WELLNESS EXAMS

We believe annual wellness care is imperative to keeping your pet happy and healthy! Your pet’s health is important and preventive care is necessary. We recommend wellness exams, keeping your pets on a vaccination schedule, and working with us on all facets of wellness care.

During your annual physical exam, your veterinarian fully examines your pet and discuss vaccinations and ongoing wellness. Just like you do wellness visits with your doctor, it’s important that your pet does the same. During these visits, our team will spend time examining your pet from nose to tail.

WELLNESS BLOODWORK

Blood work allows a veterinarian to monitor the progression of a pet’s disease. Routine blood tests are run before anesthesia and surgery to make sure that your pet does not have a disease or illness that would make anesthesia or surgery a significant risk. This lab work is very similar to the “pre-op labs” that your doctor would recommend before you have any procedure performed on yourself.

BLOOD PRESSURE

Our trained veterinary technicians will carefully monitor your pet and use electronic equipment to measure their blood pressure.

VACCINATIONS

Vaccines contain small quantities of modified or “killed” viruses, bacteria, or other disease-causing organisms. When administered, they stimulate your pet’s immune system to produce disease-fighting cells and proteins – or antibodies- to protect against such diseases. During your pet’s wellness exam, we will make recommendations for vaccine schedules specific to their age, species, and breed.

PARASITE DETECTION & PREVENTION

Reach out today and get your pet started on a parasite prevention plan that will keep them protected from dangerous parasites.

The best method for keeping parasites off your pet is by keeping your dog or cat on a tick preventive. Even indoor-only pets are at risk because ticks can hitch a ride inside on your clothing or shoes. Tick preventives are safe and highly effective at controlling ticks and the diseases they carry.

Fleas, ticks, and heartworm are not only a source of irritation to your pet, but they can also harbor disease and adversely affect your pet’s health—and can even be fatal. Thankfully, all of these can be prevented, and Whole Pet Veterinary Hospital can help you keep your pet safe. Learn more about prevention here.

NUTRITION

Nutrition plays an important role in the life and health of an animal. Nutritional counseling offers the expert guidance you need to confidently answer any questions you have about your pet’s nutrition and weight.

We’re not just Holistic, we are Wholistic! That means we are here for you when your pet needs surgery as well. From responsible spay and neutering to mass removals, emergency surgery, and orthopedics, we’ve got you! And you can always rest assured we’re using the safest anesthesia protocols and monitoring available. Don’t worry – our commitment to gentle and responsible medicine carries into the surgery room with us.

Our veterinary team is highly skilled and experienced in performing a wide variety of pet surgeries using modern techniques and cutting-edge equipment while always adhering to the strictest standards of safety and care. We’ll also be sure to answer any and all questions you may have to relieve any stress over your pet’s operation.

We monitor our patients closely to keep them as safe as possible during procedures that require general anesthesia. A veterinary technician will continually assess your pet’s heart and respiratory rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs to help prevent any anesthetic risk.

Before the operation, we’ll make sure to answer any and all questions you may have about the operation and what you’ll need after the operation. You’ll be given updates on your pet throughout the procedure, and we’ll be sure to go over all of the postoperative care with you.

Once the operation is complete, we’ll go over all of the at-home care steps with you to make sure your pet heals properly and gets back to feeling great in no time.

LASER SURGERY

Surgical lasers have become a very important part of veterinary medicine. The advent of the surgical laser has improved the treatment of many disease states previously treated with a scalpel or electrosurgical unit. For surgery, lasers offer a number of advantages for pets, including:

• Less bleeding
• Less pain
• Reduced risk of infection
• Faster recovery

The veterinary laser provides the surgeon with improved hemostasis while significantly reducing the pain and swelling due to its unique properties.

We use the surgical laser for declaws, mass removals, gingival hyperplasia, and other miscellaneous surgeries.

SPAYING

Spaying your pet has many benefits. The procedure, which prevents female animals from becoming pregnant and reproducing, can help your dog or cat live a longer, healthier life. Spaying will not change your pet’s personality.

By spaying your female pet, you’re protecting her against potentially deadly diseases, including bacterial infections, reproductive tract diseases, and several types of cancer. You also won’t have to worry about her going into heat. This means avoiding the mess that often accompanies the heat cycle in female dogs and the pacing and crying that happens with female cats. In addition, spaying your pet will help control the dog and cat overpopulation problem, keeping more animals out of shelters.

Spaying, which involves removing the ovaries and uterus, is a surgical procedure and does need to be performed with the pet under anesthesia. We follow strict protocols and continually monitor your pet’s vital signs to help ensure her safety. Please see the descriptions below about anesthesia and patient monitoring for more information on what we do to keep your pet safe.

NEUTERING

Neutering your pet has many benefits. The procedure, which prevents male animals from reproducing, can help your dog or cat live a longer, healthier life. Neutering will not change your pet’s personality.

By neutering your pet, you’re reducing or eliminating his risk for prostate and testicular cancer, as well as sexually transmitted diseases. Neutering will also reduce or eliminate undesirable and embarrassing behavior, including roaming, fighting, humping, and spraying. In addition, neutering your pet will help control the dog and cat overpopulation problem, keeping more animals out of shelters.

Neutering, which involves removing the testicles, is a surgical procedure and does need to be performed with the pet under anesthesia. We follow strict protocols and continually monitor your pet’s vital signs to help ensure his safety. Please see the descriptions below about anesthesia and patient monitoring for more information on what we do to keep your pet safe.

SOFT TISSUE SURGERY

We perform many types of soft tissue surgeries at our clinic. Soft tissue surgeries are those that are not associated with bone. These surgeries can provide many benefits to pets.

Probably the most common soft tissue surgery performed on pets is the removal of masses or lumps. Most of these masses, once removed and tested, are found to be benign (non-harmful); however, occasionally they are more serious. Early removal and accurate diagnosis of a lump are necessary to improve the outcome in your pet if the mass is cancerous.

If your dog suffers from frequent ear infections, surgical intervention can reduce their occurrence by improving airflow into the ear canal.

Surgery can also help resolve several problems related to the eyes. Tearing in your pet’s eyes can mean an infection is present or may be a sign that the cornea (outer layer of the eye) has been damaged. Surgery may allow the cornea to heal faster with less scarring, improving your pet’s ability to see. In some pets, the eyelashes may actually damage the cornea. Surgical intervention improves comfort in these pets, reduces the chances of corneal scarring, and enhances the pet’s vision in the long term.

ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY

We perform many types of orthopedic (bone) surgeries in our clinic. Because we want to ensure that our patients receive the best possible outcome, we occasionally refer them to board-certified orthopedic surgeons to perform back surgery and other very complex surgeries.

Leg fractures are the most common orthopedic problem presented at our clinic and usually result from a mishap with an automobile. They can be treated in a variety of ways, depending on the location and type of fracture. We can apply a cast to treat certain fractures; however, many fractures will require surgical intervention:

• “Pinning” stabilizes the fracture by inserting a long stainless steel rod into the middle of the bone across the fractured area.
• “Plating” involves attaching a flat stainless steel plate to the bone using screws on either side of the fracture.
• “External fixation” stabilizes fractures using a series of pins on the outside of the leg that pass through the skin and into the bone on either side of the fracture.

We also perform a lot of orthopedic surgeries related to hip dysplasia and disc disease.

DENTISTRY

In many cases, dental disease in dogs and cats progresses to a point where teeth need to be extracted or treated with advanced dental techniques. Whole Pet Davidson offers comprehensive dental surgical services and provides you and your pet the highest standard of care.

GENERAL ANESTHETIC

For some procedures, your pet will need to be administered general anesthesia so that he or she will be unconscious and not feel pain. Many pet owners worry about their pets being administered general anesthesia. We can assure you that modern anesthesia is generally quite safe; to further lower any risk, we perform a physical examination and run blood work ahead of time to catch any underlying health issues. In addition, we follow a specific anesthetic protocol, including monitoring vital signs during the procedure, to ensure the safety of our patients.
We begin most general anesthetic procedures by administering a sedative to help the pet relax and decrease any anxiety and pain. We then administer an intravenous drug to provide complete anesthesia and place a breathing tube into the patient’s trachea (windpipe). To maintain the state of unconsciousness, we deliver a gas anesthetic in combination with oxygen through the breathing tube.

LOCAL ANESTHETIC

If your pet is having a minor surgical or diagnostic procedure performed, we sometimes use a local anesthetic to help control pain. For example, when we perform a biopsy (in which a small portion of tissue is surgically removed so it can be examined), we often use a local anesthetic. Local anesthetics cause a loss of sensation in the area where the procedure is being performed. We sometimes use a sedative and/or anxiolytic (anti-anxiety medication) in combination with the local anesthetic to keep pets calm during a procedure.

When every second counts, we’ll be there. We utilize the latest technology and diagnostic equipment to make sure that we can find what’s wrong with your pet when it’s not obvious to the naked eye. Our knowledgeable staff and modern facilities are equipped to handle a wide variety of medical conditions, including emergencies. Because we can perform many diagnostic procedures in-house, we can often give you immediate answers and start treating your pet faster. In some cases, your pet may require hospitalization and further diagnostic tests. During those periods, we’ll be there to answer any and all questions you may have.

We are experienced in many aspects of internal medicine for dogs and cats, including but not limited to gastroenterology, neurology, dermatology and allergies, cardiology, oncology and cancer, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. We pride ourselves in working hard to find solutions for your pet so that you do not need to see a specialist, but when appropriate, we have a number of reliable specialists who will work with us to find answers for your pet.

DENTAL EVALUATION

During a dental cleaning, a full evaluation of the mouth is performed, which includes measurement of pockets developing around the roots of all teeth. If mobility, pocketing, or root exposure is noticed our doctors may recommend dental x-rays and extractions, as these can indicate an unhealthy tooth.

Although we practice all aspects of internal medicine, dermatology, and surgery, we integrate several alternative therapies into our daily practice as well. Alternative therapies, which are also referred to as “integrative” or “complementary” therapies, include (but are not limited to) acupuncture, nutritional therapy, chiropractic, herbal and glandular supplements, homeopathy, laser therapy, and applied kinesiology. We provide these therapies in conjunction with traditional medicine and surgery to help improve outcomes and to give us additional options for treating our patients. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about whether these types of therapy could benefit your pet.

ACUPUNCTURE

We regularly integrate acupuncture into our daily practice. During physical exams, if we detect something that may be very responsive to acupuncture, we will be happy to discuss it as an option. We would be happy to consult with you and examine your pet if you would like to know if acupuncture may be an option for your pet. Some of the problems we have successfully treated with acupuncture, alone or in combination with other medications and treatments, include arthritis, back problems, paralysis, weakness, allergies, seizures, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, kidney disease and failure, heart disease, and aging.

Acupuncture is the process of using tiny needles to make major shifts in the body. These tiny needles communicate with nerve bundles or meridians on the outside of the body to impact the nerves, spinal cord, and organs inside the body. We use it most often for neck and back pain, and it is often effective for paralysis, weakness, arthritis, digestive disorders like ileus and constipation, liver, and kidney disease. Surprisingly animals tolerate it very well, and the majority actually enjoy their treatments, probably because they feel better immediately afterward. Animals who do not enjoy their needles can have an alternate treatment done using a therapeutic laser in their acupuncture points for a gentler but still effective treatment.

NATURAL HERBAL MEDICINE

Herbal medications are used regularly in our practice and are a part of nearly every treatment strategy. There are several reasons we use herbal medicine. 1. To get faster results. 2. To get longer-lasting results after pharmaceuticals have helped an animal feel better. 3. To replace a pharmaceutical medication that is high in risk and/or side effects. 4. To achieve a result that does not yet have a pharmaceutical option. Our extensive knowledge and experience in herbal medicine afford us access to the use of 350+ herbal remedies, each tailored specifically to your pet’s needs. One of our favorite things about herbs is that they carry very few if any side effects, making them safe and effective for pets, from newborn to geriatric stages of life.

THERAPUETIC LASER

We use laser treatments many times a day to reduce pain and inflammation in our pay patients. This laser creates a temperature gradient in the targeted tissue to reduce inflammation and promote healing by improving blood supply to the area. We most often use it for stifle (knee) and hip arthritis, although it is effective for most forms of arthritis and spinal pain in pets. The laser is used on all surgical patients for post-surgical pain relief and faster healing times. For this reason, we also use it for wounds that are slow to heal and chronic ear infections. Because it promotes healing and reorganizing of damaged tissue, it is effective for biceps tendon and iliopsoas muscle strains, things that otherwise would take months and months of rest to heal. Animals love the laser and typically leave the hospital feeling immediately better.

CHINESE FOOD THERAPY

One of the first things you will notice in your visit with us is our use of food as medicine. We figure you work hard to provide nutritious food to your pets, it should be the most effective food possible. Also, the fact that you like to feed your pet 2 or more times a day means you have multiple opportunities every day to improve their health! Chinese medicine identifies imbalances in the body that lead to disease and seeks to create balance to reduce the severity and incidence of the disease process. Chinese food therapy is a method of choosing food ingredients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables that either create or reduce moisture, heat, or energy in the body. You will be amazed at how effective and affordable food therapy can be for your pet!

CHROPRACTRIC & SPINAL MANIPULATION

If your pet is suffering from conditions such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, lameness, gastrointestinal disease, chronic health issues, or back problems, he or she might benefit from our chiropractic services. Professional chiropractic manipulation can help ease pain, improve flexibility and mobility, and even enhance organ function. Chiropractic therapy can also promote healing and improve the range of motion in dogs injured during sporting events.

Chiropractic or spinal adjustments in animals are extremely effective for chronic pain In our animal patients. Small adjustments in the spine can be performed very gently in pets, realigning the vertebrae and spinal cord and releasing pressure from the attached muscles and ligaments. Chiropractic is most often used for neck and back pain, paralysis and weakness, chronic pain and arthritis, and seizures, although sometimes it is also effective for other spinal abnormalities like syringomyelia, and also urinary and fecal incontinence.

We use veterinary chiropractic in conjunction with traditional therapies to give your pet the best possible outcome. To discuss whether your pet is a candidate for chiropractic therapy, please call our hospital and set up an appointment with one of our experienced veterinarians.

HOMEPATHIC MEDICINE

Homeopathy is a form of herbal medicine utilizing the concept of “like treats like” and using natural remedies to direct changes in the body at the cellular level. Highly trained homeopaths can identify the exact remedies needed to shift your pet’s health in a positive direction.

Derived from the Greek words homoios, which means like or similar, and pathos, which means suffering (disease), homeopathy is based on the philosophy that “like cures like.” Homeopathy uses very dilute solutions (extremely small quantities) of medication that, in an undiluted form, can actually cause symptoms of the disease or condition.

This therapeutic method was developed more than 200 years ago when a German scientist ingested the bark of a cinchona tree, which contains quinine (used to treat malaria at the time). He began to experience the same symptoms as malaria. When he stopped taking the tree bark, his symptoms disappeared. The scientist theorized that if a substance could cause symptoms of a disease, minute amounts of that same substance could cure the disease by stimulating the body’s natural defenses.

Homeopathic remedies are prepared from pure, natural substances derived from plants, animals, and minerals. Their preparation may involve diluting the original substance from 10 times to millions of times with water or alcohol. Remedies include Arsenicum album, belladonna, and chamomilla. Because these remedies are highly diluted, they are generally considered safe and unlikely to cause severe adverse reactions.

Homeopathy is not typically used to replace conventional veterinary treatment. To keep your pet as safe as possible, it is a good idea to have him or her see the same veterinarian for both conventional and alternative treatment.

THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE

These methods are sometimes used to accentuate our other body treatments like acupuncture and chiropractic. They target the tissue between the vertebrae and bones, which is sometimes what is holding an animal back from feeling their best. Occasionally after the other treatments, massage or osteopathy is needed to loosen the tightened soft tissue and allow for maximum flexibility, range of motion, and comfort.

OZONE THERAPY

Ozone is used to provide oxygen to diseased and damaged tissues. We use it topically for wounds and internally for organ damage and inflammation, such as pancreatitis, kidney and liver disease.

We have a variety of medications available to manage your pet’s pain both before and after surgery and in the event of trauma. We would be pleased to discuss the options available to you and your pet under any of the above circumstances.

ACUPUNCTURE

We regularly integrate acupuncture into our daily practice. During physical exams, if we detect something that may be very responsive to acupuncture, we will be happy to discuss it as an option. We would be happy to consult with you and examine your pet if you would like to know if acupuncture may be an option for your pet. Some of the problems we have successfully treated with acupuncture, alone or in combination with other medications and treatments, include arthritis, back problems, paralysis, weakness, allergies, seizures, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, kidney disease and failure, heart disease, and aging.

Acupuncture is the process of using tiny needles to make major shifts in the body. These tiny needles communicate with nerve bundles or meridians on the outside of the body to impact the nerves, spinal cord, and organs inside the body. We use it most often for neck and back pain, and it is often effective for paralysis, weakness, arthritis, digestive disorders like ileus and constipation, liver, and kidney disease. Surprisingly animals tolerate it very well, and the majority actually enjoy their treatments, probably because they feel better immediately afterward. Animals who do not enjoy their needles can have an alternate treatment done using a therapeutic laser in their acupuncture points for a gentler but still effective treatment.

NATURAL HERBAL MEDICINE

Herbal medications are used regularly in our practice and are a part of nearly every treatment strategy. There are several reasons we use herbal medicine. 1. To get faster results. 2. To get longer-lasting results after pharmaceuticals have helped an animal feel better. 3. To replace a pharmaceutical medication that is high in risk and/or side effects. 4. To achieve a result that does not yet have a pharmaceutical option. Our extensive knowledge and experience in herbal medicine afford us access to the use of 350+ herbal remedies, each tailored specifically to your pet’s needs. One of our favorite things about herbs is that they carry very few if any side effects, making them safe and effective for pets, from newborn to geriatric stages of life.

THERAPUETIC LASER

We use laser treatments many times a day to reduce pain and inflammation in our pay patients. This laser creates a temperature gradient in the targeted tissue to reduce inflammation and promote healing by improving blood supply to the area. We most often use it for stifle (knee) and hip arthritis, although it is effective for most forms of arthritis and spinal pain in pets. The laser is used on all surgical patients for post-surgical pain relief and faster healing times. For this reason, we also use it for wounds that are slow to heal and chronic ear infections. Because it promotes healing and reorganizing of damaged tissue, it is effective for biceps tendon and iliopsoas muscle strains, things that otherwise would take months and months of rest to heal. Animals love the laser and typically leave the hospital feeling immediately better.

WHEELCHAIRS

When your dog needs a wheelchair or an orthotic device, it must be a customized order specifically designed to fit your pet. We are here to ensure that all of the measurements taken are to the manufacturer’s specifications so that your pet gets the proper fit it needs.

CHROPRACTRIC & SPINAL MANIPULATION

If your pet is suffering from conditions such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, lameness, gastrointestinal disease, chronic health issues, or back problems, he or she might benefit from our chiropractic services. Professional chiropractic manipulation can help ease pain, improve flexibility and mobility, and even enhance organ function. Chiropractic therapy can also promote healing and improve the range of motion in dogs injured during sporting events.

Chiropractic or spinal adjustments in animals are extremely effective for chronic pain In our animal patients. Small adjustments in the spine can be performed very gently in pets, realigning the vertebrae and spinal cord and releasing pressure from the attached muscles and ligaments. Chiropractic is most often used for neck and back pain, paralysis and weakness, chronic pain and arthritis, and seizures, although sometimes it is also effective for other spinal abnormalities like syringomyelia, and also urinary and fecal incontinence.

We use veterinary chiropractic in conjunction with traditional therapies to give your pet the best possible outcome. To discuss whether your pet is a candidate for chiropractic therapy, please call our hospital and set up an appointment with one of our experienced veterinarians.

PRP

PRP provides a high concentration of growth factors and other substances, forming an enriched environment that stimulates healing. PRP may be used as autologous therapy in the treatment of soft tissue and joint injuries.

THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE

These methods are sometimes used to accentuate our other body treatments like acupuncture and chiropractic. They target the tissue between the vertebrae and bones, which is sometimes what is holding an animal back from feeling their best. Occasionally after the other treatments, massage or osteopathy is needed to loosen the tightened soft tissue and allow for maximum flexibility, range of motion, and comfort.

GERIATRIC PET MEDICINE

Older pets often have multiple chronic diseases, trouble with weight loss or gain, chronic pain, mobility problems, or cognitive issues and need medications and other specialized support or care. Geriatric support can provide helpful environmental changes, physical medicine (such as acupuncture, massage, and exercises), and environmental enrichment. Frequent communication to make treatment changes and adjustments will help to make sure your older pet ages gracefully and stress-free.

QUALITY OF LIFE EXAMS

Our team will help you to evaluate and track your pet’s quality of life, anticipating changes in their illness before they occur. Managing pain and suffering are some of the biggest concerns a family has when caring for a pet at the end of life. We will review your pet’s medical history if available, discuss the expected progression of their disease, and potential complications and treatment options for managing any signs of discomfort you may be seeing.

HOSPICE

Hospice care aims to meet the physical and mental needs of a pet faced with a life-limiting illness. It begins the moment a pet is diagnosed with a terminal condition and the family has decided not to pursue aggressive, curative therapies. Pet hospice focuses on caring, not curing. We understand that serious illness profoundly impacts not only the patient but the family as well. Our goal is to promote a caring community sensitive to the entire family’s needs, while also providing excellent care for a comfortable and full end of life.

EUTHANASIA

The decision to say goodbye is never easy. With the support of our team, you will never have to make it alone. We promise to make your goodbye as easy and as comfortable as possible for you, your pet, and your entire family. Our empathetic and compassionate doctors will guide you from start to finish.