Wellness Services for Your Pet

Not only have we dedicated our lives to the care of animals, but we are pet owners ourselves. Our lives revolve around the understanding that each of our clients' pets is a valued and unique member of the family. This is why Northside Animal Hospital strives to provide comprehensive care specifically designed to meet the particular needs of your pet.

The basis of our promise to you and the foundation of your pet's health is the thorough practice of preventative care. We recommend routine wellness checkups, proper dental care here and at home, the application of appropriate vaccinations, microchip identification in case your pet becomes lost, and regular screenings for diseases that commonly afflict pets in their senior years.

However, despite the most aggressive preventative treatment, our pets may yet experience a periodic illness or injury. The skill, experience and extensive education of the doctors at Northside Animal Hospital allow us to effectively manage complex medical and surgical challenges beyond those typically handled in general veterinary practices. Our level of expertise, capabilities and resources reduces the frequency of referrals to specialists and allows our clients to receive care for their pets from people they know, in a comfortable and familiar setting.

In all, we seek to provide the compassionate care your pet needs through each age and stage of its life to ensure he or she is happy and active well into the future.

Wellness Exams

A yearly wellness examination is an important piece of your pet's regular health care. A routine checkup is a good way for you and your veterinarian to develop a picture of your pet's overall health as well as to spot potential medical issues before they become serious health concerns.

It's also an opportunity for you to ask your veterinarian important questions about your pet's health, habits and daily care. We also use this time to inform you about home healthcare for your pet and offer important advice and new information on the care of your particular type and breed of animal.

During your pet's wellness checkup, Northside Animal Hospital doctors will:

Listen to your pet's heart – Early signs of cardiac disease such as heart murmurs and abnormal heart beat patterns known as arrhythmias can be heard through a stethoscope. Discovering these initial indicators of trouble ahead can lead to identifying and treating the underlying condition before it becomes a more serious health threat.

Listen to your pet's lungs – Health issues such as infections, obstructive diseases and other problems can be detected by listening to your pet's lungs through a stethoscope. The doctor can also assess the overall pulmonary health of your pet.

Check your pet's teeth and oral cavity – Examining your pet's teeth and mouth is an important part of preventing dental disease, which is one of the most common health concerns in pets. Very young animals, such as kittens and puppies, also need to be checked to ensure they are developing an appropriate bite and that they are losing their baby teeth at the right time. We also take the time to discuss proper home dental care with you.

Evaluate your pet's vision – All diseases follow relatively predictable processes and if found early can be more easily treated. Ocular conditions, which can also be prevented through regular care and screenings, are no exception.

Look into your pet's ears – As with dental disease, ear disease is relatively common in many types of pets. Issues such as low-grade allergies, swimming or bathing, reactions to certain foods, mites and other parasites can all cause and contribute to otitis or ear disease. Though you may feel this is an area that can be well-handled at home, the fact is that many ear diseases are difficult to detect and require medical treatment.

Palpate the lymph nodes, abdomen and skin – By feeling the skin, we are looking for unusual lumps or swellings as well as evaluating for skin discolorations, lesions or patterns of hair loss or thinning. These can indicate the presence of more systemic problems, especially metabolic diseases, which most commonly occur in middle-aged animals.

Palpate joints and muscles – By examining the joints, legs and other areas of the body, we are able to evaluate for swollen joints, decreased muscle tone and variations in muscle size between the legs. We also observe your pet's gait for developmental issues. In puppies, we look for early indications of hip or elbow problems. For older pets, we look for signs of arthritis, which can be well-treated if found early.

Lab work – A complete physical includes a heartworm test, fecal flotation test for intestinal parasites, and a red blood cell count as anemia (decrease in the number of red blood cells) can indicate the presence of a number of disease processes. For pets six years of age or older, we also perform a complete blood cell count and a chemistry profile in order to create a baseline of systemic health and to detect any emergent disease processes.

Vaccines

Vaccinating your pet is a simple procedure that is safe and effective. Many diseases that were once considered fatal to pets are now under control due to the use of modern vaccines. A consistent and well-balanced immunization program helps guard your pet against contagious and preventable diseases.

At Northside Animal Hospital, we realize that not every pet requires the same vaccinations. We tailor a unique vaccination schedule for your pet based on his or her individual needs and unique lifestyle. In addition to the core vaccines for your pet, we offer vaccinations for Lyme disease, Leptospirosis, and rattlesnake bites.

Microchipping

Does your pet have a microchip? Each year, millions of pets go missing and many don't make it back home. Microchipping your pet is a safe, simple and effective way to prevent this tragedy. About the size of a grain of rice, identification microchips are encoded with your pet's vital information and implanted beneath your pet's skin, usually between the shoulder blades.

Veterinary hospitals and animal shelters across the country and around the world are equipped with special scanners capable of reading these microchips. The information in the chip is used to reunite you with your pet.

Northside Animal Hospital uses the AVID (American Veterinary Identification Devices) microchip system. AVID is recognized not only across the United States, but throughout South and Central America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.

Prescription Diets

Many pets have dietary needs that can only be met by prescribed nutrition. Our hospital carries a number of prescription diets that are often part of a total health care plan for your pet. Our veterinary staff is able to tailor individual nutrition plans based on your pet's health needs and provide information and suggestions for good nutritional health.

Don't Forget our Little Friends

Northside Animal Hospital is also very proud of the wellness services we are able to offer our clients who have birds or ferrets. These animals' healthcare needs are often quite unique and require a veterinary practice with the experience and expertise to ensure they live long, healthy and happy lives.