Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Compassionate Veterinary Care Since 1948
At Long Animal Hospital & Emergency Center, we have dedicated ourselves to providing exceptional veterinary care for pets in Charlotte and surrounding areas since 1948. Our team of experienced veterinarians and skilled professionals delivers personalized, comprehensive services that prioritize your pet's health and well-being. As an AAHA-certified hospital, we maintain the highest standards in medical care, combining advanced diagnostics with compassionate treatment approaches. Our commitment to excellence extends through all our servicesfrom routine wellness exams to emergency careensuring pets receive consistent, reliable treatment throughout their lives.We foster transparent communication between our veterinary team and clients, ensuring pet owners remain informed participants in their animal's healthcare journey. With decades of collective experience and continuous investment in modern veterinary technologies, we provide stable, trustworthy care that adapts to evolving pet health needs.
Services
Pet Wellness Exams
Pet Grooming
Pet Boarding
Emergency Services
Pet Rehabilitation
Spay & Neuter
Dental Care
Vaccinations
Details
- Year established: 1948
Highlights and features
- AAHA-certified hospital demonstrating exceptional veterinary standards
- Veterinary team with decades of combined experience since 1948
- 24/7 emergency care for urgent pet health situations
- Personalized wellness plans tailored to individual pet needs
- Advanced diagnostics combined with compassionate treatment approaches
Associations and certifications
- AAHA
What people say
Incredible kindness
Top-notch care
Affordable options
Knowledgeable doctors
Loving treatment
Services
Pet Wellness Exams
Our comprehensive wellness exams monitor pets' health through all life stages. Starting with puppy/kitten evaluations to senior pet care, these checkups detect early health issues while establishing preventive care plans. Our veterinarians perform thorough physical examinations, administer vaccinations, and provide behavioral guidance. This proactive approach helps maintain optimal health while building trust between pets and veterinary staff, making future visits less stressful through consistent care relationships.
Emergency Services
Available during regular business hours, our emergency services address critical pet health situations. Our trained team handles trauma cases, toxic ingestions, and severe illnesses with immediate diagnostic testing and stabilization treatments. The facility maintains emergency medical equipment while offering after-hours referral guidance. Specialized staff perform triage assessments to prioritize treatment urgency while keeping pet owners fully informed throughout the care process.
Pet Boarding
Our climate-controlled boarding facilities accommodate short and long-term stays for cats and dogs. Staff provide individualized attention with regular exercise sessions and medication administration. The secure environment includes socialization opportunities while maintaining health monitoring protocols. Separate cat and dog areas, personalized feeding schedules, and comfort items help reduce boarding stress for pets staying during vacations or home disruptions.
Pet Grooming
Professional grooming services include bathing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and haircuts tailored to breed standards. Our groomers handle pets with anxiety using calming techniques while maintaining safety protocols. Services prevent matting, reduce shedding, and detect skin abnormalities early. The process includes pre-groom health checks and customized coat care recommendations for maintaining pet hygiene between professional sessions.
Spay & Neuter
These surgical procedures prevent pet overpopulation while offering health benefits. Our veterinarians perform pre-surgical evaluations before administering anesthesia and monitoring vitals throughout operations. Post-operative care includes pain management and recovery instructions. The service reduces certain cancer risks, minimizes behavioral issues related to reproduction, and helps control local animal populations through responsible pet ownership practices.
People
Dr. Richard Killough
Veterinarian
Graduated from Oklahoma State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1968. Served Charlotte community for over 50 years. Purchased Long Animal Hospital in 1972 after partnering with founder Dr. Forest Long. Maintains commitment to quality veterinary medicine through generational family practice leadership.
Dr. Brian Killough
Veterinarian
Joined practice in 1995 after graduating from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Specializes in soft tissue surgery, ultrasound diagnostics, and oncology. Third-generation veterinarian continuing family legacy of compassionate pet care since 1948.
Dr. Richard Wittmann
Veterinarian
Veterinarian since 1998 with special interests in dentistry and internal medicine. Combines professional expertise with personal commitment to San Diego sports teams and family outdoor activities. Provides consistent, quality care emphasizing client communication and pet comfort.
Dr. Frances Deller
Veterinarian
Charlotte native who started working at age 16 before becoming a veterinarian. Holds degrees in animal science and reproductive physiology. Specializes in internal medicine and dentistry while maintaining family life with multiple rescue animals and culinary interests.
Dr. Heather Warburton
Veterinarian
Emergency medicine specialist certified in veterinary acupuncture. Completed clinical training at NC State University. Combines hiking hobbies with pet wellness philosophy while providing compassionate care that earned AAHA certification standards.
Questions
What emergency services do you provide after hours?
Emergency care is available during regular business hours. After hours, we provide referral recommendations for 24/7 emergency facilities while maintaining urgent care triage guidance by phone.
How does your boarding service accommodate pets with medical needs?
Our boarding staff administers medications per owner instructions and monitors pets with chronic conditions. We maintain veterinary oversight for any health concerns that arise during stays.
What wellness exam frequency do you recommend for senior pets?
We suggest bi-annual exams for senior pets (7+ years) to monitor age-related changes, detect early disease signs, and adjust care plans for changing mobility and metabolic needs.
Do you offer pet dental cleaning services?
Yes, we provide comprehensive dental care including cleanings, tooth extractions, and oral health diagnostics using modern veterinary equipment for preventative and therapeutic treatments.
Can you help with pet grooming anxiety?
Our groomers use gradual desensitization techniques and calming environments to help anxious pets. We recommend discussing specific concerns during booking to create comfortable grooming experiences.
What makes your spay/neuter services different?
We combine pre-surgical health assessments with laser technology options and comprehensive post-op care. Our staff monitors each pet's recovery while educating owners about proper healing protocols.
