Offering Pet Urgent Care in Parrish, FL
Does your pet have a health problem that, while not life threatening, still requires timely care? Parrish Veterinary Clinic is able to meet your pet’s urgent care needs through Parrish Veterinary Urgent Care, a branch of our general practice that operates outside regular business hours to accommodate busy schedules—and the unexpected.
What is Pet Urgent Care?
Urgent care is different from emergency care. Emergencies involve life-threatening or potentially life-threatening medical situations that need to be addressed immediately by an emergency team equipped to handle them. Urgent care deals with less serious, but no less important health problems in pets that could potentially worsen without timely treatment.
What kinds of conditions in pets fall into the “urgent” category?
Pet Conditions that Benefit from Urgent Care
We can provide pet urgent care to treat a wide variety of illnesses, injuries, and other conditions, including:
- Fever
- Drinking more water more frequently in larger amounts
- Chronic coughing and sneezing
- Refusing food
- Rashes and/or hot spots on the skin
- Straining to urinate
- Recent onset vomiting/diarrhea
- Discharge from the eyes and nose
- Mild lameness/limping
- Sustained a minor laceration or puncture wound
- Checking a post-op incision
- Broken/bleeding toenail
- Ear infection (discharge/odor from the ears, head shaking)
- Bug bites and bee stings
- Anal gland irritation (pet is scooting and/or licking at their rear)
- Strange lumps or bumps
If you are unsure whether your pet’s condition requires urgent care, call us at (941) 216-7396 to find out what to do next.
Your Urgent Care Vets
Dr. Nic Caceres
DVM
Dr. Nicholas Caceres graduated in 2006 with his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the National University of Colombia in South America, where he is from originally. He wanted to be a veterinarian since childhood when he would go on farm calls with his uncle, who was a local mixed animal practitioner. He has always been excited by the human-animal bond and attending to the needs of pets and their owners through team-oriented medicine.
Dr. Caceres has experience in mixed animal practice, shelter medicine, and herd health maintenance. He currently has a special interest in internal medicine and minimally invasive procedures like dentistry and soft-tissue surgery. He and his wife, Brittany, have two dogs, Ruggs, and an Irish Wolfhound named Coffee. In his spare time, Dr. Caceres enjoys kayaking, mountain biking, reading, and music.
Dr. Jodi Baker
DVM
Dr. Jodi Baker’s journey into the veterinary field was driven by her deep love and passion for animals. After earning her B.S. in biology from the University of South Florida in 2005, she followed her heart’s calling and pursued a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from St. George’s University in 2009.
Her commitment to advancing her skills and knowledge led her to undertake an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists from 2009 to 2010. There, she honed her expertise in providing exceptional care to animals in need. Her dedication and hard work during this time earned her the title “Intern of the Year.”
Throughout her career, Dr. Baker has shown a thirst for learning and a desire to offer comprehensive care to her patients. In 2021, she earned certification as a Veterinary Acupuncturist from the esteemed Chi Institute. Dr. Baker takes pride in her ability to swiftly alleviate her patients’ discomfort and restore their well-being, making a positive impact on their lives. In doing so, she also plays a crucial role in easing the caseloads of local emergency rooms and general veterinary practices.
Her dedication to her profession is matched by her devotion to her family. Balancing her professional life and personal commitments, Dr. Baker cherishes the work/life balance her current position affords her and her husband, Sean. They are the proud parents of a delightful baby boy, along with being loving caregivers to five pets: Dobby and Eenie, both Chihuahuas; Zimi and Zuri, both black domestic shorthair cats, and Dracarys, a Sphynx cat.
When she’s not caring for her patients or spending time with her family, Dr. Baker enjoys exploring her culinary skills, traveling to new destinations, going on invigorating hikes, and engaging in fun-filled game nights.
Your Urgent Care Team
Alexis
VETERINARY TECHNICIAN
Alexis is a first-generation Guatemalan on her father’s side with a passion for animals and a bachelor’s degree in biology. She volunteered for the Hudson Valley Humane Society in New York and worked at a pet grooming shop while she was training in the pre-professional dance division at The Joffrey Ballet School. One of the things Alexis loves most about her job is knowing she has a team she can learn from and grow with. She enjoys working with her coworkers as a team to provide the best care for our patients!
At home, Alexis shares her life with a cat named Lucius Antonio, who loves pancakes. Her favorite things to do in her free time include biking, hiking, yoga, reading, hanging out with her cat, and traveling.
Andrea
Veterinary Technician
Andrea was born and raised in the Brandon area but ended up living in different parts of the US and the world after becoming a military spouse and raising 4 amazing (now adult) children. Before she brought her skills to our clinic, Andrea was a single mom going to school to become an RN. But after talking to several people who were attending vet tech classes, she decided the vet tech role would be a better fit. So she pursued and obtained an associate degree in animal science and veterinary technology, and now Andrea is a valued member of our team! Some of her favorite aspects of working at Parrish include educating pet owners and getting to learn new things every day. She also loves meeting all the different pets and working with their owners to keep them healthy.
Andrea has two Great Danes, Queenie and Elphaba, two cats named Jack and Tiny Tim (a tripod kitty), and a Sulcata tortoise named Julius Pepperwood (who will probably outlive Andrea). She enjoys reading and doing crafts in her spare time.
Jaime
Veterinary Technician
For Jaime, being a vet tech runs in the family–her mom and sister are both CVTs. She started working in the veterinary field when she was a volunteer kennel technician in high school, and she was eventually hired on not long after. From there, Jaime worked her way up to reception, then assistant, then technician, all the way up to lead surgery technician. Jaime loves the veterinary profession because she gets to build relationships with patients and clients, and learn something new every day. At home, she has two mixed breed dogs, Arthur and Norman, and a domestic shorthair cat named Alfie. In her free time, Jaime enjoys cooking, and going hiking with her dogs.