We Love What We Do

When they look into your eyes, you see it. When they curl up next to you and rest their head on your arm, you feel it. When they stare through the front window as you back out of the driveway and can’t contain their excitement when you arrive home, you know it. They are gifts of undying love and devotion. And when they come through our doors at Wakarusa Veterinary Hospital and we look into their eyes, we see it too. We are here for them and for you. Our mission is to honor and preserve these gifts for as long as we can. This isn’t our job. It’s our calling.

Why Choose Wakarusa?

Highest Medical Standards
We never shortcut care. We follow the best medical guidelines and protocols to ensure your pet gets the finest, most affordable healthcare available.
Comprehensive Care
Like their humans, each pet has a unique mind, body, and spirit. We recognize this individuality and adjust our care so that it is fitting and comprehensive.
Expert Team
Our doctors and technicians are committed to excellence in veterinary medicine, and we strive to enrich our practice through continued training and education.
Honesty
For us, trust is foundational. We communicate all aspects of our services and are open and honest with you throughout the course of our medical care.
Our Heart
We know the immeasurable joy that our animal kids bring to our lives, and we are committed to the dignified, loving, and respectful treatment of them.
Dr. Amend, Dr. Rowland, and Dr. Gleeson standing side by side.

TESTIMONIALS

Voted Best of Lawrence, 2023!
1st Place - Veterinary Hospital. Thank you, Lawrence!
Read Our Lawrence Journal-World Profile
Best vets in Lawrence!
Ann M.
Everyone is amazing there!
Deanna M.
You guys were great, especially with understanding the needs of my shy and anxious dog.
Breanne R.
Doctors and staff are amazing! My fur babies feel very loved and are not stressed during their visit.
Cheryl P.
Everyone was incredibly nice and caring. You can’t ask for more than that.
Randy S.
More Testimonials

Services

Wellness Exams
Our routine wellness visits include a full nose-to-tail exam to check all aspects of your pet’s health. We recommend that your pet receive a wellness exam every 6-12 months, even if they seem fit and healthy. Regular wellness exams allow us to catch underlying health problems early, provide consistent preventative care, and routinely support your pet’s overall health and wellbeing.
Vaccinations
Pet vaccines are an essential part of preventative care and significantly increase your pet’s chances of a long, healthy life with you. Highly contagious and often untreatable diseases can be avoided by ensuring your pet is consistently up to date with their vaccinations.
Diagnostics
Lab screenings and imaging are the windows to a more complete health profile and help us to understand and treat complex issues that don’t always present themselves with a physical exam alone. Blood tests, cytology, urinalysis, ultrasound, echocardiograms, and x-rays are some of the tools we use to assess your pet’s inner health.
Surgery
Wakarusa Veterinary Hospital incorporates innovative surgical techniques and technology to keep us at the forefront of veterinary medicine. Our hospital provides a large number of surgical services ranging from standard spaying and neutering to advanced, highly specialized soft tissue and orthopedic procedures.
Spaying and Neutering
While spaying and neutering are considered routine surgical procedures, all surgeries carry a degree of risk. We adhere to gold standard medical protocols to keep your pet safe and healthy before, during, and after any procedure, even the routine ones. Prior to spaying or neutering we give your pet a full physical exam that includes blood work to ensure they have no underlying health issues that surgery might exacerbate. After surgery, we provide you with in-depth instructions to promote a healthy and speedy recovery for your pet.
Chemotherapy
Learning that your pet has cancer is agonizing, but you don’t have to deal with it alone. Treating cancer is a team effort, and we’re here to help. Our doctors have specialized training in oncology and can treat some forms of cancer. If your pet’s cancer treatment involves chemotherapy, we can administer it right here at the hospital. If the treatment recommended for your pet is out of our scope in primary care, we will guide you to a board-certified veterinary oncologist and walk you through your pet’s entire treatment.
Hospitalization
Our hospital offers hospitalization services. Hospitalization involves admitting your pet into the hospital for monitoring or necessary medical care. Your pet will have their own private kennel where they can rest and heal and they will be monitored closely by technicians and veterinarians throughout their stay, even after hours and on weekends. Your pet will receive specialized medical treatments as directed by one of our veterinarians. Visitation of your pet is available during their hospital stay. When it is determined your pet is well enough to go home, you will be given verbal or written follow-up instructions to continue at home.
Specialized Overnight Care
Do you have an elderly pet that needs routine medications, management of mobility issues, palliative therapy, daily medical care, or just some extra TLC while you’re away? This service is for you. We provide a safe, clean, and comfortable environment for your special needs pet to stay in, and we have staff devoted to giving them love and attention each day. And rest assured, there’s always a doctor at paw’s reach.
Hygiene Care
Baths, nail trims, ear cleanings, and anal gland expressions are all an important part of routine hygiene care for our pets. Whether you don’t like to bathe your pet yourself or you simply don’t have the right setup, we are here for you.
Dental Care
Not only is regular dental care important for freshening up those sweet little kisses, but it is essential for keeping your pet healthy and happy. Dental disease is a common issue among household pets that can lead to serious health problems if left untreated. Annual dental exams and cleanings help maintain proper oral hygiene and prevent future complications. Each of our veterinarians has undergone specialized training in dentistry to provide the highest standard of care for your pet.
Microchipping
There is no worse feeling than looking for your pet in the backyard and finding that the gate was left open. Microchipping is a very simple procedure that dramatically improves the chances that your loved one, whether lost or just out for a joy-run, will get back home safely.
Pet Travel Certificates
If you are taking your pet across state or international borders, a health certificate as well as other documentation may be required. The health certificate must be signed by an accredited veterinarian after examining your pet and determining that it is free of infectious diseases and satisfies all import requirements of the receiving state territory or country. All of our veterinarians are accredited by the USDA to perform this task.
Saying Goodbye
The most difficult and often the most confusing time for any pet owner is when you feel it may be time to say goodbye to your beloved companion. Sometimes the most loving decision is to ease your pet’s suffering through euthanasia. Wakarusa Veterinary Hospital offers on-site as well as in-home end-of-life care. Just know that we are here for you and your pet, and we’ll do all we can to help you through the heartache.