Wellness Care
Vaccinations are extremely important in maintaining your pet’s health and preventing diseases, whether they are an adult or it is time for their first round of shots. Our vaccination protocols are tailored to your pet’s lifestyle based on their activities. Factors such as whether your pet is active outdoors or if they have direct contact with other pets at a groomer or boarding facility will help us determine which vaccines your pet needs.
Regular preventive dental care keeps your pet’s teeth and gums healthy. At your pet’s annual exam, we will inspect their teeth and gums for tartar, plaque, tooth decay, fractures, or infection. In addition, we also provide a follow up dental cleaning at our clinic. Our veterinarians strongly recommend at-home dental care, and we can discuss how to properly care for your pet’s teeth and gums at home.
We will review your pet’s current eating habits and body condition score to ensure they have a healthy, balanced lifestyle and diet to maintain the best health for your pet. We will also discuss play and exercise to make sure your pet is getting enough physical activity.
Parasite Prevention & Control
An annual fecal and blood sample examination is recommended to make sure your dog is free of internal parasites. Internal parasites can be very harmful and potentially transmitted to your loved ones. Our in-house pharmacy has the safest monthly preventative treatments for heartworm, fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your pet.
We always want to establish the health of your new pet and ensure that the latest addition to the family receives everything they need to have a healthy start. Puppy and kitten wellness health care starts with a comprehensive physical exam. Our veterinarians will then develop a vaccination protocol based on your new pet’s life style. Other recommendations may be made such as intestinal parasite screening, de-worming and how to control and prevent external and internal parasites such as fleas and ticks. We work together with a local hospital to offer a comprehensive pharmacy, diagnostic lab, and vaccinations.
A pet’s developing immune system makes them more vulnerable to illness, so please ask our veterinarians about a schedule of preventative treatment that is best for your new pet’s first few months of life. From then, we recommend that you bring your puppy or kitten in at least once a year to ensure that he or she is maintaining a course of good health.
The first exam is also the perfect time to address any questions or concerns you have regarding your new pet’s health. We are more than happy to discuss topics such as diet and nutrition, behavioral issues, house training, microchipping and vaccinations.
We ask that you bring the health information provided to you by the seller or shelter on your first visit with us, which should include a previous history of vaccines and deworming, as well as a fresh stool sample.
Specialty Care
If your pet undergoes an orthopedic procedure, the post surgery rehabilitation can be equally important. Studies show less pain and faster recovery with post operative acupuncture therapy, passive range of motion exercises, as well as individualized rehabilitation depending on the surgery performed. We can perform rehabilitation assessments and direct patients in the right direction toward a full recovery!
We are available to come to your home with all rehabilitation devices, reducing stress and anxiety in the post operative patient.
We have experience rehabilitating a range of conditions and are here to help your pet return to being active in the “boat” in no time.
Dr. Erica provides compassionate and attentive acupuncture treatments for dogs, cats, and horses. Veterinary acupuncture is a safe treatment that works with traditional veterinary medicine to help treat various health conditions. Most patients tolerate treatment very well. In fact, many pets become relaxed (and even sleepy!)
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture needles are inserted into acupuncture points, or areas where nerve tissue bundles and blood vessels meet. Stimulating a nerve at an acupuncture point induces reactions that modulate pain signaling, dilate blood vessels increasing blood supply and release chemical substances that can work to repair damaged tissue. Acupuncture also releases pain relieving hormones such as serotonin, creating a widespread reduction in pain sensation.
What conditions does acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture can help treat many health conditions your pet may be experiencing including chronic and acute pain, musculoskeletal diseases (soft tissue injuries, neck and back pain, arthritis), neurologic diseases (seizures, intervertebral disk disease, nerve injuries/paralysis), post-operative surgical healing, general weakness, and behavioral problems.
How many treatments will my pet need?
The number of treatments your pet may need before seeing an improvement in your pet’s health will depend on their medical history and current condition. Acupuncture is a complementary process and works in conjunction with traditional veterinary medicine. It may be necessary to combine various treatments and therapies to achieve the desired goal. Generally, your pet will start with a more frequent treatment schedule and begin to require fewer treatments as their condition improves.
Contact us today if you have any questions regarding our acupuncture services and whether acupuncture may be right for your pet
When diagnosing a pet, they can’t tell us what is wrong, so at YVVS it is our job to perform diagnostic medicine to find out why your pet hasn’t been acting like themselves. Radiographs (x-rays) can show us so much about your pet internally, helping us create an accurate treatment plan and getting your pet to feeling better as quickly as possible. We now have access to bring the technology of radiographs to the comfort of your own home!
An ultrasound examination, also known as ultrasonography, is a non-invasive imaging technique that allows internal body structures to be seen by recording echoes or reflections of ultrasonic waves (VCA).
YVVS is continuously growing as new technology comes out. We are excited to have recently added a mobile FAST scan ultrasound machine that we can use to help diagnose your pet, while never leaving your home.
Quality of Life Care
It is important to us that we can provide care for all stages of your pets life. We are always available to help you with the care of your geriatric family member. The decision to enter into a hospice care plan can only be made once we have consulted and carefully considered all the treatment options.
This includes compassionate pain management and palliative care, communication and decision making, and humane euthanasia if needed. We are always available to come to your home for these services.
Many families choose hospice care in order to have the time to say goodbye to their companions, and to ensure that all the decisions about your pet’s needs are guided by a joint view of what is in your pets best interest.
Our goals are to provide the best personal care we can give to all family members by
- Providing patients with a safe and caring experience in a familiar environment, surrounded by loved ones
- Providing pain control and physical comfort to the pet, as well as educational and emotional support for the family until a natural death occurs or euthanasia is chosen
- Allowing families the time they need to cope with their pet’s progressive disease and help prepare them to say goodbye in the comfort of their own home