- Dental CareAt Friendship Animal Hospital, we take pride in being your furry family member’s doctor and see our role as an integral part in providing healthcare to your pet. The primary focus of our practice is centered on offering a professional level of high quality medical, surgical and dental care. In addition to these professional services, we do stock numerous forms of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and products for your pets.
- VaccinationVaccination is the most important preventative medicine that you can offer your pet. We believe in individualized care for your pet. We will discuss your pet's lifestyle and make specific recommendations specific to your pet.
- Veterinary OphthalmologyEye problems tend to get worse quickly, so if you notice that your pet seems to have any abnormalities with their eyes, please contact us!
- Behavioral CounselingSome dogs can benefit from the use of an anti-anxiety medication (to be used with behavior modification) during these episodes.
- Nutritional CounselingThe good news is that excess weight is a condition that is treatable! Weight loss in pets requires a lot of owner education, as well as patience and dedication from you, the pet owners, to remain consistent with the weight loss plan. We are here to help and look forward to working with you to help achieve your goals.
- Comprehensive ExaminationPart of our routine annual physical exam is to perform a thorough ophthalmologic examination. If additional tests are necessary, we offer a varierty of tests to address your pet's current eye condition. We routinely perform tear testing, fluorescein staining, and tonometry testing.
- Parasites Treatment and ControlSome guarantees made by manufacturers regarding their products are null and void (not honored) if their products are purchased through non-approved channels. This includes the guarantee reimbursement for heartworm/intestinal parasite claims if your pet contracts heartworms or specific parasites while on prevention.
- Pain ManagementPain management is not just about compassionate care. We have found that a proper and balanced application of pain medications means your pet will be able to heal quickly and with less discomfort. Therefore, pain management is an important aspect of our surgical protocols. At discharge, we may also send additional pain management medication home with you to ensure a comfortable recovery.
- Vomiting Treatment
- Diarrhea Treatment
- Skin Condition and Allergy TreatmentSkin diseases, such as bacterial, fungal, allergic, parasitic, and hormonal skin diseases, are common in pets. The first step in diagnosing your pet's current skin issue is a detailed history. We also have a variety of diagnostic testing that can be performed including: skin scraping, cytology, fungal cultures, skin biopsy, histopathology, and allergy testing.
- Intestinal Foreign Object Removal
- Ear Infection TreatmentFood Allergy: A food allergy is a reaction to food that involves the body’s immune system. Your dog may itch, lick, and chew paws, flank, neck, and ears. The itching can be during all seasons. A small percentage of food allergy dogs may only have ear infections. The dog may also have some gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting or diarrhea. A food allergy trial may be recommended to determine if this is the cause of your pet’s itching.
- Obesity TreatmentDid you know that about 60% of US pets are overweight? There are a number of causes of pet obesity: some pets have a genetic predisposition, underlying disease, or simply fed too much and lack exercise. Obesity is a top health concern for veterinarians – excessive weight causes the same problems in pets as it does in humans.
- Diabetes Treatment
- Thyroid Disease TreatmentThere are a number of causes of pet obesity: some pets have a genetic predisposition, like some people do. Age can also be a factor since, after two years, many animals become less active. Occasionally, a metabolic disorder, such as hypothyroidism, can cause obesity. Most obese animals, though, are simply fed too much and don’t get enough exercise. Obesity is a top health concern for veterinarians – excessive weight causes the same problems in pets as it does in humans. Diabetes, heart and lung diseases, bone and joint diseases, skin conditions, and different types of cancer are more common in overweight animals, as is a shorter life expectancy.
- Heart Disease TreatmentElectrocardiographs (EKG) are snapshots of how your pet's heart functions. These are very helpful at detecting numerous types of arrhythmias as well as a handful of other cardiac conditions that can be difficult to identify through a stethoscope. An EKG test is a noninvasive procedure that involves simply connecting a handful of electrodes to your pet's skin. The machine will read the electrical impulses coming from the heart as the heart works to pump blood and provide a graph for interpretation of your pet's cardiac function.
- Kidney Disease TreatmentVeterinary ultrasound is a powerful diagnostic tool and used as well as to monitor ongoing conditions. Ultrasound uses sound waves to forma picture of the interior of the body without using radiation. These images are complimentary to radiographs and provide additional information. Ultrasound may be used for the following: pregnancy evaluation, cardiac disease, pancreatitis, liver disease, kidney disease, abdominal masses, vomiting/diarrhea, urinary issues, and much more. We may also recommend referral to an internal medicine specialist depending on the type of ultrasound needed.
- Periodontal Disease TreatmentDid you know that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats by the age of 2 are already showing signs of oral disease? Dental care is a critical part of your pet’s overall health care. During the entire month of February, we will be highlighting periodontal disease and bringing you more educational information.
- Cancer Treatment
- Seizure TreatmentSeizures- Move your pet away from any objects that could be harmful. Use a blanket for padding and protection if needed. Do not try to restrain your pet during a seizure. Record the length of the seizure and what your pet did during it (twitching, urination, defecation, drooling, loss of consciousness) and how your pet reacted after the seizure. Afterward, please keep your pet calm and quiet and call us.
- Wound and Fracture CareBeyond spays, neuters, and feline declaws, we also perform extensive soft tissue surgeries, including but not limited to tumor removal, cystotomies, gastrointestinal surgeries, eye and ear surgeries, laceration repairs, and wound management. We also offer certain orthopedic surgeries at our hospital via a mobile surgical service. The night before any surgery, the patient should not have any food after 10pm and also no food the morning of. Water is ok for them to have the night before and also the morning of.
- Dental SurgeryOur dental services include teeth cleaning and polishing, digital dental X-rays, tooth extractions and minor oral surgery.
- Veterinary SurgeryDr. Billings received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. She then completed an equine internship at the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. Following this, Dr. Billings entered small animal practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She then joined Friendship Animal Hospital in 2017 and purchased the clinic in 2019. Professionally, Dr. Billings is very interested in the human-animal bond and general wellness through all life stages. Dr. Billings also enjoys dentistry and soft tissue surgery.
- Declawing
- Laboratory ServicesLaboratory testing allows us to gain a view inside your pet's body in order to assess overall systemic health. We recommend regular testing during wellness exams or when we suspect your pet may have a health issue. We perform countless lab tests to help assess your pet's overall health including: blood panels, heartworm and tick-borne disease testings, FELV/FIV testing, Parvo virus testing, urinalysis, fecal analysis and cytologies.
- X-Ray
- Dental RadiologyDental disease affects up to 80% of pets over the age of three, and just like humans, there can be serious consequences to poor dental health. If left untreated, it can lead to oral pain, bad breath, tooth loss, and even systemic infections. Veterinary dental care is one of the most important services provided at our hospital. Every exam includes a thorough dental evaluation. Dental cleanings and possible extractions are recommended for all animals with periodontal disease, and as a preventative measure for animals with warning signs. Our Hospital offers the latest in dental technology, including: ultrasonic scaling, polishing, high speed drill for extractions and digital dental x-rays.
- MicrochippingIt is important that your pet have proper identification on at all times (tag containing your name and phone number). Collars and tags are essential, but they can fall off or become damaged. A microchip offers a more permanent form of identification. We typically implant a microchip during spay/neuter procedures, but can do so at anytime. We use HomeAgain brand microchips and will register them directly to you. It is important that should any of your information change, such as address or phone number, you contact HomeAgain to update your records. We have reunited many pets with their owners thanks to a microchip!
- Senior Pet CareNovember is senior pet month! Thanks to better nutrition and advances veterinary care, pets are living longer and are healthier than ever. With the right care, you pet's golden years can be healthy and happy for you both.