Home is a place of nurturing, protection, and well-being. Our sister practices, Northeast Animal Hospital and Downtown St. Pete Vet Clinic, are an extension of that basic foundation.
Our purpose is to widen the loving care that you provide your family to include the area of advanced veterinary medicine. Together, you and our devoted veterinarians and support members can give your pet the compassionate healthcare that he or she deserves.
As an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited clinic since 1973, our team of veterinarians and support staff adheres to the highest standards of facility and pet care. However, our greatest source of pride is found in the praise of our clients and the satisfied purrs and wagging tails of our patients.
We extend to you and your pets a wide welcome…home.
Grain-Free and Exotic Ingredient Diets
Updated August 16, 2019
You may have heard recent news reports about grain-free and exotic ingredient diets, and their link to heart disease. The idea is that these diets are superior to those that contain rice, wheat, corn, and other grains, and that exotic ingredients (like kangaroo, fava beans, chickpeas, etc.) will protect dogs from developing allergies.
Many pet owners have, unfortunately, bought into this myth. The fact is that food allergies are very uncommon among pets, so there's no benefit to feeding pet foods containing exotic ingredients. Not only are exotic ingredients unnecessary, they also require the manufacturer to have much more nutritional expertise to be nutritious and healthy.
Article Updates and Our Pet Food Recommendations »
Exotic ingredients have different nutritional profiles and different digestibility than typical ingredients, and also have the potential to affect the metabolism of other nutrients. And while grains have been accused on the internet of causing nearly every disease known to dogs, grains are used in pet food as a nutritious source of energy, vitamins, and minerals.
For an initial report on these diets, click here.
Update: For an explanation of the latest findings of the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), including a list of pet food brands linked to heart disease, click here.
Update: Please read our blog post of July 19, 2019 with some important information you should consider before changing your pet's food to a raw or homemade diet.
Update: Please view the WSAVA (The World Small Animal Veterinary Association) document for help on Selecting the Best Food for your Pet.
What can you do if you've been feeding your dog one of these diets?
- Watch for signs of heart disease: weakness, slowing down, difficulty exercising, shortness of breath, coughing, or fainting. Your veterinarian will listen for a heart murmur or abnormal heart rhythm and may do additional tests (or refer you to a veterinary cardiologist) such as x-rays, blood tests, electrocardiogram, or ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram).
- Change your dog's diet to one made by a well-known, reputable company and that contains standard ingredients. (See our recommendations below.) Changing to a raw or home cooked diet will not protect your dog from the issue of heart disease (and may increase the risk for other nutritional deficiencies). If your dog does require a home cooked diet or has other medical conditions that require special considerations, be sure to talk to your veterinarian before making a dietary change.
- Ask your veterinarian to test whole blood and plasma taurine levels (although this test does not confirm or rule out cardiac disease). If your dog has been eating a grain-free diet for an extensive period of time, you should consider having a cardiologist perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart).
The veterinarians at Northeast Animal Hospital recommend pet foods that contain standard ingredients, including grain. Standard ingredients, for example, are chicken, beef, rice, corn, and wheat. We do not recommend pet foods that are "grain-free".
Our recommended pet food brands are Hill's, Royal Canin, Purina, Iams, and Eukanuba, all on which animal feeding trials have been performed according to the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). For dogs under one year of age, we recommend puppy foods that are formulated for "growth". For adult dogs, we recommend adult pet foods that are formulated for "maintenance". (Foods labeled "all stages" are puppy foods.)
Sometimes, the changes we make in pet nutrition advance our knowledge and the health of our pets. In other cases, we can take a step in the wrong direction when the marketing outpaces the science. Hopefully, identifying this current issue will allow us to set a new, more science-based approach to the optimal nutrition of our pets.
Devoted Veterinarians and Support Staff
We have found the key to quality veterinary care is a combination of medical expertise, empathy for pet owners, and compassion for our animal companions. Our veterinarians will listen to your concerns, diagnose any medical conditions, help you understand your options, and work with you to make the right decisions for you and your pet.
Our team is made up of a diverse group of veterinarian and support professionals who bring their love for animals to work with them everyday. We come from all backgrounds, and we have joined this family because of our desire to make a difference in the lives of animals, as well as the people who love those animals.
To learn more about our dedicated veterinary team, please click here.
Two Practices for All Your Pet Health Needs
Northeast Animal Hospital is an animal care facility equipped to handle all medical and surgical procedures. From preventive health care services to advanced diagnostic and surgical services, our doctors and staff are trained to manage all of your pet's needs. We continually update our equipment and educate our team to the latest medical knowledge and technology. We know that everyone has a budget, so we will work within your budget to achieve the best outcome for your pet.
Downtown St. Pete Vet Clinic is an outpatient veterinary clinic that covers routine medical care. But we are not just another animal hospital or veterinarian’s office. We offer services from regular wellness checkups, to dental care, to “beauty” services, such as our Pet Spa and Grooming Salon. Our pet clinic and devoted staff focus on overall animal wellness, deliver personal care services, and even provide dog day care, all of which set us apart from many other pet wellness centers in the veterinary field.
Northeast Animal Hospital and Downtown St. Pete Vet Clinic provide for the total health and well-being of your pet. Together, we are one-of-a-kind!
Donate to AVMF Today!
Are you looking to give to a local charity? The AVMF Veterinary Care Charitable Fund helps animals who are injured, who are victims of abuse and neglect, or whose pet owners are experiencing financial hardships. Rest assured that your gift will make an impact in the community!
We try to make scheduling a veterinary clinic appointment as convenient as possible for you. There are several ways to easily schedule an appointment for your pet to be seen at one of our veterinary clinics:
- Fill out our online appointment request form
- Call one of our hospitals directly
- Visit a hospital to schedule an appointment in person and meet some of our care team. View Map
Recent Updates
We are a full service pet hospital
Our pet hospital offers the following services for dogs and cats of all breeds, ages, medical conditions and lifestyles:
Services Offered »
Dog Health Services
- Allergies
- Anesthesia
- Bathing
- Behavior
- Boarding
- Cancer Treatment (Oncology)
- Cold Laser Therapy
- Concierge
- Day Care
- Dental Care (Dentistry)
- Deworming
- Ear Care
- Electrocardiography
- Emergency Care
- Eye Care
- Flea and Tick Prevention
- Grooming
- Heart Health (Cardiology)
- Heart Worm Prevention
- Homeopathic and Nutraceutical
- Imaging
- Integrative Medicine
- Laboratory Testing (Diagnostics)
- Laser Surgery
- Medications (Pharmacy)
- Microchipping
- Nutrition
- Pain Management
- Parasite Control and Treatment
- Pet Spa
- Pregnancy
- Preventive Care
- Puppy Care
- Senior Care (Geriatrics)
- Skin Care (Dermatology)
- Spay or Neuter
- Stem Cell Therapy
- Surgery
- Vaccinations
- Wellness Exams
To learn more about our comprehensive dog health services, please contact us or visit our dog health services page.
Cat Health Services
- Allergies
- Anesthesia
- Bathing
- Behavior
- Boarding
- Cancer Treatment (Oncology)
- Cater to Cats
- Cold Laser Therapy
- Concierge
- Dental Care (Dentistry)
- Deworming
- Ear Care
- Electrocardiography
- Emergency Care
- Eye Care
- Flea and Tick Prevention
- Grooming
- Heart Health (Cardiology)
- Heart Worm Prevention
- Homeopathic and Nutraceutical
- Imaging
- Integrative Medicine
- Kitten Care
- Laboratory Testing (Diagnostics)
- Laser Surgery
- Medications (Pharmacy)
- Microchipping
- Nutrition
- Pain Management
- Parasite Control and Treatment
- Pregnancy
- Preventive Care
- Senior Care (Geriatrics)
- Skin Care (Dermatology)
- Spay or Neuter
- Stem Cell Therapy
- Surgery
- Vaccinations
- Wellness Exams
To learn more about our comprehensive cat health services, please contact us or visit our cat health services page.
