Dr. Manuel Lima, DVM
Dr. Lima has cared for pets at Flora since he graduated from the University of Florida in 2017, and he has owned the hospital since 2021. He focuses on surgery, dentistry, and pets who need extra care under anesthesia, including seniors as old as 20.
- UF College of Veterinary Medicine, 2017
- Owner since 2021
- Dentistry training at UF
- Veterinary school
- University of Florida, 2017
- Practicing since
- 2017, all of it at Flora
- Hometown
- Matanzas, Cuba
- Favorite procedure
- C-sections
- Special interests
- Surgery, dentistry, anesthesia for high-risk pets, diabetes
- Pets at home
- Oso, a Golden Retriever and Chow Chow mix
- Fun fact
- He loves hiking and visiting new National Parks with his family
- Owner since
- January 2021
Meet Dr. Lima
His story
Dr. Lima grew up in Matanzas, Cuba. He knew he wanted to be a veterinarian from about age 5, and as a boy he helped his family's veterinarian with surgery on his dog Rocky's broken tail.
In 2003, when he was 15, his family moved to Orlando. In high school he shadowed veterinarians and volunteered at shelters and animal rescue organizations. He earned his biology degree at the University of Central Florida and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida in 2017.
He joined our hospital, then Boggy Creek Animal Hospital, right after graduation and became its owner in January 2021. Next year marks his tenth year here.
“One of my favorite parts of my job is creating lifelong relationships with my clients and becoming part of their families, and they a part of mine.”Dr. Manuel Lima
Areas of focus
Surgery
Abdominal, soft tissue, eye, and airway surgery, plus spay and neuter
Dentistry
Senior pets with advanced dental disease and cats with stomatitis
Anesthesia for high-risk pets
Dogs and cats with kidney, liver, or heart disease, and seniors up to 20
Diabetes
Glucose monitoring at home and modern treatment options for dogs and cats
Arthritis in older pets
Spotting the signs early and keeping seniors comfortable
Internal medicine and imaging
Thyroid, Cushing's, and Addison's disease, radiology, and ultrasound
Procedures Dr. Lima performs
Abdominal and digestive
- Exploratory abdominal surgery
- Foreign body removal
- Gastrotomy and enterotomy
- Intestinal resection and anastomosis
- Bloat (GDV) surgery and gastropexy
- Splenectomy
- Surgery for internal bleeding (hemoabdomen)
- Abdominal mass removal
- Liver biopsy
Bladder and reproductive
- Bladder stone removal (cystotomy)
- Spays and neuters, including cryptorchid neuters
- Pyometra surgery
- C-sections
- Scrotal ablation
- Vulvoplasty
Dentistry
- Extractions, including full-mouth extractions
- Feline stomatitis treatment
- Oral mass removal
- Oronasal fistula and abscess repair
- Gum flaps and palate surgery
- Baby tooth removal and unerupted tooth correction
- Oral nerve blocks for pain control
Masses and lymph nodes
- Mass removal and lumpectomy
- Radical mastectomy
- Lymph node removal
Soft tissue and repair
- Umbilical and inguinal hernia repair
- Wound repair
- Amputation
- Ear hematoma repair
- Anal gland removal
Eyes and airway
- Cherry eye correction
- Entropion and ectropion surgery
- Eyelid mass removal
- Enucleation
- Brachycephalic airway surgery (nostril widening and soft palate)
The surgeries he loves most
“I love surgeries such as C-sections because you get to help the momma and the babies.”Dr. Manuel Lima
He also enjoys abdominal surgery, including foreign body removal, urinary stone removal, and pyometra surgery, because of the relief patients feel once the problem is fixed.
Education and training
- BSBiology, University of Central Florida
- 2017Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, with a Certificate in Veterinary Business Management
- DentistryDentistry course and training at the University of Florida under Dr. Amy Stone, and a veterinary dentistry externship at Pet Dental Center with board-certified veterinary dentist Dr. Wade Gingerich
- SurgeryAdvanced surgery training at Colorado State University and hands-on labs at the Johnson & Johnson training center
- Every yearVMX, the national veterinary conference in Orlando, every year since 2017, and the NAVC Institute several times
How Dr. Lima approaches care
As a kid, Dr. Lima wanted to be a veterinarian and a dentist. Veterinary dentistry let him do both. He especially enjoys caring for senior pets with long-term dental disease, because dental disease can affect more than the mouth, including the kidneys, liver, and heart. Owners often see a more active, happier pet at the follow-up visit.
“My feline stomatitis patients are in terrible pain for so long, and they can't tell their families. It's my job to advocate for them.”Dr. Manuel Lima
That same thinking shapes how Flora handles urgent care. The hospital staffs extra team members just for urgent visits, and the doctors are trained to see those cases alongside scheduled appointments, including new clients Flora has never seen before.
Questions pet owners ask about Dr. Lima
Does Dr. Lima do dental work on senior pets?
Yes. Dr. Lima has performed dental procedures on dogs and cats as old as 20, including pets with kidney disease, liver disease, and heart conditions.
Can Dr. Lima help manage my pet's diabetes?
Yes. His own dog, Oso, has diabetes. Dr. Lima uses continuous glucose monitors so he can follow a pet's glucose levels in real time without a hospital stay, along with once-daily insulins. Some diabetic cats can be managed with an oral medication (an SGLT2 inhibitor) instead of insulin.
My older dog is slowing down. Could it be arthritis?
It might be. Dr. Lima sees many families who assume their pet is simply getting older when arthritis is what's keeping them from their favorite activities. An exam can tell you, and there are ways to keep an arthritic pet comfortable and active.
Can Dr. Lima see my pet for an urgent problem?
Flora keeps extra team members on hand for urgent care and tries never to turn away a pet in need, even on busy days and even for new clients. Call us at (407) 348-4840 and the team will tell you how soon your pet can be seen.
Teaching and community
Dr. Lima believes veterinary medicine should stay in the hands of veterinarians. Almost every year he returns to the University of Florida to talk with veterinary students about practice ownership and management, using his own story to encourage the next generation to own their hospitals. Flora is proud to be privately and minority owned.
He also mentors pre-vet students, and Flora partners with local high schools so students can shadow and volunteer at the hospital.
Looking ahead
Dr. Lima hopes to bring laparoscopic surgery to Flora in the coming years. This minimally invasive approach can mean faster recovery for patients. He also plans to train in orthopedic surgery.
Outside the clinic
Dr. Lima lives in Kissimmee with his wife, Kaity, their two daughters, and their dog Oso. He loves any outdoor activity with the family, especially hiking and visiting new National Parks. When he's not with his girls, he enjoys reading and working out, and he appreciates any time he gets to catch up with friends or be a couch potato for an afternoon.
Book a visit with Dr. Lima
Schedule online or call us at (407) 348-4840. We're open Monday through Saturday, 8am to 6pm.
