PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

MEDICAL TREATMENT

HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT

AT HOME CARE

Examinations

Laboratory Testing

New Puppy Pediatric Visits

Vaccinations for Cats

Radiology

New Kitten Pediatric Visits

Vaccinations for Dogs

Pharmacy

Senior Geriatric Healthcare

Titer Testing

Surgical Care

Allergic Skin Diseases

Heartworm Disease

Dental Care

Internal & External Organ Diseases

External Parasites

Hospitalization & Nursing Care

Nutrition & Prescription Diets

Intestinal Parasites

Specialty Center Referrals

Health & Beauty Aides

   For information on our services or to schedule an appointment, please call

248-585-2622

EXAMINATIONS

For the overall general health of your pet and for early detection of potential health problems, regular physical examinations are an extremely important part of managing your pet's health.

Annual wellness care and treatment recommendation:

• As part of our emphasis on preventive care, wellness examinations are performed at the time of annual canine and feline vaccinations or at the time of titer testing.  For senior cats and dogs (age 6 and older), it is recommended that examinations be performed every 6 months to monitor physical changes and diagnose medical concerns early, before they become life-threatening illnesses.

• Annual external and internal parasite examinations are recommended to detect parasites for both dogs and cats.

• Annual wellness blood testing is recommended for all pets, especially for dogs and cats over 5 years of age.

• Annual heartworm blood testing is recommended for dogs.

• Monthly heartworm preventative is recommended for both dogs and cats.

What the examination includes:

During the patient examination, the veterinarian examines all major body systems:

• eyes

• ears

• mouth

• lymph nodes

• digestive system

• urogenital system

• musculoskeletal system

• cardiovascular system

• respiratory system

• dermatological system

• neurological system              

FELINE VACCINATIONS / IMMUNIZATIONS

For the on-going health of your cat, it is extremely important that routine vaccinations are given at regular intervals from 6 weeks of age throughout their senior years to prevent major diseases.

The immune system of cats is similar to that of humans. Kittens and seniors have more difficulties fighting off infections than middle-aged cats. Therefore, it is extremely important to start vaccinations early and continue vaccinating your cat throughout its life to prevent major diseases.

Not all cats need to receive all vaccinations and not all cats will need the same vaccines throughout their lives. Maple Veterinary Hospital doctors base your pet's vaccination protocol on your pet's individual risk of exposure which is evaluated annually.

CANINE VACCINATIONS / IMMUNIZATIONS

For the on-going health of your dog, it is extremely important that routine vaccinations are given at regular intervals from 6 weeks of age throughout their senior years to prevent major diseases.

The immune system of dogs is similar to that of humans. Puppies and seniors have more difficulties fighting off infections than middle-aged dogs. Therefore, it is extremely important to start vaccinations early and to assure proper levels of immunity by continuing vaccinations throughout your dog's life to prevent major diseases.

Not all dogs need to receive all vaccinations and not all dogs will need the same vaccines throughout their lives. Maple Veterinary Hospital doctors base your pet's vaccination protocol on your pet's individual risk of exposure which is evaluated annually.

CANINE AND FELINE TITER TESTING

Occasionally, a cat or dog may have severe reactions to vaccinations.  When medically necessary, our veterinarians may recommend a laboratory blood test (titer testing) be perform to determine the level of immunity an animal has to particular viruses.  If blood immunity levels are sufficient, our veterinarians may decide to delay vaccinations.

HEARTWORM DISEASE

Heartworm disease is a medical risk for unprotected dogs and cats.  Heartworms are actual worms that can grow to be 14 inches in length. At maturity they live in the right side of the heart.  If left untreated, heartworm disease can result in death.  Diagnosis of heartworm disease is made through a laboratory blood test.  A once-a-month medication, heartworm preventative, is available for both cats and dogs.  Maple Veterinary Hospital doctors recommend year-round heartworm preventative for the protection of all of our feline and canine patients.
How is Heartworm Disease Spread? Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes.
Is My Dog or My Cat at Risk? Take a brief risk assessment quiz to see if your dog or cat is at risk.
Heartworm Incidence Map 240,000 dogs and 3,095 cats tested positive for heartworm infection in the United States in 2001.  By 2004, the number of positive heartworm cases increased to more than 250,000.  Heartworm disease is preventable but the number of positive cases continues to grow.
Diagnosing Heartworm Disease Heartworm disease can be prevented.  Why yearly testing is the key.
How to Prevent Heartworm Disease Annual heartworm testing followed by year-round administration of monthly preventative medications for dogs and cats is the key.

EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL PARASITES (ZOONOSES)

Diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans are referred to as zoonotic diseases or zoonoses. The Center for Disease Control warns that there is an increasing need for pet owner education regarding intestinal parasites and external parasites that can be transmitted from dogs and cats to humans.  At Maple Veterinary Hospital, we strongly recommend annual intestinal parasite laboratory testing for healthy pets and more frequent testing for pets that are showing symptoms that are commonly associated with intestinal parasites.  During examinations, pets are examined for signs of external parasites and diagnostic laboratory tests are performed as required.

External parasites:

Internal parasites:

LABORATORY TESTING

Laboratory testing is an extremely important tool for diagnosing patient illnesses and as a screening tool for preventing disease onset.  Our emphasis is on preventive healthcare which includes a variety of diagnostic laboratory procedures.   Results of in-house laboratory tests such as intestinal parasite tests, annual heartworm tests, infectious feline leukemia tests, urinalysis, and a variety of blood tests are available at the time of your pet's visit.  More extensive laboratory testing such as blood profiles, thyroid profiles, and allergy testing is performed at outside laboratories.  Results of most blood profiles are available within 24 hours.

RADIOLOGY

Maple Veterinary Hospital has an in-house radiology department that offers x-rays and ultrasound studies.  

Our staff is fully trained in radiology procedures to provide your pet with diagnostic x-rays in a matter of minutes.  Our hospital also provides ultrasound imaging for further diagnostic studies. 

Other imaging studies such as CAT scans, and MRIs are obtained from outside radiology centers as recommended by our veterinarians.

PHARMACY

Our pharmacy is completely stocked with a variety of veterinary pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics,  heartworm preventative, flea and tick preventative, dental and oral care products, skin care products, vitamins, and shampoos that can be dispensed at the time of your pet's visit.

We also carry a full line of prescription dog and cat foods.

Compounding services are available to transform many oral tablets into a flavored liquid that can be given orally to hard to medicate pets.

At times, prescriptions will be written for medications that are not commonly stocked in our pharmacy.

SURGERY

Routine and general surgeries are performed Monday through Friday by our Veterinarians who are assisted by Licensed Veterinary Technicians.  Surgical procedures are performed in the morning and pet’s are usually discharged the same afternoon.  If emergency surgery is required during business hours, our veterinarians will adjust their schedules to accommodate your pet's urgent healthcare needs.

Your pet’s health is of the utmost importance to our surgeons. That is why:

• The safest gas anesthetic, Isoflurane, is used for all general anesthetic procedures.

• A Licensed Veterinary Technician assists the Veterinarian to continually monitor your pet’s vital signs and breathing during surgical and anesthetic procedures.

• Surgeons dress in caps, masks, sterile gowns and sterile gloves.

• Sterile drapes and instruments are used for each procedure.

• Licensed Veterinary Technicians perform dentistry procedures under the supervision of the veterinarian.

• Dental extractions are performed by our veterinarians.

• Dogs receive pre-surgical and post-surgical pain medication.  Cats are sensitive to the effects of pain medications so our veterinarians use proper care to assure their safety by using pain medications cautiously.

• Pet’s are continually monitored during recovery to assure a safe wake-up.

• Follow-up phone calls are placed the following day to check on your pet’s post-surgical condition and to answer any questions you may have.

Routine surgery recommendation:

• Spay and neuter all cats and dogs at 6 months of age to prevent or minimize unwanted pregnancy, inappropriate urination, aggressive behavior, as well as many other behavioral and medical risks.

• Dentistry for dogs and cats is the same as with people.  They should have yearly dental exams and dental cleanings as recommended by your veterinarian.

• Declawing cats is appropriate in many family environments where children are present or other household factors would prevent a clawed feline from being allowed to be with the human family in any area of the house.

Specialty center referrals:

• There may by occasions when we will refer you and your pet to specialty centers that have board certified surgeons who specialize in orthopedic surgery, ophthalmic surgery, thoracic surgery, and gastrointestinal surgery.

Surgery day guidelines:

• In order to admit a patient for surgery, your pet must be current on vaccinations and have had a recent intestinal parasite exam.  Dogs are required to have a current heartworm test.

• For the health and safety of our patients, our veterinarians recommend pre-surgical blood work for all patients having anesthetic procedures.  Pre-surgical blood work provides diagnostic information that is used to decide on appropriate pre-surgical and post-surgical treatment plans and also to determine what anesthetic and other supportive care that will be used and provided during surgery..

• For the health and safety of our patients, our veterinarians recommend IV fluids for all patients having anesthetic procedures. IV fluids aide in maintaining good blood perfusion to the kidneys and other organs during the anesthetic procedure. IV fluid support also improves a patients speed and quality of recovery.

• A Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) is teamed with the surgery Veterinarian and is assigned to stay with and monitor your pet throughout its anesthetic, surgical, or dental procedure.

• In addition to your pet being physically monitored by a Licensed Veterinary Technician, surgical patients are connected to equipment that monitors the patient's blood pressure, heartbeats per minute, and respirations per minute. A warning alarm will sound if either of these patient vital signs are outside of the normal range.

• During surgical procedures, our patients are placed on a circulating water heating pad to maintain their body temperature.

• Once our patient is safely transported to our surgical recovery area, a healthcare team member is assigned to stay with and monitor your pet throughout the post-surgical wake-up period.

DENTISTRY

As with people, regular dental care to prevent periodontal disease is important to the health of your pet. In addition to home care dental products and dental control diets, routine dental cleaning, polishing, and fluoride treatments can keep your pet's teeth and gums healthy and breath smelling fresh. Dental procedures are performed under anesthetic Monday through Friday.

Dr. Blackwell monitors a dental patient while Vicki, our Head Licensed Veterinary Technician and Certified Veterinary Dental Technician, performs a dental cleaning followed by a fluoride gel application.

Cat and Dog Frequently Asked Dental Questions: What is Periodontal Disease? What is the affect of Periodontal Disease? What are the systems of poor oral health? How is dental disease evaluated? How can dangers of poor oral health be avoided? How are dental cleanings performed? When is it necessary to extract a tooth? How can Periodontal Disease be prevented Dental health care recommendations

Dr. Watson performs a dental examination on Clyde, a one-year old Whippet, who is being monitored for tartar buildup.  Sight hounds are one of several breeds that are prone to dental disease.

HOSPITALIZATION AND NURSING CARE

Occasionally, it may be necessary for your pet to be hospitalized for observation or medical treatment.  We assure you that, during your pet's hospital stay, we take the utmost care to provide your pet with a safe and comforting home-away-from-home.

• Our kennel facilities are cleaned and disinfected following every use.

• Contagious animals are isolated from other hospitalized patients.

• Our Veterinarians and Licensed Veterinary Technicians regularly monitor your pet's health while in our care.

• Oxygen and intensive care is available as needed.

• In addition to quality medical treatment, our staff provides affectionate reassurance for your pet.

• Owners are regularly updated with medical-condition progress reports.

• Clients are encouraged to visit their pets during prolonged hospital stays.

• Patient-specific discharge instructions are carefully reviewed with clients before the patient is discharged.

SPECIALTY CENTER REFERRALS

To provide additional medical care and expertise, Maple Veterinary Hospital veterinarians work closely with board certified veterinary specialists in areas of internal medicine, dermatology, cardiology, neurology, oncology, and orthopedics. 

For the health of your pet, it may be necessary for our doctors to refer you to one of these specialty centers.

NEW PUPPY AND KITTEN PEDIATRIC VISITS

Our goal is to provide our clients with knowledge-based information and medical guidance that will help them make the best healthcare choices for their pets.  Whether you are a first time pet owner or not, you will have many questions about your new puppy or kitten.  That is why Maple Veterinary Hospital veterinarians and staff spend a lot of time educating clients about the medical needs of their new family member.

SENIOR GERIATRIC HEALTHCARE

	Putting Your Pets Healthcare First!!!! means that we want to keep your pet an active and healthy member of your family throughout its life.   In order to maintain optimal geriatric health, our veterinarians recommend following a healthcare program designed specifically for senior pets.
Why Is Early Detection The Key? Pets age very rapidly and major health changes can occur quickly.  The risks of serious medical conditions, such as arthritis, heart disease, obesity, thyroidism, diabetes, and cancer, increase as your pet ages.     Annual care and treatment recommendation for senior pets include: Twice a year examinations are recommended.  One is performed at the time of annual canine and feline vaccinations or at the time of titer testing.  The second exam is recommended six months later to monitor our senior patients so changes due to aging can be monitored and treated to keep your senior pet a healthy active member of the family. Annual intestinal and external parasite examinations are recommended to detect parasites for both dogs and cats. Annual heartworm blood testing is recommended for dogs. Monthly heartworm preventative is recommended for both dogs and cats. Annual wellness blood test is recommended and very important for diagnostic testing for all pets over the age of 5 years.  Periodic blood work is recommended for patients on long-term medications, to monitor that the therapeutic level of the medication is being maintained to maximize your senior pet's health. Annual urinalysis laboratory testing is recommended for detection and monitoring of kidney and bladder disease. frequently Asked Senior Care Questions: Take a short quiz to see if your pet has signs of advanced aging Visit our senior wellness page for more geriatric healthcare information        ALLERGIC SKIN DISEASES Is Your Pet Scratching? If your answer is YES, it could be that your pet has allergies.   Just like humans, dogs and cats can build up sensitivity to normal substances in the environment.  You may notice that your pet has seasonal symptoms that get worse during spring and summer when there are increased amounts of pollen in the air.  Or, your pet may have year-round allergies to allergens found indoors such as house mites or to substances found commonly in pet food.  It is estimated that more than 30% of all skin irritations can be attributed to allergies. What are Allergies? An allergic reaction is one in which an individual reacts to a normal substance in the environment. These substances are called allergens and include, pollens, molds, animal hair, house dust, fleas, foods and many more. Allergens cause reactions through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion. What are the Common Symptoms of Allergies? As with humans, cats tend to show more respiratory symptoms than dogs.  Signs of allergy symptoms usually start with scratching, licking or chewing of the feet, and rubbing of the face.  As the condition advances, scratching and chewing injuries to the skin may lead to bacterial skin infections.  In the case of food allergies, vomiting and diarrhea may be present.   How are Allergies Diagnosed? Our veterinarians will examine your pet and determine an appropriate medical treatment plan.  However, should your pet continues to have chronic skin problems, vomiting, or diarrhea, allergy testing may be recommended. How is the Allergy Test Performed? A sample of blood is drawn and submitted to an outside laboratory that specializes in animal allergy testing.  Your pet's blood serum is tested for sensitivity to inhalant's such as trees, grasses, weeds and shrubs, fungi, house dust and mites, as well as for a host of food types used as ingredients in commercial dog and cat food preparations.   How are the Test Results Reported?   An allergy report is generated that indicates the result for each allergen tested.  The report will indicate if your pet tested negative, borderline, positive, or high positive to each of the allergens tested.   What  is the Treatment for My Pets Allergies?   It is always best to avoid contact with the offending allergen(s).  However, when avoidance is impossible, steroids are often used for short-term relief of symptoms.  Since steroids can have serious side effects, long-term usage is not recommended.  For pets with chronic, prolonged allergy symptoms, hyposensitization is another alternative. Hyposensitization is achieved through allergy injections that are formulated specifically for your pet based on its allergy test results. The injections are given in increasing concentrations to build up your pet's tolerance to the offending allergens.  Allergy injections allow your pet to live more comfortably in its environment without chronic symptoms of scratching, hair loss, and skin irritation.   How Quickly Do the Allergy Injections Work?   Your pet will receive several allergy injections during the first several month of treatment.  In most cases, improvement is seen after 3 to 5 months of treatment, at which stage allergy injections are given monthly.   What if My Pet is Diagnosed with Food Allergies?   Dogs and cats cannot be hyposensitized to foods.  The treatment for food allergies is elimination of the offending food type.  Along with the allergy report, you will be supplied with a list of commercially available foods that are free of the ingredients to which your pet tested positive.   Are There Risks Involved With Allergy Injections?   Adverse reactions are extremely rare.  If an adverse reaction does occur, it should only be temporary and non-life threatening.

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL ORGAN DISEASES

NUTRITION & PRESCRIPTION DIETS

Just as with people, your pet may develop special dietary needs.  We carry a complete range of prescription diets for the following medical conditions:

• Allergies - Some pets have food allergies.  Usually food sensitive pets develop skin problems and a scratch-itch compulsive behavior.  In severe cases, allergy testing may be recommended in conjunction with a special allergy formulated food.

• Diabetes - Diabetic pets require a controlled glucose diet.  Most diabetic patients require insulin injections in addition to a glucose control diet.

• Geriatric Senior Support - As your pet ages, its dietary needs will change.  Just as puppies and kittens need a high-calorie, energetic formula food, senior cats and dogs need extra nutritional support that will help them lead an active and productive life.  Senior support diets are generally rich in fatty acids and other ingredients that help joints stay limber as your pet ages.

• Intestinal Support - Some pets have very sensitive stomachs and frequently suffer from diarrhea.  For these cases, a low-residue diet helps promote normal stool production.

• Kidney Support - For pets with kidney damage, there are special high-protein diets that produce less waste products that the kidneys need to filter.  These special kidney diets help to prevent further degeneration of the kidneys.

• Weight Loss - Just like people, an overweight pet health can have serious health problems.  Weight loss diets are designed as a completely balanced diet with restricted calories.  Weight control diets can be supplemented with low calorie biscuit treats.

HEALTH & BEAUTY AIDES

Maple Veterinary Hospital stocks a large variety of health and beauty aides to keep your pet smelling nice, looking great, and feeling healthy. 

See our aisles of beauty:   

• Shampoo

• Oral Hygiene

• Hairball Remedies

• Urine Control Products

• Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements

• Ear Cleaners

• Heartworm Preventatives

• Flea and Tick Preventatives