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 teach your family 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 procedures to consider; the appropriate age for the timing of sterilization surgery may vary upon the species and breed of your pet. We will explain the importance of keeping your pet free of parasites by discussing your options of flea, tick, heartworm, and intestinal parasite prevention. We realize that adding a new family pet can come with lots of questions… but we’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to call.

Every pet that comes in for an appointment gets a thorough exam by a veterinarian or veterinary technician. We offer annual vaccines (DHLPP and FVR/Feleuk/Calici), Rabies (1 year and 3 year), and elective vaccines (Bordetella and Lyme). We also carry puppy/kitten vaccines for those animals that are less than 9 weeks old. A HVH staff member would be happy to answer any questions you have about vaccinations and vaccination schedules.

As our furry loved ones age, it is important to get wellness checks every year. We have in-house blood machines that we use to monitor the status of internal organs like the liver or kidneys. We can evaluate their heart function with electrocardiogram and blood pressure readings. We have medications and prescription foods to treat many of the conditions associated with aging. Is your older pet being anesthetized? We use up-to-date, geriatric-safe anesthetic. We continually monitor your pet’s heart and lung function throughout the entire procedure.

Pets are a part of our families, and preventing parasites 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 such as Bartonella (cat scratch disease, transmitted by fleas); Lyme, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichia, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Fleas can also cause a severe skin condition for your pet resulting in itchy, inflamed skin, due to flea allergy dermatitis.

Roundworms are the most prevalent endoparasite in pets. Others include 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 (Taenia tapeworm species; Toxocara roundworm species) or fleas (Dipyllidium tapeworm species). These parasites are also a health risk to humans and are considered zoonotic – meaning they can be transmitted from animals to people. For example, if a person accidentally ingests roundworm eggs, the larvae can migrate in the body and cause organ damage and potentially blindness. Hookworm larvae in the soil and grass can infect bare skin and cause a condition in people known as cutaneous larval migrans.

Heartworm is another important endoparasite, but one which is not zoonotic. Heartworm infections result from pets being bitten by infected mosquitos. The larval form of the heartworm travels through the bloodstream to the heart where it develops into an adult. The adult heartworms live in the right side of the heart and left untreated, result in progressive heart failure and death. In initial stages of heartworm disease, pets may show no signs. As the condition progresses, symptoms may evolve including a cough and exercise intolerance in dogs, and vomiting/coughing in cats.  Treatment of heartworm disease can be very risky for the pet, and very costly.

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 effective at reducing the risk of your pet acquiring heartworm disease, intestinal parasites, and tick transmitted diseases. Additionally, you can help prevent the risk of zoonotic disease to your family by practicing good hygiene (frequent hand washing), avoiding eating unwashed raw vegetables or undercooked meats and cleaning up pet feces in your yard. For more information about pets and parasites, visit petsandparasites.org, and consult with one of our friendly staff!

Bad teeth can lead to many serious health problems, including cardiac complications. By cleaning their teeth, we can help your pets live long and healthy lives. Dental cleaning at HVH may include cleaning, polishing, radiographs, extractions, and preventative treatments. Schedule an appointment today to get your pet’s teeth checked and to hear more information about the benefits of dental cleanings.

Huntington Veterinary Hospital has a variety of diagnostic instruments located at our facility. Our ultrasound machine allows our veterinarians to non-invasively examine the inside of your pet’s body. Ultrasound studies allows our doctors to evaluate organ size and structure, look for masses, and even look for puppies/kittens during pregnancy checks, though some may need to be refered to a specialist.

Think your dog has a broken bone? Our fast x-ray (radiograph) machine can help us find broken bones and some soft tissue abnormalities. If your pet has eaten something they should not have, we can take an x-ray to see if it is stuck. When trying to find a possible foreign body, we perform a “Barium Series.” This test entails the pet drinking strawberry-flavored dye and the staff taking multiple x-rays; this allows us to watch the dye move through the gastrointestinal system.

Our electrocardiogram (ECG) machine is an essential instrument when evaluating cardiac function. The ECG monitors the electrical activity in the heart. Did you know that cats and dogs battle high blood pressure, too? Get your animal’s blood pressure checked today at Huntington Veterinary Hospital! We also have instruments to analyze intraocular pressure for glaucoma.

Our in-house bloodwork machines are routinely used for (but not limited to) the following: Check organ functions, glucose checks for diabetes, hyper/hypothyroidism, heartworm checks, and FeLV/FIV feline tests.

In-house urinalysis and fecal evaluations are also routinely performed.

Our talented doctors and staff provide excellent care while your furry loved one is under the safest anesthetic possible for his or her species, age, and health condition. Our doctors perform safe and effective advanced surgical procedures such as cystotomies, exploratories, and enucleations.

Does your pet have a fractured bone? No worries, our doctors are talented and precise in orthopedic surgery. Depending on the type of fracture, the doctor may place a pin or a plate in the affected area. Some fractures require being seen by a specialist; we are happy to refer you to a trusted veterinarian. Torn cruciate repairs are also performed at Huntington Veterinary Hospital.

In emergency, seconds count. When you arrive with your pet on emergency or urgent care basis, our highly trained staff will perform an immediate triage assessment to assess the stability of your pet and need for emergency medical intervention. In life-threatening situations, you may be asked for consent to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

The first component of basic triage is assessing your pet’s level of consciousness, airway/breathing (labored breathing or choking, lack of oxygen), circulatory status (pale gums or weak pulses, racing heart), and pain score. Patients needing urgent medical attention, upon consent will be moved to our treatment area for immediate doctor assessment and commencement of emergency care.

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.

At times, your pet may need advanced care at a referral or specialty center. When this is the case, our staff will discuss options for transfer and referral. Your primary veterinarian will stay abreast of your pet’s status at the emergency facility.