Jimmy Buffett’s love for his dog inspired the lyrics, “I want you to love me like my dog.” Pets are family, so selecting a veterinarian should necessitate a detailed and careful decision. Drs. Josh and Blair Platt of Celina Veterinary Hospital understand this and believe they have the best clinic for your dog or cat.
Celina Veterinary Hospital is a small animal, general practice vet exclusively focusing on dogs and cats. Dr. Blair Platt says they are like a general practice doctor, able to do a little bit of everything, a mix of well care and sick care. They also offer some urgent care, if needed.
So, what sets the Platts and Celina Veterinary Hospital apart from other veterinarians? In simple terms, Drs. Blair and Josh believe in relationship-based care. They have practiced for many years becoming dissatisfied with veterinary medicine turning more corporate versus individual care. When they decided to open their veterinary hospital, they ranked the pets and pet owners of the highest importance, independent of corporate franchises. Their goal is to return veterinary medicine to a personalized feel. Dr. Blair Platt explains, “We want to have a genuine relationship with you and your pets.”
The doctors believed this was an ideal business to bring to Celina in June 2024. Having lived in Athens, Texas, and working for a local veterinarian, they were looking for a new community closer to Blair’s parents that had a need for more veterinarians. All it took was lunch at a downtown Celina restaurant, known for its homestyle cooking, to convince the Platts that Celina was the town for them.
Blair states, “We live here and want to get to know you and your pets.” She continues, “When you see us out in the town, we want you to know how important you are to us and our staff. We hear you.” Drs. Platt and their staff are committed to spending quality time with each animal visit whether for a well visit or if the pet is sick. “Those are our values to build long-lasting, personal, connections with our customers,” says Josh. The staff at Celina Veterinary Hospital are also treated as family with the same mindset. The doctors believe they have the best, hard-working staff with Drew, Scout, Amber, Jenny, and Kelsey, all sharing the intimate approach to pet care.
In their short time in Celina, the vet has embraced the community with support and sponsorships. “We had booths at Oktoberfest, Beware of the Square, and Christmas on the Square, plus are members of the Chamber of Commerce,” notes Blair. “We have a real investment in the community, and the town has been very welcoming,” she continued.
The doctors hope that pet owners will also invest in their pet’s health. A common misperception is omitting a vet visit when a pet is healthy. Dr. Blair corrects that falsehood noting while it is easy for dogs and cats to be healthy for the first five years of their lives, middle age is when problems can arise. At a minimum, an annual well visit is crucial to overall care so any medical issues can be addressed early.
Furthermore, while February is known as American Heart Month for humans, it is also essential for dogs and pets. First, heartworm prevention is necessary year-round. The temperatures in Texas during winter months can range from thirty to seventy degrees on any given day thus heartworm disease is always present. Second, just like people, cats and dogs can get heart disease, have valve issues, and cardiac complications. Dr. Blair reiterates, “The biggest prevention is the annual exam and wellness care to avoid heart disease or to detect it immediately.”
Once more, having an established relationship with a veterinarian can assist in recognizing health concerns. Dr. Josh says that Celina Veterinary Hospital provides personal care exclusive to the industry. “We are old school care bringing veterinary medicine ‘back to the roots’ and earning our reputation back to where it once was,” he maintains.
As graduates of Texas Tech University and Texas A&M Veterinary School, Drs. Josh and Blair Platt both knew since childhood they wanted to be in the medical field. Josh grew up around horses and even competed in some rodeos. Blair’s dad was a medical doctor, inspiring Blair to work in the medical field in some form. It is their passion and love for animals and medicine that drew them together and ultimately led to the opening of Celina Veterinary Hospital. “Our love for animal medicine is what gives us a particular level of trust working together with pet owners to give the best imaginable care,” says Josh. Like Jimmy Buffett, Drs. Platt hopes that you, too, love them like you love your dog (or cat).
Celina Veterinary Hospital
515 S Preston Rd, Suite 100, Celina
CelinaVeterinaryHospital.com