Our in-house clinic
Our in-house clinic: professional care for shelter animals
The Haags Dierencentrum (HDC) clinic provides comprehensive medical care for all shelter animals. Since 1910, our veterinarians, assistants, and volunteers have ensured that dogs and cats remain healthy, comfortable, and well-cared for during their stay at the shelter.
In our clinic, we perform physical examinations, vaccinations, microchipping, treatment plans, and surgeries. We also offer post-adoption care, such as booster vaccinations for kittens and puppies, neutering, and further medical care for shelter animals.
Clinic team
Veterinarians
Nadine, Jasmijn, and Allie
Assistants
Mirjam and Jessica
Volunteers
Multiple volunteers
More about the Haags Dierencentrum clinic
Discover our facilities
Treatment room
Every new dog or cat receives a full physical examination upon arrival. During this check-up, our veterinarians examine the heart, lungs, abdomen, teeth, coat, eyes, ears, and weight. The assistants then record this data in the patient file and vaccination booklet or passport. It is also very important that the microchip is correctly registered.
Animal welfare is our top priority during treatment: we work in an animal-friendly way to ensure the animals experience as little stress as possible.
Operating room
The operating room is in use almost daily. This is where we perform sterile surgeries, among other procedures. In addition to many neutering procedures, we also perform operations such as C-sections, amputations, and the removal of bladder stones and tumors.
Nowadays, we do this with improved anesthesia monitoring, made possible by a donation from a fund. This allows us to continuously monitor breathing, heart rate, and temperature during surgery.
We also regularly perform dental treatments for shelter animals here. This ranges from simple cleaning to tooth extractions. Thanks to a large donation, we will soon have a dental X-ray machine at our disposal.
Recovery room
Our recovery room has space for several cats or small dogs. This is used for observation, recovery after surgery, or during illnesses that require intensive care. The room also provides a quiet environment for animals that need extra attention.
Rest is important after anesthesia. In the recovery room, cats can wake up quietly, and they are also given a heating mat or hot water bottle to maintain their body temperature.
For cats that need to stay longer, we also offer a comfortable private kennel with all the necessary amenities.
Furthermore, our clinic team works together with the animal caretakers to provide good medical care and regular check-ups for all shelter animals, while paying close attention to animal welfare: peace, comfort, and minimal stress.
X-ray room and ultrasound machine
The X-ray machine is an essential part of our clinic. We use it several times a week to take X-rays for diagnoses, such as abdominal images for blockages or detecting tumors and conditions like osteoarthritis.
In the past, we developed X-rays manually in a dark room with red lights. Thanks to support from a fund, we were able to switch to a modern setup in 2019 and replace the equipment from 1965.
With the new equipment, we produce sharper images and work faster. This allows us to work in a much more animal-friendly way. Moreover, it is more environmentally friendly, and consulting with colleagues and specialists has become easy: we can share images digitally with the push of a button.
We are also very happy with our new ultrasound machine. Our veterinarians have taken special courses to work effectively with this device. We can now perform abdominal and heart ultrasounds for the shelter animals that need them.
Pharmacy & laboratory
Our pharmacy is more than just medication storage. We also use this space as a small laboratory where we perform basic blood tests. Additionally, we use an incubator to keep IV fluids warm and for cultures, and we use the microscope intensively for urine and stool examinations and cytology. We also have the capability to perform various (rapid) tests to detect certain infectious diseases.
Thanks to these in-house facilities, we can make diagnoses faster. Occasionally, it is necessary to send samples to an external laboratory when we need more information.
Targeted diagnostics and treatment
The clinic treats all common health problems in dogs and cats, such as:
Parasites: including worms, fleas, and ticks
Respiratory diseases, such as cat flu
Gastrointestinal problems such as Giardia in dogs and cats
Difficult pregnancy or labor
Dental problems in dogs and cats
Skin problems, for example caused by allergies
Bladder stones, cystitis, and other urinary tract problems
Chronic diseases in older animals
We also offer aftercare to new owners with a 14-day service, so we can quickly answer medical questions even after adoption.
If a shelter animal has a rarer condition or disease, we fortunately have several specialists in our network whose help we can enlist.
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Contact details Haags Dierencentrum
Please note: we are open by appointment only.
Address
Opening hours
We are open by appointment only.
- Monday to Saturday 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM
- Sunday closed
We can be reached by phone between 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM & 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM.
