Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic

Located at 3083 Point Marion Rd, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA, Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic stands as a well-established "Pet Hospital" dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare for companion animals. Serving the Morgantown area and surrounding counties, including Monongalia, Marion, Preston, and Garrett, Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic prides itself on a long history of care, having served "furry family members and their people since 1961." Their mission emphasizes securing the human-animal bond through high-quality surgical, diagnostic, and preventative medicine, delivered in a friendly and compassionate atmosphere.

Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic operates from a modern, state-of-the-art facility built in 2014, signifying a commitment to providing advanced care in a comfortable setting. Despite its updated amenities, the clinic strives to maintain a "small-town clinic feel," aiming to create a welcoming and less intimidating environment for pets and their owners. As a traditional "Pet Hospital," its environment typically includes:

• Spacious and Organized Reception Area: Designed for client comfort during check-ins and waiting times, ensuring a smooth administrative process.

• Multiple Examination Rooms: Private and well-equipped spaces for consultations, routine check-ups, and initial diagnostics, allowing veterinarians and staff to interact with pets in a calm setting.

• Advanced Diagnostic Facilities: An in-house laboratory for quick and accurate blood work, urinalysis, and other diagnostic tests, minimizing wait times for results. This is complemented by modern imaging capabilities such as digital X-rays.

• Surgical Suite: A sterile and fully equipped operating room for performing various surgical procedures, complete with anesthesia monitoring equipment.

• Dental Suite: Dedicated facilities for comprehensive dental care, including cleaning, polishing, and extractions, utilizing specialized dental equipment.

• Dedicated Treatment Areas: Spaces for administering treatments, preparing for surgeries, and monitoring hospitalized patients.

• Boarding Facilities: For clients who require pet lodging services, the clinic offers dedicated boarding areas, providing a safe and supervised environment for pets while their owners are away.

A notable aspect of their environment and approach is their commitment to Fear Free principles. Several team members are Fear Free certified, indicating a conscious effort to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in pets during their visits. This is particularly evident in client testimonials, where even dogs with a history of anxiety or aggression are managed professionally and compassionately, with staff offering tips and medication to help alleviate stress for future visits.

Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic offers a wide array of comprehensive veterinary services for small companion animals, primarily dogs and cats, but also extending to rabbits and some pocket pets. As a full-service "Pet Hospital," their offerings cover all stages of a pet's life, from preventive care to advanced diagnostics and surgical interventions:

• Wellness and Preventive Care: This forms the foundation of their services, including thorough annual physical exams from head to tail, customized vaccination protocols to protect against common diseases, and comprehensive parasite prevention and control programs (fleas, ticks, heartworm, intestinal worms).

• Surgical Services: They perform a range of soft tissue surgeries, including routine procedures like spaying and neutering, as well as more complex operations. The clinic emphasizes high-quality surgical care with appropriate anesthesia and pain management.

• Dental Services: Recognizing the importance of oral health, Hillcrest offers comprehensive dental cleanings, polishing, and extractions to prevent and treat periodontal disease, crucial for overall pet wellness.

• In-House Diagnostic Services: For timely and accurate diagnoses, they provide a full suite of in-house laboratory tests (blood work, urinalysis, fecal exams) and digital radiography (X-rays) to examine various body systems. This allows for rapid assessment of health conditions.

• Pain Management: The clinic offers solutions for managing both acute and chronic pain, ensuring the comfort and quality of life for pets, which may include medication and other therapeutic modalities.

• Laser Therapy: As a modern therapeutic option, laser therapy may be utilized for pain relief, reducing inflammation, and accelerating healing for various conditions.

• Behavioral Counseling: Recognizing that behavioral issues can impact the human-animal bond, they provide guidance and resources to address common behavioral challenges, as evidenced by staff offering tips for anxious pets.

• Boarding Services: For clients needing a safe place for their pets while they are away, Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic provides supervised boarding facilities.

• Grooming Services: Some general grooming services may be available to complement their health offerings.

The clinic’s approach is holistic, aiming to provide excellent care throughout all life stages, from puppies and kittens to senior pets, ensuring tailored medical plans. The positive feedback for Dr. Hart, who "solved my dog's undiagnosed skin infection," highlights their diagnostic capabilities and commitment to resolving persistent health issues.

Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic distinguishes itself through several key features:

• Established Legacy and Experience: Founded in 1961 by Dr. Eugene "Doc" Owen, the clinic has a deep-rooted history in the Morgantown community. Now led by practice owners Dr. Kelley Owen (Doc's daughter) and Dr. Aaron Pollock, alongside a team of seven full-time veterinarians (including Dr. Molly Allen, Dr. Mikell Adair, Dr. Franci Kenney, Dr. Ryan Hart, and Dr. Jaclyn Warner), the practice benefits from decades of collective experience. This longevity fosters deep trust within the community, as evidenced by a client taking pets there for "over 20 years."

• Fear Free Certified Professionals: A significant feature is their commitment to the Fear Free initiative. Several team members are certified, meaning they employ techniques and strategies to minimize fear, anxiety, and stress in pets during veterinary visits. This empathetic approach is highly beneficial for anxious or reactive animals, making visits more pleasant for both pets and owners.

• Compassionate and Respectful Staff: Client reviews consistently praise the staff for being "so good with both of my dogs" and treating clients "with compassion and respect." This emphasis on kindness and professionalism, even in challenging situations (like a dog biting a vet tech), is a defining characteristic.

• Comprehensive & High-Quality Care: Hillcrest offers a broad spectrum of services, from wellness and preventive care to advanced diagnostics and surgery. This comprehensive approach, combined with a mission to practice "high-quality surgical, diagnostic and preventative medicine," assures pet owners of thorough care.

• Strong Human-Animal Bond Focus: Their mission statement explicitly focuses on "securing the human-animal bond," indicating that they value the relationship between pets and their owners and strive to support and strengthen it through their care.

• Community Involvement: The clinic has a history of working closely with local rescue groups, providing spay/neuter procedures and sponsoring adoptions, demonstrating a commitment to animal welfare beyond their immediate clientele.

• Convenient Online Resources: Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic provides an app for extended care, allowing clients to call and email with one touch, request appointments, food, and medication, view upcoming services, and receive notifications about promotions, lost pets, and recalls. They also offer an online store for convenient medication and food purchases.

Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic's promotional strategies aim to highlight their comprehensive care, client-centric approach, and the value they offer to the Morgantown community:

• Regular Specials and Promotions: The clinic actively runs promotions on essential pet health products. For example, they offer savings on heartworm, flea, and tick medications like Simparica Trio® or Revolution Plus®, often with tiered discounts (e.g., $20 off 6 doses, $50 off 12 doses) and additional savings through programs like Zoetis Petcare Rewards. These promotions are time-sensitive, encouraging timely purchases for year-round protection.

• Refer-a-Friend Program: Hillcrest incentivizes referrals by offering a discount for both existing and new clients (e.g., $25 off the next appointment) when a new client mentions a referral. This leverages word-of-mouth, which is highly effective in veterinary care due to the trust involved.

• Fear Free Initiative Promotion: Their commitment to being Fear Free certified is a significant promotional point, especially for owners of anxious pets. This highlights their empathetic approach and efforts to reduce stress during visits.

• Online Store and App Convenience: Promoting their upgraded online store and dedicated app streamlines medication and food purchases, offering auto-ship discounts and direct access to pet records and promotions, enhancing client convenience.

• Emphasis on Long-Term Relationships: The clinic's long history and testimonials from long-term clients ("over 20 years") are powerful promotional tools, suggesting reliability, consistent quality, and a deeply trusted relationship.

• Clear Contact Information and Hours: They provide clear contact details ((304) 292-6933) and extensive operating hours (Mon-Thurs: 7:30 AM - 8:00 PM, Fri: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM, Sat: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM) to ensure accessibility for scheduling appointments and inquiries.

• Financial Options: Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic works with treatment financing solutions like CareCredit and Scratchpay, which are often promoted to help clients manage the cost of unexpected or large veterinary expenses, ensuring that financial constraints don't prevent necessary care.

By combining a rich history with modern facilities, a compassionate and certified team, a comprehensive range of services, and practical promotional offers, Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic positions itself as a reliable and caring "Pet Hospital" for the Morgantown community, committed to the health and well-being of its furry patients.