 |
Laboratory testing at HVH is done on premise in our hospital; this means immediate results for most tests! Our hospital has the capability to perform complete blood cell counts (CBC’s), blood chemistry profiles (assess major organ systems ie. kidney, liver, pancreas, blood sugar), electrolyte analysis, urinalysis, and heartworm screenings. More extensive testing is done at either the University of Miami, Antech Diagnostics, or National Veterinary Laboratory; all excellent, accredited veterinary labs. |
|
The same,new technology allowing us instant blood analysis results enables us to perform preanesthetic testing. This involves checking a small amount of blood before anesthesia (dentals, surgeries) to ensure that your furry friend is in a low risk category. Blood analysis allows us to check the status of the immune system, check for anemia, and determine clotting ability which are all important before surgery. In addition, we check to make sure kidney and liver tests are normal; this is important for the elimination of the anesthesia from the body. |
|
|
The doctors at HVH perform many surgeries including routine procedures such as spaying and neutering to more complicated ones such as cancer surgery and orthopedic work. We use the most modern and safest anesthesia available (often the same agents used in human hospitals); we also monitor all patients using a pulse oximeter. This small instrument clips on to the patient’s tongue (it would be your finger!) and tells us important things like pulse rate and rhythm and percent oxygen saturation. A small intravenous catheter placed in the leg is used to deliver the first part of theanesthesia and also is available for direct access to inject life saving medications in the event of problems during anesthesia. An IV catheter is one important little piece of teflon. All surgeries also receive pain medications, a recent but very welcome addition to the practice of veterinary medicine! |
|
Dentistry (Click Here For More Sample Pictures) Dentistry is an often overlooked but very important part of your pet’s health care. Plaque is the thin film of saliva, bacteria, and food particles that sits on the surface of your pet’s teeth. When it hardens due to minerals in the saliva it is called tartar. Since tartar is 85% bacteria, it can cause a lot of problems, including: bad breath, infected teeth and gums, loss of teeth, and infections in distant organs such as kidney and heart. Dental Cleanings are recommended and usually needed annually. Your pet will be lightly anesthetized using the ultra-safe gas, isoflourane; then your pet’s teeth will be root planed, scaled, and polished. This is identical to what your dental hygienist does! After, you can get a sweet kiss from your furry friend and we’ll show you how to keep maintain good oral hygiene. |
|
|
Although relatively new to the profession, pain management has been a stable part of our philosophy for quite some time. Fortunately, our pharmaceutical industry has caught on and now supplies us with a nice array of drugs to combat pain. Study after study show that controlling pain leads to faster recovery times, less patient suffering, and fewer side effects. Pain meds are indicated for many conditions, including but not limited to: post-operative procedures (especially abdominal surgeries and declaws), trauma patients, fracture and orthopedic patients, dental extractions and periodontal surgery, arthritic patients, and cancer patients. We include pain medication for ALL of our surgical patients. |
|
|
An ECG is an electrocardiogram and it helps us study the heart. The strange array of wires is painless and in minutes will tell us about the electrical activity of the heart. Some of the uses for ECG are: coughing, weakness, fainting, seizures, trauma, congestive heart failure, and to monitor anesthesia. |
|
|
|
|
HVH is proud to stock all the latest veterinary drugs and products. We want to make things as convenient as possible for you and can dispense products during your visits. We are also just a phone call away and can have your order ready in minutes (we wish we had a drive through window believe it or not!). Special orders often require only 24-48 hours to complete. In addition, if you are a client of ours, we can fill your prescriptions on-line using e-mail and send them out in the mail. |
|
|
|
When you are away you can rest assure your furry friend will be well taken care of at our "bed and breakfast". All of our guests are pampered during their stay and receive beauty treatments before they go home. You can also rest assure knowing that all of our guests are current on their immunizations and are free from parasites. We’ll be happy to take care of any problems while they are here or even give them a needed dental cleaning. And you can call and check up on them anytime while you are away. Feel free to stop by and take a tour of our facilities and meet our staff at anytime. |
|
Wellness Plans 2007 New and Improved Membership Plans (soon to come end of January 2007) To make healthcare both more convenient and affordable we have crated a number of wellness plans. The plans are designed to be all-inclusive for the life stage of your pet. Our Puppy and Kitten Vaccine Plans take your pet through all the necessary pediatric immunizations, dewormings, and diagnostic tests such as fecal and feline leukemia tests. Planned Pethood Plans combine spaying or neutering and all the necessary immunizations, fecal exams, and heartworm tests for animals aged 1-5 years. Life Maintenance Plans add wellness testing, very important dental cleanings, and baths to the core immunizations and tests required annually. And finally, our Silver Pets Program is designed for our senior citizens; this plan is designed to screen your pet for various old-age related conditions and disease which can be much more easily managed if they are detected early. All of our wellness plans offer significant discounts over regular prices. |
|