Services

WELLNESS and MEDICAL EXAMS

Wellness examinations are the cornerstone of health care for your pet. It is far easier, safer, and less costly to prevent medical problems than it is to treat them after they occur. Routine physical examinations and discussions of your pet¹s health allow the veterinary team to make sure your pet stays healthy, and to catch minor problems before they have a chance to become major health issues. Well-care examinations are usually scheduled on a yearly basis for adult cats and dogs, but youngsters and elderly pets may need more frequent examinations. Young puppies and kittens will be seen as often as every three weeks until they are over four months of age, while aging animals will benefit from examinations at least once, or even twice, each year. The veterinarians will help you design the perfect well-care schedule for each of your pets.

During well-care visits routine tests are performed periodically to find treatable and preventable problems. These tests include testing for intestinal parasites in all animals and heartworm and tick-borne diseases in dogs. Your cats may be tested for illnesses such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunosuppressive virus (FIV). At the same time, we will recommend appropriate medications to control ticks, fleas, heartworms, and other parasites. Periodic vaccinations, tailored to the needs of your individual pets, are also administered during well-care consultations. In addition, identification microchips can be placed during these office visits. Finally, our veterinary care team will be happy to help with routine health care maintenance (such as nail trimming) and answer any questions you may have regarding your pet¹s health.

If your pet is not feeling well, our veterinary care team is always available to help. Our staff is skilled at combining the history of your pet¹s problems with a thorough medical examination, resulting in sound recommendations for diagnostics and treatment. Often treatment can be started immediately. Other times, diagnostic procedures are required in order to obtain the most accurate diagnosis before therapy is started. Many diagnostic procedures can be quickly performed at the veterinary care center; others are offered through referrals to local specialists. Our goal is a rapid diagnosis leading to early treatment and a speedy recovery for your pet.

VACCINATIONS

All cats, dogs and ferrets need vaccinations. Proper vaccination is a crucial step in preventing contagious, potentially life-threatening diseases. It is far easier to vaccinate to prevent diseases, such as distemper or parvovirus, than it is to try to treat the illnesses. As a matter of fact, several diseases that are easily preventable with proper vaccination cannot be successfully treated and can result in the death of your beloved pet. This is often the situation with diseases such as feline leukemia, distemper, rabies, and even many cases of parvovirus. At North Hampton Animal Hospital the veterinary team will discuss these vaccinations with you so that your pet can receive the proper vaccines at the proper intervals.

Not every pet needs every vaccination, but all need some vaccinations. The veterinarians will examine your pet and make recommendations for the proper immunization protocol for your specific pet. This decision will be based on a variety of factors, including the pet¹s age, breed, health, prior vaccinations, potential exposure to diseases, and lifestyle. Some of the vaccines recommended for dogs include the distemper-parvo combination, kennel cough, leptospirosis, Lyme disease (an infectious bacterial disease transmitted by ticks), and rabies. For cats we suggest vaccines for upper respiratory diseases, rabies, and feline leukemia. Ferrets require rabies and distemper protection. Our veterinarians will make sure that your pet receives the appropriate vaccinations at the appropriate time intervals.

RADIOLOGY

To accomplish our goal of rapid diagnosis for medical and surgical problems, North Hampton Animal Hospital is dedicated to providing the best diagnostic procedures available. This allows our veterinary team to quickly and accurately make an assessment so we can begin treatment as swiftly as possible and minimize your pet¹s discomfort. To this end, we are proud to offer superb radiographic services. Our hospital has x-ray equipment available to radiograph the entire body. We have equipment which enables us to take clear, accurate x-rays of the teeth and mouth.

In addition, we offer specialized services for radiography of dogs' hips. These services allow for early detection of hip problems, such as canine hip dysplasia. It is estimated that over 50% of large dogs will show radiographic evidence of hip dysplasia. Early identification and intervention is extremely important in large breed dogs. Timely recognition of hip problems allows dogs to be started on treatment before they become symptomatic. Our staff is skilled in performing OFA (Orthopedic Foundation of America) radiographs and is certified in performing PennHIP (University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program) radiographs, which allow puppies with problems to be identified as early as 4 months old. Our veterinarians are trained to properly take and read the radiographs. This means that your large breed puppy can get accurate testing early in life.

Finally, we provide specialty services for our patients because we maintain close relationships with a network of local, board-certified veterinary specialists. If your pet requires highly specialized diagnostic procedures, such as ultrasonic, endoscopic, and cardiac examinations, we are pleased to refer you to a nearby facility.

LABORATORY SERVICES

North Hampton Animal Hospital uses both in-house laboratory equipment and commercial testing services to provide comprehensive testing and rapid results. Routine testing for electrolytes, chemistries, and blood counts are done with state-of-the art equipment in the hospital and are available within minutes, if necessary. Other test results are usually available within 24 hours.

Among the laboratory services offered:

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) testing
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) testing
Heartworm disease testing
Tick-borne disease testing, including Lyme disease
Fecal floatation and other tests for intestinal parasites (such as roundworms and giardia)
Urinalysis and microscopic examination of urine
Complete blood counts (CBC)
Blood chemistry and electrolytes
Cytology (microscopic examination of cells) of the skin, ears, and tumors
Bacterial culture and antibiotic sensitivity
Diabetes diagnosis and control
Hormone testing, such as thyroid and cortisol levels
Histology (microscopic examination of tumor cells by a pathologist)

ANESTHESIA and SURGERY

Our veterinarians are able to perform a variety of surgical procedures on the premises, as well as care for pets both before and afterwards. If surgery is recommended, a pre-surgical examination is required to assess your pet's health and ability to have surgery. Additionally, blood tests and possibly other diagnostics may be necessary to design a safe anesthetic regimen. To provide the best care and maintain your pet's health, an intravenous catheter will be placed in order to administer anesthetic drugs and intravenous fluids. During surgery, your pet's vital signs, including heart rate and respiratory rate, will be closely monitored.

Our veterinary team feels that it is our responsibility to do our very best to identify and limit the pain felt by your pet. Therefore, pain medications will be administered to pets undergoing surgery. The medication is often administered prior to surgery to maximize pain control and may also be given during and after the procedure, as well. Some pets may be set home with oral medications to control pain while they heal from their surgery.

Among the surgical procedures provided are:

Spaying of female pets
Neutering of male pets
Tumor removal
Biopsy of skin and tumors
Exploratory surgery and other abdominal procedures
Declaw procedure for cats
Ear flushing and surgical care
Orthopedic repairs

After surgery, pets are closely monitored by the doctor and the veterinary team. Most pets are sent home the same day. Pets requiring intensive, critical care may be referred to the local 24 hour critical care center. In addition, North Hampton Animal Hospital maintains close relationships with surgical specialists in the area. If necessary, patients can be referred to these local board-certified specialists for surgical care.

DENTISTRY

Dentistry is a critical, often over-looked, part of regular health care for your pet. Routine cleanings are needed to maintain the overall well-being of your pet. Additionally, a pet with dental disease is not only in pain, but is also at risk of developing serious diseases of the entire body. North Hampton Animal Hospital is pleased to provide routine care of your pet's teeth and to treat diseases of the mouth, gums, and teeth.

We recommend preventive dental care for all pets. Our veterinary team looks forward to teaching you how to brush and maintain your pet's teeth. Your pet can be taught at an early age to accept brushing, which dramatically decreases the accumulation of plaque, and helps your pet maintain a healthy mouth, teeth, and gums. In addition, brushing his or her teeth several times per week will allow you to check your pet's mouth for early signs of dental problems. Oral problems that are identified early and treated rapidly often resolve much more quickly than when they are not swiftly handled.

In addition to home care, your pet needs routine veterinary dental services, which are available at the animal hospital. Oral examinations are performed during well-care visits. If needed, professional dental radiographs are taken using special x-ray equipment. Furthermore, periodic prophylactic cleaning is offered using state-of-the-art dental equipment. This thorough cleaning and polishing procedure is performed under general anesthesia. The treatment helps to prevent oral problems such as gingivitis and tooth loss. Finally, appropriate dental treatment is offered for pets suffering from oral problems, such as loose teeth, abscesses, or mouth disease.

EXOTIC MEDICINE and SURGERY

To live long and healthy lives, exotic pets require special care. Just like pet dogs and cats, your exotic pets need veterinary care, balanced nutrition, human interaction, and appropriate management of their environment. Our doctors and staff are highly skilled at treating and caring for many types of exotic pets and are pleased to be able to offer care and guidance. Advice is available for husbandry questions such as cage size, bedding, heating, and lighting. Nutritional counseling is available for all species. Surgical care is provided for spaying, neutering, and dental necessities. Behavioral advice can help with non-medical problems such as loneliness, separation anxiety, and person-pet interactions. The doctors and staff firmly believe that preventive care helps deter disease from arising in exotics and will always make sure that the best routine and preventive care is available for your pets.

Health problems do arise in even the best cared-for exotic pets and our doctors are ready and able to help. Services are available for the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions in these unique pets. These services include thorough physical examinations, diagnostics such as radiographs, blood tests, skin scrapings, and biopsy of growths. Surgeries are performed for such diverse occurrences as growth removal, dental disease, fractures, and internal problems. Furthermore, medications and supplements tailored to the needs of exotics are available. In addition, nutritional counseling is given for those pets suffering from nutritional problems, such as metabolic bone disease. Behavioral counseling is also offered for medical problems caused by anxiety, loneliness, or boredom.

We treat the following exotic pets:

Birds
Reptiles
Rabbits
Ferrets
Small mammals including chinchillas, guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils, and hamsters