Are you looking for a full-service veterinarian’s office that is accepting new cats and dogs and offering same day appointments? Come visit veterinarian Fantasia Maniatty, D.V.M., at Precious Paws Animal Hospital, located on W. Bearss Ave. (a little west of I-275) in North Tampa, where she has brought her love of pets — and a long-time family business — to our area.
Dr. Maniatty officially began her veterinarian career in 2018 when she received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, where she graduated as her class salutatorian. Prior to that, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology from Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, in 2014.
But, veterinary medicine runs deep in the Maniatty family, as Dr. Maniatty has been unofficially caring for pets since her childhood. Her father, John, has been a veterinarian for 26 years, and Dr. Maniatty still remembers tagging along with him as he started his own practice.
“When my father graduated (from vet school) in 1997, I was 4 years old,” Dr. Maniatty says. “I can remember being in scrubs since the days when the tops were more like dresses on me. I would follow him around the office [as he worked] when we lived in Pennsylvania.”
The Maniatty family later moved to Maryland. Dr. Maniatty’s father took over an existing practice that eventually became the first Precious Paws Animal Hospital in Ocean City, MD, in October 2003, exactly 20 years ago. It was there that a young Dr. Maniatty worked her way up the ranks.
“He started me as a ‘kennel girl’ when I was in middle school,” she says. “Then, I became a receptionist, and then I was allowed to be a [veterinary] technician. He wanted me to go through every step so I understood how everything works.”
Dr. Maniatty and, later, her brother Justin, both followed in their dad’s footsteps and became veterinarians themselves. The three of them first worked together as vets at the Ocean City practice as well as at a second location in Ocean View, DE, just 15 miles up the coast.
So, what made Dr. Maniatty decide to trade Ocean City for Tampa and open the third Precious Paws office in North Tampa?
“Ocean City is a lovely area, but there’s not as much city life,” she says. “Tampa, I feel, has the perfect mix of city and [suburban lifestyles] while still being close to the beach.”
Despite the distance, the three Drs. Maniatty still talk regularly about the ups and downs of their work and consult with each other for help when necessary.
“Nowadays, many veterinary offices are being run by large companies,” says Dr. Maniatty. “But, Precious Paws has always been family owned and operated and, for us, pets are truly part of the family.”
Services At Precious Paws
Dr. Maniatty and her team welcome you to bring in your cats and dogs for a variety of services. These include everything from routine wellness check-ups, dental exams, vaccinations, microchipping and parasite prevention to more specialized needs such as soft tissue surgeries, laser therapy, emergency care and even end-of-life care. Savannah, the receptionist, and Nicole, the office manager, will help with scheduling appointments and checking in your pets. Then, veterinary techs Amanda and Ashton will assist Dr. Maniatty during appointments.
Two areas of expertise are dental services and soft tissue surgeries.
“We are very comfortable with providing dental services to pets, such as cleanings, X-rays and extractions if needed,” says Dr. Maniatty. “Also, if your pets need to be spayed or neutered or even need other surgeries, like intestinal surgeries or mass removals, we can do those as well.”
Laser therapy is a great option for directly targeting a pet’s pain and inflammation with or without medications. Dr. Maniatty explains that laser therapy applies a red laser directly to affected areas to help pets with arthritis, back pain, gastrointestinal (GI) disease and more.
Pet owners also can bring in their pets during emergencies — with no appointment necessary. “Emergency care for pets can be very expensive at other facilities, but pet owners can bring their pets here and get that same care at a more reasonable cost,” says Dr. Maniatty.
Despite Precious Paws Animal Hospital opening its doors in Tampa just a few months ago (in July), Dr. Maniatty and her team have already won over many fur babies and their parents/owners, with a perfect five-out-of-five-star rating and 40 glowing reviews on Google. The office also is very active on social media, with timely tips for the 4th of July, hurricane preparedness for your pets and more. The office is quick to respond to reviews and questions and loves to build relationships with pets and pet owners on a first-name basis.
“We’ve tried many vet clinics, but we never got great results,” says a pet owner named Vioma in her five-star review. “After just the first appointment with Dr. Maniatty, it finally seemed like Daisy could have a normal life. The doctor and staff were very patient and kind to us and I highly recommend them.”
Outside of work, you may see Dr. Maniatty with her boyfriend AJ and their two rescue dogs, pit bulls named Maya and Chanel, at the beach or at outdoor events like The Market Elaine at The Grove in Wesley Chapel and the Bexley Market on the Lawn in Land O’ Lakes.
“We love meeting pets and their owners in person,” Dr. Maniatty says. “A lot of times we run into people who are new to the area like us and are having trouble finding a vet who is accepting new pets, so we are happy to help with that.”
In honor of her father’s original Precious Paws office’s 20-year anniversary, Dr. Maniatty is offering free wellness exams for first-time pet patients at the Tampa office — with no limitations on the number of pets per household. Also, if you mention the Neighborhood News, you can receive free flea, tick and heartworm prevention medications.
Precious Paws Animal Hospital is located at 326 W. Bearss Ave. The office is open Monday– Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with same day appointments and walk-in emergency care available. Call (813) 755-3855 or visit PreciousPaws Tampa.com 24/7 to book your pet’s appointment today, with free first exams for a limited time. Follow “Precious Pets Animal Hospital–Tampa” on Facebook and @preciouspawstampa on Instagram for great tips about pet care and special offers.
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