Neighborhood Vet Care offers a wide range of veterinary services for our patients. For more information, please call (972) 346-0041.
Services
Puppy & Kitten Care
Getting your new puppy or kitten off to a healthy start sets the stage for healthy adulthood. Regular physical examinations, vaccinations, fecal testing for parasites, heartworm and flea/tick prevention, and deworming are all important elements of ensuring good health for your puppy or kitten. Our knowledgeable staff can help your family learn about training your pup, performing nail trims on your puppy or kitten, dietary recommendations, and potential health hazards for your new pet.
Spaying and neutering are additional topics to consider; the appropriate age for the timing of sterilization surgery vary depending on the size, breed, and health status of your pet. This is something we are happy to discuss to help determine the right timing for your pet. We realize that adding a new family pet can come with lots of questions… but don’t forget, we’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to call.
Wellness Care
Preventive care is the cornerstone to you and your pet enjoying many healthy years together . Since pets age quicker than people do, it is critical to have regular physical examinations done to assess your pet’s health. During routine preventive exams, your veterinarian will evaluate:
- Overall Body Condition
- Eyes
- Ears
- Nose
- Mouth
- Throat
- Heart and Lungs
- Abdominal Organs
- Musculoskeletal System
- Neurologic System
- Urogenital System
- Lymph Nodes
- Skin/Coat
When health problems are identified, a detailed medical plan will be outlined to evaluate and address any and all concerns. If your pet appears to be healthy enough for routine preventive care, your veterinarian will discuss immunizations, as well as parasite prevention targeting heartworm disease, intestinal parasites, and ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, etc.). Tailored recommendations including annual lab tests may also be recommended for your pet. Finally, your pet’s nutrition, diet, and exercise routines can be assessed and optimized for their lifestyle and age. Diligence concerning your pet’s preventative care is the best way to keep your pet happy and healthy for life.
Senior Pet Care
We love senior pets! Senior pets have special needs and benefit from more regular veterinary visits compared to their younger counterparts. Age-associated conditions include:
- Arthritis
- Dental Disease
- Heart Disease
- Liver Disease
- Kidney Disease
- Endocrine Disorders
These conditions will start to become more prevalent as your pet gets older. For this reason, we recommend twice-yearly veterinary visits for pets over 7 years of age. Your aging pet may show early signs of osteoarthritis such as stiffness after rest or play, difficulty going up or downstairs, and reduced activity. Early intervention with joint supplements and prescription arthritis medications when indicated, along with modified nutrition and exercise plans, can greatly improve your pet’s comfort and mobility. Likewise, performing annual screening lab work on your older pet can help identify early stages of medical problems that might go unrecognized, and progress significantly without treatment.
Some pets experience age-related behavioral changes that can be a sign of cognitive dysfunction, which is similar in some ways to dementia. Your veterinarian can recommend diet modification and supplements to help improve your older pet’s mental sharpness. Getting older doesn’t have to be fraught with troubles for your pet. See your vet regularly to help keep your senior pet healthy and comfortable.
Parasite Control
Pets are a part of our families, andPreventing parasite infestations is an important part of keeping our canine and feline family members healthy.
Flea allergy dermatitis is another consequence of flea exposure, resulting in very itchy, inflamed skin.
Thankfully, several preventatives exist… that when used properly, are very effective at dramatically reducing the risk of your pet acquiring heart worm disease, intestinal parasites, and tick-transmitted diseases.
Dental Care
One of the most common but also frequently overlooked health problems for companion animals is dental disease. By age 3, most pets have some degree of periodontal disease. This occurs as a result of bacterial infection along the gum line, due to the formation of plaque. Plaque is a sticky substance containing millions of bacteria that forms along the tooth surface and gum line. Without frequent removal, plaque eventually hardens into tartar. Left untreated, this leads to gradual destruction of the gum tissue and supportive structures around the teeth, which can result in tooth loss. Not only is periodontal disease harmful and painful, but it can also cause damage to important vital organs such as the:
- Heart
- Liver
- Lungs
- Kidneys
When it comes to dental disease, most pet owners don’t realize the extent of the problem until it is quite advanced; hence the importance of yearly to twice yearly physical examinations including a thorough oral health care assessment. In the early stages of dental disease, your veterinarian can recommend home dental health care measures such as tooth brushing, dental treats and rinses, and dental diets. When professional dental care is needed for your pet, general anesthesia is necessary. Your veterinarian will discuss the procedures involved in a COHAT (comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment) plan with you when dental care is needed. Most often, this will involve a day at the veterinary hospital to plan and perform the procedures, which may include doing:
- Pre-Operative Lab Work
- IV Catheterization
- General Anesthesia
- Dental X-Rays
- Teeth Cleaning and Polishing
- Dental Charting
- Extractions when indicated
Upon discharge, the veterinary team will review any instructions pertaining to post-dental medications, special feeding instructions, and when to resume home dental care. Your pet will thank you for remembering to take care of his or her mouth and live a longer and happier life as a result.
Surgery
At some point in your pet’s life, they may need a surgical procedure. Whether your pet is having an elective surgery such as spay or neuter, or an emergency surgery for intestinal obstruction, you can rest assured that our staff will provide the very best care possible for your pet.
Our facility offers the following surgical services for companion animals:
- Routine spay and neuter
- Tumor removal
- Abdominal and soft tissue procedures
In the best interests of our pet, we require a physical examination appointment with one of our doctors prior to scheduling procedures. Before the procedure is scheduled, our staff will explain the process including:
- Any pre-surgical testing that is recommended – baseline laboratory testing is beneficial so that there are no surprises on surgery day. Knowing that your pet has normal blood test results can help prevent anesthetic complications or surgical complications such as excessive bleeding, which can occur when patients have low platelet counts or abnormal clotting. When there is liver or kidney disease, this may affect the choices of anesthetic drugs recommended by your veterinarian, to prevent anesthetic complications and promote a smooth anesthetic recovery.
- Food and water intake restrictions prior to surgery – a period of fasting may be necessary prior to your pet’s procedure. Our staff will let you know what is advised.
- What procedures are to be done on the day of surgery – from initial intake to sedation and general anesthesia, anesthesia monitoring, the procedure, and recovery, the staff will walk you through what will happen with your pet once you leave the hospital.
Diagnostic Care
When your pet is sick or injured, they can’t tell us what’s wrong. A thorough physical exam and history (symptoms you’ve noted at home) are the first important steps. If the diagnosis is not immediately evident upon initial assessment, your veterinarian will recommend specific diagnostic tests. These may include:
- Laboratory testing for baseline blood counts and organ function tests, or infectious disease. Blood and/or urine samples may be collected from your pet, lab samples may need to be sent off to off-site laboratories (reference laboratories) – when the test cannot be performed with in-hospital lab equipment, or when the test results are not needed urgently.
- Imaging such as x-rays or ultrasound, can allow for diagnosis of conditions of the heart and lungs, gastrointestinal obstruction, tumors of the internal organs or bones, fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity, urinary stones or gallstones, reproductive diseases, and bone/joint disorders. For most patients, gentle restraint can be used for these procedures, however, in some cases, sedation may be necessary.
- Microscopy is quite useful in the evaluation of lab samples such as ear swabs, skin impressions and scrapes, and needle biopsies of tumors. These tests are helpful in diagnosis of skin and ear conditions.
- Eye conditions may warrant evaluation for tear production (Schirmer Tear Test), corneal injuries (fluorescein stain), or abnormal intra-ocular pressures (Tonometry).
Diagnostic testing is an important step in the development of a treatment plan for your pet, allowing your veterinarian to most effectively target the underlying problem(s) and assess the probability of successful treatment. Your veterinarian can explain the purpose of each diagnostic test for your pet, and help prioritize which tests may be most helpful in determining the cause of your pet’s illness.
Learn MoreIn-House Laboratory
When your pet becomes suddenly ill or in event of an emergency, timely diagnostic test results are extremely important to help your veterinarian determine the best treatment plan. We have state-of-the-art in-hospital laboratory equipment capable of yielding lab results within minutes. Testing for your sick pet may include:
- Determination of blood cell counts: changes in white blood cell count, red blood cell counts, and platelet counts can indicate problems such as anemia, dehydration, infection, auto-immune disease, and certain types of cancerous conditions
- Blood chemistry tests: these tests assess liver function, kidney function, blood sugar, blood proteins, calcium and phosphorus levels, and pancreatic function.
- Electrolyte tests: Sodium, potassium, and chloride levels may be abnormal when your pet is dehydrated or having fluid losses through vomiting or diarrhea. Intravenous fluids and/or supplementation may be indicated when electrolytes are severely deranged.
- SNAP tests: point-of-care “snap” tests are available for certain infectious diseases such as Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, Canine Parvovirus, Tick-borne disease, and Leptospirosis.
- Coagulation tests: these tests detect deficiency in clotting disorders, which can be present in cases of certain kinds of rodenticide poisoning and in severe liver disease/failure
- Microscopy: microscopic evaluation of bodily fluids including blood, urine; samples of skin and ear secretions, and needle biopsies of swellings or tumors can be performed in-clinic to assist in the diagnosis of systemic diseases, urinary disorders, skin and ear diseases, and differentiation of benign vs. cancerous tumors.
Our veterinary team will help explain which tests are most important for your pet. It is very important to us to include you in the decision-making process for your pet, so please don’t hesitate to ask a question if you need clarification.
Emergency & Urgent Care
In an emergency, seconds count. When you arrive with your pet on an emergency or urgent care basis, our highly trained staff will perform an immediate triage assessment to assess the stability of your pet and need for emergency medical intervention. In life-threatening situations, you may be asked for consent to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
The first component of basic triage is assessing your pet’s level of consciousness, airway/breathing (labored breathing or choking, lack of oxygen), circulatory status (pale gums or weak pulses, racing heart), and pain score. Patients needing urgent medical attention, upon consent will be moved to our treatment area for immediate doctor assessment and commencement of emergency care.
Placing an IV catheter and administering IV fluids, giving oxygen supplementation, and pain relief medications may be elements of the initial stabilization of your pet. As your pet is stabilized, your veterinarian will review a diagnostic plan which may include imaging (radiographs, ultrasound) and laboratory evaluation (blood and/or urine tests) to ascertain the severity of the situation and tailor treatment for your pet.
At times, your pet may need advanced care at a referral or specialty center. When this is the case, our staff will discuss options for transfer and referral. Your primary veterinarian will stay abreast of your pet’s status at the emergency facility.
Hospice Care & Euthanasia
Neighborhood Vet Care offers veterinary hospice care for your senior and terminally ill dogs and cats. As with human hospice care, your pets care is focused on their overall comfort, rather than finding a cure for their disease. We focus on your pet’s quality of life and their comfort until a naturally occurring death occurs or the family elects humane euthanasia. Appointments are scheduled on an as needed basis, but generally do not include bloodwork or diagnostic services. With pet hospice care, our goal is to educate clients and support owners during this difficult decision and time.
Learn MoreIn a compassionate and understanding approach to end-of-life care, we provide mobile euthanasia services and in-home euthanasia services. At the heart of our mission lies the belief that every individual, including our beloved animal companions, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect until their final moments. With our mobile services, we bring comfort and solace directly to those who require it, ensuring a serene and familiar environment during this sensitive time.
Our team of empathetic professionals is dedicated to assisting families and their cherished pets in making difficult decisions with utmost care and support. Together, we strive to offer a peaceful and loving farewell to those we hold dear, allowing them to find tranquility in their journey beyond.
House Calls
Neighborhood Vet Care offers appointments in the comfort of your home, for you and your beloved pets. We are able to examine your pet, obtain samples for diagnostic testing, vaccinate, give injections, treat your pet and prescribe medications, without having to leave your house. This can be a much less stressful visit for many pets and their humans. Let us know if you would like to schedule an in-home appointment!