Pet Selection Counseling
If you are considering adding a new pet to your family, please call us. Many pets live to be 15-20 years old and we would like to help you make an ideal choice. Different pets fit more easily into certain lifestyles and schedules. Even between various breeds, there are certain traits and characteristics that may make one choice a better fit for your family. We will help you define your ideal pet and give you the resources to make the best selection possible.

Also see www.animalbehavior.net

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Puppy and Kitten Wellness Series
It's important that your new puppy or kitten receive a thorough physical exam as soon as possible. We will be examining him/her for a number of birth defects (i.e. heart murmurs, hernias, eyelid/eyelash defects, palate defects, retained baby teeth, etc.) as well as internal and external parasites, eye, ear, nose or skin infections, etc. We'll also talk to you about proper nutrition and weight.

In addition to excellent medical care we want to provide you with the tools to strengthen the bond between you and your new puppy or kitten. We are here to help you with questions about socialization, housebreaking, toys, behavioral problems, etc. Pets are wonderful companions, and with a little time and patience during kitten and puppy hood, you can lay the foundation for a long and happy relationship! Call us with your questions today!

Helpful Links:
www.animalbehavior.net
www.hillspet.com
www.harvardsk9center.com (training and boarding)
www.dogwatch.com (fencing)

Recommended toys:
www.kongcompany.com (dogs, cats, ferrets, etc.)
www.gundogsupply.com (dogs)
Buster toys (dogs and cats)

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Adult, Senior and Geriatric Wellness and Sick Examinations
Remember that pets age much faster than humans, so a minimum of a yearly examination is important to your pets' well being. In general, pets over the age of 7 years are considered seniors. Senior and geriatric pets should be examined at least twice yearly and undergo regular blood tests to assess aging changes and organ function (i.e. red cells, white cells, platelets; kidney, liver, and pancreatic enzymes; blood sugar, proteins and electrolytes; thyroid levels; heartworm disease; feline leukemia and FIV testing; urine testing for cell type, crystals, proteins and kidney function). Early diagnosis and intervention can be important in treating and/or controlling many diseases of older pets.

Other testing we may recommend for health screening:
- Abdominal Ultrasound (evaluation of organ structure; detection of bladder stones,
kidney stones, gallstones; aid in diagnosis of liver and kidney disease, pancreatitis,
intestinal disorders, etc.)
- Echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart)
- X-Rays:
Chest and/or abdominal x-rays (screen for heart and/or lung disease;
abnormal organ size or shape; tumors)
Spine or other bone structures (screen for arthritis, disc problems; bone tumors)
- EKG (screen for heart disease)
- Blood Pressure (all cats over age 10 should be screened for high blood pressure)
- Intraocular Pressure (screen for glaucoma and other eye diseases)

*OBESITY AND ORAL DISEASE ARE THE TOP 2 HEALTH PROBLEMS DIAGNOSED IN PETS*

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Customized Vaccination Programs
After a thorough examination of your pet, we will ask you several questions about your pet's lifestyle and environment to assess his/her risk (likely exposure to disease). Based on your responses, we will use the most current vaccination products and data to customize a vaccination program for your pet.

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Microchipping
Statistics show that 1 in 3 pets will get lost, and, without I.D., 90% won't return home. Microchipping is a permanent method of identifying your pet. A very small chip is injected under the skin, just like a vaccination procedure. This chip has a unique I.D. assigned to your pet. Veterinarians and shelters routinely scan lost pets in search of a microchip. When a microchip is found, that number is reported to the database and the owner is notified immediately. If you are on vacation with your pet and he/she is lost, you can notify Home Again and they will issue a "Fluffy Alert" to all veterinarians and shelters within a 25 mile radius of your location. For more information, please call us or go to www.HomeAgainID.com. We strongly recommend this service to all pet owners.

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In house Laboratory and Pharmacy
Whether it's routine health screening, pre-anesthetic screening or an emergency situation, we can run most laboratory tests in house within minutes:

- Fecal exam (screen for intestinal parasites)
- Heartworm test
- Feline leukemia and FIV test (feline immunodeficiency virus)
- Parvo test
- Urinalysis (urinary tract infection, crystals, kidney function, etc.)
- Skin scraping (screen for mange mites)
- Dermatophyte test (ringworm)
- Ear cytology (identify ear infection)
- Ear mite test
- CBC (analyzes blood cell lines for infection, anemia, inflammation, etc.)
- Serum chemistries (liver, kidney, and pancreatic enzymes; proteins, blood sugar, etc.)
- Electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride)

We can fill most of our patient's prescriptions on site. Other special medications can usually be obtained by prescription from local human pharmacies.

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Radiology
We have an x-ray machine and processor on site to evaluate bones and other internal structures. Examples include:

- Fractures and dislocations
- Spinal and joint evaluation (hip dysplasia, herniated discs, arthritis, etc.)
- Tumors
- Heart and lung evaluation (congestive heart failure, bronchitis, pneumonia,
feline asthma, tracheal collapse,etc.)
- Abdominal evaluation (kidney and bladder stones, intestinal obstruction,
enlarged organs, fetal number, etc.)

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Ultrasound

In addition to confirming pregnancies, ultrasound can be used to provide detailed information about the heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, gall bladder, pancreas, adrenal glands, lymph nodes, intestinal tract, urinary bladder, prostate gland, ovaries, uterus and the major blood vessels.

Ultrasound can also be used to do biopsies of many of the tissues mentioned above, in place of an invasive and more costly exploratory surgery. Abdominal ultrasound, combined with chest x-rays are 2 crucial tools in diagnosing and staging many cancers.

Ultrasound of the heart (called echocardiography) evaluates the heart’s dimensions, functionality and blood flow, providing more specific diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

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Internal Medicine
Diabetes, thyroid disease, liver disease, kidney disease, pancreatitis and heart failure are a few of the many ailments we can diagnose and recommend treatment for your pet. If more advanced diagnostics and/or treatment is required, we can refer you to a network of competent and convenient specialists.

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Dentistry
Your pet's teeth and gums are an important part of his/her overall health. Gingivitis and periodontal disease can cause bacterial infection of the heart, kidneys, bladder, etc. As part of your pet's routine check-up we will examine his/her mouth and advise you on regular teeth cleanings. To clean your pet's teeth, we use the same equipment and instruments your hygienist uses to clean and polish your own teeth with one exception; to do a thorough job, we need to anesthetize our patients.

You can help maintain your pet's oral health between professional cleanings with regular brushing, Oravet (sealant applied at home to the teeth), anti-bacterial rinses, t/d diet, chewable products, etc.

View before and after pictures of one of our patients

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Surgery
We apply much of the same surgical and anesthetic standards as our human counterparts. We monitor our patients closely under anesthesia with modern equipment (EKG, oxygen saturation of the blood, heart rate, blood pressure, etc.) and use sterile equipment and technique.

In addition to standard spaying, neutering and declawing, Dr. Wylie is also experienced in many other surgeries of the skin, eyes, ears, mouth, intestinal tract, liver, urinary and gall bladder. She also performs some orthopedic procedures including fracture repairs and knee surgeries.

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Prescription Diets
We carry a full line of prescription diets to suit our patients with special needs such as weight loss, diabetes, bladder/kidney stones, allergies, intestinal problems, kidney disease, liver disease, and oral disease, etc.

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Bathing and Body Clips
We offer routine and therapeutic bathing for your pet. We use soap-free shampoos for all our routine (and most of our therapeutic) baths to prevent stripping the natural oils from the skin and coat as well as the degradation of Frontline Plus flea and tick products.

Body clips (complete shave down of trunk and legs) can provide comfort and relief from the heat for long haired cats and dogs. Occasionally, a pet may require sedation for this procedure, especially if he/she is badly matted.

Above: Before and after a body clip

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Drop off services
For your convenience, we open at 7:30 am if you need to leave your pet for services while you're away at work or just have a busy day. Please call ahead to apprise us of your pet's needs so we can reserve sufficient time to address them.

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