Dr. Mariliz HernandezDVM · Owner, Bellerose Animal Hospital
A vet who wants you to feel heard, holds her hospital to AAHA standards, and will tell you the one habit that matters most: regular checkups.
The conversation
Eight minutes with host Joe Brown. Start anywhere: chapters on the right.
- 0:00Welcome
- 0:21What to look for in a vet beyond Google ratings
- 1:03What AAHA accreditation means for your pet
- 1:51Choosing the right vet (and sticking with it)
- 4:43Caring for Queens families in Spanish
- 6:17The #1 habit for your pet’s health: regular checkups
- 7:28Wrap-up
For general information, not a substitute for advice from your own veterinarian.
How she thinks
about care
- Degree
- DVM, Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, 2002
- Undergrad
- B.S. Microbiology, University of Puerto Rico, Arecibo
- Interests
- Surgery, internal medicine and dermatology of dogs and cats
- At Bellerose
- Joined Nov 2006; owner since Jan 2014
- Patients
- Dogs and cats
- Languages
- English, Spanish
Background from bellerosevet.com.
Dr. Hernandez believes the right vet is one where you feel comfortable speaking up and feel heard, and that word of mouth tells you more than star ratings. Once you find that place, she says, stick with it.
She points to AAHA accreditation as a sign a hospital holds itself to a higher standard, with more rigorous protocols so less gets missed. She sees teaching as part of the job: explaining how a pet feels and why a test is recommended.
She drives to Bellerose every day so Spanish-speaking families can get care in their first language. Her number one piece of advice is regular checkups: once a year, and every six months for senior pets, because pets can’t tell you when something is wrong.
Summary written by Top Providers from her Episode 01 interview.
In her words
Verbatim from her Episode 01 interview.
For those that don’t know English, I am completely fluent, and they are so relieved when they see me, and we can completely understand what their dog or cat is going through.Dr. Mariliz Hernandez, Episode 01
More than reviews, word of mouth tends to be a great way of meeting that new hospital or new clinic you’re looking for.Dr. Mariliz Hernandez, Episode 01
Every six months, that blood work is changing, and if we want to catch things on time and practice preventative medicine, then we have to see the vet. Your dog, your cat can’t talk to us.Dr. Mariliz Hernandez, Episode 01
Clips
Under a minute each, cut straight from the interview.
Shorts0:50A vet’s #1 tip for a longer, healthier pet life
Why yearly checkups matter, and why seniors should be seen every 6 months.
Shorts0:37How to pick the right vet (it’s not just reviews)
Finding a practice where you feel heard, and why word of mouth beats reviews.
Shorts0:50Why this Queens vet cares for families in Spanish
She drives 40 minutes to Bellerose to care for families in their first language.
Saw her on a clip? This is the whole conversation.
The clips aren’t on TikTok or Instagram yet. Each slot fills in with a link once the clip is posted, and every clip links back here.
Se habla español.
La Dra. Hernandez atiende a las familias en español.
Spanish is her first language. She drives to Bellerose every day for the families she can care for in it.From the hospital’s own site: “Nuestros doctores y asistentes hablan español.”
The practice
Details checked against bellerosevet.com, Oct 7, 2026.
Bellerose Animal Hospital
A hospital for dogs and cats in Bellerose, Queens since 1946, AAHA-accredited since 1970. Serves Bellerose, Floral Park, New Hyde Park and nearby.
- Address
- 242-01 Jamaica Avenue, Bellerose, NY 11426
- Phone
- (718) 347-1057
(516) 922-5850 - Hours
- Mon · Wed · Fri9am – 10pmTue · Thu9am – 5pmSat9am – 4pmSun9am – 5pm
- Patients
- Dogs and cats
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