everyone and everything. Contrary to popular belief just the exposure of being in certain places and around people is often more beneficial and allows your stressed and anxious pup the opportunity to observe and be present in a new situation without the added pressure of having to do a meet and greet with every person and dog they come across. If your pet is anxious about going to the park with high volumes of people start out slow and begin by sitting on a bench near the parking lot. Similarly, if your dog is stressed or nervous about going to the vet you can make it a point to visit the vet on days when your pet is not due for anything and spend time in the waiting room or have the vet staff give your pup treats and/or pets. Small steps and amounts of exposure can make a big impact over time.

4. Medications
Sometimes medications are necessary to help your stressed and anxious pet. If you feel your pet would benefit from adding behavioral medications to their daily regime schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to see what the best option for your dog's lifestyle would be. Medications are not meant to be a cure all and are meant to be used in conjunction with training and some of the other methods mentioned above. Our goal is for your pet to live a healthy, fulfilled, happy, and anxiety free life!

Meet Mochi, the handsomest and super fluffy Pet of the Day! Give him some love! ❤️🥰😘
06/09/2025

Meet Mochi, the handsomest and super fluffy Pet of the Day! Give him some love! ❤️🥰😘

Mega Mutt Mondays!The breed of the week is the POODLE!!!🐾 Although commonly depicted as a French breed, the Poodle actua...
06/09/2025

Mega Mutt Mondays!

The breed of the week is the POODLE!!!

🐾 Although commonly depicted as a French breed, the Poodle actually originated in Germany. The breed name comes from the German word "pudel" or "pudelin" which means "to splash in the water." They come in three sizes: Teacup/Toy, Miniature, & Standard.

🐾 Considered a "non-sporting breed" by AKC standards, the Poodle actually is quite energetic, active, & sporty. This breed was originally used as a retriever for hunting water fowl! Poodles are highly intelligent, making them suitable for many jobs including service dogs (seeing eye & other disabilities, etc.), therapy dogs, & they've even been used as truffle hunting dogs due to their keen sense of smell!

🐾Poodles have hair, not fur. The difference is fur grows to a certain length and then falls off which we know as "shed," while hair grows continuously and doesn't fall out. Therefore poodles require regular grooming to keep from forming painful mats. Just like humans, poodle hair is susceptible to hormonal changes and can experience hair thinning or loss.

🐾 The "froofy" haircuts actually serve a purpose! The peculiar style serves to keep their core body organs and joints warm, while not weighing them down, when swimming in cold waters to retrieve birds. The standard cuts for show dogs consist of the Continental Clip, the Modified Continental Clip, or the English Saddle. Puppies in shows are often given the Puppy Clip which is the same length all over. However, unless your pup is competing in dog shows, you can have your poodle trimmed to your liking!

🐾 Contrary to popular belief, Poodles, as well as all "doodle" variants, are not "hypoallergenic" because they have hair instead of fur. In fact, no breed is truly hypoallergenic. Allergies derive from pet dander, not the hair coat itself. Routine grooming, as well as proper house-keeping, will keep dander levels down, lessening the signs of allergic response.

🐾 Poodles, while being an excellent breed, do have some health concerns you need to watch out for. They are susceptible to eye problems (cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, etc), adrenal disease (Addison's & Cushing's), joint disease (hip dysplasia, patellar luxation-- especially in toy/miniature breed, intervertebral disc disease, etc.), seizures, bloat, dental disease, cardiac disease & cancer.

06/05/2025

Puddin is the cutest pug! Give our Pet of the Day some love!!!! ❤️

Say hi to this little cutie!!! Cooper is our adorable Puppy of the Day!!! ❤🐾
06/04/2025

Say hi to this little cutie!!! Cooper is our adorable Puppy of the Day!!! ❤🐾

Vet Tip Tuesday!And all that GAS 💨Just about everyone has experienced that bloated, gassy belly feeling after eating a m...
06/03/2025

Vet Tip Tuesday!

And all that GAS 💨

Just about everyone has experienced that bloated, gassy belly feeling after eating a meal, but did you know your pets also experience gas? This can become a life threatening situation. We're talking about GDV (gastric dilation volvulus), otherwise known as BLOAT!

Who is at risk for bloat?
All dogs have the potential to experience bloat, but large and deep chested breeds (i.e. Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Bulldog, etc.) are at a greater risk.

What makes bloat so dangerous?
Bloat occurs when the stomach becomes enlarged, whether from ingesting way too much food (i.e "food bloat") or becomes full of air. This can become dangerous if the stomach twists on itself (volvulus) which in turn cuts off blood flow and oxygen to the surrounding tissue. The result leads to stagnation of the GI tract and tissue death.

But how can the stomach turn on itself?
The exact cause is uncertain; however, rapid food ingestion or strenuous exercise directly after feeding can increase the risk of your pet bloating. Increased respiration can cause air to be swallowed resulting in added gas to the stomach cavity. The stomach is not directly attached to the abdominal wall and has the potential to flip on itself.

How do I know if my pet is experiencing bloat?
You will notice your pet's abdomen appear distended (swollen) and it will be painful to the touch. They may be showing signs of restlessness/pacing, dry heaving/non-productive vomiting, drooling, pale gums, rapid or shallow breathing, shock, or collapse. If you notice any of these signs SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY!

What can I do to decrease the chances of bloat?
- If your pet is a food "gulper" try feeding smaller volumes more frequently instead of all at once. You can also try puzzle feeders or slow-feeder bowls (which have obstacles built into the bowl) to slow your pet down as they will need to navigate around to get each piece of food. This also aids in mental stimulation.
- Give your pet time to digest before playing. Encourage relaxation time for 30-60 minutes after a meal.
-Add water to their food. Dry kibble expands as it absorbs fluid in the stomach; pre-soaking your pet's food will help expand the food before it makes it to their stomach, as well as encourage daily water intake.

Our goal here at Highlands is for your pet to live a long, happy, and healthy life. Thanks for joining us for another Vet Tip Tuesday!

Mega Mutt Mondays!The breed of the week is the BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG!!!🐾 The Bernese Mountain Dog originated in Bern, Swi...
06/02/2025

Mega Mutt Mondays!

The breed of the week is the BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG!!!

🐾 The Bernese Mountain Dog originated in Bern, Switzerland in the 1800s and were recognized by the AKC in 1937. They were bred to be cart pullers for dairy farmers and are one of four "Sennenhund" or "dairy farmer's dog" The other three Sennenhund breeds are the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, the Appenzeller Sennenhund, and Entlebucher. All of these breeds look similar but are varying sizes but the Bernese Mountain Dog is the only one with long hair.

🐾 Berners, as Bernese Mountain Dog enthusiasts call them, come in two colors: black, rust, & white, and black, tan, & white. They are known for shedding quite a bit, require daily brushing, and regular grooming to keep them from being matted.

🐾 This furry, giant breed dog makes a wonderful family pet and their happy-go-lucky and affable nature make them popular companions. They require daily walks and excel at dog carting and draft pulling sports.

🐾 This breed almost disappeared in the 1890s after the popularity of the St. Bernard made them become virtually obsolete. Breed lovers intervened and made it a point to save this beautiful breed from extinction!

🐾 Unfortunately, the Bernese Mountain Dog is prone to several health disorders that frequently cause a short lifespan of 6-8 years - sometimes less. This breed is highly susceptible to cancer as well as, elbow & hip dysplasia, auto-immune disorders, hypothyroidism, eye disorders and GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus).

Address

1615 Volvo Pkwy
Chesapeake, VA
23320

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm
Saturday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+17575498609

Website

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