Smyrna Animal Hospital is a local top dog

Each week, Smyrna-Vinings Patch will identify a local hidden business treasure that highlights from among other things its professionalism, superior customer care mindset and community-minded spirit.  

This week’s spotlight shines on one of Atlanta Magazine’s “2010 Five Star Veterinarian Overall Satisfaction” recipients, .  

Serving the area’s veterinary needs since 1969, the current veterinary team of four has more than 110 years of practical and professional veterinary experience, where each doctor specializes in his or her preferred area of interest.

Owner Dr. Robert Griffith said the facility considers itself much like one might think of their primary care physician’s office, but instead of being for humans, they only work with cats and dogs (sorry no exotic or large animal services available). This animal hospital covers the broad spectrum of feline and canine health issues beginning with pediatric all the way through gerontology issues – and they do it with love.

Whether working in the community finding shelter for animals, developing and establishing 24-hour emergency care for all of Cobb County’s dogs and cats, working with the Greater Atlanta Veterinary Society, working with and supporting the Cobb County Medical Shelter, or offering deeply discounted wellness exams, Smyrna Animal Hospital’s team centers their efforts around improving the quality and lives of dogs and cats. 

Concurrently, it’s equally important to them to ensure their human counterparts understand their pets’ needs and, subsequently, work in coordination with their pets' health provider.

While Dr. Griffith indicated that parts of their work are difficult, the fact each day brings something new and different makes the work engaging and fun. 

“From the time I was nine years old, I knew I wanted to be a vet. I love it all because no day is the same and dealing with these challenges every day is the best part of the job,” Dr. Griffith said.

Each week, our business leaders, utilizing their unique individual backgrounds and expertise, will be asked to offer “golden nuggets” of wisdom to our readers. Here’s what Dr. Griffith had to offer:

• New puppy or kitten: Get them to your vet as soon as possible, and then follow all appointments as deemed necessary by the vet. The worst mistake dog and cat owners make is not ensuring their puppies and kitties are properly vaccinated via sound and mandated timelines.
• Adolescence: Maintain bi-annual wellness check-ups.
• Post-adolescence: With the proliferation of specialized pet care available today, it is truly prudent to obtain pet health insurance. That way, the pet owner will have peace of mind knowing they will be able to accommodate their pets ever changing health needs.

When asked if there was any one thing Dr. Griffith wanted to make sure our readers got from this article, “Pets are a part of your family; make sure you hug them at least once a day,” the doctor enthusiastically noted.    

Smyrna Animal Hospital is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.; and Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.