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Bringing your pet to Animal House Veterinary Center for physical examinations is crucial to his or her health. We offer thorough physical examinations so that we can detect any potential problems ahead of time. There are many pet health problems that could be avoided through regular physical exams, which is why we recommend that your pet has at least two examinations with our staff per year. While physical exams are critical to animal health, you can do your part too by being a vigilant pet owner. If you notice any irregularities with your pet, take detailed notes and bring him or her to AHVC for an examination.

What exactly does a physical exam include? Some things you can’t see, feel, touch, or hear without special tests and equipment but many times you can gain a lot of information about your pet through simple observation. In a physical exam, your veterinarian looks for anything abnormal. What is considered normal is a combination of what is normal for the breed, and what is normal for your specific unique pet. Every pet is a little bit different, just like every human is different. Once the veterinarian does the basic physical exam, any areas of concern will be given more attention.

1 out of 3 pets will get lost at some point in their lifetime. Without identification, 90% will not return home. The HomeAgain Microchip is a safe, non-migrating microchip with an unalterable 10 digit code which lasts the entire life of your pet. The chip is approximately the size of a grain of rice and is injected between your pet’s shoulder blades. While collars with identification tags are strongly recommended for all cats and dogs, they can be lost or removed leaving the lost pet with no means of verifying its owner.

The majority of shelters and animal hospitals now have microchip scanners by which they are able to identify an animal that has a chip, so long as that chip has been registered by the owner. There is a registration form that must be filled out and mailed in along with a one-time registration fee. Without this registration, the chip is rendered useless. The HomeAgain Pet Recovery Service works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to facilitate the recovery of lost pets.

Depending on where you live, you may be required by law to license your pets. Vaccines are strongly recommended for the protection and health of your pet as well as other animals he or she may come in contact with, i.e. grooming and boarding facilities, and dog parks, etc. Puppies and kittens receive important nutrients and antibodies from their mother’s milk while they are nursing. However, once they are weaned, this passive form of protection is lost. It is at this point in their life that a vaccination program should be started.

Vaccines offer protection against major viral and bacterial diseases that cats and dogs may be exposed to. Pets are susceptible to disease at any age, and it’s very important to have your young kitten or puppy vaccinated for maximum protection. Your veterinarian will set up a vaccination program for your pet to provide protection for the diseases of concern in your area. Kittens and puppies often require an initial vaccination with follow-up booster shots to ensure they are well protected against diseases. Vaccines are designed to provide disease protection for a limited amount of time, often one year. So it’s important to take your pet for an exam every year with your veterinarian, which will likely include their annual vaccinations. Vaccinations in young animals are a necessary building block in the foundation of your pet’s immune system. Following a proper vaccination schedule will help to ensure that you are doing your part to keep your new friend healthy. Additionally, we recommend that all dogs and cats be placed on a monthly parasite preventative and be tested bi-annually for parasites.

Periodontal disease is the most common disease in dogs and cats and the importance of dental health is often overlooked by pet owners. More than 85% of dogs and cats over four years of age suffer from periodontal disease. Bad breath is usually the first sign of this condition. The same bacterium that causes bad breath, if left untreated, can spread through the bloodstream and damage the kidneys, heart, and other organs. Other signs of periodontal disease include bleeding gums, loss of appetite, pawing at the face, irritability, lethargy, and depression. Your pet is never too old for routine dental care. You can reduce the risk of periodontal disease with a comprehensive dental examination, professional dental cleaning, and good home preventative care.

For pets with no prior periodontal problems, we recommend a yearly oral exam and cleaning. For pets that have been previously diagnosed with periodontal disease, we recommend they be seen every six months to keep their mouth healthy and pain-free. Our dental services include routine cleaning and polishing, extractions, digital x-rays, and oral surgery. We also have access to dental specialists. Home care is also extremely important and we offer many items to aid you in the care of your pet’s teeth including flavored/edible toothpaste (never use human toothpaste), specially designed toothbrushes, weekly plaque prevention kits, oral rinses, and dental chews with enzymatic properties.

We also offer a special dental diet for dogs. All of these items can help to reduce tartar build-up on your pet’s teeth before or after a dental cleaning. It is extremely important to start these preventatives at an early age so that your pet learns to tolerate them. However, not all animals will allow brushing which is why we offer so many other alternatives. It is never too late to start taking care of your pet’s teeth; please call or come in to speak with one of our staff to discuss the best option for your pet.

Preventative care is an important aspect of your pet’s overall health. At Animal House Veterinary Center, we offer different health screens depending on the age and needs of your pet.

During each veterinary exam, your pet’s body condition is evaluated. If your pet is found to be overweight or obese, diagnostic testing may be advised to rule out underlying problems. Personalized weight management programs may include special therapeutic diets and an exercise plan. Weekly to monthly clinic weigh-ins are important to check your pet’s progress and stay on track.

Ultrasound offers a non-invasive, non-painful method for diagnosing many diseases. An ultrasound is different than an x-ray in that sound, rather than radiation, is used to create the image. This enables us to not only see the structure we are looking at but to also see inside. Unlike conventional x-rays which can cause harm if used excessively, evidence shows that ultrasound is completely safe from these side-effects, and can be performed on the pet while they are fully awake. Ultrasound is an invaluable tool in assisting in the diagnosis of various diseases including heart disease, kidney and bladder disease, liver problems, and diseases of other major organs. We can also look inside the bladder for stones and growths.

Very often ultrasound is used in conjunction with x-rays in making the correct diagnosis. Ultrasound also allows the doctor to achieve a depth of detail that is not possible with x-rays. Organs that are difficult to see clearly on film radiographs can easily be seen with ultrasound. Internal abnormalities such as masses, cysts, and abscesses can not only be seen but can also be identified and measured. Ultrasound evaluation of your pet after a severe injury can provide information almost instantly to determine if emergency life-saving surgery is required. This technology can also look inside the beating heart, helping assist us in diagnosing and monitoring heart conditions. Finally, ultrasounds can aid in diagnosing pregnancy earlier than radiology and more cost-effectively than blood tests, and we can monitor the growth and number of puppies and kittens.

Animal House Veterinary Center is proud and excited to offer the latest in x-ray technology – digital radiology. Until recently, x-ray technology had remained basically unchanged for almost a hundred years. New digital x-ray systems have vastly improved our diagnostic abilities by using computers to aid in the capture and manipulation of the image (including magnification) to see certain conditions more clearly. It also means you can view your pet’s x-rays on the computer screen in the exam room and we can e-mail x-rays to specialists for review. The results are excellent! In addition, we no longer have to use the chemicals associated with processing x-ray film – a plus for the environment and our staff! Now x-rays are safer, quicker, and much more useful. They can be stored in a digital format and sent over the web for consultation with a specialist if necessary. Animal House has invested in this revolutionary technology to better serve you and your four-legged companions.

Congratulations! Adding a new puppy or kitten to your family is an exciting event with many fulfilling years of special companionship ahead of you. Puppies and kittens come with a lot of responsibility, though, and that’s why we at Animal House Veterinary Center are here to help you care for the new addition to your family.
It’s important to bring your puppy or kitten in for a full nose-to-tail exam and to get them familiar with our veterinary hospital from a young age. There are numerous topics to be aware of and discuss, including vaccinations, nutrition, behavioral training, socialization, and many more. Call us today and we can give you all the information you need to care for your puppy or kitten.

We are so happy that you have found another member of your family, and we are excited to meet them!

Click here to view our Puppy Package.
Click here to view our Kitten Package.

At Animal House Veterinary Center we strive to always be on technology’s cutting edge. We’ve worked hard to bring you the most state of the art and user-friendly client education and client support possible, and recent updates to our website have done just that. Whether you are at the hospital with our animal care experts or in your own home, you will always have full access to our veterinary professionals.

In fact, no matter where in the world you are, you can always connect with us through the internet.