Winter Park Veterinary Hospital prioritizes a personalized approach to better care for our beloved pets and build lasting relationships with clients.

In the more than seven decades since Winter Park Veterinary Hospital opened its doors in 1955, the world of veterinary medicine has made tremendous strides when it comes to caring for patients. While these advancements have helped transform the way the hospital is able to treat our furry friends, the providers at the Winter Park facility also make sure that every pet receives the personalized level of care they need to live long and healthy lives. 

Since the Hess family purchased the practice in 1983, they and a team of dedicated veterinarians, nurses, technicians and office staff have all worked together to keep raising the bar for animal care in Central Florida.

“We’ve always focused on marrying the very high-touch client and patient experience with technology to ensure that we’re providing next level service across all categories and capacities,” says Bill Hess, hospital manager and son of practice owners Dr. Robert and Jean Hess. “We’re really committed to providing the best possible care and staying on the forefront of research, of technology, of investing in equipment.”

As companion animals become more deeply integrated into the fabric of a family, the technology, breakthroughs and philosophies guiding the best practices of their medical care has certainly kept pace with advancements in human medicine.

“We’re using CT scanners that started off in the human field, we’re using bloodwork lab machines in-house to provide really high-quality, fast-return blood results that started in the human side of things,” Hess affirms.

“We’ve expanded our use of some surgical equipment that makes invasive surgeries easier and makes the healing process go smoother,” adds Hess. “We’ve also invested in an endoscopy unit that allows for our veterinarians to actually go internally in a noninvasive, nonsurgical manner to potentially retrieve objects and to do scoping to see what’s in patients’ stomachs or intestines. It’s an investment in the comfort of our patients and peace of mind for our pet parents.” 

Winter Park Veterinary Hospital’s love for animals extends beyond the domestic domain. Its 40-year partnership with the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey means treating a range of wild avian species like raptors, eagles, hawks and owls with the same gentle, compassionate care they would approach a beloved family pet.

While they no longer accept injured and orphaned wildlife for assessment before they are released back into the wild, the hospital does support local wildlife rehabilitation centers.

“We’re helping local rehabilitation centers by being their medical resource, and we’re working directly with them to help care for and support wildlife,” says Hess. 

Beyond these partnerships, the team also stays connected with its community by working with a variety of local groups. 

“We support the Boys and Girls Club of Winter Park, the Executive Association of Greater Orlando, University of Florida Vet School and countless other local organizations that help our greater Orlando community,” Hess notes. 

The staff behind Winter Park Veterinary Hospital also continues to evolve and grow. Hess describes “a great doctor team of over 50 years of experience” that combines the strengths of young and longtime practitioners; in addition to the hospital staff, the practice also has doggie daycare and overnight boarding, all of which are staffed by devoted, well-trained professionals.

The hospital is close to relaunching its Wellness Center, creating a calm environment for well visits to ease stress for both humans and animals. Warm colors on the walls, soft music and heated towels provide a cozy and comfortable atmosphere to put animals at ease physically and emotionally.

The team is also debuting a geriatric focused service to help families be attentive to the needs of their aging pets.

“We can help pet parents really be as attentive as they can to their pet’s needs as they age, and be proactive in providing treatment to make their golden years as comfortable and as satisfying as possible,” says Hess. 

But no matter how much the Winter Park Veterinary Hospital staff grows, compassionately caring for creatures of all kinds remains the driving force behind a true team effort that clients appreciate, often for generations. 

“We take a one-team approach: We have 85-plus team members, who are amazing at working well together to make sure we provide the best experience for our pet parents and patients,” says Hess. “It’s pretty amazing to see multi-generations of both pets and our clients, seeing kids grow up and come back and continue to use us like their parents did. It’s really neat to be part of our clients’ families and extended families.”

Convenience and Next Level Care

Winter Park Veterinary Hospital continues to elevate its level of services to better serve the community. 

For both emergencies and regular or wellness visits, the hospital is open seven days a week, offering a mix of convenience and peace of mind for Central Florida pet parents. Whether a four-legged friend needs a wellness exam on a weekend to work around their family’s busy schedule or needs an emergency sick visit on a Tuesday morning, the hospital has patients covered. 

Its hours are now 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekends. 

Winter Park Veterinary Hospital
Winter Park
(407) 644-2676
WPVet.com