General Services
We strongly advocate preventive medicine and are committed to providing comprehensive and progressive veterinary medical, dental and surgical care for your pet. From routine physical examinations to oncology and exploratory surgery, we use state of the art equipment to diagnose and treat a full spectrum of diseases and injuries.
Annual Exams
Annual physical examinations are a vital component of preventive medicine. The head to paw exam, along with selective laboratory testing facilitates the detection of potential diseases. Vaccination protocols are customized to your pet's individual needs. The exam is a great opportunity to address any questions or concerns you may have regarding your pet's health care. We recommend a yearly fecal test and appropriate preventives against heartworms and other parasites.
Heartworm
Heartworm disease is caused by an infestation of a worm called
Dirofilaria immitis. It is transmitted through mosquitoes and is a potentially fatal disease. Diagnosis of this disease requires a blood test, and treatment can carry side effects. Prevention is the safest and most cost-effective way to treat this disease. Talk to your veterinarian for recommended preventives and testing protocol.
Parasites
Yearly fecal exams detect the presence of intestinal parasites. Fleas and ticks are of great concern in Minnesota and can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease. We routinely recommend the use of flea and tick preventive spring through fall.
Microchips
Fence gate left open? Cat slip through your legs while the door was open? Lost pets are a scary reality with ownership. Microchips are a great way to protect your pet and quickly return them to you if lost. They are rice-sized, implanted under the skin in between the shoulder blades, and easy to implant with a quick injection similar to a vaccination. The microchip has a unique number that, when registered, will link that number to you and your contact information. Animal Control, Humane Societies and many veterinary clinics routinely scan found pets for microchips. We use the American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery System. Enrollment into their system ensures your pet is permanently identified and connected to you. Ensure your pet makes it back home safely!
Soft Paws
Soft paws are a safe alternative to declawing your cat. Most cats tolerate them very well. Shaped as a hollow nail, they are vinyl caps glued onto the tip of each nail. As the nail grows, they naturally fall off and will need to be replaced, usually every 4-6 weeks. You will need to monitor their paws periodically as they may fall off one or two at a time.
Pharmacy
We have a full range of medications to treat your pet, as well as preventive medications against heartworm and other parasites. We carry a range of prescription diets to aid in treating or managing certain diseases.
Chemotherapy
Should you be faced with the decision to have your pet undergo chemotherapy, we will be there to help answer your questions. We practice the judicious use of chemotherapeutics to destroy cancer cells with few side effects. Cats and dogs generally tolerate chemotherapy very well without the complications people develop. We continually monitor your pet for side effects and pride ourselves on doing what is best for you and your pet.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the body, which results in beneficial physiological effects. Acupuncture has been used successfully for nearly 4,000 years on animals and humans; it is now known to have a variety of effects on the nervous, musculoskeletal, hormonal, and cardiovascular systems. Acupuncture therapy is used when conventional medicines are inadequate alone, ineffective, or not tolerated, and/or when surgery is not an option. In small animals, acupuncture is most commonly used for:
- Musculoskeletal problems, including hip dysplasia, degenerative joint disease, intervertebral disc disease, post-operative pain, and metastatic bone tumors.
- Lick granulomas
- Neurologic conditions, including traumatic nerve injury and epilepsy.
- Digestive disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease and chronic constipation.
- Feline asthma
- Chronic feline idiopathic cystitis
- Dry eye
Treatments are initially performed once or twice per week for 4 to 6 weeks, then tapered to the frequency required to maintain the animal's improvement. Needles are usually left in place for 5 (cats, especially) to 30 minutes and may or may not be stimulated manually, with aquapuncutre (injection of a solution into the point), or with eletrostimulation. Most animals react minimally to the placement of the needles, which are flexible and very thin. During the treatment, we try to maintain a quiet environment, in which the animal can relax and find a comfortable position.
Response to acupuncture varies widely in animals as well as people. Some animals may respond dramatically after just one treatment, while others may take several treatments to show a response, especially if the condition is chronic. Some experience weakness or an exacerbation of symptoms for 24 to 48 hours after treatment; this is generally thought to indicate that the treatment is effective.
