________________________________________________________________________________________________
Vaccinations
 Recent AAHA guidelines recommend certain core vaccines should be given yearly and non-core vaccines given at the discretion of your veterinarian. Vaccinations are recommended on a per case basis.
We encourage you to discuss with the doctor the exact needs of your pet on an individual basis.
Photo by Brian Hoskins
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Complete Puppy & Kitten Care
 Everyone knows how important vaccinations, flea control, and heartworm/parasite prevention are to the well being of our pets. Often overlooked however, is the important role spaying and neutering play in maintaining good health (have our doctors or staff explain the cancer preventing benefits of spaying/neutering if you are not aware).
At Hammocks Veterinary Hospital (HVH) we are always on the lookout for ways to make this easier (and more affordable) for our clients.
In 2005 after the ominous hurricane season South Florida residents prevailed, HVH designed the all inclusive Puppy/Kitten Membership Package. Please come visit our hospital, get an up close and personal behind the scenes tour, make your new “baby” a name tag and learn about our wonderful veterinarians and staff.
Puppy and kitten care begins at 6-8 weeks of age and continues through 6 months of age culminating in their spay/neuter. Boosters vaccinations are administered every 3 weeks coupled with 2 dewormings; Heartworm and Flea/Tick prevention are introduced and behavior/training issues are addressed. Our staff will educate first time owners on how to foster a quality relationship with a new pet. For those of us that are seasoned pet owners, you’re welcome to share experiences that will echo in the halls of our hospital for years to come. Read some of the helpful articles we have posted here at our site about Puppy & Kitten care...click here>>
BACK TO TOP
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Wellness Membership Plans
To make healthcare both more convenient and affordable we have created a number of wellness membership packages. The plans are designed to be all-inclusive for the like stage of your pet. Our Puppy and Kitten Membership Plans take you through all the necessary immunizations, dewormings, and diagnostic tests such as fecal exams and feline leukemia and feline aids tests. The packages also include pre-anesthetic blood screenings and spay/neuter surgeries. There are some wonderful savings and benefits built in.
Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus Plans are also available for pets from ages 1-7 years. These plans encompass many services and promotional courtesies that will keep you within your pet’s health maintenance budget all year through. We even have plans that will care for the Senior members of your family. Pets ages 6 and up need semi-annual visits to the vet. Since pets age approximately seven years to our every one year, it is imperative we keep on top of internal systems to ensure a long-term quality of life. Early detection is key! For more information on these comprehensive plans come in and visit our friendly staff!!!
For more details on our plans, what they include and the great savings and benefits they each offer call and start saving now! (305) 388-0880. One of our Client Relations Specialists will be happy to speak with you and answer any questions you have about our packages.
BACK TO TOP
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bathing, Boarding & Grooming
 When you are away you can rest assured 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 assured 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.
Hammocks Veterinary Hospital is proud to announce our professional grooming services on Mondays and Thursdays. Our groomer, Miguel Valera, is the “dog whisperer” of grooming. As he bathes and styles your pet into a professional breed cut, we often hear him singing to them & making them feel loved, safe & comfortable. You’re welcome to come in & witness some of his excellent work.
BACK TO TOP
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Acupuncture
 Acupuncture has been a part of traditional Chinese medicine for the last 3,000 years. Certain conditions such as separation anxiety and pain from arthritis/degenerative joint disease respond well to acupuncture without the risk of side effects from drugs routinely used in these conditions. Here at Hammocks Veterinary Hospital we offer acupuncture as an alternative for (or in conjunction with) Western medicine, to help your pet live a long and healthy life.
Read more about our Acupuncture services......Go >>.
BACK TO TOP
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Full Service Pharmacy
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.
|
|
BACK TO TOP
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Complete Laboratory Services
|
Laboratory testing at HVH is done on premise in our hospital. This means immediate results for most tests!
All patients undergoing anesthesia require Preanesthetic Blood Testing. 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 values are normal; this is important for the elimination of the anesthesia from the body.
Our hospital has the capability to perform complete blood cell counts (CBC’s), blood chemistry profiles (assess major organ systems i.e. kidney, liver, pancreas, blood sugar), electrolyte analysis, urinalysis, and heartworm screenings. |
|
|
More extensive testing is done at several fully accredited veterinary laboratories throughout the country. |
BACK TO TOP
________________________________________________________________________________________________
General and Orthopedic Surgery
|
|
The doctors at HVH perform many surgeries ranging from routine procedures such as spaying and neutering to more involved orthopedic cases. We use the safest anesthesia available (often the same agents used in human hospitals). All patients undergoing general anesthesia are continuously monitored using state of the art equipment (e.g. blood pressure, ECG & Pulse Oximetry). A small instrument clips on to the patient’s tongue 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 the anesthesia & also is available for direct access to inject life saving medications in the event of problems during anesthesia. All surgeries also receive pain medications, a recent but welcome addition to the practice of veterinary medicine! |
BACK TO TOP
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Radiology (X-rays) / Ultrasound
 Radiographs (x-rays) are a very important tool to diagnose diseases and follow their progress. HVH is equipped with a state-of-the-art radiology suite which includes an automatic film processor; this means better quality films and less re-takes. We also do special radiographic techniques like contrast (barium) studies, intravenous pyelograms, and cystograms (bladder). Ultrasound is a test using sound waves to visualize organs in the chest or abdomen. It is painless and does not usually require anesthesia or sedatives. We commonly use ultrasound for cardiac cases & to detect tumors not visible with x-rays. Additionally, we have relationships with specialists who can provide CT scans if needed.
BACK TO TOP
________________________________________________________________________________________________
ECG
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.
BACK TO TOP
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Microchip Implantation and Registration
|
Hammocks Veterinary Hospital strongly recommends microchipping for all pets. Every year millions of pets have to be destroyed by animal shelters and Humane Societies due to overpopulation or because the owners of lost pets are unidentifiable. In South Florida there are a number of reasons it is important to have your pet microchipped and registered to your family’s address. |
|
|
Home Again has a remarkable and affordable program to ensure your pets are safe during hurricane season, identifiable if lost or stolen and recognizable when traveling within the United States or Internationally. Microchipping is a quick, simple, painless procedure we can do at Hammocks Veterinary Hospital at any time. Call for details or take a look at their website for more information on this secure and sure-fire way to keep your pet safe. Visit www.homeagain.com |
BACK TO TOP
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dental Prophylaxis, Non-Anesthesia Dental Cleaning and Advanced Dentistry
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 the kidney and heart. |
Dental prophylaxis
|
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. |
Non-anesthetic dentals
|
We also offer non-anesthesia dental cleanings for our patients. This procedure is recommended for pets with low grade dental tartar and those older patents that have ongoing medical conditions making general anesthesia a greater risk This procedure involves gentle restraint of the patient while doing a thorough dental examination, cleaning, polishing and fluoride treatment. For more information on this unique procedure visit websiteaddresshere.com. More advanced dental procedures such as crowns, root canals and dental X-rays can be scheduled by appointment with a board certified specialist in Dentistry. |
BACK TO TOP
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Pain Management
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 medications 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.
BACK TO TOP
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spay / Neuter
Each year 5 to 7 million animals are euthanized due to overpopulation. Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) before the second heat will greatly reduce your pet's risk of breast cancer. It will also prevent life threatening medical conditions such as pyometra and metritis (infections of the uterus). Neutering (castrating) male dogs will greatly reduce the risk of prostatic and testicular cancer, and help them live a longer, healthier life. It will also eliminate or reduce the incidents of unwanted male behavior such as inappropriate urinating and marking of territory.
BACK TO TOP
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Glaucoma Screenings
 Certain breeds of dogs are prone to Glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure).
We recommend yearly screening using tenometry for breeds at risk e.g. the Basset Hound, Cocker Spaniel).
BACK TO TOP
|
