- Dental Care
- VaccinationIt is common for pets to experience some or all of the following mild side effects after receiving a vaccine, usually starting within hours of the vaccination. If these side effects last for more than a day or two, or cause your pet significant discomfort, please contact our office...
- Behavioral CounselingBehavioral Counseling: We can provide advice regarding the correction of problems such as excessive barking, chewing, spraying, scratching, digging, house soiling and aggression.
- Nutritional CounselingMaking some simple changes in your house can make all the difference to a handicapped or injured pet. Just like people, dogs can get depressed by the inability to do things they used to do. With most conditions requiring physical therapy or rehabilitation finding ways to keep moving, and avoiding long periods spent sitting or lying down, minimizes muscle atrophy, weight gain, depression and pain. It also prevents pressure sores. Exercise, sunshine and fresh air are beneficial to animals as well, so getting a disabled dog outside and moving around more is a great goal.
- Comprehensive ExaminationBecause of the shorter lifespan of our pets, we stress the importance of an annual physical examination. Thorough check-ups and preventive care can help alleviate serious health problems. We offer a wide range of veterinary services to keep your companions feeling their best...
- Parasites Treatment and ControlFlea allergy dermatitis is the most common skin disease in dogs and cats. The allergy is caused by the flea’s saliva and it only takes a few bites to induce the problem. This is why owners may not see fleas on their pet.
- Pain ManagementElectrical stimulation, or E-stim, uses an electrical pulse to stimulate muscle fibers. This stimulation can be very small, feeling like a tingling or pins-and-needles affect, or large enough to stimulate the entire muscle to contract. It is used both to reduce pain and to exercise muscles when the pet cannot use a limb or limbs because of surgery, fracture, nerve or spinal cord damage. E-stim helps the muscles to stay strong and reduces muscle spasms and cramping. It reduces pain by activating the body's own pain control systems. Sticky pads are placed onto trigger points for the muscle we want to stimulate. (The hair will need to be shaved at these spots.) A signal is sent to the electrode in the pad, causing the muscle to quiver a little, or to contract and then relax again. The sensation is odd but not painful. E-stim can be provided here at Southtown vet or with a portable unit that can be used at home or in the patient's cage or run.
- Vomiting Treatment
- Diarrhea Treatment
- Skin Condition and Allergy TreatmentAn allergy is a state of hypersensitivity in which exposure to a harmful substance known as an allergen induces the body’s immune system to overreact. The incidences of allergies is increasing in both humans and pets. Cats rarely have respiratory allergies, they are more likely to experience the effects of allergic hypersensitivities as skin problems.
- Ear Infection TreatmentEar infections, hot spots, and licking feet are all related to allergies. Allergies in dogs are often heavily influenced by diet.
- Hip Dysplasia TreatmentThere are also big differences in conformation - for example, the injuries a racing greyhound might get would probably be very different form those of a bulldog, and many breeds are prone to specific orthopedic problems - hip dysplasia in large breed dogs, luxating kneecaps in toy breeds, disc disease in dachshunds, for example. The sloping back of a German Shepherd predisposes to hip problems while the straight up and down knees of the Chow Chow make them much more prone to knee ligament tears. Veterinarians performing rehab on pets need to know and understand many variables between breeds and how certain activities, such as running in a harness pulling a sled, affect the body.
- Heart Disease Treatment
- Kidney Disease TreatmentPennies - are another danger to dogs worth mentioning. Those dated after 1981 are made from zinc with a thin copper coating. A dog swallowing just on of these pennies can suffer damage to red blood cells and kidney failure.
- Wound and Fracture CareE-stim is often used for muscle strengthening and to prevent muscle atrophy after injury to a bone or the spinal cord. It accelerates healing after bone fractures and reduces pain from muscle spasms and both orthopedic and neurological injuries.
- Dental SurgeryDentistry: Our dental services include dental xrays, teeth cleaning and polishing, tooth extractions and minor oral surgery.
- Veterinary SurgeryPA is a full service companion animal hospital. It is our commitment to provide quality veterinary care throughout the life of your pet. Our services and facilities are designed to assist in routine preventive care for young, healthy pets; early detection and treatment of disease as your pet ages; and complete medical and surgical care as necessary during his or her lifetime.
- Spaying and Neutering
- Laboratory ServicesWe offer in-house blood testing before surgery, which we will go over with you when you bring your pet in. Our doctors prefer the more comprehensive screen, because it gives them the most information to ensure the safety of your pet. For geriatric or ill pets, additional blood tests, electrocardiograms, or x-rays may be required before surgery as well.
- X-Ray
- Microchipping