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During each visit your pet will receive a complete physical examination. This examination will include an evaluation of your pet’s eyes, ears, teeth, gums, lymph nodes, heart, lungs, abdominal cavity, musculoskeletal system, nervous system and skin. Our doctors will also provide an ideal weight estimate for your pet.
During your appointment the doctor will also collect a complete medical history. You, as the pet owner, have a very important role in helping the doctor collect an accurate history. Your observations about your pet in the home setting are invaluable in providing the doctor with clues about your pet’s health. It is also important for the doctor to gather information about what your pet eats, what—if any—medications or supplements your pet receives, and any significant medical history your pet has, such as a history of seizures or reactions to vaccines.
After, the doctor will inform you of the examination conclusions and make recommendations regarding your pet’s healthcare needs. Of course, you will be given an opportunity to ask any questions you may have in order to clarify the doctor’s recommendations. If additional diagnostics are recommended, a written estimate can be provided to help you make an informed decision about the next appropriate step to follow for your pet’s health.
Today, approximately 20 million owned pets are euthanized in American shelters every year because their owners cannot be found. In fact, the American Humane Association estimates that only 17% of lost dogs and 2% of lost cats are placed back with their original owners. These statistics are startling.
Even more startling is the fact that a simple solution exists — microchipping. Microchipping is a very important part of keeping your pet safe. Microchips have been on the market since the 1980’s and, when properly administered, have had rare, if any, side effects. They last for the life of the pet and should never have to be removed or replaced.
CLICK HERE FOR ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MICROCHIPPING
At Belmont Shore Veterinary Hospital we feel that it is a privilege to share in the care of the pets you love. We believe prevention is the key to good health. Therefore, we focus on a wide range of preventative measures to help maintain your pet's good health, the most important of which is a complete physical exam. Whether your pet is a puppy, kitten, adult, senior, or geriatric, we will help formulate a plan to meet his or her individual needs.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE FOR ALL AGES!
At Belmont Shore Veterinary Hospital we offer a full range of radiology services. These services are valuable resources in helping us make important decisions about your pet's care.
X-rays
The most common of these radiology services are x-rays. X-rays—also referred to as radiographs—are used to evaluate structures such as bones, lungs, heart, and abdominal organs. The x-ray process usually takes 20-30 minutes. For safety reasons, owners are not allowed to be in the radiology room while x-rays are being taken.
Occasionally some animals need to be sedated to allow us to properly position them for their x-ray films. If a pet needs sedation we generally recommend leaving the pet with us for the day. Once the x-rays are completed our doctors will evaluate the images and go over the results with you. In addition, we have a board certified veterinary radiologist who reviews the x-rays we take here to make sure we have obtained all the information we possibly can from your pet’s x-rays.
Ultrasound
As part of our radiology services we also offer ultrasound. Ultrasound imaging, or sonography, is a method of obtaining images from inside the pet through the use of high-frequency sound waves, and it is a wonderful tool that allows us to visualize the architecture of a pet’s abdominal organs in order to evaluate for masses, inflammation, stones, or other changes.
We can easily determine if there is abnormal fluid in the abdomen, chest cavity or around the heart. Also, we can evaluate the size and function of the heart. Ultrasound is a non-painful procedure and rarely, if ever, do pets need to be sedated. Generally pets should be fasted of food for 8 hours prior to their ultrasound. For abdominal ultrasound most pets will need to have the underside of their bellies shaved for the procedure.
All of our ultrasounds are performed by a board certified veterinary radiologist on a state of the art machine. A full written report is prepared for each ultrasound and recommendations are made based on the findings. Currently, we perform ultrasounds one day a week, although our radiologist is often available to come in at other times with a few days notice.
Recent studies of the use of vaccines have changed the way many veterinarians look at vaccines. In the past it was thought that more vaccines were better. We now know that while vaccines are very important in keeping your pet safe and healthy, there is also risk involved. Additionally, studies have shown that many vaccines last longer than originally thought, and this information has led to new ideas regarding the frequency of vaccinations.
At Belmont Shore Veterinary Hospital we offer a wide range of vaccines to help protect your pet from potentially serious or life threatening disease. Yet, our doctors also strongly believe in the judicious use of vaccines. Because of this, they use part of the exam time to consider the unique characteristics of your pet, including its individual lifestyle, to create a tailored vaccine protocol!
In addition, our doctors can run a new test called a vaccine titer, which indicates whether your pet even needs to receive a vaccination. The test determines if your pet has enough antibodies remaining from previous vaccinations to fight off the disease if exposed. The most common vaccine titer tests are for parvovirus, distemper virus, and panleukopenia virus.
We understand the evolution of veterinary studies and our doctors use the newest and most up to date recommendations from the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners to make vaccine protocols that best fit the needs of our patients. Please feel free to discuss this topic with us in more detail during your pet’s next physical exam.
You may be reading this because we have recommended that your pet undergo surgery. Most of us will arrange for our pets to have surgery performed at some point in their lives. The most common surgical procedures performed on pets include neutering, spaying, and mass removals. Although these procedures are very common and sometimes referred to as "routine," they are still surgical procedures conducted under anesthesia.
At Belmont Shore Veterinary Hospital, we are very proud of the advanced level of surgical and anesthetic services we provide for our patients. Our doctors are highly trained in the latest surgical and anesthetic techniques, which are on par with those used in human hospitals. This level of training has allowed us to offer the latest and best care in veterinary surgery. We have put together this handout in order to help familiarize you with what to expect when your pet has surgery at Belmont Shore Veterinary Hospital. Should you have any further questions or concerns not addressed here, please do not hesitate to contact us.
CLICK HERE FOR ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SURGERY
Imagine how your teeth would look and feel if you didn’t brush them daily. The same applies to your pet’s teeth. Bad breath and stained teeth are unappealing, but many pet owners aren’t aware that these may be symptoms of serious gum disease. Therefore, regular dental care for your pet is an important factor in its overall health.
At Belmont Shore Veterinary Hospital, we are concerned about your pet’s dental health, and we are now offering professional dental cleaning without the use of anesthesia. While many groups provide dental cleanings, we have handpicked the dental hygienists we work with. These professionals provide a full dental cleaning while your pet is awake—just like when you visit your dentist.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ANESTHESIA FREE DENTAL CLEANING!
Palliative care is defined as any form of medical care or treatment that concentrates on reducing the severity of disease symptoms, rather than providing a cure.
The goal of palliative care is to relieve suffering and improve, or maintain, the quality of life for pets facing serious and terminal illness. In some cases, regardless of the medical options available, you, as the owner and advocate for your pet, may decide to cease treatment and instead pursue palliative care.
The staff of Belmont Shore Veterinary Hospital respects your right to make the best decision for your pet. Our staff is trained to help you understand all of your options and decide if palliative care is right for your pet.
While it is a very difficult and sensitive subject, the staff of Belmont Shore Animal Hospital is trained to provide support and comfort to all family members during this difficult time.
Our doctors can help you and your family determine when it is time to make the decision to say goodbye to your beloved friend. During such an emotional time our doctors can help you evaluate your pet’s quality of life and determine if your pet is suffering. When the time is right we will schedule a private room where you and your family can say your final goodbyes. If you choose to be present with us for the final procedure, know that we will place an intravenous catheter into your pet’s vein and use an approved medication that will quickly and painlessly stop the heart from beating.
If you choose not to be present for this procedure you can rest assured that your pet will be treated with the deepest level of respect by all of our staff members and that a caring member of our team will be there to hold and comfort your pet while the procedure is quickly and painlessly performed. Our staff will arrange for the aftercare and, if you wish, we will have your pet’s ashes returned to you. We will also provide resources to help you and your family members cope with the loss of your pet.