Nutrition and Wellness
As important members of your family, it is essential that your pet receives the necessary nutrients to maintain a proper weight and overall good state of well-being. Therefore, the veterinarians here at the Animal Place use their knowledgeable resources to provide you with expert advice on nutrition and health.

In addition to providing information on the best food for your pet, we also offer preventative care, including: physical exams, vaccinations and blood screens.

• Physical exams – Also known as wellness check-ups are performed yearly. Our veterinarians examine the patients’ eyes and ears to help prevent any infections. They also check the patients’ teeth, abdomen, heart and lungs to make sure there are no issues or abnormalities.


• Vaccinations – The veterinarians here at the Animal Place recommend keeping your pets current on all their vaccines at all times.
  
  For dogs we have the Rabies and Distemper/Hepatitis/Parvovirus vaccines, which are repeated every 3 years (once they are over a year old). However, the Bordetella/Parainfluenza, Lyme and Leptospirosis vaccines need to be done annually.
  
  For cats we have the annual Rabies vaccine and the 3 year FVRCP vaccine. However, in addition to these vaccines, our veterinarians also strongly recommend the Feline Leukemia vaccine for outdoor cats.


• Blood Screens – There are certain blood screens that our veterinarians recommend performing annually, both for dogs and cats. These tests are: Canine Heartworm/Lyme/Erhlichia Test, Feline Leukemia/Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Test, and Senior Screens (for our older buddies).

**This will be discussed further below in “In-house testing” section.

Surgery
The Animal Place has all the necessary equipment and supplies to carry out not only minor, but major surgeries as well. Our veterinarians perform a variety of surgeries, including: spay, neuter, growth removal, cherry eye and much more. We also have the capability of calling in a specialty surgeon, Dr. Ron Fallon, for orthopedic surgeries if need be.

To help ensure your pets safety throughout the procedure, we take the following precautionary measures:

• We require a pre-operative screening to make sure that the anesthetic agents are safe to use.


• We insert a tube in their windpipe and use a heart monitor to keep track of their oxygen level, heart rate, and blood pressure from beginning to end.


• We place an IV-catheter in their leg and give them fluids throughout the procedure to help maintain their hydration and blood pressure at the appropriate levels.

*Surgery Schedule below.

Here at the Animal Place we strongly believe in dental health. You can help your pet enjoy clean teeth by regularly brushing and applying a sealant. However, sometimes brushing your pets teeth (if you are able to!!), just isn’t enough. Like you and I, even though we brush our teeth on a daily basis, it is still recommended that we go see our dentist every 6-12 months for a routine cleaning. Our pets are no different. Therefore, this procedure involves a thorough cleaning and ultrasonic scaling followed by high-speed polishing; resulting in clean teeth and a healthier mouth!

Since every pet is different, the time intervals between dentals vary. Depending on the pet, some need to have professional dental cleanings yearly, while other pets need it every couple of years. It is important to understand that during a dental cleaning the pet is anesthetized, so the same precautionary measures are taken as in a surgical procedure.

Surgical Procedure & Dental Cleaning Schedule
Monday – Dr. Carole Foster
Tuesday - Dr. Julie Maul
Wednesday – Dr. Carole Foster
Thursday – Dr. Julie Maul

Acupuncture
The use of veterinary acupuncture originated in China approximately 3000 years ago. However, it wasn’t until the early 1970’s that interest in this type of medicine reached the United States. Fortunately, it is now accepted by most veterinarians as an effective way to treat both small and large pets. Acupuncture has been proven to increase the life quality of man older pets, which otherwise would have been euthanized or medicated for life.

Myth: Acupuncture is only beneficial for pets with muscular-skeletal disorders.
Fact: This is far from the truth. Acupuncture can also be used to treat gastrointestinal, neurological, and dermatological problems.

Dr. Arlene Gardsbane and Dr. Carole Foster are both Certified Veterinary Acupuncturists here at the Animal Place. They treat many of our patients using acupuncture; however the therapy may vary depending on the specific conditions. For instance, some pets are treated with hair-thin needles, while others with low-level electrical currents (Electro Acupuncture). Normally, treatment sessions can take 10 seconds or up to 30 minutes. It is important to understand that sometimes it may take 4-6 treatments to notice results. However, some pets do experience instant improvements such as increased energy and mobility.

Hospitalization
A pet may need to be hospitalized for several reasons. For instance, some pets are left for the day just to receive a bath and/or annual vaccines. However, pets are also left for the day to be treated for injuries as well as chronic illnesses. While staying with us, each pet is placed in a separate cage with a towel, blanket or sheet for a comfortable stay. A clipboard with their “name”, “reason for hospitalization” and “treatment” is placed on their cage so that the technicians can quickly provide the pet with the proper care. Sick pets that need to be closely monitored are kept in the treatment room cages and the other pets are kept in the catward / kennel areas.

In-House Laboratory
Whether it is from a blood sample, fecal sample or growth sample, lab results can provide our veterinarians with a range of information about your pet’s physical condition, however, when we send these samples off to a lab, it normally takes about 24 hours for results to be faxed to us. In some cases, we have to send the sample out to a lab, if extensive tests are necessary (biopsy, Lyme test, Thyroid monitoring, etc). However, if a pet is sick, it would be more beneficial to get a diagnosis as soon as possible.

Therefore, here at the Animal Place we have the capacity to sun several tests on-site by using the Idexx VetTest Blood Analyzer and the Vetlyte Analyzer. With these analyzers our veterinarians are able to treat the pet according to the given results.

In addition, as previously mentioned, our veterinarians recommend performing annual tests on our furry friends.

For our canine companions, our veterinarians recommend the Heartworm/Lyme/Erhlichia test, which checks for the following:

• Heartworm Disease – Heartworms are transmitted through infected mosquitoes. Heartworms reside in the heart and lungs of the pet and may eventually lead to heart failure and/or death. Most importantly, owners must remember that if a pet develops this disease, treatment is expensive, difficult and complex. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, products like Heartgard, Interceptor, and Sentinel exist. These are once-a-month medications (dog only needs to be on one of them) that help decrease the probability of your pet developing heartworms.


• Lyme disease – This is a tick-borne disease, which is quiet prevalent in this area due to the large deer population. Common symptoms of this disease include lameness, limping, and lethargy. However, a pet may also not show any symptoms at all. Our test, if positive, reveals an exposure to Lyme disease, therefore when this occurs our veterinarians recommend sending a Lyme C-6 test to Idexx laboratories. In a matter of days, they provide us with a value, which will state whether or not the pet actually has Lyme disease. Finally, if in fact the pet does have Lyme disease, then the treatment involves a course of antibiotics.


• Erhlichia – This is also a tick-borne disease (more specifically the deer tick). The symptoms and treatment are similar to that of Lyme disease.

For our feline companions, (especially outdoor cats and/or kittens) our veterinarians recommend the FIV/ Feline Leukemia Test, which checks for the following:

• Feline Leukemia – This is responsible for about 1/3 of all cancer deaths among cats. It suppresses the immune system, therefore contributing to other infectious diseases. It also decreases bone marrow production, thus causing deadly anemia. This disease can be spread through social grooming, shared food bowls, bite wounds, etc. Therefore, it is important to vaccinate and test your cat annually to help prevent against Feline Leukemia.


• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) – This virus is also spread through cat-to-cat contact and affects thousands of domesticated housecats worldwide. This virus severely debilitates the immune system of the pet, resulting in pale gums, mouth sores, infected wounds, loss of appetite and energy, etc. Testing your pet annually can help you keep an eye on your cats’ health. However, the test only detects whether or not the pet is carrying the FIV antibody, which (if positive) does not necessarily mean the pet has the virus. Unfortunately, not much be done if the cat has the actual virus; there is no effective vaccine to help prevent your pet from developing it.

Finally, for both cats and dogs we perform fecal tests, which checks for intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, or whipworms, coccidia, etc). We recommend a fecal test annual, which is normally done when a pet comes in for a physical exam and vaccines. We recommend a fecal test annually, which is normally done when a pet comes in for a physical exam and vaccines. The test only takes 15 minutes! Therefore, we are able to diagnose and prescribe the proper medication before you and your pet leave the hospital.

Ultrasound and Radiology
At the Animal Place, we are able to use our radiology and ultrasound equipment to help us see what our eyes cannot. For instance, X-rays are taken not only to check for internal abnormalities (tumors and/or foreign bodies), but also to view the pets bone composition. If the X-rays do not provide useful information, then we can use our ultrasound machine. The ultrasound machine is most often used to search for the pets’ bladder and collect a sterile urine sample. However, in more complex situations, it also allows us to take pictures and clips of your pets’ abdomen, which we can then send off for further assessment by a specialist.

Ophthalmology
Pets, just like their human counterparts, can get glaucoma. The signs can be as vague as a red eye, but may become severe enough to result in a large bulging eye. This is why it important to exam the eyes yearly and check the eye pressure. Fortunately, here at the Animal Place we have an instrument called tonopen that measures the pressure within the eye in just seconds! However, for more serious or complex issues, we might refer you to an ophthamologist for further assessment and treatment.

Cold Laser Therapy
Laser therapy is the use of laser light to stimulate biological processes that lead to faster healing and pain relief. These lasers are non-invasive and use much less power than surgical lasers. The beneficial effects come not from heat, but from the stimulation of the body's natural healing processes, releasing its own pain relieving chemical compounds.

Your pet does not need to be restrained or sedated for this treatment and usually soon after the first treatment your pet may move with less pain and/or have a more relaxed stride and better range of motion. Often times, a series of treatments will be necessary, but the healing process begins immediately.

Cold Laser Therapy may be used for any condition that causes swelling and pain, such as:

• Post-surgical pain management
• Wound healing
• Neurological Injury
• Stomatitis
• Muscle Tears, Tendon & Ligament Tears
• Dental Procedures
• Arthritis
• Otitis

Emergency Care
The Animal Place Veterinary Hospital can provide emergency care during our office hours, however since we are not a 24hr. facility; we cannot leave sick patients overnight. Therefore, if your pet is sick, you may be asked to transport him/her to an emergency animal hospital, so that they may receive continued care throughout the night.