NOW OPEN in the former Fort Gatlin Village in the heart of Orlando -- Salazar Veterinary Hospital!
We are excited to bring our passion for helping pets live long and prosperous lives (so we can love on them longer!) to the community.
08/22/2025
Are you keeping an eye on your kitty’s litter box usage? Urinary problems are fairly common in cats and can become serious very quickly.
👉 Some common causes include:
🐾 Stress or environmental changes
🐾 Bladder inflammation (cystitis)
🐾 Urinary tract infections
🐾 Crystals or stones in the bladder
🐾 Blockages in the urethra (especially in males)
⚠️ Signs to watch for:
🐾 Straining in the litter box
🐾 Passing only small amounts of urine
🐾 Blood in the urine
🐾 Crying out or acting painful while urinating
🐾 Excessive licking at the ge***al area
If your cat is unable to urinate at all, this is a life-threatening emergency. Please call us (or the nearest emergency clinic if after-hours) immediately—this condition can become critical within hours.
Keeping an eye on your cat’s litter box habits can help catch issues early and keep them comfortable and healthy. 💙🐱
08/16/2025
Karma came in for a mani pedi yesterday afternoon! She is growing so fast and is the sweetest little girl! 🥰
08/08/2025
🐾🌍 Happy International Cat Day! 🐱💛
Today we celebrate our whiskered, purring, zoomie-loving companions who make life just a little more magical. Whether they’re lap warmers, toy hunters, or professional shelf-knockers, cats bring endless joy to our homes and hearts.
Here are a few ways to make your feline feel extra loved today:
✨ Treat them to a new toy or a fun play session.
✨ Schedule a wellness check to keep them healthy and happy.
✨ Give them a cozy nap spot in the sun.
✨ Share your favorite cat photo and tag us—we’d love to see them!
From all of us here at Salazar Veterinary Hospital, thank you for trusting us with the care of your furry friends. Pictured are the kitties of our clinic. Make sure to give your cats some extra chin scratches for us today!
08/01/2025
Ivy came in to see us today with her new friend Chandler! They are just the cutest duo and we can’t wait to watch Chandler grow up over these next few months. 🥰
07/25/2025
With temperatures soaring, it’s important to remember that our furry friends feel the heat too! We want to make sure your pets stay safe and comfortable during these hot summer days. Here are some quick tips to help keep them cool:
🧊 Hydration is key! Always have fresh, cool water available—inside and outside.
🌳 Limit outdoor time. Walks are best early in the morning or late in the evening when it’s cooler.
🔥 Paw protection. Hot pavement can burn paws—test it with your hand. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for them.
🏖️ Shade is a must. If your pet is outside, make sure they have a shady spot to rest.
🚫 Never leave pets in the car! Even a few minutes can be dangerous—even with the windows cracked.
💦 Cool treats & playtime. Frozen treats, cooling mats, and splash time in a kiddie pool can help beat the heat.
If your pet shows signs of overheating—excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, or vomiting—bring them inside, cool them down, and give us a call right away. Stay safe and have a fun summer! ☀️
07/18/2025
Yesterday, we made a new friend named Calvin! He was a very good boy for his visit and loved all of the treats he got!
07/10/2025
It’s National Kitten Day! And you know what that means…Show us your kitties right meow! We will go first:
🐱🐱🐱 Meet Grasshoper, the Salazar family’s little gremlin…I mean…ummm…kitty! 😆 He came to us as a stray who was having a rough start to life, but with a little TLC, he has grown into a healthy, puzzle-piece-stealing, playful young man who hisses at Dr. Salazar and sneak attacks April every chance he gets. 😂 Now it’s your turn! Tag us in your kitten pics or drop a comment with a picture of your little purr machine below 👇! And don’t forget to tell your cats we said “Pspspspsp”!
06/30/2025
📣 4th of July Pet Safety Alert 🇺🇸🐾
As we get ready to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, fun, and festivities, we want to gently remind our pet families: fireworks and pets don’t mix well.
💥 The loud bangs, bright flashes, and chaotic celebrations can be terrifying for our furry companions, often causing anxiety, disorientation, and even dangerous escapes.
At Salazar Veterinary Hospital, your pet’s safety and comfort come first. Here’s how you can help:
⸻
🐶 Firework Safety Tips for Pets 🐱
🔒 Secure Your Pets Indoors
Keep them safe inside with windows closed and blinds drawn. A quiet, dark room with familiar bedding can help them feel protected.
🔊 White Noise or Calming Music
Use TV, fans, or calming playlists to drown out the explosive sounds.
🦴 Create a Safe Haven
Give your pet a cozy den to retreat to—whether it’s their crate, a closet, or a comfy corner.
💊 Ask Us About Anxiety Medications
We offer gentle, veterinary-prescribed options for pets who suffer from severe firework anxiety. Contact us early to discuss what’s right for your pet.
🌿 Pheromone Products & Calming Aids
Adaptil®, Feliway®, or calming chews can make a big difference—ask us what works best.
🆔 Double Check Their ID & Microchip Info
If your pet bolts in fear, accurate ID could be a lifesaver.
⸻
❤️ We’re Here to Help
If your pet struggles with anxiety or you’re unsure how to prepare, please call us at (407) 807-6611 or send us a message. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Let’s make this 4th of July safe, calm, and joyful—for every member of the family.
As a reminder, we will be closed on the 4th and reopen on Monday the 7th for our normal business hours of 8am-6pm.
🐾 With care,
The Salazar Veterinary Hospital Team
06/27/2025
Our new friend Lucky was such a good boy for his first visit. He even earned himself a Kong toy!
06/20/2025
💙 A Commitment to Compassion. A Promise to You. 💙
We’re honored to share that Salazar Veterinary Hospital is now AAHA Accredited—an achievement that reflects not just high standards, but a deep, ongoing commitment to the pets and families we serve.
Only about 15% of veterinary hospitals in North America earn this accreditation from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). It means we’ve met over 900 rigorous standards in veterinary care—covering everything from safety and cleanliness to medical protocols and compassionate handling.
But for us, this isn’t just about meeting standards—it’s about earning your trust every single day.
Your pets mean the world to you. They mean the world to us, too. This milestone is a reflection of the love and care that guide every exam, every treatment, and every tail wag we’re lucky enough to witness.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We’re proud. We’re grateful. And we’re here for you—always.
06/13/2025
Summer in Florida means frequent thunderstorms — while we might be used to them, our dogs often aren’t. If your dog trembles, hides, or pants excessively during a storm, these are signs of thunderstorm anxiety.
Here are a few tips to help your pup get through the storm:
⛈️ Create a safe, cozy place where they can retreat
⛈️ Use calming music to help mask the sound of thunder
⛈️ Thundershirts can be bought at pet stores and help to “swaddle” dogs to ease their anxiety
⛈️ Pheromone-based products, like Adaptil, have also been shown to help with storm anxiety
Do you feel like your pup needs a little extra help? We offer safe and effective anxiety medications that can make a big difference. Reach out to us if you’d like to discuss whether medication might be the right option for your dog.
06/12/2025
If you have tried calling us in the past couple of hours and haven’t been able to get through, that is because our incoming call system is currently down. Our phone system provider is aware of the issue and is actively working toward a resolution. In the meantime, please text our office number for immediate assistance. We appreciate your patience and understanding!
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The origins of Salazar Veterinary Hospital (SVH) could easily be traced back to Dr. David Salazar’s youth, as he knew from a young age that he wanted to be a veterinarian and start his own practice. But let’s skip forward to recent years...
Dr. Salazar graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2012 and accepted a position at a mixed animal practice in Las Cruces, New Mexico. After nearly two years of working with everything from dogs and cats to horses and pigs, he decided to move back to his home state of Florida to be closer to his family. Shortly after relocating, he met and began dating April Evans, who (as an animal lover) was immediately drawn to his passion for his profession. On November 7, 2015, David and April married.
With Dr. Salazar’s varied and intensive experience as a veterinarian and April’s managerial background, becoming practice owners seemed like a no-brainer. In late 2015, they began looking into purchasing an existing veterinary hospital. After three years of exploring this option and failing to find a hospital that felt “right,” Dr. Salazar decided that the best way for him to achieve his dream would be to open a hospital from scratch. So, in December 2018 -- with barely any idea of the process ahead -- Dr. Salazar contacted a veterinary practice consulting group for guidance and applied for a bank loan. Before the end of 2018, Salazar Veterinary Hospital, LLC was created.
The funny thing about starting a business is that some things move quicker than anticipated, while other things require a lot of sitting around and waiting. Basically, patience and adaptability are key. Even with consultants and excellent contacts, though, the process has not been smooth or easy. Finding the right location to open a hospital was a challenge -- while Orlando is still developing, it’s also pretty jam-packed and lacking lease spaces appropriate for a veterinary hospital. Let’s not even get started on the process of negotiating lease terms and how long that took! Connecting with a contractor who could see Dr. Salazar’s dream through to fruition was (mostly) painless, but waiting on approvals and permits from the city to even begin construction was excruciating.
Now that the ball is rolling and construction is well underway, the light at the end of the tunnel (“Grand Opening Day”) is finally in sight. There is still much to be done -- as this is being written, Salazar Veterinary Hospital is currently four blank walls, concrete flooring with plumbing protruding, and exposed air conditioning ducts where a ceiling will eventually be. Outside of the construction zone, Dr. Salazar and April are diligently working at hashing out the day-to-day details of daily hospital operation to ensure they can meet their ultimate goal which they set forth at the inception of SVH: “Through preventative care, our ability to help pets in need, and our passion for building the human/animal bond, our primary goal is for patients to live long and prosperous lives so their families can love them longer.”
The Salazar family -- David, April, and their 3-year-old son, Hunter -- welcome you to join them on their journey toward opening Salazar Veterinary Hospital. Progress updates will be posted regularly, along with appearances in the community, information about the hospital, and more. We look forward to meeting you and your furry family members!
