Huntington Veterinary Hospital offers a wide range of veterinary services for our patients. Just a few of our wellness and preventive care services are listed below. For more information on these or other services, please call (260) 356-1176.
Puppy & Kitten Care
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 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 whether your new puppy or kitten may need preventives such as monthly heartworm prevention, and flea/tick preventives. 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.
Wellness Care
Every pet that comes in for an appointment gets a through exam by a doctor 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.
Senior Pet Care
As our furry loved ones age it is important to get wellness checks every year. We have in-house bloodwork machines that we can use to make sure their organs are staying healthy. We can also monitor their heart function with electrocardiogram and blood pressure readings. We have medications and prescription food to aid in the fight against arthritis. Have an aged loved one going under anesthesia? No worries, we use up-to-date, geriatric-safe anesthetic. We continually monitor your pet’s heart and lung function throughout the entire procedure.
Parasite Control
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 such as Bartonella (cat scratch disease, transmitted by fleas); Lyme, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichia, and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever. Fleas can also cause a severe dermatologic condition for your pet resulting in very 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 be asymptomatic. 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 very effective at greatly 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!
Pet Dental Care
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.
Diagnostic Care
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.
Surgery & Related Services
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.
Emergency & Urgent Care
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.
Additional Services
- Basic Chemotherapy
- Behavior Consultations
- Dietary and Nutritional Counseling
- Microchipping
Basic Chemotherapy
When a loved one gets cancer, coping can be difficult for everyone in the family. Our doctors are here for you and your pet in your time of need by offering chemotherapy treatments and constant understanding and care.
Behavior Consultations
Set up a behavior consult with one of our talented veterinary technicians. They will be glad to help direct you in how to overcome common behavior problems such as chewing, mouthing, urinating and aggression in your cat or dog.
Dietary and Nutritional Counseling
Battling weight is a major issue in veterinary medicine. Excess weight on your pet can lead to many health issues including heart, lung, arthritis, and more. A staff member at HVH would be glad to evaluate your pet’s weight (Body Condition Score) and weight-loss plans. Some dogs need to be on medication to aid in their weight-loss plan. If you think your pet is over-weight, stop in for a free weight check and schedule an appointment for a consult.
Microchipping
Since a microchip is a permanent form of identification, it offers more protection than just an identification tag. Microchipping pets is becoming very popular in both small and large animals. A small microchip (inserted with a needle) is placed between the shoulder blades, underneath the skin. The small microchip has a specific identification number for each individual animal. If your pet gets loose, any vet or shelter can scan for the microchip. After the microchip has been placed, you will register it under your name with all of your information. That way if your pet happens to get away from you, they can be safely returned to you as quick as possible.