It’s all about keeping four-legged furry animals healthy and happy at the Loxahatchee Groves Veterinary Clinic.
Dr. Maria Yanguas, an emergency veterinarian, knew what her future would hold from a young age. “My dad was a vet,” she said. “I grew up with animals.”
Yanguas studied in Spain — where she is from, practiced as a veterinarian and where her father practiced as a veterinarian. After coming to the United States, she worked in Alabama, Virginia, Arizona and Rhode Island, completing all of the things she needed to become licensed as a veterinarian in the U.S.
During that time, she worked as a relief veterinarian, and then as an emergency veterinarian. In late 2015, Yanguas opened the Loxahatchee Groves Veterinary Clinic, located on Southern Blvd.
The practice offers diagnostic, dental, healthcare, pharmacy, heartworm prevention, pet wellness and emergency services at the clinic, where the slogan is “Animal Care from the Heart.”
Yanguas, also known as “Dr. Y,” has a dedicated team helping her every step of the way.
Office Manager Barbara Clark became involved in veterinary care approximately 13 years ago when she moved to Palm Beach County. “I get to come to work and have wagging tails and little meows greeting me,” Clark said.
Yanguas and Clark met and worked together on various projects, became friends about five years ago, and came together to work at the Loxahatchee Groves Veterinary Clinic.
New to the office is Briana Herzog, who finished high school at South Tech Academy, graduating with a certificate as a certified veterinary assistant.
Herzog needed experience hours and came to Yanguas.
“She’s very good,” Clark said.
Herzog’s end goal is to become a veterinarian herself. “I love animals. It’s my passion to work with them,” she said.
The Loxahatchee Groves Veterinary Clinic family’s passion for animal care and well-being is evident upon walking through the door.
“We treat your companion animal as if it was our own,” Clark said. “It’s excellent medicine at fair prices. We want everybody who comes through the door to feel like they belong here. We want everyone to know that it’s an open door, no question too big or too small. Call us for anything. We not only want to be their veterinarian, we want them to feel like they’re family when they come in here. Their pets are our pets.”
The clinic focuses mostly on small companion animals such as cats and dogs, and works with pocket pets such as guinea pigs and rabbits. Yanguas also works with small farm animals and has worked with cows in the past.
Loxahatchee Groves Veterinary Clinic is growing steadily, helping more and more clients as the months go on.
They’re happy with their location, where there are often parking lot barbeques. “I wanted a more town-like place, where you know everyone. You go to the barn next door. You pick up some tacos next door. You see people around. It’s more like the town where I grew up,” Yanguas said.
Her focus is on being the neighborhood veterinarian. The community feel appeals to Yanguas, who is used to caring for animals day and night. The clinic is open on Saturdays because, as Clark explained, you never know what might be coming through the door over the weekend.
Yanguas works hard to help animals in need, understanding the important relationships people have with their pets.
“I know how important the animals are to people,” she said. “I even have young people who say, ‘these are my children.’”
The clinic has many specials and packages, such as the puppy package with an exam, vaccines and other treatments; the kitten package, with an exam and multiple sets of treatments; the canine annual with an exam, treatments and vaccines; and the feline annual with an exam, tests, a booster, vaccines and treatments. The goal is to make sure that the animals grow up to be healthy.
The Loxahatchee Groves Veterinary Clinic, located at 14579 Southern Blvd., is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. For more info., call (561) 600-8406, e-mail lgvc60@yahoo.com or visit www.loxahatcheegrovesveterinaryclinic.com.
ABOVE: Briana Herzog with Tiffany, Dr. Maria Yanguas with Church and Merlin, and Barbara Clark with Milo at the Loxahatchee Groves Veterinary Clinic.
