Puppy and Kitten Examinations:
Young puppies and kittens should receive their first physical examination and set of vaccinations at six to nine weeks of age. During this appointment we will discuss the vaccine schedule, deworming protocols, maintenance healthcare, and behavior. We know there is a lot of information to cover and you have lots of questions about your new pet, so we schedule a 45 minute appointment for new puppies and kittens so that you have plenty of opportunity to ask our veterinarian any questions about your new pet.
Vaccinations:
Vaccines are an essential part of keeping your pet healthy. With the advances in veterinary medicine, we are able to protect your pets against several life threatening diseases. Douglassville Veterinary Hospital follows the vaccine protocols that are set by our nation’s veterinary universities. We follow the most recent vaccine research to create safe and practical vaccine protocols for your pet.
Senior Wellness Exams:
As your pet ages, increased susceptibility to disease and injury is not uncommon. Because pets age faster than humans (on average 5-7 pet years for each human year), we recommend senior physical exams every six months along with annual senior blood examinations and urinalysis to help us in the early detection. We believe that the best medicine is preventative medicine, so Douglassville Veterinary Hospital offers a 25% discount on wellness blood work for all of our senior pets.
Internal Medicine:
Our veterinarians are general practitioners, possessing the expertise to diagnose and treat most medical problems. We readily consult with board certified internal medicine specialists for consultation on challenging cases.
Digital Radiology:
Our hospital uses a digital x-ray system to enhance our ability to diagnose radiographic diseases. We are able to perform skeletal and soft tissue studies as well as specialized contrast studies.
Ultrasonography:
Within our radiology suite, we also have an ultrasound unit which allows noninvasive diagnostic imagining to evaluate internal organs and tissue structure. We utilize ultrasound for pregnancy evaluation, as well as abdominal/thoracic evaluations.
General Surgery:
Our veterinarians are all experienced in surgery and have thecapabilities of handling elective and emergency surgery. We provide scheduled surgeries Tuesday through Thursday and emergency surgical services Monday through Saturday. Our surgeries are performed using isoflurane, an inhaled anesthetic gas, and our patients’ heart rate, EKG, respiratory rate, end tidal CO2, blood pressure, body temperature and oxygen saturation of the blood are monitored by a certified veterinary technician (CVT) during the procedure.
Orthopedic Surgery:
We routinely perform orthopedic surgeries at our hospital. We have the capabilities to repair ACL tears, patella luxations, femoral head ostectomy, minor fracture repair, and other orthopedic needs.
Dental Care:
One of the most overlooked medical problems affecting dogs and cats is dental disease. More than 85% of dogs and cats older than fours years have significant dental disease. Dental disease is an infection resulting from the build-up of plaque on the surfaces of the teeth around the gums. To treat dental disease, your pet’s teeth need to be scaled and polished using special dental equipment. This procedure cleans the surface of the tooth and then polishes it smooth to help prevent further accumulation of plaque. While treatment is important, prevention is the key. To help promote dental hygiene our hospital provides prescription diets which are designed to help reduce the plaque build up on your pet’s teeth. We also have prescription dental rawhides that help clean the teeth and medicated tooth paste.
Nutritional Counseling and Prescription Diets:
Diet is an important part of your pet’s healthcare. We are happy to meet with you to discuss the best diet options for your pet. We also carry a wide variety of Hill’s, Royal Canin, and Purina prescription diets to help treat any medical condition your pet may encounter.
Exotic Animal Medicine:
Douglassville Veterinary Hospital provides exotic medicine for Rabbits, Ferrets, Guinea Pigs, Gerbils, Hamsters, and some reptiles. State & International Health Certificates: All of our veterinarians are certified for state and international health inspections.
State & International Health Certificates:
All of our veterinarians are certified for state and international health inspections.
Behavioral Counseling:
The cause of most animal relinquishments to shelters each year is because of behavioral issues. Because we know that unwanted pet behavioral can be tricky to resolve we are happy to provide you with one on one behavioral consultations. Behavioral problems often have an underlying medical cause, so a thorough physical and possible blood testing is warranted for any pets experiencing behavioral problems. If a medical or biochemical causes for your pet’s bad behavior is not found, then we will we work with our pet behaviorists at Douglassville Pet Center to develop a plan for handling your pet’s unwanted behavior.
In-House Laboratory:
We are equipped with sophisticated blood analysis machines that allow us to measure many laboratory values. As a compliment to our regular laboratory services, our in-house diagnostic blood analyzers allow us to get blood work back on the same day. This is ideal for emergency and pre-surgical blood analysis.
Tonometry:
A tonopen is an instrument that allows us to measure the pressure inside of the eye. Glaucoma is a painful disease that is characterized by increased eye pressure and often leads to blindness. Early detection is the key to preserving vision. Annual evaluations of breeds predisposed to glaucoma and patients with ocular medical conditions are recommended.
Microchipping:
We proudly use the AVID Microchip for pet identification. A microchip is an electronic device, about the size of a grain of rice, which is implanted beneath your pet’s skin between the shoulder blades. If your pet is ever lost and gets picked up by an animal control officer, a shelter or a veterinary hospital, your pet will be scanned for a microchip. The microchip will be linked to your personal information and will allow you to quickly recover your lost pet.
End of Life Care:
We understand how hard it is to say goodbye to a beloved member of the family. At this emotionally stressful and often confusing time, we are here to help you prepare and cope with the loss of your pet. As members of the veterinary profession, we are in a unique position to provide euthanasia at times when our patients are in declining health and quality of life declines. This is a responsibility that we do not take lightly. We will work closely with you to help you determine (if you choose so) when it is time to make this decision. We will make this process as comfortable for you and your pet as possible.