Surgery Often surgery is necessary for the health of our pets. Elective surgeries such as ovariohysterectomy (spay) and castration (neuter) are routinely done and can generally be scheduled within a few days. Non-elective or emergency surgeries such as abdominal surgery, mass removals, caesarian sections, ocular surgeries or dental cleanings can often be done as soon as necessary. We perform pre-surgical exams and blood work prior to surgery. Pets can't tell us when they do not feel well, and a healthy-appearing pet may be hiding symptoms of a disease. For example, a pet can lose up to 75% of kidney function before showing any visible signs of illness.

Pre-anesthetic blood work allows us to evaluate your pet's health. This can help avoid problems related to anesthesia, reducing risk and consequences. If pre-anesthetic results are within normal ranges, we can proceed with confidence, knowing that anesthetic risk is minimized. If results are not within the normal ranges, we can alter the anesthetic procedure, or take other precautions to safeguard pet health and reduce the risk of potential complications. We also offer excellent pain control to make sure your pet's recovery is as comfortable and stress free as possible.

Anesthesia
Our anesthesia protocols change as new research and medications become available. Using the most modern equipment, the patient's vital signs are monitored during all anesthetic procedures by our staff.

Radiology
Our on-site, X-ray equipment provides high quality radiograph images to aid in the quick diagnosis of many disorders. Radiographs are sent to a board certified radiologist.

We use digital x-ray technology. This is a state-of-the-art technology that allows us to take a quicker and clearer picture. We are also able to manipulate an image much like a photograph taken with a digital camera. We can zoom in on a suspect area, change the contrast to highlight subtle differences and make copies of your pet's films onto a CD at your request.

Dental Care
Much like people, dental care is an important part of overall health and wellness. The American Veterinary Dental Society reports that varying degrees of dental disease are present in all pets by their 3rd birthday. Dental disease begins as. Animals that have mild buildup of plaque can benefit from at home dental care. Once the plaque mineralizes it turns into tartar or calculus.

Often times pets exhibit signs of dental disease in subtle or not so subtle ways:
Foul breath Yellow, brown, or purple discoloration to the teeth Red, swollen, bleeding gums Excessive drooling Blood in the saliva or on a toy Broken teeth Reluctance or hesitation to chew (toys or hard food) Shifting the food around in the mouth while eating Reluctance or refusal to eat Swelling on the muzzle or below the eyes

It is impossible to do a complete dental exam in an awake patient. A general assessment of your pet’s teeth can be made during a routine exam and a full dental cleaning may be recommended to remove the hardened tartar. This requires anesthesia and involves assessing the health of the teeth, gingiva and tongue followed by scaling and polishing of the teeth. If there is evidence of loose teeth, exposed roots or lesions on the teeth, extractions may be necessary.

If you ever suspect dental disease, please make an appointment for an exam as soon as possible.
Other health risks can accompany dental disease. It is very common for the bacteria in the mouth to travel throughout the body and infect organs like the liver, kidneys, bladder, and heart. Once these organs become infected it can be difficult to detect until major, irreversible damage occurs.

Laboratory
Quick, accurate testing is often needed in an emergency situation. It is also desirable for peace of mind if you suspect your pet may be ill. We utilize extensive in-house testing equipment to monitor your pet's health, screen for infectious or parasitic diseases and to monitor progression of diseases.

Heartworm Testing / Prevention
Heartworm disease is very common in Texas, and very preventable. We recommend giving heartworm preventive year round and blood testing for heartworm disease every year.

Heartworm disease can affect our feline friends as well, and prevention is available and recommended.

Fecal floatation and Fecal Cytology
Intestinal parasites can often go unnoticed in many pets and can cause disease in humans as well. It is important to have fecal samples evaluated annually and any time your pet has loose stool without a known cause. For more information on intestinal parasites and their zoonotic potential, contact us.

Feline Leukemia / Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Testing
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) are two viruses that can be deadly to cats. FIV is typically spread between cats through biting. FeLV, the freindly diease, is spread when cats come into contact with urine or saliva of an infected cat. This can occur through mutual grooming, shared water bowls or shared litterboxes. We recommend screening kittens for both viruses and retesting yearly for outdoor cats.

Permanent Identification
Permanent identification is recommended for all dogs and cats. By using microchip, we are able to give your pet a unique, registered number. When scanned, your information can be found by most kennels, humane societies, other veterinary clinics and help get your pet back home. The microchip is approximately the size of a grain of rice and gets injected under the skin much like a vaccine. This procedure is often done while a pet is under anesthesia for a routine surgery but can easily be done in an awake animal with minimal discomfort.

Pharmacy
We maintain an inventory of pharmaceuticals, flea and tick control products and heartworm preventatives to meet the needs of your pet. We also have an online pharmacy for any prescriptions we may not carry.

Dietary Care
Each stage of your pet’s life requires different nutritional needs including dietary requirements for growth, weight maintenance and performance. We also carry a full line of prescription diets to meet those needs.