Veterinary Healthcare Associates

08/28/2026

They may no longer walk beside us, but the love they gave us never really leaves. 🤍🌈

On Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, we remember the pets who became family, filled our lives with unconditional love, and left paw prints that time simply cannot erase.

Here in Winter Haven, our Rainbow Bridge offers our community a special place to honor them. Pet parents can leave a collar in their pet’s memory, a symbol of a bond that lasts forever.

For those looking for a place to gather, reflect, and remember, our friends at Loved Veterinary Services | End-of-Life Care | FL, TX are also hosting a free Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day event at the Boat House at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland. Details can be found on their page.

If there’s a pet waiting for you across the Rainbow Bridge, we’d be honored to remember them with you. Share their name, and even a photo if you’d like, below. ⬇️

08/28/2026

08/28/2026

Back to school? At VHA, we’re going Back to Health. 🐾💚

This September, we’re making prevention a little easier with two injectable preventatives that can provide an entire year of protection against heartworms, fleas + ticks. And on September 11th, we’re turning it into a PAWTY! 🎉

🐶 Pup cups
💙 Bandanas
🍪 Snacks for the humans
💰 PLUS a $25 rebate for the first 25 qualifying pups!

Want to make wellness even easier? These preventatives can also be included in a Snout Wellness Plan.

📅 September 11th
📍 Veterinary Healthcare Associates General Practice
📞 Call us to schedule your pup’s visit! (LIMITED spots available!)

Two shots. One year. One less thing to remember.

08/25/2026

Bringing our veterinary community together to learn, connect, and continue elevating the care we provide.

We’re so grateful to everyone who joined us for our first in-house CE and to VetsChoice Radiology for sponsoring the evening and supporting continued education in our veterinary community!

🎓 Missed it? Email [email protected] to receive the recording. More to come!

08/20/2026

At VHA, taking care of our team goes beyond the walls of the hospital. 💙 Through VHAFit, we cover the cost for our team to participate in experiences centered around a fitmIND, fitBODYY+ fitSOUL.

This past Saturday, our team made their way to The Balance Culture for a blend of yoga + Pilates.. time to move, reset, connect and take care of themselves. 🧘‍♀️✨

Just one of the many ways we invest in the people who give so much to our patients, clients and each other. Because when our people are healthy, happy + supported, everyone benefits. 🐾

08/18/2026

📣 TOMORROW! Central Florida DVMs + veterinary technicians, we can’t wait to see you!

We’re down to just 3 in-person spots remaining for Epidurals in General Practice with our board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist, Dr. Samantha Sedgwick, DACVAA. 🎓

📍 Joining us in person?
Doors open at 6:30 PM and the presentation begins promptly at 7:00 PM. Please enter through our Emergency & Specialty entrance (3025 Dundee Rd, Winter Haven, FL 33884.) Come grab dinner, get settled, and connect before we begin!

💻 Joining virtually?
Be sure to RSVP today to receive the Zoom link and tune in at 7 PM.

Whether you’re claiming one of our final in-person seats or joining us online, RSVP today so you don’t miss out. We can’t wait to learn with you tomorrow!

08/18/2026

It’s the first day of school for our General Practice Supervisor, Allison H.! 💙🐾

We’re so excited to announce Allison as the first recipient of VHA’s CVT Scholarship, with 100% of her tuition covered as she begins the Veterinary Technician Program at St. Petersburg College!

At VHA, we believe in investing in the next generation of veterinary nurses and creating opportunities for our team to grow and excel in their careers.

For Allison, that means understanding more of the why behind the medicine so she can better advocate for our patients, develop the team she leads, and continue elevating the care we provide.

Join us in wishing Allison luck as she starts her first semester! 📚

08/15/2026

The only sound to make when our ER team helps make a smoother delivery happen for mama and her babies.🐾

Did you know complications during labor and delivery can quickly become a veterinary emergency?

Our 24/7 ER team sees moms experiencing prolonged labor, difficulty delivering a puppy, puppies stuck in the birth canal, abnormal discharge, exhaustion or distress, or labor that simply isn’t progressing as it should.

Sometimes mama just needs a little help. Other times, intervention is needed quickly.

That’s why it’s important to know where your local 24/7 emergency veterinary hospital is before you need one, and to know there’s an experienced team ready to care for both mama and those tiny new lives.🐶

08/12/2026

K9 Ace’s story is bringing important awareness to the need for canine blood donors. 🩸 Just like people, dogs can need lifesaving blood products after trauma, during surgery, or when facing critical illness.

VHA has a canine blood donor program right here in our community and we’re always grateful for the families who help make lifesaving care possible. ❤️

K9 Ace proved his bravery in the line of duty—and now, after surviving emergency amputation surgery, his story is raising awareness for canine blood donors. Link Below. ❤️🐶

08/12/2026

We’re so happy to see K9 Ace doing well and back alongside Deputy Oestreich. 💙🐾

We’re also grateful our sister hospital & referral partner, Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic could play a part in Ace’s care along the way.

So proud to be part of a community that shows up for one another when it matters most.

There are so many people and organizations that the Polk County Sheriff’s Office would like to acknowledge and thank for their part in getting our K9 Ace the help he needed after he was shot by a suspect on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

Immediately after he was wounded, Ace was taken to Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Lakeland where his bleeding was stopped and he was stabilized by Dr. Oscar Aguayo and his team.

Once stabilized, Ace was picked up by Tampa General Hospital’s Aeromed helicopter with pilot Chad Loftin (Metro Aviation), Chief Flight Nurse Tracy Sanderson (TGH), and Flight Paramedic Kenny Switzer (TGH).

Aeromed transported Ace to Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch in Bradenton to be cared for by Dr. Devon Diaz and his team.

Ace is a 7-year-old German Shepherd. He has been with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office since March of 2020.

He was shot in the front left leg. The bullet broke his leg and tore an artery which caused him to lose a lot of blood.

The PCSO is truly grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support from our community. We appreciate the support for our deputies involved last night, and of course for Ace and his well-being.

Many have reached out to the PCSO asking if there was anything they could do.

Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc. has an established K9 Fund that will be used to support K9 Ace’s care. For those who have asked how they can help, donations may be made directly to the K9 Fund through the link below. Once on the donation page, simply select “K9” from the dropdown menu.
https://www.polksheriff.org/donate

The Wiltse Family Trust has already informed us that they intend to cover the cost for Ace’s care at Veterinary Medical Center the Lakewood Ranch AND the Trust has already committed to purchasing a new K9 to replace Ace now that he will have to retire.

Again, we sincerely appreciate the continued support, kindness, and generosity shown to our K9 Unit during this difficult time.


Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic
TGH Aeromed
Veterinary Medical Center at LWR