SERVICES
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
Preventative health care is our primary focus at the Animal Medical Clinic
and performing a physical examination annually is essential to help your pet
live a long and healthy life. Our veterinarians examine your pet from head to
tail looking for early signs of disease. By detecting problems in their early
stages we can be much more successful in treating them. During the annual exam
we can discuss parasite control (fleas, ticks, worms, etc.), nutritional needs,
behavioral problems, and any medical needs that your pet exhibits.
VACCINATIONS AND PARASITE CONTROL
Preventative care begins when your puppy or kitten is just 6 to 8 weeks old.
Vaccinating at a young age helps ensure your pet will not acquire any of the
many preventable illnesses for which we can vaccinate. Puppies and kittens require
vaccinations every 3 weeks until they are 16 weeks of age. These include distemper,
parvo, rabies and lyme vaccinations for puppies and distemper, rabies, and feline
leukemia vaccinations for kittens. The following schedule will ensure that your
pet is adequately vaccinated to prevent these diseases:
Puppies
6 weeks old:
- DHLPP #1 – (Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, and Parvo)
- Fecal examination and deworming
9 weeks old:
- DHLPP #2
- Lyme #1
12 weeks old:
- DHLPP #3
- Lyme #2
- Rabies
16 weeks old:
- Parvo
Kittens
6 weeks old:
- DRCC #1 (Distemper, Rhinotracheitis, Calici, and Chlamydia)
9 weeks old:
- DRCC #2
- FLV #1 (Feline leukemia virus) for cats that go out
12 weeks old:
- DRCC #3 FLV
- #2 Rabies
Adult dogs
We repeat DHLPP, Rabies and Lyme after one year.
The DHLPP is then effective for 2 years, Rabies for 3 years, and Lyme for 1 year. We will send you a reminder postcard when his/her vaccinations are due. A yearly fecal exam is also highly recommended.Adult cats
We repeat the DRCC, Rabies, and FLV after 1 year. The DRCC is then effective for 2 years and the Rabies and FLV are given yearly. We will send you a reminder postcard when his/her vaccinations are due. A yearly fecal exam is also highly recommended.
Parasite control
Parasite control is important for dogs and cats of all ages. When puppies or kittens are first seen we recommend that a stool sample be checked for internal parasites. By knowing which “worm” your pet has we can prescribe a specific dewormer for that parasite. Annual stool checks are important because pets of all ages can have parasites. Some parasites are spread by wild life, which of course is abundant in our area, and by other dogs and cats. Since some parasites can be transmitted to people we are especially diligent about keeping your pets parasite free.
Another parasite of concern in Maine is heartworm. Heartworm is carried by mosquitoes and in our state we have plenty of those! We start your puppy on Heartgard by 12 weeks of age. All adult dogs that reside in our area should take it monthly between May and October.
Flea control is emphasized at your pet’s annual visit, too. We have Frontline, which is applied monthly to both cats and dogs to rid your pet of fleas and ticks.
DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY
Our laboratory is equipped with special equipment to allow us to diagnose many illnesses in your pet. By having this equipment “in house” we are able to provide most test results the same day that your pet is examined. In our lab we often run geriatric profiles that include a chemistry panel and complete blood count on your older pet. Even if your pet isn’t visibly sick these tests allow us to find problems early in their progression at a time when they are most treatable. These tests also give us a baseline to compare to later on in his/her life.
GENERAL SURGERY AND ORTHOPEDIC PROCEDURES
Our hospital is equipped to perform both soft tissue and orthopedic procedures.
Whenever your pet needs surgery whether it is for a routine spay or neutering
or for a serious health problem, we realize that you will be concerned about
his well-being. To decrease the risks associated with anesthesia and surgery,
we encourage pre-anesthetic blood work for any pet middle aged or older or in
any debilitated pet. By having this extra information about your pet, we can
tailor our anesthesia to his/her needs.
We use both injectable and/or inhalant (gas) anesthesia for both minor and major
procedures. We have specialized equipment to measure the oxygen level in your
pet’s blood and to do an electrocardiogram(ECG) as necessary. Our veterinary
technicians monitor your animals carefully throughout all surgical procedures.
DENTISTRY
Just like people, your pet needs to have healthy teeth. During the annual examination of your pet, our veterinarians will examine their teeth to see if they need to be cleaned or have any extractions. Periodontal disease can lead to other problems for your pet if it is not dealt with in a timely fashion. We clean and polish teeth as well as perform any necessary dental procedures each morning, Monday through Friday.
ENDOSCOPY
An endoscope is an instrument that enables us to look inside the gastrointestinal system of your pet. This specialized piece of equipment is designed to allow us to examine the inside of the stomach and intestine without doing surgery. We utilize the endoscope when an ulcer is suspected, when a foreign body is present, or for looking for tumors that may have invaded the stomach wall. There are many other uses but these are the most common.
BOARDING AND GROOMING
As a convenience to our clients we offer both boarding and grooming. We suggest that you make a reservation well in advance for boarding especially for school vacation weeks and around holidays. We do grooming of both cats and dogs during weekday mornings. If your pet needs other services as well as grooming we can do them while your pet is here with us. Please call ahead for all grooming appointments.
MICROCHIPPING
Microchips are tiny devices that are imbedded under your pet’s skin to aid in their identification if they become lost or stolen. The procedure to implant them is quick and easy and can be done during a regular office call appointment. There is a national registry where your pet’s unique microchip number can be recorded so that shelters and veterinarians can identify them.