Collingswood Animal Hospital

05/14/2025

Don't forget to schedule summer cuts for your pups!

04/24/2025

Good morning everyone,

We appreciate the feedback regarding our previous post about the leptospirosis vaccine. To clarify, we noted that leptospirosis (lepto) is not traditionally classified as a core vaccine. At Collingswood Animal Hospital, we believe in tailoring vaccine protocols to suit each individual pet's unique needs, which is why we don't categorize lepto as a core vaccine for ALL dogs.

A core vaccine is defined as one that is deemed essential for ALL pets, regardless of their lifestyle or location. Recently, as of 2024, there has been a significant consensus among leading veterinary organizations—such as the American Animal Hospital Association, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association—that the lepto vaccine is now considered a core vaccine for all dogs.

Why is this important? Leptospirosis is a serious disease that can lead to kidney failure and even death in dogs. Its prevalence has fluctuated over the past century, with recent spikes in certain regions. Moreover, lepto is communicable; contact with the urine of an infected dog can pose a risk to humans as well.

At our hospital, we take various factors into account when creating vaccination protocols for pets, including:

1. Age
2. Breed
3. Lifestyle
4. Underlying medical conditions
5. Working vs. non-working status

We offer a comprehensive range of vaccines and encourage pet owners to discuss their options. Ultimately, the decision to vaccinate for leptospirosis, canine influenza (CIV), Lyme disease, canine corona virus or Bordetella rests with you, and we are here to support you in making informed choices for your pets.

Thank you for your understanding.

04/23/2025

🚨 Leptospirosis: What You Need to Know 🐶💉

We’ve seen social media posts circulating about a regional Leptospirosis (Lepto) outbreak, and we wanted to share some clarity based on what we know.

➡️ What is Leptospirosis?
Lepto is a bacterial infection that spreads through the urine of infected wildlife and can contaminate water, soil, and food. Dogs can become infected by drinking or swimming in contaminated water or through contact with infected urine. It’s also zoonotic, meaning it can spread from animals to people.

➡️ Are we seeing local cases?
At this time, we have not diagnosed any recent cases of Lepto in our practice. We’ve also spoken with local animal control, and they are not currently aware of any confirmed regional outbreak.

➡️ Should my dog be vaccinated?
The Lepto vaccine is non-core, meaning it’s not required for every dog—only those considered at risk. Dogs who frequently swim, hike, or are exposed to wildlife and standing water may benefit from the vaccine. However, the Lepto vaccine does carry a higher rate of adverse reactions compared to core vaccines.

We believe in individualized care and will leave the decision up to you. If you feel your dog may be at risk and would like to discuss vaccination, we’re here to help. We’ll absolutely consider vaccinating your dog if you choose to go that route.

Your pet’s safety and comfort come first 💙 Please feel free to call us if you have any questions or would like to discuss your dog’s lifestyle and risk level.

04/23/2025

Good morning Folks,

🚨 Leptospirosis: What You Need to Know 🐶💉

We’ve seen social media posts circulating about a regional Leptospirosis (Lepto) outbreak, and we wanted to share some clarity based on what we know.

➡️ What is Leptospirosis?
Lepto is a bacterial infection that spreads through the urine of infected wildlife and can contaminate water, soil, and food. Dogs can become infected by drinking or swimming in contaminated water or through contact with infected urine. It’s also zoonotic, meaning it can spread from animals to people.

➡️ Are we seeing local cases?
At this time, we have not diagnosed any recent cases of Lepto in our practice. We’ve also spoken with local animal control, and they are not currently aware of any confirmed regional outbreak.

➡️ Should my dog be vaccinated?
The Lepto vaccine is non-core, meaning it’s not required for every dog—only those considered at risk. Dogs who frequently swim, hike, or are exposed to wildlife and standing water may benefit from the vaccine. However, the Lepto vaccine does carry a higher rate of adverse reactions compared to core vaccines.

We believe in individualized care and will leave the decision up to you. If you feel your dog may be at risk and would like to discuss vaccination, we’re here to help. We’ll absolutely consider vaccinating your dog if you choose to go that route.

Your pet’s safety and comfort come first 💙 Please feel free to call us if you have any questions or would like to discuss your dog’s lifestyle and risk level.

Send a message to learn more

04/15/2025

🐾 We're Hiring! Join Our Veterinary Team! 🐾

We’re growing and looking for passionate animal lovers to join our dynamic team! Collingswood Animal Hospital is currently hiring for the following positions:

📞 Receptionists
💉 Veterinary Technicians
🩺 Tech Assistants

✨ Experience preferred but not required — we’re happy to train the right person!

We’re a busy, fast-paced practice, so we need team players who are:
✔️ Punctual
✔️ Willing to learn
✔️ Hardworking with a strong work ethic
✔️ Positive and professional
✔️ Passionate about helping animals
✔️ Trainable and ready to grow!

💵 Pay is based on experience and is negotiable.

If you're ready to be part of a fun, caring, and committed team making a real difference in the lives of pets and their people — we’d love to hear from you!

📧 Send your resume or questions to [email protected] or stop by the clinic to apply in person.

📍 Collingswood Animal Hospital
🐶🐱 Let’s do great things together for the animals we love!

03/25/2025

Dear Valued Clients,

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for trusting me with the care of your beloved exotic pets over the years. It has been an honor to serve this community and provide veterinary care for such a wide variety of animals for the past 25 years.

While I am not retiring, I am adjusting my schedule and reducing my caseload. As a result, I have made the difficult decision to stop seeing exotic pets after June 2025. Moving forward, I will be focusing solely on the care of dogs and cats.

I understand how important it is to have a trusted veterinarian for your exotic pets, and I encourage you to establish care with a clinic that specializes in avian and exotic medicine. To assist with this transition, I have compiled a list of highly recommended veterinary practices that provide excellent care for exotic animals.

If you have any questions or need assistance with medical records or referrals, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your understanding and for allowing me to be a part of your pets’ lives. Again, I am not retiring, and I sincerely appreciate your support. I look forward to continuing to care for your dogs and cats.

Sincerely,

Alexander Villarreal, DVM

Recommended Exotic Animal Veterinary Practices
North:

Garner Veterinary Services – Venice, FL
📞 941-497-1676 |
Bay Road Animal Hospital West – Sarasota, FL
📞 941-677-5845
Bay Road Animal Hospital East – Sarasota, FL
📞 941-677-5690
Local:
Charlotte Animal Hospital – Port Charlotte, FL
📞 941-883-5980
South:
Medlin Exotic Animal Services – Fort Myers, FL
📞 239-989-8860
Colonial Animal Hospital – Fort Myers, FL
📞 239-541-0726

01/30/2025

Good news, folks! We're making the switch today from CenturyLink to Comcast. We've had too many issues with our CenturyLink phone lines, so it's time for an upgrade.

Technicians will be working on the transition today between 1:00 and 3:00 PM, during which our phone lines will be temporarily down. We expect a smooth switch—fingers crossed!

Thanks for your patience.

Send a message to learn more

01/28/2025

Good morning, everyone! Just a reminder that February is Dental Month. We have limited slots filling up quickly. All dental procedures are discounted by 15% thanks to our partnership with our pharmaceutical representatives, who make this possible.

Dental health is incredibly important; diseased teeth and gums can cause pain and discomfort and serve as an entry point for harmful bacteria to enter the bloodstream, potentially affecting the heart, liver, and kidneys. Sometimes, issues may not be visible during a regular oral examination. It's not until the patient is anesthetized that we can thoroughly investigate and inspect each tooth to ensure its health.

In the case pictures below, we observed thick tartar covering the tooth surfaces. We discovered deep pockets in two premolars, and X-rays revealed significant bone loss and root deterioration. Both teeth needed to be extracted; if left untreated, they would have led to abscesses and increased pain.

01/15/2025

Hello everyone, we’d like to share a typical dental case with you.

This patient presented for a routine examination, and the owner mentioned that the dog had bad breath. While "doggy breath" is common and not usually pleasant, we suspected there might be more to it in this case.

During the initial visit, we attempted to examine the dog's mouth. However, the patient did not allow for a thorough oral examination, which is not unusual. Despite this, we observed enough tartar buildup and signs of gingival disease to recommend a dental cleaning.

As is typical in many dogs, we found thicker tartar accumulation on the large premolars and molars. Specifically, the right maxillary 4th premolar and 1st molar were covered in tartar. Once the tartar was removed, we discovered significant issues: severe gingival recession with exposed roots, nodular growths, and inflammation.

Although we did not anticipate needing to extract any teeth, these findings required us to call the owner during the procedure to inform them of our recommendation. Understandably, no one is happy to hear that their pet needs teeth extracted. However, leaving these teeth in place would have caused chronic pain and infection, potentially leading to abscesses or other complications over time.

01/14/2025

Good morning, folks,

Unfortunately, our phones are acting up again. We are currently working with CenturyLink to resolve the issue and get everything back up and running.

If you're unable to reach us by phone, feel free to contact us via Facebook Messenger. For prescription refills or emergencies, please stop by in person, and we'll be happy to assist you.

Thank you for your patience!

Send a message to learn more

01/10/2025

Good morning, everyone! We hope you're all off to a great start to the new year. We want to remind you that February is Pet Dental Health Month. Throughout this month, we are offering a 15% discount on all dental services.

It's important to note that excess plaque and tartar can lead to gum disease, tooth loss, and infections. Poor dental health can cause pain and lead to serious issues such as heart, liver, and kidney problems due to harmful bacteria entering the bloodstream. Additionally, we can perform a complete oral examination that is otherwise limited in awake patients. It’s not uncommon to discover oral tumors and periodontal disease that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

If you would like to schedule a dental appointment, please call us sooner rather than later, as dental cleaning appointments are already filling

01/02/2025

Good Morning everyone, and Happy New Year! 🎉

Xiara and Destiny at Sunshine Paws Grooming are kicking off 2025 with an exciting giveaway! Follow their social media pages for more info! 🐾✨