Veterinary Services

Getting your new puppy or kitten off to a healthy start sets the stage for their lives as healthy adults. Regular physical examinations, core and elective vaccinations, fecal testing for parasites, and deworming are all important elements of ensuring good health for your puppy or kitten. Our knowledgeable staff can help your family learn about potty training your pup, performing nail trims on your puppy or kitten, dietary recommendations, and potential health hazards for your new pet.

Spaying and neutering are additional topics to consider; the appropriate age for the timing of sterilization surgery may vary depending upon the species and breed of your pet. You may also want to consider pet health insurance — a great way to get your new little family member off to a good start. Last but not least, you’ll also want to consider which heartworm and flea/tick preventatives your new puppy or kitten will need. We realize that adding a new family pet can come with lots of questions… but don’t forget, we’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to call.

Annual wellness examinations are very important for your pet’s health and happiness. Wellness exams allow our veterinarians to discover any potential health risks and/or problems that may otherwise go undetected. Our veterinarians approach each wellness exam based on the age, breed, and gender of your pet. Paw Haven is devoted to ensuring that your animal companion(s) lives the healthiest, happiest life they can.

Every wellness exam includes:

• A complete history of your pet’s health
• Patient vital signs
• Complete “Nose to Tail” examination
• Laboratory testing as needed (lab fees extra)
• Comprehensive consultation and individually designed health plan for each pet based on individual needs

We love senior pets! Senior pets have special needs and benefit from more regular veterinary visits compared to their younger counterparts. Age-associated conditions include:

• Arthritis
• Dental disease
• Heart disease
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Endocrine disorders

These conditions will start to become more prevalent as your pet gets older. Your aging pet may be showing early signs of osteoarthritis such as stiffness after rest or play, difficulty going up or downstairs, and reduced activity. Early intervention with joint supplements and prescription arthritis medications when indicated, along with modified nutrition and exercise plans, can greatly improve your pet’s comfort and mobility. Likewise, performing annual screening lab work on your older pet can help identify early stages of medical problems that might go unrecognized, and progress significantly without treatment.

Getting older doesn’t have to be fraught with troubles for your pet. See your vet regularly to help keep your senior pet healthy and comfortable.

Pets are a part of our families, and preventing parasite infestations is an important part of keeping them healthy. Both ectoparasites (external parasites) and endoparasites (internal parasites) can affect your pet at some point in their life. Ectoparasites, such as fleas and ticks, are not only a nuisance to your pet, but can transmit vector-borne diseases to humans and pets. Fleas can also cause a severe dermatologic condition for your pet resulting in very itchy, inflamed skin, due to flea allergy dermatitis.

Hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms – pets are typically infected with these parasites through accidental ingestion of parasite eggs (which are microscopic) from areas that have fecal contamination from other infected animals. Alternatively, some parasites are acquired through ingestion of intermediate hosts such as rodents or fleas. Heartworms are another important endoparasite that pets can acquire by being bitten by infected mosquitos. Some of these parasites are also a health risk to humans and are considered zoonotic – meaning they can be transmitted from animals to people.

Because of the health risk to your family and pets, it is important to keep your pet on a year-round parasite-prevention program. There are several preventives that, when used properly, are very effective at greatly reducing the risk of your pet acquiring heartworm disease, intestinal parasites, as well as flea and tick-transmitted diseases. For more information about pets and parasites, visit petsandparasites.org, and consult with one of our friendly staff!

One of the most common but also frequently overlooked health problems for companion animals is dental disease. By age 3, most pets have some degree of periodontal disease. This occurs as a result of bacterial infection along the gum line, due to the formation of plaque. Not only is periodontal disease harmful and painful because it can result in loss of teeth, but it can also cause damage to important vital organs such as the heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys.

Regular, professional dental cleanings are crucial to stop the progression of periodontal disease and keep your pets’ teeth and gums healthy. A dental prophylaxis at Paw Haven is performed under anesthesia and includes scaling and polishing each tooth and a comprehensive oral exam where the periodontal pockets are probed and recorded and all teeth are checked for mobility and fractures. Just like in human dentistry, we also recommend full mouth dental radiographs for the most accurate evaluation of the teeth and dental structures. Sometimes tooth extractions may be warranted. Our veterinary team will communicate any findings or recommendations with you while your pet is under anesthesia, prior to performing any additional treatments such as extractions or periodontal treatments. We know how important it is to keep you informed about your pet’s procedure and will partner with you on forming the best treatment plan for them when additional dental care is needed.

When your pet is sick or injured, they can’t tell us what’s wrong. A thorough physical exam and history (symptoms you’ve noted at home) are the first important steps. If the diagnosis is not immediately evident upon initial assessment, your veterinarian will recommend specific diagnostic tests. These may include:

• Laboratory testing for baseline blood counts and organ function tests, or infectious disease.
• Imaging such as X-rays or ultrasound, which allow diagnosis of conditions of the heart and lungs, gastrointestinal obstruction, tumors of the internal organs or bones, fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity, urinary stones or gallstones, reproductive diseases, and bone/joint disorders. For most patients, gentle restraint can be used for these procedures, however, in some cases, sedation may be necessary.
• Microscopy is quite useful in the evaluation of lab samples such as ear swabs, skin impressions and scrapes, and needle biopsies of tumors. These tests are helpful in the diagnosis of dermatologic and otic (ear) conditions.
• Ocular conditions may warrant evaluation for tear production (Schirmer tear test), corneal injuries (fluorescein stain), or abnormal intra-ocular pressures (tonometry).

Diagnostic testing is an important step in the development of a treatment plan for your pet, allowing your veterinarian to most effectively target the underlying problem(s) and assess the probability of successful treatment. Your veterinarian can explain the purpose of each diagnostic test for your pet and help prioritize which tests may be most helpful in determining the cause of your pet’s illness.

We utilize state-of-the-art laboratory equipment to identify underlying health issues in order to keep our animal companions healthy and happy. When our pets are in pain, they cannot tell us where they are hurting. In order to establish what is happening, we perform lab tests to help identify common concerns such as dehydration, anemia, and infection, in addition to more extensive concerns such as kidney disease, liver disease, and pancreatitis.

We are able to perform common labwork and emergency labwork with our in-house equipment. Often, we have the labwork results in about 30 minutes and can go over the results and treatment plan during your appointment.

Sometimes, it may be recommended or necessary to perform certain labwork through an outside laboratory. These results are often available in 24-72 hours and your veterinarian will call you to discuss the results and, if needed, a recommended treatment plan.

At some point in your pet’s life, they may need a surgical procedure. Whether your pet is having an elective surgery, such as spay or neuter, or an emergency surgery for intestinal obstruction, you can rest assured that our staff will provide the very best care possible for your pet.

Our facility offers the following surgical services for companion animals:

• Routine spay and neuter
• Dentistry including dental extractions
• Tumor removals
• Abdominal and soft tissue procedures
• Biopsies

In the best interests of your pet, we require a physical examination appointment with one of our doctors prior to scheduling procedures. Before the procedure is scheduled, our staff will explain the process including:

• Required pre-anesthetic labwork — Baseline laboratory testing is beneficial so that there are no surprises on surgery day. Knowing that your pet has normal blood test results can help prevent anesthetic complications or surgical complications.
• Food and water intake restrictions prior to surgery — A period of fasting may be necessary prior to your pet’s procedure. Our staff will let you know what is advised.
• What procedures are to be done on the day of surgery — From the initial intake to sedation and general anesthesia, anesthesia monitoring, the procedure, and recovery, the staff will walk you through what will happen with your pet once you leave the hospital.
• Discharge and aftercare for your pet — Many patients are able to go home the same day as their procedure, whereas others may need an overnight stay. The veterinary team will advise you as to what is best for your pet, and also discuss aftercare for your companion and any rechecks needed.

In an emergency, seconds count. When you arrive with your pet on an emergency or urgent care basis, our highly trained staff will perform an immediate triage assessment to assess the stability of your pet and the need for emergency medical intervention.

Placing an IV catheter and administering IV fluids, giving oxygen supplementation, and pain relief medications may be elements of the initial stabilization of your pet. As your pet is stabilized, your veterinarian will review a diagnostic plan which may include imaging (radiographs, ultrasound) and laboratory evaluation (blood and/or urine tests) to ascertain the severity of the situation and tailor treatment for your pet.

We will see emergency and urgent care cases or walk-ins during our office hours. Sometimes, we may need to refer or transfer your pet to a 24 hour emergency hospital if they need overnight monitoring or additional care.