FAQs

Yes! We look forward to meeting you and your furry family member soon.

At Compassion Animal Hospital, our hours are:

Monday to Friday 8:30am – 6:00pm

Saturday Closed

Sunday Closed

We are located at:

5570 State Rd 542 West
Winter Haven, FL 33880 

You can reach us at 863-965-2548, or request an appointment time online.

We can see your pet here when we’re in the office (during the hours listed above).

If at all possible, try to call ahead of time, so we can prepare for your pet and help them as quickly as possible.

After hours, please contact:

Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic

3609 US Hwy 98 S
Lakeland, FL 33803

863-665-3199

We see dogs, cats, and horses.

Yes, we accept walk-ins.

However, please note that we see appointments in the following order of priority: Emergencies, Scheduled Appointments, Walk-ins.

If you don’t already have an appointment, you’ll need to wait until our first available appointment time opens up. So, it’s usually better to schedule ahead of time, as your wait will be shorter.

We accept credit or debit cards, cash, and checks. Note that payment is due at the time of service.

We also accept certain third-party payment plans, such as Care Credit. And, we can help you file paperwork for your pet insurance (see below for more information).

We are unable to offer billing or payment plans, and must collect payment at the time of service.

However, we recommend Care Credit, which offers very affordable payment plans. You can use Care Credit to pay for services here.

Pet insurance can be a worthwhile investment for many pets — especially young, healthy pets — that saves you money over the long-term. 

When you come for your dog or cat’s appointment, be sure to ask us about it. We can let you know if it’s a good fit for your pet, and which companies may be best for them (there are lots of different plans and options out there).

Note that pet insurance works differently from human medical insurance. Most plans require you to pay for services up front, and then they reimburse you later. 

So, be sure to plan for payment at the time of service, and we’ll help you get the receipts and paperwork you need for filing with your pet’s insurance company.

No, we do not offer a senior discount.

No, we do not offer a military discount.

Yes, you can get your dog or cat’s rabies license at our office.

Note, according to the legal requirements of Polk County, FL, a rabies license can be given only if the rabies vaccine was administered by a licensed veterinarian, along with a physical exam ensuring your pet is healthy enough for the vaccine.

If your pet has already had their vaccine updated but needs a new license (for example, if you’ve recently moved to Polk County), just bring the records (with proof of rabies vaccination) from your previous veterinarian, and you can get the new license here.

We offer interstate health certificates as required for traveling from state to state within the U.S.

For international health certificates (for travel abroad, and travel to Hawaii), please call ahead of time to let us know the details of your travel plans. After that, we’ll schedule you for all appointments as needed for the health certificate, medical exams, and other travel requirements.

We recommend planning early, as some locations require the process to start six months in advance.

Yes, we offer boarding for dogs and cats.

Give us a call at 863-965-2548 to schedule.

Note, for the safety of all pets, your pet will need to be up-to-date on vaccines and parasite prevention prior to boarding with us.

During busy times, such as holidays and summer vacation, be sure to call early to reserve your pet’s spot.

Yes, we offer baths and nail trims here. Call us at 863-965-2548 for more information, or to schedule.

• Note, for the safety of all pets, your pet must be up-to-date on vaccines prior to their appointment.

We offer a convenient drop-off option, so you can leave your pet here with us for the day. We’ll take great care of them, and it’s no additional charge!

Be sure to leave enough time in the morning to fill out the appointment form, and for us to ask you any questions if needed. Then, one of our doctors will give you a call after your pet’s physical exam, and explain the plan and recommendations.

Then, just stop by and pick up your buddy on your way home from work.

Note: This service is by appointment only. Please call us at 863-965-2548 to schedule.

We’re happy to say we can help! While it’s normal for pets to feel a little nervous at the doctor’s office, we go out of our way to keep your pal as comfortable as possible during their visit.

But remember, the process starts at home, so we’re also here to give you advice on how to travel to us without too much stress to either you or your pet!

Here are a few quick tips:

• Get your cat used to their carrier by leaving it out in the house a few days to weeks ahead of time. That way, they won’t hide when they see it.
• Get your dog used to the car ahead of time, by taking a few short rides just for fun. Then they’ll be less likely to feel stress during the journey here.
• Staying calm yourself will help your pet to feel calm. Often, pets pick up on our emotions.

For more tips, just give us a call at 863-965-2548.

If the pet is friendly and safe to pick up, you’re welcome to bring them here for a microchip scan. That’s where we’ll use a special scanner to check for any identification chips, which may help to identify the pet’s family more quickly.

In order to board with us, your dog or cat must be up-to-date on their routine care, including vaccines and parasite prevention. This is for the safety of all pets at our facility.

Please check with us ahead of time, and we’ll let you know if anything is required prior to your pet’s stay.

We also recommend you bring your pet’s food from home. We have healthy food to offer them here, but many pets are most comfortable eating the food they normally eat at home.

You are also welcome to bring a toy, blanket, or shirt from home. We have plenty of comfortable bedding for them, but they might also enjoy having a familiar object with them.

Be sure to bring all of their medications that they’ll need, and a completed pre-boarding form.

That is possible with some medications. And, for your convenience, we offer an online pharmacy, and can have your pet’s medications shipped directly to your home at a very affordable price.

Call us at 863-965-2548 to learn more.

Simply call your previous vet office to request a copy of your records, and bring them with you.

Or, you can request to have them sent directly to us at:

Email: [email protected]

We schedule appointments for 30 minutes. During this time, your pet will receive a full physical exam and any recommended treatments (such as vaccines), and you’ll have time to ask the veterinarian any questions you may have.

We recommend you come about 10-15 minutes early to fill out paperwork.

In order to serve you and your pet most efficiently, we recommend bringing a copy of any medical records you have for your furry family member.

You can bring a copy with you, or call your previous veterinarian to have the records sent directly to us, at:

Email: [email protected]

If your pet is taking any medications or supplements, it can also help to bring the containers with you, so we can make a note of the brand and dosage for your pet’s medical records.

First of all, congratulations!

Go ahead and give us a call and tell us more about your new pet’s age, where they’re from, and any records you have of their vaccines, parasite preventions, and other medical history.

We’ll take it from there, and schedule an appointment to meet your new furry family member, and get their next vaccines when due.

If your puppy or kitten is ill, please call or seek veterinary care right away.

Unfortunately, dogs and cats can’t tell us when they’re not feeling well.

Sometimes you’ll notice symptoms of illness — like an upset stomach, for example — but other times, pets may hide symptoms of illness or pain, at least until a medical condition becomes more advanced and difficult (and more expensive) to treat.

For that reason, it’s best to take a proactive approach to their health. A wellness exam and certain lab tests can tell us a lot about how your pet is doing, and help to detect any early signs of medical problems, before they get worse.

It’s a great investment in keeping your pal happy and healthy.

This is required by law. 

In order to get a rabies license and meet the legal requirements of Polk County’s rabies laws, the vaccine must be administered by a veterinarian, who must perform a physical exam to be sure your pet is healthy enough to receive the vaccine.

In Winter Haven, FL, it’s a good idea to use parasite prevention for your dog or cat year-round. That includes prevention for heartworms, fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites, for most pets.

This includes indoor pets, too, since mosquitoes (which carry heartworm disease), fleas, and other pests can easily get inside of houses.

It’s much better to prevent these parasites, rather than try to treat them after they’re already there. Some infections (such as heartworm) can cause major health problems, including death. And, parasites such as fleas can be difficult and expensive to treat once they’re in the home. 

Call us at 863-965-2548, or request an appointment online, and we’ll be happy to talk to you about which preventive products are best for your individual pet.

Heartworms are worms that can live inside the heart of dogs and cats. They are transmitted through mosquito bites, and once they mature to their full size they can be several inches long.

These worms cause a lot of damage to the heart, and can cause death. It’s a terrible — but fortunately preventable — disease.

If a dog receives heartworm prevention when they already have heartworms in their body, it can cause a terrible reaction that makes them ill. In some cases, it can even cause death.

Testing your dog for heartworm disease helps to prevent anything like this from happening. It also ensures your dog can receive appropriate treatment — before too much damage is done to the heart — should they ever acquire a heartworm infection.

Most preventions are very effective, but there are several reasons why a dog on prevention can develop heartworm disease, including…

• Missed doses (a very common reason — after all, it’s easy to forget when life gets busy)
• Giving doses late (even by just a day or two)
• Your dog spitting out the pill, or part of it
• Your dog not digesting the pill properly (for example, if they get an upset stomach after receiving it)
• Your dog gaining weight and needing to switch to a larger size pill
• Improper storage of the pills

With all these possible reasons and more, it’s important to check your dog’s heartworm status at least once per year, even if they’re on prevention.

And note: Many heartworm prevention products offer a guarantee that they’ll help pay for your dog’s heartworm treatment, should your dog ever acquire the disease while taking their medication.

But, in order to receive this guarantee, your dog does need to receive routine heartworm tests as recommended by your veterinarian, based on their risk of heartworm disease in Winter Haven, FL.

We’ll make a personalized recommendation for your pet, based on their individual needs.

But, you can find a general vaccine guide for dogs and cats here.

There’s no one-size-fits-all, and we’ll make a recommendation based on your pet’s individual needs. 

Read more about our nutritional consults, here.