I think it’s a real cushy deal to be a pet living in Kyiv these days. Although I’m still searching for places willing to do theme pet-birthday parties and “bark”-mitzvahs, or a store that sells designer accessories or organic meals, at least I don’t have to worry about their health. I ran across the Russian-language website of one of the largest pet food stores in the country (www.korm.com.ua), and found a link to about 90 private vet clinics/institutions in town. I cannot testify to the validity of all of them, but the list looked pretty impressive. While this can be a fabulous piece of news for dogs with ringworms or cats with feline infectious peritonitis, I was a bit saddened for us ex-pats – since I could hardly find half the amount of quality medical institutions for people.

After checking out several from the list, here are some highlights:

Preppy pet: salons

I know some pet owners who won’t do certain things for their own children, but would never think of depriving their pet of a treat. And why wouldn’t you do something wonderful for your pet? There might be lots of altruistic reasons for loving them, but let’s also admit that besides bringing out our nurturing side and acting as stress-busters, your dogs are often great social magnets. How many times has your pet helped you start talking to someone in the street – often of the opposite sex? Well, to make your beloved animals even more enticing and boost up your social appeal here’s what can be done.

The Dobrodiy pet beauty salon is a one-stop shop on Krutoy Spusk (just up from Bessarabska Square), providing a three-in-one service for all types of domestic animals: grooming, vet service and food. We’ll talk beauty first.

The beauty parlor has a professional room for haircutting and styling, which looks strangely like one for humans. It also offers nail trimming, ear-cleaning/plucking, shampoo, massage and blow-drying, hand brushing, loose hair removal, curling, and teeth brushing. According to Olga Slusar, the Dobrodiy hair and nail stylist, she encounters lots of, well, interesting requests – the most innocent ones being highlights and curling. She recalls that a white goat was brought in for glamour styling and a manicure just before the start of the Chinese year of the goat. She also tells us that the most popular dog breed for Ukrainians these days is the Yorkshire terrier. Olga’s CV also includes such professional experience as grooming guinea pigs, cats, gerbils, rabbits and chinchillas. She styles pets for weddings, birthday parties and other special occasions where the animals will accompany their proud owners.

And don’t forget to dress up your pet before going out: In Dobrodiy you can choose wind and raincoats, jackets and vests made from vintage velvet to faux Burberry. 

Another grooming option is being planned by the Mimoza mobile spa, which is considering enlarging their wide array of spa options to include your pets.

Dobrodiy Pet salon

Krutoy Spusk 6/2 (near Bessarabska square)

Tel: (044) 244-9727

Mimoza Mobile Spa

www.mimoza.com.ua

Tel:  (044) 463-7454

or e-mail spa@mimoza.com.ua

 

Healthy pet: clinics and food choices

The Dobrodiy vet clinic is open 24 hours and offers an amazing array of animal diagnostics and surgery equipment: x-ray, ultra-sound machine, blood test laboratory and many others onsite. Their staff doctor, Alexey Artemenko, is a graduate of the veterinarian department of the Ukrainian National Agrarian University. He is confident, young, professional and enthusiastic, as well as eager to provide extensive answers to all questions regarding pet clinical procedures, vaccinations and dietary supplements.

The Lessi clinic also provides all of the above, as well as a free doctor’s examination if you choose to drop off your pet at their pet hotel (see below). The head veterinarian, Natalya Nikolayevna Neskorod, explains that their clinic has a full spectrum of diagnostic, in-patient and out-patient facilities, including ultra-sound machines and an onsite lab.

I also found out that besides private vet clinics, there is a state department of vet medicine, and every region in Ukraine also has a city vet medical facility. These institutions are still financed out of a state or city budget and some services there are free of charge. Given such increased interest in pet keeping in Ukraine, I think some political candidates might want to add an increase in state pet funding into their campaign.

Lessi Vet clinic

11b Tychiny Avenue

Tel: (044) 553-8973

 

Another place worth checking out is the center of veterinary medicine, Drug (“Friend”). They have a well-structured website (Russian only, unfortunately) with the entire price list clearly displayed. The doctor’s consultation is only Hr 11. Their broad selection includes a seminar on antibiotics therapy as well as the Moscow Congress for the treatment of “pocket pets,” such as gerbils and mice.

Center of veterinary medicine Drug

Raduzhnaya str. 23

Tel: (044) 540-0303

Email:  public@vetdrug.com.ua

 

Stuffed pet: food

Both Dobrodiy and Drug offer a variety of professional and commercial foods for different animals at their on-site stores. Dobrodiy sells such brands as Candidae and Felidae – holistic food with no animal byproducts. They also have a variety of vitamins and prescription foods sold only in vet clinics. 

Drug also offers the “Gourmet” product line for cats and dogs.  Both places offer consultations on proper nutrition for pets.

Leisure pet: daycare and hotels

If you’re off on a business trip, you can get rid of any guilt for leaving your “surrogate child” behind: the Lessi day and overnight pet care facility promises a very reliable and loving pet environment.  As a part of their luxury pet hotel and clinic complex they offer two standalone buildings – one for dogs and one for cats – built in the resort area of Kyiv’s elite Pusha-Voditsa neighborhood. Dogs have the luxury of winter and summer individual accommodations, as well as a 60×80 square meter general entertainment area. In their own private feline building cats have spacious cages. To ensure your pet’s well-being and safety, veterinarians are always on-call.

Before checking in to the hotel all animals have to undergo a mandatory vet examination at their clinic. Afterwards, for your convenience, a minibus takes your pet to the hotel.

The stay in the hotel is unlimited (they had a dog that once stayed for 18 months) and prices range from Hr 30 to 80 per day depending on the size and age of the animal. The prices include food, care and observation, and the hotel uses only professional Nutro products. But it’s not just cats and dogs that can enjoy themselves: Feel free to check in your rats, mice, guinea pigs and other darlings.

Lessi Pet hotel and vet clinic

Zoi Gayday 5

Tel: 426 68 76

by Yulia Boyle, Kyiv Post Staff Writer

Read also:

1. Market guide