Laying the foundation for your pet’s long and vibrant life through preventative care.
A wagging tail and a full food bowl can hide more than most pet parents realize. Pets are remarkably good at masking pain, which means the very conditions worth catching early are often the ones nobody notices until they’ve already taken hold.
That belief is the foundation Oakland Park Animal Hospital was built on. We are a family-owned, doctor-led practice that has cared for pets in Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, and the surrounding Fort Lauderdale community since 1987, and we treat every patient who comes through our doors the way we would want our own pets treated, because to us, they are family too.
A wellness exam has never been a quick weigh-in and a shot out the door for us. It is time spent getting to know your pet from nose to tail, with Dr. Ratnoff and our team looking closely at the eyes, ears, mouth, heart, lungs, skin, coat, and joints for the quiet changes that often come before a bigger problem. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, 70 to 80 percent of dogs and cats already show signs of dental disease by age three, which says a lot about how much can be developing beneath the surface while everything still looks fine at home.
Here in South Florida, that watchfulness matters even more. Our warm, humid climate keeps fleas, ticks, and parasites active year-round, and we see skin allergies often, particularly in beloved local breeds like bulldogs and French bulldogs. An annual visit gives us the chance to catch these things early and adjust care before a small irritation becomes a long, uncomfortable, and costly struggle for your pet.
Walking into a new veterinary office for the first time can feel nerve-wracking, especially when your pet has never been examined before. We have spent decades making sure that first visit feels less like an appointment and more like being welcomed into the family.
We will start by simply talking with you. Every question about your pet’s history, home life, and habits helps us build a fuller picture than a physical exam alone ever could, and we genuinely enjoy hearing the stories. From there, our team gets hands-on, checking your pet’s weight, listening closely to the heart and lungs, looking over the teeth and gums, and watching how they move. If vaccinations, parasite prevention, or bloodwork make sense for your pet, we will walk you through exactly why, in plain language, so you are never left guessing at what comes next or wondering if you can trust what you are being told.
New pet parents almost always come in with questions, and we would much rather you ask every single one than leave with any left unspoken. We hear things like how often puppies and kittens need to be seen in that first year, which vaccines are essential versus optional, and what care realistically costs over time. We answer plainly and patiently, the same way we have with generations of families in this community, some of whom have trusted us with their fourth or fifth pet by now.
There is a real difference between a corporate veterinary chain and a hospital where the person examining your pet is also the person who has poured 40-plus years of his life into this community. Dr. Ratnoff still leads every exam with that same hands-on care he started with in 1987, because this has never been a franchise following a script. It has always been personal, and it always will be.
We also welcome patients that many general practices turn away. Our team provides exotic pet care for birds, reptiles, and small mammals, along with dedicated puppy and kitten care for the newest members of your family and specialized senior pet care for the ones who have been with you the longest. No matter where your pet is in life, we have built a place for them here.
To help keep preventive care within reach, we also offer our Stay Well Pet Plan. For an annual enrollment fee, your pet’s core vaccines are included, exam fees drop well below our standard rate, in-house bloodwork is discounted by half, and extras like bathing and nail trims cost less too. It is one small way we try to make sure cost never stands between your pet and the care that keeps them thriving.
Preventive care was never meant to wait until something looks wrong, because by then, treatment is often harder on your pet and heavier on your wallet than it needed to be. A yearly wellness exam is still the simplest, most caring thing you can do for the years ahead.
Our team has called this community home since 1987, and we would be honored to welcome your pet into our family too. Reach out through our contact page to schedule a wellness exam with Oakland Park Animal Hospital, and let’s take care of what matters most, together.
Schedule a visit with our compassionate team and let’s partner in your pet’s lifelong well-being.
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