Growing puppies and kittens have different nutritional needs compared to adult dogs and cats. There are a variety of pet foods available on the market. We have selected nutritionally balanced brands that we are confident will meet your puppy’s and kitten’s growth requirements.
We offer testing for this disease which, in some breeds, is a highly inheritable trait. It is a bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot well. Von Willebrand’s disease is similar to hemophilia in humans and can result in life threatening bleeding. Often dogs that carry this disease in their genetic makeup go undetected until an emergency situation arises during a routine procedure such as a spay or neuter. In some cases, the disease may become apparent when a small superficial injury results in significant blood loss. Knowing your dog’s condition ahead of time can make the difference between life and death.
Commonly affected breeds include Doberman Pinschers, Scottish Terriers, Manchester Terriers, Shetland Sheepdogs, Poodles and Pembrooke Welsh Corgis. As many as 50% of Dobermans are affected with this disease.
Some animals show no signs of the disease but are carriers of the genetic problem. If these dogs are allowed to reproduce, they can pass the disease on to their offspring. If you are a breeder, consider using this test before breeding your dogs.
OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Certification: We are able to radiograph your dog’s hips for hip dysplasia at 24 months of age. We will send these radiographs to a Board Certified Radiologist for OFA certification. Correct positioning of your dog is essential for proper radiographic evaluation, so a general anesthetic is sometimes required to make the procedure less stressful for him/her.
Dogs can be screened for hip dysplasia at an earlier age if desired, but cannot be certified until 24 months of age.
We offer a wide variety of prescription diets for all lifestages and disease conditions. We also provide special supplements for general wellness and for acute and chronic disease conditions.
Is your pet overweight but you would still like to give him or her a treat without feeling guilty? We have special calorie-reduced treats that you can give to your pet without worry. There are treats available that help prevent gum disease and others that are complimentary to hypoallergenic diets..
Veterinary consultation is required for our prescription diet foods and our supplements.
Microchipping involves placing a small microchip device under the skin of your pet. This is a safe and reliable method of identification for your pet. The chip is introduced under the skin with a needle, much like receiving a vaccination injection. The information in the chip is retrievable by passing a scanner (humane societies and most vet clinics have the scanners) over the area where the chip is located (standardized to be the area between the shoulder blades). The information is registered on an international data base to facilitate easy identification of your pet.
During general anesthesia, our patients are monitored closely by a registered animal health technician for heart rate, body temperature, respiratory rate, and capillary refill time. We chart your pet’s statistics every 5 minutes from the moment he/she is anesthetized to the time when he or she wakes up. To assist the technician in monitoring your pet, a heart monitor is used to detect any abnormalities related to heart function. A pulse oximeter is used to measure the oxygen content in the blood system of your pet, and a blood pressure monitor is used to check the blood pressure. This continual monitoring allows us to intervene quickly in the event of an anesthetic related problem to ensure the safety of your pet.
General anesthesia is a major part of our duties, especially in relation to surgeries. General anesthesia allows us to perform surgery or other procedures while having the pet feel no discomfort. General anesthesia involves administering certain drugs to calmly induce this “sleep” state and maintain the state via the anesthetic machine. The depth and duration of the anesthetic can be carefully controlled by this machine. When the surgery is over, your pet will be moved to recovery, where he/she will enjoy a warm and comfortable bed, in which they will gradually awaken over the course of the day.
Local anesthesia involves injecting a medication into an area (usually the skin) to desensitize or “freeze” it. Local anesthesia is used to facilitate removal of small skin growths or to suture skin lacerations without the animal feeling any discomfort.
According to the statistics, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have oral disease by the age of 3. It is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in pets. Common signs of oral disease include tartar buildup, red and swollen gums, bad breath, changes in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face and generalized depression.
A veterinarian should evaluate your pet’s dental health at least once a year. We recommend this because bacteria and food debris accumulates around the teeth and, if left unchecked, will lead to deterioration of the soft tissue and bone surrounding the teeth. This decay results in irreversible periodontal disease and even tooth loss.
Dr. Hogan-Chandler has a special interest in veterinary dentistry and is available to provide services from routine dental procedures to periodontal surgery.
Radiology (x-rays) is routinely used to provide valuable information about a pet’s bones, gastrointestinal tract (stomach, intestines, colon), respiratory tract (lungs), heart, and genitourinary system (bladder, prostate). It can be used alone or in conjunction with other diagnostic tools, such as ultrasonography, to provide a list of possible causes for a pet’s condition, identify the exact cause of a problem or rule out possible problems. Two machines are used at the clinic. One is the conventional x-ray machine used to take x-rays of various parts of the body, and the other is a dental x-ray machine used to take x-rays of the teeth and jaws only.
When a pet is being radiographed, an x-ray beam passes through its body and hits a piece of radiographic film. Images on the film appear as various shades of gray and reflect the anatomy of the animal. Bones, which absorb more x-rays, appear as light gray structures. Soft tissues, such as the lungs, absorb fewer x-rays and appear as dark gray structures. Interpretation of radiographs requires great skill on the part of the veterinarian. For complicated cases, we have a radiologist examine the radiographs and give an opinion on any abnormalities present.