Wil-O-Paw Animal Hospital

All the workers are so friendly and courteous and kind. They take their time to listen. They will explain it in a way that you will understand whatever the circumstances are. My Pet's love going there and so do I. They do nice work.

posted: 07/31/2023

I was anxious about finding a new veterinarian for my two dogs since we moved to the area. Wil-O-Paw has been absolutely amazing and feels almost exactly like our former provider. Very friendly, welcoming knowledgeable, and fair. I'd highly recommend them to anyone in the area.

posted: 06/13/2023

I am very pleased with the care we received. The staff was competent, compassionate and spent time with us. We were visiting from our of town and they fit us into the schedule even though my dog doesn't get regular care there, and that was very appreciated.

posted: 06/23/2023

Faye is my very active, nearly-five English Shepherd who likes to run with me. I trained her to run to my left and at my side. Normally, I have to leg-it to keep up with her. Last week, I noticed that she was lagging behind me so I figured it wasn't her day to run (I never take her more than 3 miles) so I took her home. Later in the day, I noticed that she was taking longer than usual to stand up after lying down and she hesitated when going up and down the back steps. A few days later, she opted to sleep overnight on her downstairs bed rather than sleep on the one she has upstairs. At first I thought she might have strained herself. Then she showed improvement and had no problem chasing a ball. Still, something didn't seem right. I stopped into Wil-O-Paw to pick up heart worm preventative (we've been multi-pet clients since 2004) and asked if I could make an appointment to have Faye examined. Dr. Kendall saw her on Thursday. Faye has seen her in the past, but just for check-ups. Dr. Kendall gave her back legs a thorough examination and then watched her walk. I mentioned that my wife and I thought she was favoring her right rear leg. "I agree". Dr. Kendall suspected hip dysplasia and x-rays confirmed it. Afterward, she took her time and explained everything to me and pointed out how the ball of Faye's right femur (which should be round to fit in the socket), had an almost squared edge. The left side is also misshaped, but not as bad. Unfortunately, this is common to her breed. Back in the exam room, Dr. Kendall went over a proactive treatment plan that included pain meds and joint supplements. She also talked about surgical intervention (should it eventually come to that) and the two options. With regards to running, Dr. Kendall said to continue to do so, but assess Faye's condition every half mile. When I mentioned that Faye loves to swim in Lake Michigan, she said that that's the best non-impact, non-weight bearing exercise she can get (we tried to go in earlier this week, but the water was still too cold for both of us - she won't go in without me). At one point, Dr. Kendall asked me what Faye was eating. I hesitated to answer at first. A few months ago, I watched a documentary film entitled, PET FOOLED that exposed the self-regulated (un-regulated) pet food industry and how we've been told that overpriced, carb-rich dry dog food is the best thing for them. The film also introduced me to Dr. Karen Becker, a vet who is a champion for real food diets and feels that we should feed our dogs the best real diet that we can afford. After an exhaustive web search (food subscriptions were not an option), I found a nutrition supplement made by JustFoodForDogs along with detailed recipes for each variety (Chicken, Beef, Fish...). I was sold and have been feeding Faye the chicken recipe for the last month or so (chicken thighs, livers, gizzards, spinach, carrots, rice, apple, fish oil and a measured amount of supplement). It's definitely a labor of love (it takes roughly 3 hours every two weeks), but Faye absolutely loves it. (Back on track) In the documentary, people mentioned that when they told their vets that they were making dog food (or feeding a raw diet), they were scolded and made to feel reckless and irresponsible, so I was all ready for the shaming. IT NEVER HAPPENED! Dr. Kendall took one look at the package I brought in and said, "That's amazing. In fact, it was created by a vet and I got the chance to meet her. Keep doing what you're doing!" That said, I can't speak highly enough about Dr. Kendall. We used to see Dr. Case who supported a holistic approach to animal care. I feel very fortunate that Faye is now under the care of Dr. Kendall. She's thorough, kind, patient, empathetic and includes you in the care decisions. THANK YOU.

posted: 06/20/2023

We came from out of state. Our dog got sick and they gave her and us the most kind and compassionate care. We needed them not once, but twice while we were here and they made themselves available immediately both times. They were absolutely amazing!

posted: 06/16/2023