Everett Veterinary Hospital

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Services

Everett Veterinary Hospital and Boarding House Inc, has provided excellent care for all of your dogs, cats, birds, exotic companions and wildlife since 1992. Our doctors and animal care team work with you to provide the best veterinary care with personalized service to meet your needs and your pets. We take the time to get to know both you and your pet in order to provide the most appropriate individual recommendations for vaccines, diet, exercise, parasite screening and other medical options. Because of their shorter life span, our pets can change quickly. We therefore stress the importance of physical exams every 6 months. Through check-ups and preventive care, our goal is to eliminate or delay serious health problems.

Complete Health & Wellness Care

Medical care is not "one size fits all". We take time to get to know you and your pet in order to provide the most appropriate individual recommendations. Through check ups and preventive care, our goal is to provide our beloved companions with longer, healthier, and happier lives. The time, money and effort invested in a Wellness Program has rewards for both the pets and their owners. Our wellness program is designed specifically for each pet and includes comprehensive physical exams (ideally two or more times per year), vaccine recommendations, internal and external parasite control, heartworm control, spay/neuter, exercise and nutritional counseling plus specialized blood tests for all life stages. Remember that prevention costs are usually much lower than treatment costs and there are still many diseases and disorders that have no cure.

Surgery/Anesthetic

Surgery

Our doctors perform a wide range of surgeries including spays, neuters, tumor removals, thoracic and abdominal surgeries including exploratory, laceration repair, cystotomy, splenectomy, debarks, ear crops, declaws (laser strongly recommended), soft tissue surgeries, orthopedic surgery including plating and pinning, oral surgery and many many more.

Attention is paid to every detail when your pet is undergoing anesthesia or surgical procedure. Surgical services are performed using safe and patient-specific anesthesia. Our hospital has a well-equipped and separate surgery suite where sterile technique is carefully utilized. Surgeons prepare with disinfectant scrubbing, and wear protective clothing and instruments are sterilized in an autoclave and used for single procedures only. Our patients are placed on a circulating warm water heating blanket during surgery and their temperature is carefully monitored pre, during and post operatively.

We will be happy to provide you with a treatment plan, prior to any surgery, so you can evaluate all of your options and plan your costs more accurately.

Anesthesia

The medication we use for sedation and to induce anesthesia is chosen based on each individual case. Their recent blood results, age, procedure, medical status, species, body weight, breed sensitivities, cardiac function are just a few factors in this decision. Complete physical exams and pre-anesthetic blood work are performed before anesthesia is even induced. And during anesthesia and through recovery, there is a trained and observant veterinary assistant that is monitoring your pet visually and with sophisticated monitoring equipment. The equipment is programmed with alarms to go off if any values fall out of the ideal range. We use Isoflo gas to maintain our patients. We use Isoflo gas to maintain our patients under anesthesia and our anesthetic machines are carefully inspected and calibrated annually by certified anesthetic specialists.

Laser (CO2) Surgery

Lasers have been used on humans for over 30 years and now this same technology can be used here. We are the ONLY veterinary hospital in Klamath Falls that offers this innovative option. This superior non-scalpel method of cutting the skin and tissues is available on most surgeries for an additional charge. The laser decreases pain by sealing nerve endings, minimizes bleeding, reduces the risk of infections by killing bacteria and since the laser beam of light does not crush or tear tissues, there is less swelling post operatively. In addition to surgical cutting purposes, it is used on chronic wounds, oral stomatitis cases and is ideal with cancer cases to help kill cancer cells deep in the tissues. Laser surgery is the preferred method for declaw surgeries in cats as it greatly minimizes bleeding and post operative pain.

Cutting Edge Technologies Website

Watch video of laser surgery

Important Information About Your Pet's Upcoming Surgery/Anesthetic Procedure

If you have any questions about your pet's health or any procedure, Never hesitate to call us.

Do I fast my pet?

Dogs and Cats - Yes, we usually require fasting from food the night before any anesthesia. This means no food after 10:00 PM and please pick up the water when you get up in the morning. Fasting is very important to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia.

Birds and Exotics - Do NOT fast any birds or exotics the night before surgery. Remove food and water the morning of the procedure(s) and remember to bring in enough food for the day and any special watering dishes.

Is Anesthesia Safe?

Yes. Although anesthetic emergencies can occur, they are extremely rare due to the protocols that we follow, close monitoring of our patients by our trained team, and the medications that we utilize. The medications we use for sedation and anesthetic induction are chosen based on each individual case. Their blood work results, age, procedure, medical status, species, body weight, breed sensitivities, and cardiac function are just a few factors in this decision.

Complete physical exams and pre-anesthetic blood work are performed prior to anesthetizing your pet. During anesthesia and through recovery, our knowledgeable and attentive team monitors your pet visually and with sophisticated equipment. We use Isoflorane gas to maintain our patients under anesthesia and our anesthetic machines are carefully inspected and calibrated annually by certified anesthetic specialists. All of these steps ensure that anesthesia is as safe as possible and anesthetic emergencies are extremely rare.

Physical Exam - We do a thorough physical examination including current weight, body temperature, heart and respiration rates. This lets us know how your pet is doing the morning of the procedure and if any changes need to be addressed prior to anesthesia.

Blood Screening - For your pet's safety, all patients undergoing an anesthetic procedure will receive blood test screening. All animals from young to old and those that appear healthy upon physical examination can have underlying and life threatening health problems. Blood work is necessary to evaluate their organs and can therefore show abnormalities within the liver and kidneys specifically. These two organs are primarily responsible for metabolizing the medications used and adjustments can be made in medications and fluid administration when abnormal values are noted. Blood screening also determines the patient's hydration status, if immunosuppression is present or if the pet is anemic or has blood-clotting problems.

If the values are abnormal, the anesthetic drugs and pain medications chosen may be changed or the procedure may be postponed or altered. If the values are within normal limits, they establish an excellent baseline for future blood work. Due to the sophisticated testing equipment we have on site, we can perform these tests on the same day of the surgery or days in advance.

We offer several levels of blood screenings for you to choose from that vary in blood values tested and price. The more extensive blood panels give us a broader base to evaluate your pet and are important for all patients. This is especially true for critical patients, those undergoing long surgeries, older pets and those of higher risk. These options will be discussed with you when you drop off your pet.

IV Catheter - Depending on the procedure, length of anesthesia, age and health status of your pet, a catheter may be required for the procedure. An IV catheter is required in all critical cases and highly recommend in ALL anesthetic procedures. An IV catheter allows us to infuse fluids with electrolytes and other additives throughout the anesthesia. This helps to maintain a good blood pressure, filter the organs and allows a quicker recovery. It also allows an immediate port for infusion of any necessary injections.

Monitoring of Anesthesia - Monitoring of all vital signs on a patient is crucial as it enables us to intervene early if an anesthetic complication occurs. Vital signs are monitored both visually by our trained team AND with several pieces of equipment. We utilize a Cardell heart monitor, Pulse oximeters, ECG unit, temperature probes, blood pressure machines and of course stethoscopes to carefully monitor your pet.

Vitals Monitored and Charted:

Core Body Temperature - During anesthesia and surgery, the patient's body temperature may drop and lead to a prolonged recovery or even a life threatening situation. We therefore use circulating water heater blankets, heat lamps and warmed rice packs to maintain their temperature before, during and after anesthesia and monitor temperature constantly throughout the procedure and recovery.
O2 (Oxygen) and CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) Saturation - Our equipment measures and monitors these levels in the blood stream allowing us to make any necessary adjustments. This is very important for proper brain function.
HR (Heart Rate) - Monitored to allow us to keep the rate within a normal and healthy range. If the HR is either too fast or too slow, a complication may occur.
RR (Respiration Rate) - By monitoring the RR and adjusting anesthetic gasses we can be sure that the patient is getting oxygen into their lungs and the rest of their body.
BP (Blood Pressure) - It assures the patient is maintaining proper circulation and blood flow to the brain, vital organs and peripheral tissues. Intravenous fluid levels can be adjusted to help stabilize the BP.
Heart Rate & Rhythm - The rate and rhythm of the heart beat is carefully monitored on an ECG (Electrocardiogram) unit so any adverse reactions can be visualized and acted upon.

When do I drop off and pick up my pet?

DROP OFF - Unless told otherwise, we ask that all surgical patients be dropped off between 7:30 - 8:00 AM. Please allow about 15 minutes for this process as important information must be obtained and special requests conveyed.

PICK UP - Please also allow another 15 minutes for evening pick up to discuss post operative instructions. After anesthesia, we ask you to pick up your pet late in the afternoon as we like to monitor them throughout the day and allow them plenty of time to recover. Some anesthetic procedures will be performed in the morning while others will be performed in the early afternoon. Please be prepared to pick up your pet between 4:00 - 5:15 PM, unless other arrangements have been made. Keep in mind, the longer the pet stays with us, the more awake and stable they will be when you take them home.

Is Pain Medication Necessary?

Recognizing and treating pain is a hallmark of good patient care and is the humane and caring thing to do. Animals don't usually whine or cry with pain but you can be sure that animals DO feel pain and discomfort under the same circumstances as we do.

Pain management helps recovery as it can expedite healing post surgery. We usually recommend an anti-inflammatory injection be performed prior to anesthesia so they wake up more comfortable. We can also send home oral medications to continue with pain relief for the first few days. The medication chosen is on a case by case basis. Note, many OTC medications such as Ibuprofen, Tylenol and Aspirin are toxic to your pet and therefore should not be used.

Will There Be Sutures?

For most surgeries, there will be sutures. We always use absorbable sutures underneath the skin layer and often use skin sutures. Skin sutures need to be removed, at no charge to you, at approximately 14 days after the surgery. As a generalization, dog spays will require a suture removal while dog neuters, cat spays and cat neuters do NOT. All other procedures, such as a tumor removal, WILL require suture removal. We will send home post-op instructions with details regarding your pet's surgery and recovery needs.

With any incision, please watch for any redness, swelling or discharge. Please limit your pet's activity level and keep the incision clean and dry until the sutures are removed.

Are there any other decisions I need to make?

Additional procedures? Although we do free toe nail trims while the pet is under anesthesia, this is the perfect time to do any other elective procedures. This will often save you time and money and be safer and easier on your pet. Examples of additional procedures that may be appropriate include dentistry, tumor removal, vaccines, ear exam/cleaning/ear hair removal, microchip implant or anal sac expression.

Miscellaneous Information

If you would like a TREATMENT PLAN/ESTIMATE prepared, we would be happy to provide one and discuss your options.

WE WILL BE HAPPY TO RECHECK AT NO CHARGE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS POST-OPERATIVELY REGARDING YOUR PET.

Dentistry

Dental Care & Oral Surgery

Paying close attention to their oral health is one of the most important aspects in fostering a long life for your pet. 75% of our pets, over the age of three years, have some form of oral disease.

This is accomplished with regular professional cleanings and home care. Dental infections are painful and associated bacterial infection may spread to internal organs such as the heart, liver, lungs and kidneys and therefore shorten their life span.

We recommend a dental examination if your pet is exhibiting any of these problems; bad breath, chewing on one side of the mouth, reddened gums, dropping food when eating, drooling, pawing at face, shying away when face or head is petted, bleeding from mouth, occasional unexplained behavioral changes, loss of appetite, refusing to chew on toys, refusing to drink cold water or refusing to eat hard food.

A routine dental cleaning includes complete dental charting, scaling with an ultrasonic cleaning and polishing to leave a smooth non-adherent surface to which a dental sealant is then applied. If necessary, extractions are performed at the same time and the dental socket may be closed with absorbable sutures. These procedures are best performed under general anesthesia to allow for a deep cleaning but yet a painless procedure. Pain medication is often recommended to minimize or eliminate pain post operatively as well.

Oral surgery may be necessary for procedures such as orally tumors, epulis removal, bone flaps for bone extractions or cleft palates.

Stages of Dental Disease

Stage 1. Early Gingivitis — Inflammation
Stage 2. Advanced Gingivitis — Inflammation and gingival swelling
Stage 3. Early Periodontitis — Inflammation, gingival swelling, and beginning of bone loss
Stage 4. Established Periodontitis — Inflammation, gingival swelling, purulent discharge, bone loss, and tooth instability

"ELLIE'S DENTISTRY" a complete dental procedure with pictures.

Ellie is a very sweet five year old Maltese that needs to have her teeth cleaned. She has a heavy build up of calculus and severe gum disease. These factors can cause health problems beyond just dental disease. Dental tartar and gingivitis represents a chronic bacterial infection that can also lead to liver, heart and kidney problems.
Ellie arrives in our office at 7:30 am, fasted from the night before. She receives a full physical examination including listening to her heart and lungs, a current body weight and taking her temperature.
Blood work is performed to evaluate Ellie's health before any medications are given. This helps to evaluate things that cannot be heard or seen on a physical exam such as the internal organs. Blood results are used to choose the appropriate medications to be used and it also serves as a baseline for future blood tests.
Sedative and pain medications are given to help Ellie get sleepy. During the dental cleaning, the mouth bacteria can transfer into the blood stream, so an antibiotic injection is given to keep the bacteria from flourishing.
An (IV) intravenous catheter is placed in Ellie's front leg and used for constant infusion of IV fluids that contain electrolytes and dextrose. The fluid rate given is altered to maintain blood pressure within normal ranges. These fluids also ensure good blood flow to her organs, ridding the body of anesthetic drugs more quickly and thus shortening the recovery period. The catheter is used to administer the anesthetic drugs and can also be used for any other IV medications that maybe necessary.
The anesthetic given allows Ellie to become sleepy enough for us to place an endotracheal tube into her windpipe for breathing. Oxygen and Isoflo anesthetic gas are administered through the endotracheal tube during the entire procedure to keep her anesthetized.
Since the eyes stay open during anesthesia, eye lubricant is used to keep the eyes moist thus preventing secondary corneal ulcers.
Several types of medical equipment are used to carefully monitor Ellie's vital signs.
Her heart rate (HR), EKG, temperature, blood pressure (BP) and blood oxygen levels (O2) are all monitored, evaluated and charted constantly. If there are any undesirable changes, the anesthetic gas and IV fluid rate can be altered and/or medications can be given to counteract these changes.
Since anesthesia can cause the body temperature to decrease over time, Ellie is placed on a circulating water warming blanket and placed between warm rice packs throughout the procedure. Her temperature is taken and documented repeatedly during the procedure and during recovery from anesthesia.
A complete oral exam is performed and charted.
The dental cleaning is performed using a Piezoelectric instrument. The scaling of the teeth is done on all sides of the tooth plus above and below the gum line.
A perio probe instrument is used to measure the dental pockets of all the teeth to evaluate gum disease, bone loss and the need for any extractions.
The teeth that require removal are elevated from the dental socket and extracted. A Vet Sponge is packed into the socket to control hemorrhage and promote healing. The sockets are then sutured closed using absorbable suture.
Ellie unfortunately requires many extractions due to the severity of her dental disease.
The teeth are then polished using a mint flavored fluoride paste.
After rinsing well, the teeth are dried thoroughly and an OroVet Barrier Sealant is applied to all surfaces of the teeth. This sealant helps to form a barrier against the reattachment of bacteria to the teeth.
A toe nail trim is performed at no charge.
And an Avid Computer Microchip is implanted. This is a great time to do extra procedures while the pet is anesthetized.
Once all the procedures are completed, the Isoflo anesthetic gas is turned off and Ellie is maintained on oxygen for at least 5 minutes afterwards to ensure proper oxygenation of her tissues. This also will speed her recovery. Once awake, Ellie's endotracheal tube is removed and her vitals will continue to be monitored until she is fully recovered.
Ellie is now awake with cleaner teeth and fresher breath. She is also healthier as the infection is gone. I'm sure Ellie is appreciative to the team that took care of her through the entire procedure. She went home to her family approximately 5 hours later. For her safety and comfort, pain medication and antibiotics are sent home. Her owner purchased an Oravet Dental Sealant kit and will apply it weekly to minimize bacterial accumulation on the teeth and thus minimize the need for future dentistry's.

Preventive Care

Immunizations

Vaccines are a hallmark of preventive medicine and are used carefully and selectively to prevent serious contagious and sometimes untreatable diseases. Vaccines should be started at 6 to 7 weeks of age, depending on the species. These include the core vaccines which should be done in all pets and elective vaccines which vary with individual exposures and needs. To minimize problems from over vaccinating, we follow the recommended vaccine guidelines of the OVMA and AVMA and utilize the 3 year core vaccine program.

DOGS

Rabies - Deadly disease that infects all warm blooded animals. It is usually fatal to pets and humans and is therefore required by law to be kept current.
Distemper-Parvo Combination (DA2PPk)

Distemper - Highly contagious and wide spread virus that is often fatal, especially in young dogs. It affects the lungs, intestines and brain so symptoms range from upper respiratory infections, vomiting and diarrhea to convulsions.
Hepatitis or Adenovirus - A virus that causes severe liver and kidney damage. The disease may cause death in newborn pups and severe vomiting and diarrhea and abdominal pain in others.
Parvo - A highly contagious and often fatal disease of the intestinal tract causing vomiting, diarrhea and severe dehydration. Dogs become very immunosuppressed allowing further infection by bacteria to also occur. This virus is extremely hardy and can live for greater than 5 years within our environment.
Parainfluenza - This is a virus related to the flu viruses. It causes upper respiratory symptoms and can allow bacteria to enter the respiratory system leading to a chronic bronchitis or pneumonia.

Bordetella (Kennel Cough) ) - A combination of bacteria that causes a highly infectious tracheobronchitis.
Leptospirosis - A bacterial disease that causes kidney and liver disease. This is a disease that can be transmitted to humans and cause similar problems.
Lymes - This dangerous tick borne bacterial disease affects both people and dogs. The symptoms range from joint pain to high fevers and chronic arthritis.
Snake - Rattlesnake bites are usually fatal without immediate use of expensive and sometimes unavailable antivenom. This unique vaccine helps protect our dogs against rattlesnake bites.
Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) - This newly emerging and very infectious virus originated from horses and has spread quickly to dogs via race tracks. Symptoms range from a severe cough to hemorrhagic pneumonia with lung damage.

CATS

Rabies - Deadly disease that infects all warm blooded animals. It is usually fatal to pets and humans and is therefore required by law to be kept current.
Feline Distemper Combination (FvRCP)

Rhinotracheitis - A viral disease that is highly contagious as it travels through the air. It affects the eyes, nose and mouth causing the cat to have difficulty breathing.
Calici - A viral infection of the eyes, nose and throat. Also very contagious.
Panleukopenia - A highly contagious and hardy virus that can live for a year outside the cat's body. It is usually fatal with symptoms that include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, dehydration, tremors and loss of coordination.
Pneumonitis (Chlamydia) - A bacterial infection of the nose, throat and eyes and can result in blindness.

Feline Leukemia (FeLV) - It is a highly contagious virus that is usually fatal and affects multiple organs. It is one of the leading causes of death. It causes severe immunosuppression similar to AIDS.
Feline Immunosuppresive Virus (FIV) - A highly contagious virus that is usually fatal and affects multiple organs. It causes severe immunosuppression similar to AIDS.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) - Is a mutation of the feline corona virus (FcoV) that can occur anytime FcoV is perpetuated in an enclosed environment. FcoV is spread via fecal-oral & respiratory contact. The mutation occurs in an individual cat and is not contagious to other cats in the household. A household with more than 3 cats has the potential of maintaining the corona virus within the population. The best way to protect against this disease is to be sure to pick up and discard all cat feces at least once a day. The FIP vaccine prevents initial infection with FcoV only and does not affect a cat's propensity to mutate the virus once infected. As such if vaccine is desired it is best to start as a young kitten or cat that has been tested as not having the corona virus or a positive titer (indicating exposure) and then boosted annually.

FERRETS

Rabies - Deadly disease that infects all warm blooded animals. It is usually fatal to pets and humans and is therefore required by law to be kept current.
Distemper - Highly contagious and wide spread virus that is often fatal, especially in the young. It affects the lungs, intestines and brain so symptoms range from upper respiratory infections, vomiting and diarrhea to convulsions.

Parasite Control/Worming

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are several parasites from our pets that can be transmitted across the species lines to humans. This is especially true of children and immunocompromized people. These parasites may cause serous health problems ranging from skin rashes to intestinal disease, blindness, seizures, encephalitis and meningitis. It is for this reason that we strongly recommend a minimum of an annual deworming for all adult pets and puppies and kittens need to be wormed multiple times since they are more prone to carry and pass on these parasites.

Microchip

This incredible technology by Avid, offers a safe, reliable and permanent identification for all of your pets. Your total cost is only $30.00, including the $18.50 lifetime registration fee (unlike some companies). Even with the best care, statistics show that 1 out of 3 pets will get lost or stolen in a lifetime. Without identification, 9 out of 10 pets will never find their way back to their families. This tiny devise (about the size of a grain of rice) is implanted with a needle. It is a routine procedure that is performed quickly and may be done during a regular office appointment or during an anesthetic procedure.

Now is the best time to microchip your pet but anytime is the right time as you never know when they might become lost or stolen. Feel free to ask for more information, a demo or schedule an appointment.

And remember, if your pet is microchipped, Klamath County Dog Control will also decrease your dog licensing fees by $5.00 per year. Avid Website

Nutritional Counseling

As with people, the phrase "you are what you eat" pertains to pets as well. A premium and balanced diet using excellent quality ingredients is vital for their good health for today and in the future. It can prevent medical problems and be used as an adjunct into medical therapy.

We consult with Hills Science Diet Nutritional Specialists at no extra charge to help you choose the best food to keep your pet happy and active and at optimal health. Just a few of the facts in helping to make the decision for their proper diet include the pets species, life stage, breed, activity levels, body weight, body conditioning score, blood work results and medical condition.

Oravet

After the dentistry, a dental sealant is applied to clean and dry teeth to form a colorless bacterial barrier. This barrier slows the reoccurrence of a plaque and calculus reaccumulation. You can purchase the OroVet product and our team will demonstrate how to apply a layer weekly. It only takes about 30 seconds per week of your time and will help reduce dental disease in the future. Oravet website

Laser / Equipment

Laser (CO2) Surgery

Cutting Edge Technologies Website

Watch video of laser surgery

Therapeutic Laser Therapy (K2)

We are the only Veterinary Hospital in Klamath Falls that offers therapeutic laser treatments. This state-of-the-art technology can be used to treat a wide range of painful conditions such as arthritis back pain, chronic wounds to promote healing, oral stomatitis, lick granulomas plus much more. Therapeutic laser treatments are safe and very effective. A specially calibrated laser works to stimulate the blood flow to aid in tissue healing, decreases inflammation, swelling and pain. After the doctors prescribe a therapy course, trained technicians will provide the treatments. It only takes minutes and the warmth of the laser beam is soothing to our patients. This treatment can be extremely beneficial for many patients from acute to chronic conditions. For instance, an older pet that is slowing down, having trouble getting up or climbing up stairs may be suffering from painful arthritis. Ask us if you think your pet could benefit from our new laser.

LINK www.companiontherapy.com

Laboratory

Laboratory testing is critical to the management of ill and injured patients, evaluation for preanesthesia and to establish normal baselines as a pet is aging. Because prompt results are extremely beneficial, we have a fully equipped state-of-the-art laboratory on our premises. This capability allows us to better diagnose and treat your pet accurately and expeditiously.

Complete blood counts, chemistry panels, electrolytes, urinalysis, heartworm tests and feline leukemia and aids tests are all run routinely. Also, cytology of ear swabs, fecals, skin scrapings, vaginal smears and urinalysis can all be processed and evaluated immediately. More specialized testing such as thyroid and cortisol blood levels, histopathology (biopsy of abnormal tissue) or body fluid cultures are processed and shipped to various specialty laboratories outside of the area.

Radiology/X-Rays

Our on-site X-Ray equipment provides high quality radiographs to aid in the quick diagnosis of many disorders. X-Rays are an important diagnostic tool for many conditions to evaluate the internal anatomy such as the muscular • skeletal, cardio-vascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, reproductive and urinary systems. We can also perform OFA radiographs for screening for breeding programs.

All four exam rooms are equipped with X-Ray viewers so you can view the X-Rays with your doctor. We can also transfer the radiographs to a board certified radiologist for an added expert's opinion.

ECG (Electrocardiogram)

We provide ECG services on site and using our monitoring equipment, we evaluate cardiac function while your pet is under anesthesia. For cardiac cases, we utilize equipment to transport the ECG readings over the telephone and consult with a board certified cardiologist for expert evaluation and advice. A second ECG can even be run within 24 hours at no additional charge.

Tonopen (For Glaucoma Diagnosis)

Our Tonopen instrument accurately evaluates the internal eye pressures and is used as a screening tool and diagnostic aid for glaucoma. Routine screening is recommended in certain breeds as they are predisposed to this painful and potentially blinding condition. Some of the more common breeds affected are Beagles, Border Collies, Boston Terriers, Chihuahuas, Chow Chows, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Dalmatians, Springer Spaniels, Schnauzers, Great Danes, Maltese, Min Pinschers, Pembroke Corgis, Poodles, Scottish Terriers, Shih Tzus, Siberian Huskies, Fox Terriers, West Highland Terriers, and Whippets).

Additional Services

Medical Care/Internal Medicine

Diagnosis and treatment of disease is an important aspect of veterinary medicine. We cover all areas of medicine including Cardiology, Ophthalmology, Internal Medicine, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Radiology, Reproduction, Pediatric through Geriatric Medicine, Oncology, Endocrinology, Orthopedic and Soft Tissue Surgery, Neurology and more.

When a problem requires a specialty care, our doctors will advise you about referral services and help with scheduling and transfer of records.

Emergency & Critical Care

Urgent care is an important aspect of any veterinary hospital. We are experienced & dedicated in providing any necessary medical &/or surgical care. If your pet requires emergency care during our regular office hours, we will give your animal priority service as triage dictates. If possible, please call us in advance or on route to give us a heads up. We will then be prepared for your arrival. If your pet becomes sick or injured after hours, care is provided by ourselves, plus local veterinarians on a rotating schedule. You can call us at 541-884-2926 and our phone system will direct you to the Doctor on call or call Animal Emergency Service directly at 541-882-9005.

Pharmacy

We maintain a comprehensive pharmacy on our premises for the care of your dog, cat, birds and exotic pets. Our inventory includes prescription medications such as antibiotics, anti-fungals, anti-inflammatory and other pain medications, steroids, hormones, dewormers as well as sedatives and anesthesia meds, heartworm, flea and tick preventives and OTC choices such as vitamins and mineral supplements, nutraceuticals such as glucosamines, dietary products and even pet supplies including toys for behavioral problems, dental products and bird necessities. We can also compound your medication to make them more palatable or into a liquid form. We buy our products from only reputable manufactures and distributors and check expiration dates diligently and abide by all DEA regulations for controlled substances. Our inventory is never sold post expiration dates and is maintained in a dry and temperature controlled area.

It is our policy and REQUIRED through Oregon State Licensing Boards, that all pets receive a complete physical exam per year in order to be prescribed medication and/or receive any type of treatment. Laboratory blood work may also be required for refill of some prescriptions.

Please call 24 hours in advance for Rx refills to allow us time to review your records for any needed exams or blood work that may be necessary.

Pain Management

Recognizing and treating pain is a hallmark of good patient care and is the humane and caring thing to do. Since veterinary patients do feel pain and discomfort under the same circumstances as we do, we take measures to focus on their comfort. Pain management helps expedite healing post surgery and also helps maintain a good quality of life with chronic arthritis. Pain can be managed in many ways including injections, oral medication, glucosamine supplements, exercise and weight management, laser therapy and combination treatment. We will design a protocol specific for your pet and his/her needs.

Geriatric Medicine

When your pet becomes a geriatric (this age varies with the species and breed), we recommend more frequent examinations and routine blood work. Pets age faster than we do so a health problem can become serious in a short time. Diseases and various medical conditions are common as we get older and may be cured or at least stabilized if diagnosed early. These conditions include kidney, liver and heart disease, diabetes, thyroid and adrenal problems and cancer. Call us if your pet has a change in their eating or drinking routine, increased urination or any respiratory or gastrointestinal problems.

Reproduction

We are here to help you from the planning of the pregnancy through the birthing process. The planning process can include mate selection, OFA radiographs for genetic problems, Brucellosis screening, semen evaluation and nutritional counseling. If breeding needs some assistance, we can perform an Artificial Insemination (AI). Once pregnant, we are here for all of your questions including how to prepare for the big day and how to recognize potential problems. We can also count babies, provide whelping assistance if necessary or for a Caesarian surgery.

Dermatology

Dermatology is the study of the skin and associated structure. Skin is the body's largest organ and is associated with numerous disorders. Allergies, infections, parasites, cancer, auto-immune, and endocrine disorders are just a few that we deal with. If your pet is having problems with their skin, we can perform skin scraping, blood work, histology, cultures, and allergy testing to help narrow down the diagnosis. Results will be evaluated and treatment options will be discussed with you. Some of the treatments we may discuss are medications, which can be topical or oral, diet can often affect a pet's skin and may need to be adjusted, and laser therapy (both surgical and heat therapy) has a proven positive effect on many skin disorders.

Travel & Health Certificates

If you are traveling between states or outside of the country with your pet(s) a health certificate is likely required. Health certificates are time sensitive and frequently need to be completed just days prior to your departure and it is important to know the requirements of your route and destination as well as the specifications for the airlines you are using if flying.

Depending on the country of your destination (or state in Hawaii's case), there may be numerous requirements to fulfill and can take up to a year to complete. These can include Rabies titers, international microchip implantation, heartworm and other parasite control, and special testing. A quarantine period is often required but you can often shorten this period and save yourself money by being prepared. Most of the requirements are very time sensitive so we recommend starting the research about a year in advance when traveling outside of the lower 48 states. A great place to start is PetRelocation.com, keep in mind they state on their website that they may not have the up to date requirements. Your veterinarian will need to contact their state veterinarian's office to get the most current information for your destination.

We deal with multiple, out of country, health certificates every year and are happy to have you contact us for assistance with this complicated process.

Behavioral Counseling

We can provide advice regarding the correction of many behavioral problems. Common issues include house soiling, aggression, separation anxiety, excessive chewing, barking, digging and car or thunderstorm phobias. A behavioral consultation begins with a thorough history and physical exam. We can also be of assistance in helping you to select your next pet and how to introduce them to your household. A referral can also be made to a Licensed Animal Behaviorist if the problems are more serious.

Hospice/Euthanasia/Cremation

Pets give us unconditional love and share an intricate part of our daily lives. The unique bond that we form with our pets is what makes our interactions with them so rich and rewarding. Therefore, the loss of an animal can have an impact on us that is as great as the loss of a family member of friend. It leaves a great void in our lives and the grieving process can very complicated.

When the time comes to say good-bye to your special friend, we are here to help you with your difficult decision and allow them to pass with comfort and dignity. You may or may not choose to stay with your pet during this procedure or we can even make a home visit. You decide.

Remember, you are not alone in your grief and you may find these links to be of some comfort.

We work with Tracks to Heaven for cremation and they offer several options for you to choose from as well as grief counseling groups.

Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement

Pet Loss

Referrals

Our doctors treat a broad range of medical and surgical cases but when a problem requires specialty care; our doctors may consult with a specialist or assist in a referral by helping to schedule an appointment for you and transferring all of the records. We refer to various specialists within and outside of Oregon, depending on the pet's condition and your choice. Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center in Medford is a 24-hour emergency medicine, critical care and surgery center and has many board certified specialists that we work with routinely.