Hilltop Family Vet

06/19/2024

Let’s have a little fun with this cutie… can you guess the breed?

06/18/2024

Don’t get me wrong, a box of chocolates is always great…but a box of kittens is puuurfect 🐾 🐱

06/17/2024

Who says diet food isn’t tasty? Blueberry is happy to announce the Purina Veterinary OM (over weight maintenance) is extremely tasty!

06/05/2024

Once you get over Ms. Eleanor's cuteness, remember that we're in Hurricane Season. Get prepared with our microchip clinic on Saturday, June 8th, 8:30-11:00, for $40.00 (regularly $55.65). We also offer scannable Buddy ID Tags. Call 386-462-3822 for appointments. 🌀

06/01/2024

Today is the 1st day of Hurricane Season for us! As a reminder, tax free shopping for hurricane supplies AND….next Saturday, June 8th from 8:30-11:00am we will be hosting a microchip clinic! Appointments are required and you do not need to be a client of ours to participate. You can call the office at 386-462-3822 for more information.

05/30/2024

Can you believe hurricane 🌀 season is upon us? Now is the time to prepare! We will be hosting a microchip clinic on Saturday, June 8th from 8:30am -11:00am. All microchips will be 10% off and an appointment is required. We only have 15 appointment slots available for that day. We also ordered in a limited number of these awesome Buddy Badge Collar Tags that will be available on Saturday as well. If you haven’t heard of them before, check out their website at www.buddyid.com The QR code system makes reuniting your lost pets so much easier. They will be $19.99. Please call the clinic with any questions at 386-462-3822.

05/28/2024

A big congratulations to Miss Mya! Her & her momma have worked so hard on getting her laceration on her foot healed. It’s been a process for sure. At least twice a week trips for bandage changes and trying to keep this energetic girl calm, way to go mom! We are thankful for you.💚

05/24/2024

Hello, Poet here…excuse the interruption; but I wanted to remind all of you that Hilltop Family Vet will be closed on Monday, May 27th in observance of Memorial Day. I would also like to say, that myself and many of my other bunny friends are in need of an amazing family to adopt us. If you would like more information on me and my bunbun friends, head on over to Gainesville Rabbit Rescue and check us out!

05/22/2024

Herbie the perfect pittie pup 💙 Peep that extra special 💙 on his nose!!We can’t wait to see him back in 3 weeks for his next round of boosters 🐶

05/10/2024

Good morning! We wanted to let you all know that we are experiencing intermittent phone & internet outages. We can be reached by email at [email protected]. If your pet is having a medical emergency and we are unable to answer, please call UF Emergency at 352-373- 4444 or CCVS at 352-225-3501. Please stay safe during these storms!

05/07/2024

*PHONE TROUBLES IN OFFICE* Please bear with us while we are working on getting our phone lines back up. If you need to reach us immediately, please send an email to [email protected]. It appears that we are getting voicemail messages, so you can leave us a message and we will work through them as quickly as possible. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

05/07/2024

Updated licensing information for our Alachua County pet parents!

Did you know that every dog, cat, and ferret over 4 months of age in Alachua County is required to be licensed? 🐶🐱 With our new digital option for licensing, it's never been easier! After you register and pay the $25 annual fee, you will receive a tag with a bar code unique to your pet, so if your pet is ever found, this will help them get home much faster.

To learn more about pet licensing and to get your pet registered, please visit our website: https://www.alachuacounty.us/Depts/animalServices/petResources/Pages/PurchasingPetLicenseTag.aspx.

04/26/2024

Little Miss Luna visited us the other day for her 1st vet visit…we are so fortunate to have her as part of our Hilltop family!! Happy Friday!

04/20/2024

This double dose of cuteness came in this morning for their 1st puppy check up with us! Double the trouble but double the fun!! Happy Saturday!

04/17/2024

Blueberry loves our Purina Pro Plan scale mat! She now sees it as fun game to try & beat the dogs to the scale when they check in.

04/12/2024

Hello, hello…can you hear me? LOL!!

We do want to let you know that we will be open limited hours tomorrow, Saturday April 13th. We will be closing at 10:30AM. We will be open for medication pick ups & to schedule appointments only. Enjoy the beautiful weekend!

03/29/2024

Good Morning! Our clinic will be closing today at 1:00PM. We will be open regular business hours tomorrow, Saturday, March 30th from 8:00am-12:00pm. Thank you!

03/06/2024

It’s truly Waggin’ Wednesday here today with this wagon full of Shepherd puppies!! Puppies kisses for all!

02/28/2024

JJ is enjoying a little Vitamin D (doctor approved, of course) after his dental this morning! He and his sister were PAWsitively perfect!! 🦷 🐾

02/26/2024

Miss Mae Mae had her 1st check up with us last week! She is just the cutest!! 🐶 🩷

02/17/2024

Even on rainy days, we wear shades! Dash is in for her weekly laser appointment on this rainy Saturday. Mom was happy to report that Dash is doing great and has been able to come off medications! Now that’s something to HOP about!! 🐇

02/16/2024

It’s always great to go into the weekend with puppy kisses!! Welcome to the Hilltop Family Vet, Budro! We can’t wait to watch you grow 💙🐾

02/14/2024

Thanks to Cornell Feline Health Center for creating this great graphic talking about Feline Dental Disease. We often forget the importance of keeping a close eye on our cats teeth. February is National Dental Month and we are offering $50-$100 off your pets dental! Give us a call at 386-462-3822 for more information.

Diseases of the teeth & gums are common, with up to 90% of cats older than 4 years of age suffering from some form of dental disease. In honor of Pet Dental Health month, check out the infographic to see how you can help keep your cats smiling, and click the link below for more information.

https://hubs.la/Q02kq61x0

02/12/2024

LOOK who is here today! Miss Princess is here for her chest x-rays and to get her treatment plan put together and started!

Thank you so much to all of you that have donated to her fund! What a wonderful community we have. It has been breat reading all of the comments. She has certainly made a name for herself in the community!!

She is enjoying her newly found home life! She has some great rescue brother and sisters as well. Jennifer and her husband are an amazing duo. They have opened their home to a handful of rescues that needed more than just a home. The level of commitment they have given to these pups is truly remarkable. Thanj you! 👑 💗 🐾

In case you have missed her story, I’ve attached it below!
—————————————————————————————

SAFE, after 10 years!

Most of you know this sweet angel as "Ghost Dog." She has been a large part of our community for over a decade.

Ms. Princess, a mix breed Canine has been roaming our community here in Alachua since 2014. Her initial food and water stop was with the old manager at the Raceway in front of Publix on 441. As a homeless street dog, she was getting food where she could and absolutely terrified of any human that attempted to approach her. Over the years s,e migrated from the Raceway side of 441 to other and became well knoknow the Wendy’s and the gas station that joins.

My husband and I married and purchased a home in late 2017 behind the Publix in Heritage Oaks. This is when I first spotted Princess (formally known as the illusive Ghost Dog). One morning, I stopped for gas on the way to work and saw her in the RaceWay parking lot. I tried to catch her for 3 hours. We ventured through that parking lot, the Publix lot, until she eventually ran into the woods.

Princess was spotted many times over the last 10 years, and many attempts were made to rescue her! Our community banded together to try and show her that people are GOOD. Many attempted rescues and left food and water when those attempts failed. Always posting the encounter on PetFinder, Nextdoor, and or Alachua/Gainesville /High Springs Words of Mouth.

About 2 years ago, I noticed Princess frequenting the fence line that bordered my community and the wooded area. It was then that some amazing neighbors got together and became routinely leaving food and water out for her. I'm absolutely amazed at the love and dedicated so many have shown this sweet girl. I love our Heritage Oaks Community and the amazing people of Alachua/High Springs.

Over the past 2 years, shelters have been built, dog houses and balnkets have been plentiful and the area is daily maintained.

For the past 1.5 years I’ve driven my golf cart up to this wooded area and sat with her. I brought her chicken, water and always came with a heart full of LOTS OF LOVE. I’ll never forget, over the summer, she dug a large hole along the fence line to stay cool. One day, I saw her laying in it, and I came ready with a cooling blanket. She backed up and looked at me with pure curiosity! As I turned to walk away,she would inch closer and closer. I then sat at the corner of the fence line and she investigated. Over time her curiosity and she got even closer to me. My heart was so full! I began calling her Princess and routinely visited. It didn’t take long for her to come running out of the woods as I called her name. We were both in love! The bond started to grow more and more daily.

One of my afternoon visits I hit the jackpot of joy. I was sitting in the dirt near the opening of the wooded area and she came right up to me and ate her chicken from my hand. I then started petting her and it was instant HEAVEN for both of us. This poor girl had no human touch for over a dedecade. She was happy crying as I ran my hands up and down her fur and tickled her cheeks. As I left that day, she was howling and crying! Naturally, I came back to give her more love… immediately! The next day, the same thing took place. I made 4 trips that day. I focused on brushing her, loving on her, and getting her used to a leash. I did this for almost 2 weeks. After almost 2 years of working up to this point, I didn’t want to scare her away by pushing too fast. On the morning of Day 9 of lovins, I came brought her breakfast, and we sat together as I gave her lovins for an hour. Over the past 9 days, I worked on getting ticks off of her as I pet her, and it continued this day, too. After a few more visits that day she came home with me and the rest has been focused only on her best life yet.

I’ve taken Princess to Hilltop Family Vet in High Springs. She will be receiving all of her care there. It brought me to tears as we were in the exam room, and employees came to share their stories of the infamous Ghost Dog with me. They shared sightings over the years and expressed so much joy for her rescue!.

Our goal is keep her happy and get her healthy!

Last week we received her blood work back. Princess is positive for Ehrlichia (a tick born disease) and is also heartworm positive. Her kidney values are elevated slightly .. most likely due to the Ehrlichia. The treatment is the same. Bonus!

As I share her story on social media platforms, many have suggested the 'slow kill' method (simply using the monthly heart worm prevention). I spoke to Dr. Miller at Hilltop in depth regarding this suggestion. The large risk with this method is that the heart worms will last for very long (years) before they die off. The knew growths will be prevented, but as the existing slows die off,there is a high risk causing a Pulmonary Embolism as they dislodge. Given that Princess has been in the wild since at least 2014, we estimate she is at least 10-13 yrs old ,and we simply do not have time. Also, we need the treatment to battle the Ehrlichia.

With that said... Dr Miller suggested a chest x-ray (3 viviewto evaluate her heart size and lungs. Then decide the next,how aggressive we are with the treatments

and if her heart and lungs can handle it. Likely, she can because there is no respiratory distress at this time. This leads me to my next point. Dr Hill also recommended keeping Princess and my 4 kiddos completely separated for 3 weeks. Why? In order to allow the vaccinations to take effect and to fully rule out respiratory issues.

It will be a tough 3 weeks, folks. But, we got this... 🙏

Monday, at 10am., she will go in for her x-rays, and we will then decide if she is clear to start the tick and heart worm treatment. Total treatment cost is estimated at $2000. This may change due to the aggressive treatment she may require. It will also be over a 1 year span. If we start Monday, what will be due is 300$ for the x-rays and 600-700$ for the start of her treatment. That will total $1000.

Her needs have totaled $1246 thus far.

I’m reaching out to you for two reasons. First and foremost, to help spread the word and inform our community (that has had a HUGE hand in her survival) that this sweet angel is OK, safe, and in a loving home! Secondly, to give the community a chance to follow her BEST LIFE JOURNEY and help facilitate that any way they can.

I’ve shared her story on the Nextdoor app, Facebook, and PayPal Fundraiser. Below is a link to each.

Nextdoor: https://nextdoor.com/p/QLKZC9w7qkmh?utm_source=share&extras=MjYwNzQ0MTQ%3D&utm_campaign=1707480972907

Facebook: Public Princess album and posts

https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.ann.98622?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Paypal

https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/91DC6rxHEB

As you look through the links you’ll notice there has been an overwhelming response from the community thus far. People have shared so many stories of leaving food for her, trying to rescue her, or even protecting her from 441! She is such a large part of our community, and I’d love for this BEST chapter of her life to continue with the army of residents and business owners that have cared for her over this past decade.

God bless,

Jennifer Trenteseaux

02/10/2024

Copying post from Jennifer Trenteseaux! Amazing story…incredible dedication!! We are so happy to be part of her road to recovery! We will take you all along for her journey back health… I think (well, i know) she is getting all of the love she has missed out on all of these years. Thank you Jennifer for your dedication to this girl. 👑 💗 🐾

—————————————————————————————

SAFE, after 10 years!

Most of you know this sweet angel as "Ghost Dog." She has been a large part of our community for over a decade.

Ms. Princess, a mix breed Canine has been roaming our community here in Alachua since 2014. Her initial food and water stop was with the old manager at the Raceway in front of Publix on 441. As a homeless street dog, she was getting food where she could and absolutely terrified of any human that attempted to approach her. Over the years s,e migrated from the Raceway side of 441 to other and became well knoknow the Wendy’s and the gas station that joins.

My husband and I married and purchased a home in late 2017 behind the Publix in Heritage Oaks. This is when I first spotted Princess (formally known as the illusive Ghost Dog). One morning, I stopped for gas on the way to work and saw her in the RaceWay parking lot. I tried to catch her for 3 hours. We ventured through that parking lot, the Publix lot, until she eventually ran into the woods.

Princess was spotted many times over the last 10 years, and many attempts were made to rescue her! Our community banded together to try and show her that people are GOOD. Many attempted rescues and left food and water when those attempts failed. Always posting the encounter on PetFinder, Nextdoor, and or Alachua/Gainesville /High Springs Words of Mouth.

About 2 years ago, I noticed Princess frequenting the fence line that bordered my community and the wooded area. It was then that some amazing neighbors got together and became routinely leaving food and water out for her. I'm absolutely amazed at the love and dedicated so many have shown this sweet girl. I love our Heritage Oaks Community and the amazing people of Alachua/High Springs.

Over the past 2 years, shelters have been built, dog houses and balnkets have been plentiful and the area is daily maintained.

For the past 1.5 years I’ve driven my golf cart up to this wooded area and sat with her. I brought her chicken, water and always came with a heart full of LOTS OF LOVE. I’ll never forget, over the summer, she dug a large hole along the fence line to stay cool. One day, I saw her laying in it, and I came ready with a cooling blanket. She backed up and looked at me with pure curiosity! As I turned to walk away,she would inch closer and closer. I then sat at the corner of the fence line and she investigated. Over time her curiosity and she got even closer to me. My heart was so full! I began calling her Princess and routinely visited. It didn’t take long for her to come running out of the woods as I called her name. We were both in love! The bond started to grow more and more daily.

One of my afternoon visits I hit the jackpot of joy. I was sitting in the dirt near the opening of the wooded area and she came right up to me and ate her chicken from my hand. I then started petting her and it was instant HEAVEN for both of us. This poor girl had no human touch for over a dedecade. She was happy crying as I ran my hands up and down her fur and tickled her cheeks. As I left that day, she was howling and crying! Naturally, I came back to give her more love… immediately! The next day, the same thing took place. I made 4 trips that day. I focused on brushing her, loving on her, and getting her used to a leash. I did this for almost 2 weeks. After almost 2 years of working up to this point, I didn’t want to scare her away by pushing too fast. On the morning of Day 9 of lovins, I came brought her breakfast, and we sat together as I gave her lovins for an hour. Over the past 9 days, I worked on getting ticks off of her as I pet her, and it continued this day, too. After a few more visits that day she came home with me and the rest has been focused only on her best life yet.

I’ve taken Princess to Hilltop Family Vet in High Springs. She will be receiving all of her care there. It brought me to tears as we were in the exam room, and employees came to share their stories of the infamous Ghost Dog with me. They shared sightings over the years and expressed so much joy for her rescue!.

Our goal is keep her happy and get her healthy!

Last week we received her blood work back. Princess is positive for Ehrlichia (a tick born disease) and is also heartworm positive. Her kidney values are elevated slightly .. most likely due to the Ehrlichia. The treatment is the same. Bonus!

As I share her story on social media platforms, many have suggested the 'slow kill' method (simply using the monthly heart worm prevention). I spoke to Dr. Miller at Hilltop in depth regarding this suggestion. The large risk with this method is that the heart worms will last for very long (years) before they die off. The knew growths will be prevented, but as the existing slows die off,there is a high risk causing a Pulmonary Embolism as they dislodge. Given that Princess has been in the wild since at least 2014, we estimate she is at least 10-13 yrs old ,and we simply do not have time. Also, we need the treatment to battle the Ehrlichia.

With that said... Dr Miller suggested a chest x-ray (3 viviewto evaluate her heart size and lungs. Then decide the next,how aggressive we are with the treatments

and if her heart and lungs can handle it. Likely, she can because there is no respiratory distress at this time. This leads me to my next point. Dr Hill also recommended keeping Princess and my 4 kiddos completely separated for 3 weeks. Why? In order to allow the vaccinations to take effect and to fully rule out respiratory issues.

It will be a tough 3 weeks, folks. But, we got this... 🙏

Monday, at 10am., she will go in for her x-rays, and we will then decide if she is clear to start the tick and heart worm treatment. Total treatment cost is estimated at $2000. This may change due to the aggressive treatment she may require. It will also be over a 1 year span. If we start Monday, what will be due is 300$ for the x-rays and 600-700$ for the start of her treatment. That will total $1000.

Her needs have totaled $1246 thus far.

I’m reaching out to you for two reasons. First and foremost, to help spread the word and inform our community (that has had a HUGE hand in her survival) that this sweet angel is OK, safe, and in a loving home! Secondly, to give the community a chance to follow her BEST LIFE JOURNEY and help facilitate that any way they can.

I’ve shared her story on the Nextdoor app, Facebook, and PayPal Fundraiser. Below is a link to each.

Nextdoor: https://nextdoor.com/p/QLKZC9w7qkmh?utm_source=share&extras=MjYwNzQ0MTQ%3D&utm_campaign=1707480972907

Facebook: Public Princess album and posts

https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.ann.98622?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Paypal

https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/91DC6rxHEB

As you look through the links you’ll notice there has been an overwhelming response from the community thus far. People have shared so many stories of leaving food for her, trying to rescue her, or even protecting her from 441! She is such a large part of our community, and I’d love for this BEST chapter of her life to continue with the army of residents and business owners that have cared for her over this past decade.

God bless,

Jennifer Trenteseaux

02/09/2024

Have you seen these tags for your pets? They are awesome! If your pet was to do the unthinkable and get out, these tags just need to be scanned and you are notified if your pet has been gound and your information will be available to the finder!!There are so many wonderful benefits to this style tag. Check them out at https://heybuddy.club/

The only pet tag you’ll ever need! QR code pet tags - scannable, reliable, and extremely durable tags. Good looking as well!

02/07/2024

Did you know February is National Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month? Gainesville Rabbit Rescue has many adoptable bunnies that are looking for their FURRever home. They do such great work for the rabbits and our community. Take a moment and check out their page to see their adorable rabbits that are available.

Not sure if you are ready to be a full-time rabbit owner? How about starting out as a volunteer or foster? I’m sure they would love to talk with you.

Unable to adopt, volunteer or rescue; but, would still like to help? They can certainly use donations! As we know, with rising costs, rescues feel the pinch more than we do. They have wishlists for items needed and as always, you can call the office at 386-462-3822 and place a credit on their account. You can also reach directly out to them if you would like to donate directly to the rescue.

02/03/2024

Anyone else have kitties that test this theory?

02/02/2024

Did you know that February is Pet Dental Health Month? Your pet's dental well-being is crucial for their overall health. While those furry kisses may be sweet, there could be hidden issues beneath the gum line that you might not be able to immediately spot, potentially leading to numerous systemic health problems. Dental diseases, such as periodontal disease and gingivitis, can not only cause discomfort and pain for your pet, but may also impact vital organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys. Early detection and treatment play a pivotal role in preventing further progression or discomfort for your beloved fur baby.

Take advantage of this awareness month and schedule an exam with us to discuss your pet's dental health. Throughout February, we're excited to offer a special discount on all dental services. It's the perfect opportunity to ensure your pet's oral hygiene is in top-notch condition. A healthy smile means a healthier, happier life for your four-legged companion! Give us a call today at 386-462-3822