NSVH is a progressive, family-owned, boutique-style, full-service veterinary hospital created by Dr. Heather DiGiacomo, VMD, a lifelong Main Line resident where her family has lived locally for decades. It has been Dr. D’s longstanding dream to be a small business owner; NSVH is a realization of that dream!

Many large corporations have invaded the veterinary industry, buying local animal hospitals across the country. Unlike corporately-owned hospitals, NSVH offers a warm and friendly atmosphere, highly trained and personable staff, enduring client and patient relationships, and the ability to customize individualized treatment plans for the differing medical needs of each patient.

NSVH is a founding member of the Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association, which provides support to privately-owned veterinary hospitals around the country.

All clients and patients of NSVH are treated as family; both well and sick visits are scheduled for a minimum of 30 minutes with our doctors. Each pet receives a customized vaccine, diet, and parasite prevention plan, as well as detailed reports of each visit with the doctor.

Thank you for supporting our family business!

Fear Free Principles

Drs. DiGiacomo, Harwood, Shifflett and Ehrlichman are officially certified as Elite Fear Free Certified Practitioners, having completed numerous hours of training in fear-free handling techniques. All of our support staff have undergone the Fear Free training as well. Many of our patients are stressed and anxious about coming to the veterinarian, and this may lead to pets not receiving the medical care they need in a timely fashion. NSVH has fully embraced the Fear Free movement, and our entire staff is has undergone training in stress-free, gentle handling techniques for our patients. Several of our veterinary technicians are also Fear Free Certified Professionals.

Fear Free certification has provided us with a number of techniques to keep your pet’s visits to NSVH as stress-free as possible. We have a number of highly tasty food treats to keep our patients occupied during examinations, vaccinations and blood draws.

Our exam rooms are equipped with species-specific pheromones, scientifically proven to have a calming effect on stressed dogs and cats. Our technicians, customer service representatives and doctors have undergone hours of training in gentle, calm handling techniques that minimize stress.

If these techniques are not enough to reduce your pet’s anxiety about the vet, our veterinarians can recommend natural supplements and/or prescription medications to help! To learn more about pre-visit pharmaceuticals and their intended effects, please click here.

Our Fear Free Practice mission closely aligns with our Cat-Friendly Practice mission. NSVH has separate waiting, hospitalization and exam rooms that are designated solely for our feline friends. This helps keep our kitty patients calm and fear free! For more on what Fear Free means, please visit: www.fearfreepets.com. See the Fear Free dog trainers that NSVH works with.