Business Details
45 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Pet Care Partner in St. John's, NL
Woodpath Cat & Dog Hospital has been providing expert veterinary care since 1981, serving the St. John's community with compassion and dedication. Our team of three experienced veterinarians and skilled support staff deliver comprehensive medical care, diagnostics, and surgical services for companion animals. We maintain rigorous standards through AAHA accreditation, ensuring excellence in hospital facilities, staffing, and veterinary medicine. Our doctors hold degrees from prestigious universities and participate in ongoing professional development to stay current with advancements in animal healthcare. We offer emergency critical care services after regular hours and maintain partnerships with pet insurance providers like Trupanion for direct billing convenience.Our facility provides preventative care, vaccinations, dental services, and advanced diagnostic tools including in-house laboratory testing and radiography. We emphasize client education and personalized treatment plans to promote optimal pet health. Our practice combines technical expertise with a commitment to the human-pet bond, offering compassionate end-of-life care options when needed. The hospital's strategic location at 335 Freshwater Road ensures accessibility for local pet owners seeking quality veterinary services.
Services
Preventative Care
Diagnostic Services
Surgical Procedures
Dentistry
Emergency Care
Vaccinations
Pharmacy Services
Pet Nutrition
Parasite Control
Euthanasia Services
Details
- Year established: 1981
Highlights and features
- We offer over 40 years of combined veterinary expertise since 1981
- Our AAHA-accredited facility meets rigorous veterinary care standards
- Doctors participate in ongoing professional development and training
- We provide after-hours emergency critical care services
- Our team includes specialists in internal medicine and soft tissue surgery
Associations and certifications
- AAHA
Services
Preventative Care
Our preventative care services include annual examinations to monitor weight, dental health, and cardiovascular condition. We provide vaccination protocols following AAHA guidelines and personalized parasite control recommendations. These regular checkups help detect potential health issues early, ensuring long-term wellness for companion animals through proactive healthcare strategies.
Diagnostic Services
We offer comprehensive diagnostic capabilities including in-house laboratory testing, radiography, and abdominal ultrasounds. Our technicians perform urine analysis, skin swabs, and prepare samples for external lab work. These diagnostic tools enable accurate assessment of organ function, bone structure, and pregnancy status, supporting timely and precise treatment decisions for pets.
Surgical Procedures
Our surgical services range from routine spays/neuters to complex abdominal procedures and caesarean sections. We require pre-surgical bloodwork to ensure safe anesthesia selection. The surgical team utilizes modern techniques for lump removals, laceration repairs, and specialized soft tissue operations, maintaining strict protocols for patient safety and post-operative care.
Dentistry
We provide complete dental services including professional cleanings, extractions, and preventive care. Our veterinarians assess oral health during routine exams and recommend appropriate treatments. The dental team addresses periodontal disease, tooth fractures, and other oral conditions using specialized equipment, emphasizing the importance of dental health in overall pet wellness.
Emergency Care
We offer after-hours emergency critical care services for urgent medical situations. Pet owners can contact our regular line to reach on-call staff for immediate assistance. Our emergency team handles trauma cases, acute illnesses, and other time-sensitive conditions, providing life-saving interventions outside regular business hours while maintaining continuity of care.
People
Dr. Michele Dawe
Veterinarian
Dr. Dawe graduated from Atlantic Veterinary College in 1993 and returned to St. John's in 2012. She specializes in companion animal medicine and surgery, with particular interest in feline and canine healthcare. Outside practice, she enjoys gardening and family time.
Dr. Colleen Simms
Co-Owner
Dr. Simms graduated from Atlantic Veterinary College in 1991 and co-owns the hospital since 1994. She specializes in internal medicine and critical care, treating both traditional and exotic companion animals. She balances veterinary practice with fitness instruction at GoodLife Fitness.
Dr. Jens Martin
Co-Owner
Dr. Martin obtained his DVM from Atlantic Veterinary College in 1993 and co-owns the hospital since 1994. His expertise includes soft tissue surgery and dentistry. He maintains active involvement in continuing education and professional development for the practice.
Karen Domino
Practice Manager
Karen has served as practice manager since 2008, overseeing hospital operations. With business education from College of the North Atlantic, she coordinates staff activities and ensures quality service delivery while managing inventory and administrative functions.
Michelle Gosse
Inventory Manager
Michelle transitioned from veterinary assistant to inventory management, ensuring medical supply availability. With 20+ years at the hospital, she combines animal care knowledge with administrative responsibilities to support clinical operations efficiently.
Questions
What veterinary services do you offer?
We provide preventative care, diagnostics, surgery, dentistry, emergency services, and pharmacy support. Our services include annual exams, vaccinations, lab testing, and specialized surgical procedures for companion animals.
Do you offer after-hours emergency care?
Yes, we provide after-hours emergency critical care services. Call our regular line at 709-722-7766 to reach our on-call veterinary team for urgent medical situations outside business hours.
What payment options are available?
We accept Trupanion Insurance for direct billing and offer Scratch Pay financing options. Our front desk team can help you explore payment arrangements that suit your needs for veterinary care expenses.
Are your veterinarians specialized?
Our three veterinarians hold degrees from recognized institutions and maintain ongoing training. They specialize in areas including soft tissue surgery, internal medicine, critical care, and dental procedures for companion animals.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Contact us at 709-722-7766 during regular business hours (Monday-Friday 7:30am-5pm) to schedule appointments. Our receptionists will help coordinate your visit based on availability and medical urgency.
Is the hospital accredited?
Yes, we maintain AAHA accreditation, meeting rigorous standards in veterinary care, staffing, and facility operations. This accreditation ensures our practice adheres to the highest quality benchmarks in animal healthcare.
Reviews (6)
Gail Myles
Oct 05, 2021
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My kittens had a vaccine reaction this last week, unfortunate, but it can happen. The care and attention they received from Dr. Simms was second to none. She genuinely cared for their well-being. She gave me practical advice to help me get them through the reaction and now they’re back to their energetic selves. I highly recommend this vet clinic.
Renee Margaret
Mar 07, 2021
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We recently had to say goodbye to our girl, Zoe after 16 wonderful years. They had a dimly lit room, with soft music playing, and a fuzzy blanket laid out for her. We really did appreciate this kindness and compassion. As well, we also received a card in the mail offering their condolences, as well as a donation made on their behalf to “The Dream Team Fund,” in memory of Zoe. This made our day. We are so very grateful for Dr. Simms and her team. Thank you. 💕
Steve Butt
Feb 26, 2021
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Consistently awesome service and knowledgeable staff. One of the few vets in town that won’t rip you off and gets to the point of your concern with your pet. Thanks to Dr. Simms and the team for taking care of our senior pup.
Mike Greeley
Jul 18, 2020
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I just want to take a moment to commend Dr. Martin. He's one heck of a fantastic Vet. He's the perfect mix of compassionate and professional. He's taken fantastic care of my girls over the years, and helped… give my oldest, Lady, 18 long happy years of life. He just spayed my new puppy, Rosie, the other day, and it dawned on me that I haven't given him the credit he deserves. We've always had faith in his judgement, and I'm amazed at how well he can communicate with both pet and owner. truly a great man representing a great facility.
pictured: Rosie recovering from her surgery
pictured: Rosie recovering from her surgery
Dianne Winsor Trumbull
Jul 17, 2020
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Sharing our lives with four fur babies translates to many vet visits - especially now that they are all seniors. The doctors and staff of this hospital are the absolute best - they take such excellent care of… our babies. Dr. Martin has always provided the best treatment and advice and always finds time to fit us in when any of the babies need medical attention - or Mama is a little stressed and worried over something that is probably minor! Just last week we had to say goodbye to our oldest (20 years)cat - once again, Dr. Martin and staff went above and beyond to help her cross the rainbow
Allie Malone
May 27, 2020
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Of course you never want to HAVE to make an emergency vet visit but when one happens it's nice to know your pets are in safe hands. my cat was hit by a car quite a few years ago and while they couldn't save one… of his back legs, they did take wonderful care of him (and me) while keeping me informed and him as comfy as possible. it's been more than five years and he's as happy as he ever was! so grateful to everyone who works here
