The Bay Road Animal Hospital Team

Happy Clients

Our mission would not be possible without excellent client relationships. The bonds we develop with our clients are extremely important to our success, and our veterinarians and support team excel at making these relationships special. The Bay Road Animal Hospital team has been together for a very long time. The faces you see today are the same faces you saw 5, 10, or even 20 years ago. This continuity makes our team efficient, ensuring the best possible service for our clients.

Here's What Our Clients Are Saying:

• "My dogs get the best care ever right here! Thank you!" - Elisabeth Snyder
• "My cat is not the most cooperative animal in the world but he gets great care at Crossings." - Karen Cheeseman
• "Words cannot express how very much thankful we are for all of your love and support. Thank you all so very much for who you are and what you do each and every day. God bless all of you." - Damon and Mike
• "Thank you for taking such compassionate and thorough care of Joey. Your kindness and good humor with this ungrateful patient means everything to me." - Emily Sheets
• "Thank you Dr. Rosenberry and all the staff for taking such good care of Taco, Sally, and Daisy!" - Gretchen Rimmer

Our mission is to make pets healthy and their people happy. Our doctors and staff live this mission every day using sophisticated veterinary techniques and top quality customer service. With two locations in Sarasota, Bay Road Animal Hospital provides full service veterinary care. Both of our hospitals are AAHA Accredited and adhere to the highest standard of veterinary medicine as set forth by the American Animal Hospital Association.

The Bay Road Story

Bay Road Animal Hospital was established in 1961 in the small town of Sarasota. Dr. Jim France started the veterinary clinic to serve a few hundred local clients in west Sarasota. The number of pets increased as the town grew, and Dr. France sold the hospital to Dr. William J. Greene in 1970. Dr. Greene turned Bay Road into a premier animal clinic by focusing on modern veterinary techniques and client service. Dr. David J. Smith, the current owner, arrived at Bay Road Animal hospital in 1974. The two veterinarians became partners and built the hospital into the most advanced veterinary hospital in Sarasota. Dr. Smith bought the hospital in 1980 and made Bay Road one of the first animal clinics in Sarasota to earn AAHA Accreditation. His success allowed the hospital to expand into east Sarasota with the opening of the Crossings location in 1991. Dr. Smith's animal hospitals have earned an excellent reputation over the last 30+ years and now serve over 4,000 clients in both east and west Sarasota.

Healthy Pets: Our Diagnostic Process

Our approach to veterinary medicine is different from the methods of most animal clinics. We take time to correctly diagnose your pet when he or she is sick rather than simply prescribing medicine. Treatment can be easy, but figuring out what is wrong with your pet is difficult. Our veterinarians and staff follow a 4 step diagnostic process to make your pet healthy:

Step 1: Gathering Your Pet's History

As a pet owner, you are a major part of figuring out the diagnosis. Your observation of your pet's problem along with other pertinent information such as diet, vaccine history, and previous tests and treatments will greatly assist in making a proper diagnosis.

Step 2: Performing a Physical Exam

Examining your pet's body is essential to figuring out the problem. We offer the most thorough exam in Sarasota, looking at every physical aspect of the body from head to tail. It is impossible to correctly diagnose without a firm understanding of your pet's physical condition.

Step 3: Conducting Appropriate Diagnostic Tests

If the first two steps do not definitively diagnose the problem, laboratory tests might be needed. Our veterinarians will only recommend appropriate tests, rather than a blanket of all tests. This lowers your cost and does not waste time. We have only certified technicians performing lab work, which reduces probability for diagnostic error.

Step 4: The Diagnosis

This is the gold standard in medicine. After steps 1 through 3 are complete, we have enough information to determine the problem. We will administer treatment that will hopefully lead to the speedy recovery of your pet using this information.

Using this 4 step method ensures that your pet receives the best possible care within the scope of veterinary medicine.

Why AAHA Accreditation is Important

In your search for a veterinary hospital, make sure you look for an AAHA-accredited clinic. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is an international association of more than 42,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. Established in 1933, AAHA is well known among veterinarians and pet owners for its standards for hospitals and pet health care. Only 3,000 veterinary hospitals voluntarily participate in the AAHA hospital evaluation program. Both of Bay Road Animal Hospital's locations participate, and both are accredited. AAHA consultants regularly visit these hospitals to ensure compliance with AAHA's standards for services and facilities. AAHA is the only organization that accredits animal hospitals throughout the U.S. and Canada. AAHA-accredited hospitals are evaluated on 900 standards in the following areas: quality of care; diagnostic & pharmacy; management; medical records; and facility.