- Dental CareA thorough dental prophylaxis is performed under general anesthesia and includes deep scaling with a piezo-electric dental scaler, curetting (plaque removal under the gums), polishing, and fluoride treatment. The teeth are checked for periodontal pockets and disease. Diseased teeth are treated when possible and extracted if necessary. Clients are given the option of referral for advanced procedures such as root canal when appropriate. Oravet, a barrier to plaque formation, is available and can reduce plaque formation by 47%. We discuss routine dental care at home and can prescribe foods specifically designed to help clean your pet's teeth.
- VaccinationPhotocopies of key veterinary records to show proof of current vaccinations and results of key tests such as feline leukemia/feline immunodeficiency virus.
- Behavioral CounselingMany behavioral problems are due to lack of training and misunderstandings between animal and human. In some cases, there is an underlying medical problem for the "misbehavior". Urinating inside the house, for example, is often the sign for a urinary tract problem. Our doctors and staff are always willing to listen to your problems and offer advice. If the problem is more serious, we refer patients to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.
- Nutritional Counseling
- Comprehensive ExaminationPet insurance is purchased through an insurance company, not through Gaithersburg Veterinary Clinic. When you bring your pet in, you must pay the balance due. Then you submit your receipt and a claim form to the insurance company for reimbursement. The Washington Post did an analysis of pet insurance and if it's worth it or not. The verdict is that you are paying more money than you otherwise would without the insurance. Dollar-for-dollar, pet insurance is not worth it but it does provide peace-of-mind in that if something really bad happens to your pet, the insurance may cover the cost. Additionally, those insurance plans that cover routine exams and vaccines are the least worth-it. This is where Wellness Plans come in. Our Wellness Plans are discounted and are provided by Gaithersburg Veterinary Clinic. When you come in for a treatment covered by your Wellness Plan, you pay nothing for that treatment.
- Parasites Treatment and ControlHeartworm test within the past 12 months (if your dog is taking preventatives) or within the past 6 months (if your dog is not taking preventatives)
- Behavioral Disorder Treatment
- Pain ManagementEach patient's anesthetic and pain management protocol is individually tailored for his or her current health status, age, medical history and surgical procedure. In addition to monitoring by our trained veterinary nurses, we use monitors to check each animal's blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate and respiration. We perform most soft tissue surgeries but only limited orthopedic surgeries. The following is a small sample of the soft tissue surgeries we perform in our hospital: ovariohysterectomy (spay), castration (neuter), intestinal surgery, liver biopsy, cystotomy (bladder), mass removal, splenectomy and ferret adrenalectomy.
- Skin Condition and Allergy TreatmentUse only a cat-specific shampoo. All species have a specific pH balance, and using a shampoo not balanced for cats can cause skin irritation. Carefully follow the instructions on the packaging (which you will want to read beforehand). Avoid getting shampoo in your cat's face, eyes, or ears.
- Leptospirosis TreatmentWe recommend vaccinations based on each pet's individual needs and offer serology screening when necessary. A current rabies vaccination is required in Montgomery County, Maryland. We have the following vaccinations for dogs: Rabies, Distemper (DAPP), Leptospirosis, Bordetella (kennel cough), Lyme disease, Influenza (Bivalent), and Coronavirus. We have the following vaccinations for cats: Rabies Purevax, Distemper (RCP), and Leukemia.
- Parvovirus Infection Treatment
- Feline Retro Virus Treatment
- Obesity TreatmentNext time you head out for a walk, get your cat up and moving when you return home. Bust out his favorite ball and toss it around while you cool down, or try these exercises from Ernie Ward, DVM, founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.
- Diabetes Treatment
- Thyroid Disease TreatmentEarly detection is the key to prevention and management of serious medical problems. A thorough physical exam performed by one of our veterinarians is the first diagnostic step used in assessing your pet's health. In addition to an evaluation of all major organ systems, our physical exam also assesses your pet's dental health and weight. Diet, supplements, and medications are recommended as appropriate to ensure a long, healthy life. During the annual visit we recommend blood testing to identify hidden problem areas (such as diabetes, kidney disease, and liver disease). If the physical exam reveals the potential of a specific problem such as thyroid disease, the testing is adjusted to include evaluation for the suspected problem. Finding hidden problems early, before the pet shows signs of disease, allows us more options for treatment or management of that disease and improves quality of life.
- Heart Disease TreatmentYou may have read my June 4 post, “ A broken heart: Risk of heart disease in boutique or grain-free diets and exotic ingredients. †This post had more than 180,000 page views in the first week and continues to get more than 2000 page views a day. So, I’m pleased that people are interested in this important issue and trying to learn about it. But I’ve also found a tremendous amount of confusion and misinformation in the past 5 months including people who doubt that this is a real issue, some who still haven’t heard about it, and people who mistakenly think it’s just grain-free diets or that it’s only related to taurine.
- Kidney Disease TreatmentTrue lilies and daylilies are a concern for acute kidney failure in cats. All homes with cats should be very careful with Easter lilies.
- Cancer Treatment
- Poisoning Treatment
- Veterinary Surgery
- Spaying and NeuteringAll pets can benefit from being spayed or neutered. It can prevent common behavior problems, such as urine marking, aggression, and running away. In addition, it reduces the risk of certain cancers and diseases (such as pyometra -- uterine infection). Please discuss spaying and neutering with us if you have questions.
- Laboratory ServicesAll dogs will have a complete blood count checked and receive analgesia (medication for pain) before the surgery. Dogs over the age of 7 (over the age of 5 for giant breeds) will also have blood chemistries checked and receive IV fluids.
- X-Ray
- Microchipping
- BoardingWe do not provide boarding services, grooming services, or obedience training services. Below is a list of services for Grooming, Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers, Boarding and Day Care, and Obedience Training used and recommended by some of our clients.
- Grooming
- Senior Pet CareWe take especially good care of our senior patients and are proud that many of our senior patients exceed the average life expectancy for their species and breed. Our senior care recommendations include semi-annual exams, 27 blood chemistries, complete blood count, thyroid testing, and urinalysis with sediment for all senior pets. As your pet ages, his or her needs and behavior change. We can help you understand these changes and help you care for your aging pet.
- Dog Training