- Dental CareYes. Home dental care for companion animals should start early, even before the adult teeth erupt. Although tooth brushing is the best method of preventing plaque and bacterial build-up, there are many options for dental home care. Other oral home care options such as dental formulated foods, water additives, and dental treats can be considered and discussed with our veterinarians.
- VaccinationThe first Rabies shot your pet receives is good for one year. Subsequent canine Rabies vaccinations immunize your pet for three years. Dogs are required by California State Law to be vaccinated for Rabies at 16 weeks of age. For cats, we use feline-exclusive Rabies vaccines which are good for three years.
- Veterinary Ophthalmology
- Nutritional CounselingOur ultimate goal with wellness care is to protect your pet from many of the dangers they might encounter throughout the years. This is done by developing a customized plan for routine vaccinations. Other preventative measures include nutrition, weight management, parasite control, and behavioral advice. We want to help your pet maintain a strong immune system and remain as healthy and fit as possible. In turn, this will improve his or her overall life and longevity.
- Comprehensive ExaminationDuring each scheduled visit, we will perform a complete physical examination to assess your pup’s health and rule out any potential medical concerns. We’re also happy to answer any questions you may have regarding feeding, housebreaking, chewing/biting, basic care, and training.
- Parasites Treatment and ControlDogs could get sick (vomiting, diarrhea, and/or death) if placed on heartworm prevention when they have heartworm disease. Even if they have been on heartworm prevention year-round there is always the possibility that the product may have failed for various reasons (your pet spit out the pill, did not absorb the pill appropriately, topical medicine was not applied properly, forgot to administer medication on time, etc.). The earlier we can treat your pet for heartworm disease the better the prognosis. When starting heartworm prevention, it is important that you perform an initial heartworm test.
- Pain ManagementWe believe in performing surgery with advanced pain management techniques because we want to maximize the comfort of your pet during and after his or her procedure. Comfort control improves your dog or cat’s recovery and speeds the healing process. We administer pain medication before beginning the procedure, during and post-operatively as needed by your pet.
- Vomiting Treatment
- Diarrhea Treatment
- Skin Condition and Allergy TreatmentUnderneath all that fur and fluff is a layer of skin that can be just as sensitive as yours. In fact, companion animals are susceptible to many of the same skin conditions that humans can experience. As a result of these conditions, your pet could be feeling itchy, uncomfortable and downright miserable. The good news is we can help!
- Parvovirus Infection TreatmentUntil your puppy has received a series of vaccines, he or she might be susceptible to many serious but preventable diseases. We will make sure your new companion is protected against rabies, distemper, and parvovirus, among other diseases. Your puppy will also need to be tested and treated for parasites, which are extremely common in young dogs. Some parasites can even be transmitted to humans. By ensuring that your puppy is properly treated, you can keep your entire family safe.
- Feline Retro Virus TreatmentUntil your kitten has received a series of vaccines, he or she might be susceptible to serious but preventable diseases. We will make sure your new pet is protected against rabies and panleukopenia (distemper). Depending on your cat’s lifestyle and risk factors, we may also recommend vaccinating against other diseases, such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV). In addition, your kitten will need to be tested and treated for common parasites, some of which can be transmitted to humans. By ensuring that your kitten is properly treated, you can keep your entire family safe.
- Ear Infection Treatment
- Heart Disease TreatmentDuring the procedure, we closely monitor your pet and the recovery process using advanced monitoring equipment. Parameters often monitored include oxygen concentration in the blood stream (pulse oximetry), electrocardiogram (EKG), core body temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure and carbon dioxide level. The monitoring findings allow us to perform safe anesthesia.
- Kidney Disease TreatmentIt really depends on the individual dog. In general, giant breed dogs age faster than smaller breed dogs. What are some of the things to expect as your dog ages? Your dog may develop arthritis or other degenerative diseases that cause them to slow down. They may not be able to walk as far or play as long and may tire more easily. Senior dogs also frequently suffer from obesity, kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease and other conditions.
- Periodontal Disease TreatmentMany of the pets that visit us on a regular basis need professional teeth cleaning. When bacteria irritate the gum line, the gums become inflamed in the early stages of dental disease causing gingivitis. Left untreated, this leads to periodontal disease, which causes the loss of the bone and gingival support structure of the tooth and subsequent tooth loss. In addition, the bacteria are consistently released into the blood stream allowing for systemic infections, which can cause damage to internal organs, such as the kidneys, liver and heart.
- Cancer Treatment
- Wound and Fracture CareFollowing graduation from veterinary school, Dr. Picht completed two years of rigorous internship training at a private specialty hospital in Orlando, Florida. During these years she spent time working with a variety of veterinary specialities including Internal Medicine, Surgery, Neurology, and Radiology. Her love of the west coast finally brought her home in 2008 when she completed a focused surgical internship at Veterinary Specialty Hospital right here in San Diego. This year was spent working directly with the surgeons learning advanced surgical techniques and honing her surgical skills. She enjoys all types of surgery, but has a special interest in oncologic surgery and wound management/reconstruction.
- Veterinary SurgeryHe will be serving as our Medical Director and hopes to eventually join Dr. Hoolihan's ownership team. Dr. Ray's special interests include emergency trauma, emergency surgery, and toxicology.
- Laser Surgery
- Spaying and NeuteringMale dogs can be neutered at ANY time after 6 months. They seem to recover easiest with little to no swelling if done before 1 year. However, dogs over 1 year if kept appropriately confined for 10-14 days post op can also do fine with minimal swelling or bruising. There is no scientific evidence that earlier castration or later castration prevents cancer (except testicular of course!).
- Laboratory ServicesYou will receive a call from one of our veterinary assistants when your pet is in recovery from the procedure. You will receive a call prior to the procedure if there are any abnormalities upon the pre-anesthetic exam or blood work, which may require a change of surgical plans.
- X-RayPrior to anesthesia, patients with kidney disease should be fully evaluated with blood tests, urinalysis, and possible ultrasound. Cardiology patients should also be evaluated including blood tests, chest x-rays, and echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). Our veterinarians will determine based on each individual situation if it is safe for your pet to undergo anesthesia.
- Boarding
- Grooming
- Senior Pet CareWellness care also involves ongoing health management through early disease detection. When we are able to examine your pet on a regular basis, we are able to recognize the signs of potential medical concerns as soon as they occur. Identifying, diagnosing and treating illness as early as possible can mean more happy, healthy years you get to spend together. For optimum results, we recommend that healthy adult dogs and cats visit with us at least once a year. Puppies, kittens, senior pets, and animals with existing health issues typically require more frequent checkups.
- Dog Training