Dental
Do you brush your pet’s teeth? The majority of owners probably don’t even realize how important dental hygiene is to the overall health of their pet. Dental plaque can build on your pet’s teeth daily, and if left untreated, the bacteria that forms can lead to tooth and bone loss, and may affect the liver, heart and kidneys. The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates nearly 80% of pets over the age of 3 has some degree of dental disease.
When your pet comes in for a dental cleaning, an exam is performed and anesthesia is administered. The teeth are scaled, both above and below the gum line, using an ultrasonic scaler. The teeth are then polished, smoothing any minor defects in the enamel. This is the perfect opportunity to do a comprehensive oral exam, allowing us to visualize any abnormalities in the oral cavity. Any necessary extractions are done at this time.
When your pet is discharged from the hospital, we’ll review our exam findings and make any relevant recommendations for dietary changes. We will send you home with a product that works to help prevent plaque buildup. The product is easy to use and may be added to either the food or water. We also have toothbrushes and tooth paste available for you to continue “at home” care.
Medical
We emphasize client education and formulating wellness programs based on the pet’s lifestyle. You and the veterinarian decide what vaccines are appropriate to keep your pet healthy.
Our veterinarians attend continuing education seminars throughout the year in order to stay current on the latest advances in veterinary medicine. We encourage our clients to ask questions regarding their pet’s treatment, enabling us to design a course of action that is both effective and reasonable.
Although recent research has shown that some vaccinations may not be necessary annually, it is imperative that your pet be seen for a yearly exam. Remember, pets age much faster than we do. If caught early, most diseases can be managed with medications, supplements, and/or dietary modifications. Cats in particular are notorious for hiding signs of illness and owners don’t realize they need veterinary attention until the cat is quite ill. It is important to monitor your pet’s energy level, eating and drinking habits. If you notice any changes, give us a call.
Microchip
What would you do if your pet were lost? If someone found your pet, how would they contact you? A microchip offers an easy way for permanent identification of your cat or dog. A microchip is a mini computer chip about the size of a grain of rice. Your pet can have a microchip implanted under its skin, either as an outpatient, or while they are here for an anesthetic procedure. Our microchip fee includes collar ID tags, and a lifetime enrollment in the American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR) service. AKC CAR, the largest, non profit recovery service, is available 24/7 to help lost pets be reunited with their owners. Most animal shelters in Rhode Island scan any animals that are picked up, looking for a microchip ID number, allowing pets to be returned to their owners much more quickly than in the past. The microchip is also a legal means to prove ownership of a pet.
Preventive
One of the easiest ways to maintain your pet’s health is to schedule routine wellness exams. We recommend annual exams for pets aged 1 and older; twice yearly exams for those pets aged 7 and up. Remember 1 “pet year” equals between 5 and 7 human years. Puppies and kittens are vaccinated every 3-4 weeks, until about 16 weeks of age, which is when their maternal antibodies tend to weaken. You and your veterinarian will discuss your pet’s lifestyle and decide which vaccines will be given. For both dogs and cats, there are both “core” (mandatory) and optional vaccines.
Core vaccinations for Dogs
DHP/Parvo
This vaccine protects against canine Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo Virus, and Parainfluenza. These diseases are caused by various contagious, highly infectious viruses that can cause symptoms ranging from vomiting, diarrhea, to respiratory signs.
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that is always fatal. It is transmitted through bite wounds from an infected animal. Rabies can be transmitted to humans. It is easily preventable by keeping your pet’s Rabies vaccine current and avoiding situations where they may come in contact with wild or unvaccinated animals. Dogs can be vaccinated at 12 weeks of age.
Other vaccines to consider
Lyme
Lyme disease is transmitted by tick bites. Unlike humans, dogs do not develop the “bullseye rash.” In dogs, symptoms include fever, joint swelling,lethargy, vomiting. Lyme disease is very common in Rhode Island and while no vaccine offers 100% protection, by using tick preventative 12 months of the year, vaccinating for Lyme disease, and checking your pet each day for ticks, you are doing everything possible to protect your pet.
Bordetella (Kennel cough)
Bordetella causes a respiratory infection, most commonly seen as a non-stop hacking cough. Dogs in group settings, ie boarding kennels, doggie day care, grooming parlors, are at greater risk.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacteria most commonly transmitted through the urine of wild animals. No questionable characters in the neighborhood? Think again-any puddle that your dog walks through or drinks from is a source of contamination. Signs of Leptospirosis include vomiting, fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Lepto can lead to liver and/or kidney failure.
Canine Influenza
Canine influenza is caused by a “Flu” virus and can be spread by direct contact, through the air, or via contaminated surfaces. Signs include coughing, low grade fever, nasal discharge,and loss of appetite. In about 20% of cases, dogs can develop a high fever and pneumonia. Signs can be similar to kennel cough and exact diagnosis is determined with bloodwork or nasal swabs.
Core vaccinations for Cats
PVRC
Also known as FVRCP, this vaccine protects against a complex of viruses that can cause sneezing, runny eyes, nasal discharge and in the case of feline panleukopenia, diarrhea and severe dehydration. The viruses are passed cat to cat, with young kittens being most commonly affected.
Rabies
Although outdoor cats are more likely to come in contact with wild animals, indoor cats also need to be protected against this fatal disease. Each year in RI, indoor cats are exposed, either by bats or other wildlife entering the home, or by escaping outside for an unplanned jaunt.
Other vaccines
Feline leukemia
Otherwise known as “FELV”, feline leukemia is transmitted through mating and bite wounds. Those cats that go outside are at highest risk, and any new cat broght in to your home should be tested. Feline leukemia can cause a variety of issues, everything from cancer to secondary infections caused by the destruction of the immune system.
Not all vaccines need to be given yearly- you and your veterinarian can determine what vaccines should be given to keep your pet healthy.
Radiology
Radiographs (x rays) allow us to visualize a pets internal organs and bones. Our state of the art digital system allows our veterinarians to do this as a quick, painless, non invasive procedure. It is an important diagnostic tool in formulating a treatment plan.
For those of you who are breeders, we also offer pregnancy x rays and OFA x rays. Our OFA x rays are usually able to be performed without anesthesia.
Surgical
The thought of a pet undergoing anesthesia is unsettling for many pet owners. Whether it is a cat spay, dog neuter or other elective surgery, we require all our surgical patients to have a thorough physical exam before each procedure. This allows the veterinarians to create an anesthetic protocol for each patient, based on their age, weight, and overall health. The protocol also includes pre-anesthetic blood work which evaluates organ function, as the liver and kidneys are the major organs which metabolize anesthesia. Patients are monitored by a trained surgical staff member through the procedure and recovery process. Our surgical table is heated, enabling patients to maintain their core temperature. To maximize patient safety, we utilize cardiac and respiratory monitors.
Our doctors also have experience working in emergency facilities, providing them the knowledge and ability to cope with trauma cases, foreign body extractions, C-sections and other critical care situations. Greenwich Valley also utilizes the services of David Clark, DVM DACVS, a board certified surgeon, specializing in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.
Pain medications are administered before the procedure and patients are sent home with the appropriate medications to make their recovery as comfortable as possible.
We perform a wide variety of surgical procedures and have operated on many different species of animals-everything from a mouse to a 240 pound Mastiff. We also follow our patients through the “at home” recovery process with post surgery rechecks by phone and with scheduled in clinic visits.