- Dental Care
- VaccinationFor small to medium-breed dogs, we recommend waiting until they’re 6 months old. We won’t do it sooner. For large breeds, 9 to 12 months of age is appropriate, and for giant breeds, 12 to 16 months. Cats should be spayed or neutered at six months, regardless of size or breed. Your pet is given an exam prior to surgery to help determine whether your pet is healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure. Current vaccinations are required at the time of surgery. Also, a pre-anesthetic blood screen is required prior to undergoing anesthesia and surgery. Pain medications will be given before, during, and after surgery to ensure your pet’s post-operative comfort.
- Comprehensive ExaminationPre-anesthetic monitors have made surgery much safer than in the past. Here at North Windham Veterinary Hospital, we do a thorough physical exam on your pet before administering anesthetics to ensure that a fever or other illness won’t be a problem. We also adjust the amount and type of anesthetic used depending on the health of your pet. Pre-anesthetic blood testing is important in reducing the risk of anesthesia. Every pet needs blood testing before surgery to ensure that the liver and kidneys can handle the anesthetic. Even apparently healthy animals can have serious organ system problems that cannot be detected without blood testing. If there is a problem, it is much better to find it before it causes anesthetic or surgical complications. Animals that have minor dysfunction will handle the anesthetic better if they receive IV fluids during surgery. If serious problems are detected, surgery can be postponed until the problem is corrected.
- Pain ManagementAnything that causes pain in people can be expected to cause pain in animals. Pets may not show the same symptoms of pain as people do; they usually don’t whine or cry, but you can be sure they feel it. Pain medications needed will depend on the surgery performed. Major procedures require more pain relief than things like minor lacerations.
- Vomiting Treatment
- Cancer Treatment
- Wound and Fracture CareDr. Berdahl’s extensive experience includes an internship at the Regional Veterinary Referral Center in Springfield, VA, where she focused primarily on emergency and critical care medicine. Later, she joined District Vet in Washington, DC, a general small animal practice. Her special interests include behavior, wound care/management, and palliative care.
- Veterinary Surgery
- Laboratory ServicesThis is a blood test that is performed here in the hospital prior to surgery. We test for organ functions, blood count and clotting function of your pet’s circulatory system. Pre-anesthetic blood screening is done to assure safety during surgery and the ability to heal following surgery.
- X-Ray
- Microchipping
- Dog TrainingRachel has been working with animals her entire life. As a kid, she mucked stalls for horse farms, which later turned into managing a large, competitive equine eventing barn. After about six years of doing that, she worked as a vet assistant for an equine veterinary practice for four years. In 2020 she decided to dive into the small animal world and loves it! Away from work her hobbies include studying dog behavior and dog training. She also loves to go backpacking, running, and mountain biking with her husband and her three rescue dogs.