Services
Comprehensive Physical Examinations
Early detection of health problems can allow for prompt treatment. A complete physical examination may detect subtle signs of disease that the pet owner may not be aware of. Cats are especially known for hiding their illnesses, sometimes not showing obvious symptoms until they are very sick. At least once, and ideally twice per year, your pet should have a physical examination to determine if early signs of disease are present. Remember, your pet's lifespan is shorter than ours and their health can change significantly over a 6-month period.
Kitten Examinations and Vaccinations
Young kittens should receive their physical examination and first set of vaccinations at six to nine weeks of age. Additional vaccinations are given every three to four weeks until they are sixteen to eighteen weeks old. Thereafter regular booster vaccinations should be given. A custom vaccine protocol will be created for your individual cat based on the American Association of Feline Practitioner Vaccination Guidelines, and your individual cat’s risk factors. It is very important that the Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus status of your cat be determined. A simple in hospital test requiring 3 drops of blood can quickly determine if your cat is infected with one of these deadly viruses. Your kitten should also be checked for common contagious diseases, such as upper respiratory infections, internal parasites (worms) and external parasites (such as mites and fleas).
Dental Services and Teeth Cleaning
Proper dental care is as important for your pet as it is for you. In addition to preventing bad breath and periodontal disease it can also prevent infection from spreading through the blood stream to your pet's liver, kidneys, and heart. This bacterial shower can lead to permanent organ damage affecting your pet's overall health. Most cats have some degree of periodontal disease by three years of age. A physical examination can detect tartar build up, periodontal disease, gingivitis, stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth) as well as painful resorptive lesions (similar to cavities) that may require tooth extractions. Dental X-rays, if needed, are available to determine the extent of dental disease.
Grooming
Sometimes a cat may need grooming or bathing services. Our friendly staff will gently bath your cat with the appropriate shampoo. If desired, we offer special "lion cuts", as well as sanitary and belly clips to keep your kitty clean and matt free.
Boarding
We offer a friendly and loving environment for your kitty while you are away. We have several sizes of "cat condos" to choose from, and also have "live entertainment" as well as kitty play time at your request. All cats admitted to our facility for boarding must be up to date on their FVRCP (upper respiratory) vaccination, as well as free from external parasites (fleas!). Flea treatment will be administered at an additional charge if necessary. We are able to administer medication if needed while your feline friend stays with us.
Pet Identification and Microchip System
A microchip is a tiny electronic device, about the size and shape of a grain of rice. The chip is implanted beneath a pet's skin between the shoulder blades, and stays there for the pet's entire life. This procedure is as easy and is as simple as a vaccination.
Senior Pet Care and Geriatric Pet Evaluations
In recent years, great strides have been made in recognizing the special needs and requirements of our "senior citizen" cats. Our veterinarians are well equipped with the knowledge and diagnostic tools to identify age related problems and formulate realistic strategies to allow our pets to live longer and healthier lives. If your cat is eight years of age or older, it is now in its geriatric years. Common geriatric issues in cats include kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, liver and heart disease as well as benign and malignant tumors. We will be happy to discuss with you our recommendations for geriatric testing and geriatric diets.
Ultrasound and Echocardiography
Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging procedure that complements X-rays and allows our clinicians to better visualize internal organs in the chest and abdomen. This painless diagnostic technique is normally done without sedation of your pet. Ultrasound is invaluable for making treatment decisions for various types of heart disease. It also allows us to biopsy organs such as the liver, kidney and spleen through a tiny incision. Using the ultrasound image as a guide, major surgery may be avoided and your pet can often go home the same day.
Vaccinations and Preventative Medicine
Due to the many recent discoveries and innovations in veterinary medicine your pet can be protected against most major infectious diseases. Today many immunizations and preventative treatments are available that did not exist a decade ago. Our veterinarians will design a custom vaccine protocol for your cat, based on the American Association of Feline Practitioner Vaccination Guidelines, as well as your individual pet’s risk factors.
Spay & Neuter
Each day 10,000 humans are born in the U.S. and each day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. As long as these birth rates exist, there are not enough homes for all the animals. As a result, every year 4 to 6 million animals are euthanized because there are no homes for them.
Spay and neuter your pet! In addition to saving lives, spaying and neutering can also drastically improve your pet's health and life expectancy. The idea that pets become fat or lazy when they are spayed or neutered is a myth. Sterilized pets lead healthier, longer lives. Spaying a female eliminates the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer, as well as eliminating the “in heat” behavior that many find annoying! Neutering a male reduces the risk of prostate disease and testicular cancer, and the nasty habit of “spraying” or “marking”. Neutering also makes your pet more affectionate and less likely to roam, get in fights, or become lost.
Surgical Care
Prior to surgery, each patient receives a thorough physical examination to identify any existing medical conditions that might endanger your pet's health. Because not all problems can be detected on examination, we provide preanesthetic blood & urine testing. These tests not only give us a more complete picture of your pet's health, but also allow us to tailor an anesthetic regime that is specific for your pet.
We offer a wide variety of anesthetic protocols tailored to your pet's individual needs. We use state-of-the-art anesthetic machines offering isoflurane anesthesia. Please discuss these options with our staff. We also utilize a variety of anesthetic monitoring devices including Doppler blood pressure monitors, respiratory monitors, and other cardiac monitoring equipment.
Pain management is an important part of our pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative anesthetic and medical protocol. All surgical patients, including those undergoing routine procedures such as ovariohysterectomy or castrations, receive pain control medications. We urge you to discuss operative pain management options with our staff.
In-House Laboratory
We are equipped with sophisticated instruments that allow us to measure many laboratory values. As a compliment to our regular laboratory services, our in-house diagnostic capabilities allow us to get results pre-surgically, or in an emergency, within minutes.
Diagnostic Laboratory Testing
Our extensive laboratory services provide information that is critical to the sick or injured pet. We have access to both an in-house and centralized reference laboratory for extensive diagnostic testing, allowing animals to receive appropriate treatment in a timely manner. Many tests are available the same day, or within 24 hours.
Felv and FIV Screening
It is recommended that all cats and kittens be tested for the deadly retroviruses, Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. A simple test consisting of 3 drops of blood can quickly determine if your pet has been exposed to these devastating diseases. If your cat tests positive, our veterinarians can discuss prognosis and treatments options with you as well as discuss ways to minimize exposure to cats that may already be in your household.
Pharmacy
We stock an extensive drug inventory so medications can be dispensed before leaving the clinic saving you time and money.