Sawgrass Veterinary Cardiology

Dr. John Hertzer is a great cardiologist. I have a Doberman with some heart issues. Our pup gets echocardiograms to check his heart to see if it is functioning properly, on an average about every 6 months. Dr. Hertzer is very informative and caring. The vet assistant's are super friendly and have a way of making the visit stress free. Manager very kind as well, Front end is ran very efficiently. It's great knowing our fur baby is well taking care of.

The staff, nurse, and Dr John in Hertzer were all fantastic. The first time my husband and I were allowed in the examining room Zoey. Dr Hertzer took the time to explain every detail of Zoey's health to us. We appreciated all the kindness that was shown to us.

As a healthcare professional working in the nonprofit space, I've always been deeply aware of the lack of empathy and compassion that can exist in healthcare. That awareness has shaped my own mission to provide care that fills that void. Yet my recent experience at Sawgrass Veterinary Cardiology in Royal Palm Beach has genuinely redefined my expectations for what compassionate, high-quality care can look like--not just in human medicine, but in veterinary medicine as well. After years of visiting various vets who missed a significant heart murmur in our beloved Pekingese, Nixon, we were heartbroken to discover he had rapidly progressed to congestive heart failure. Finding Dr. Carpenter changed everything. He introduced us to the TEER procedure and spent significant one-on-one time walking us through Nixon's diagnosis, the imaging, the surgical process, and what we could realistically expect moving forward. His attention to detail, kindness, and communication were beyond anything we've ever experienced. The entire staff, especially Brazil and the nursing team, treated Nixon like their own. Their empathy, patience, and willingness to answer every question made an incredibly difficult time feel manageable and supported. During Nixon's procedure, we received timely updates every step of the way, and after surgery, Dr. Carpenter gave us a clear, compassionate, and detailed picture of what recovery would look like. Today, just three days post-op, Nixon is already showing signs of his younger, more energetic self. We are truly in awe. Regardless of what the future holds, I can say with complete confidence that this is the only team I would ever trust with our pets again. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, to Dr. Carpenter and the entire Sawgrass team. You have given our family hope, joy, and time--and there is no greater gift.

Originally my GP for my kitty referred me to another cardiologist. They didnt have any appointments for a full week but offered me at least 9 "urgent" appointments for same week, for an extra $65 of course. They also had pickup/drop-off procedure for 4 hours total. So I called the ER we went to and they referred me to Sawgrass Veterinary Cardiology. I called and got an appontment for the next day at their Boynton Beach office for no extra charge. The ladies at the front desk were nice and the vet tech that took the inital info down for the doc was super sweet, especially when I burst into tears. I got to be with my Oreo for the whole time, including when they took him to get the echo room. That made things so much less stressful for me and the cat. Dr. Hertzer explained what they were doing and they had a whole team assisting throughout. He is very easy going, explained the jargon to me, and just made me feel overall very comfortable and at ease. I'm very thankful to Dr. Hertzer and the team at Sawgrass Veterinary Cardiology and will be recommending them to my friends and client.

I wish I could give them five million stars. The team at Sawgrass Veterinary Cardiology saved my Lila's life. We contacted Dr. Carpenter a few months ago regarding the TEER Procedure. Lila's regurgitation rate was 70% when we arrived. At discharge she was at 20%. Within 36 hours post-op our Cavalier/Beagle mix had a heart performing like never before, and her breathing is significantly better. This entire team is incredible. When you find an amazing group of people like this working together, the outcome speaks for itself. From the time you call, they are patient, kind, and what I find to be so refreshing, candid. You are given factual, up front information on what you can expect, and the associated risks. Dr. Carpenter called us himself, and never put any pressure on us to decide. We moved forward because of his patience and understanding. I called the office three times in one hour before leaving. I did not want to blow up their phone, but I needed to square away a few logistics. I mainly spoke with Toks, the office manager, as we were preparing to leave. He would always say, "Talk to me Lane." They always had time for me, and they were never to busy. Dr. Carpenter and his team are in this for the right reasons, and they are the right people for the job. I could type out my own dissertation on how amazing they are, but I think you understand my thoughts at this point. A few things to share to potential parents. The echo's we took prior to coming down did not show a favorable outcome for Lila. There is a diameter limit to the size of the mitral valve for candidates, she exceeded it on a regular echocardiogram. We arrived expecting to have to turn around, having done all we could. Dr. Carpenter conducted a T.E.E. (Transesophageal Echocardiogram) and found that the valve was actually at an angle. This made the valve look 4mm larger than it was. The reason I say this. If you are on the fence, or do not think your little one is a candidate, at least give it a shot to see. They do everything in house. All you have to do is show up. An amazing team made up of amazing humans, they saved my little lady's life.