Annual Physical Examination / Wellness Exam
We recommend a physical examination for every pet at least once yearly. For pets over seven, twice yearly exams are recommended. During this appointment, our doctors will perform a thorough physical examination and will discuss any particular findings with you. Addressing problems early allows for better resolution of many conditions and helps to prevent recurrence. During your appointment, proper nutrition and body condition issues are addressed, as well as current recommendations for immunizations, flea and tick control and deworming. A fecal sample is also recommended to screen for intestinal parasites. Routine blood and urine testing, if indicated, may also be recommended, especially for animals over seven years of age. Although many medical conditions cause no symptoms initially, other than changes in the blood work, it is important that any lab test abnormalities be addressed once discovered. The annual physical examination is a cornerstone for keeping your pet happy and healthy.
Physical Exam For Illness
Please call for information or an appointment if your pet experiences any changes in his or her health. For example, this might include weight loss, increase or decrease in appetite or thirst, lethargy, vomiting or diarrhea, lameness, changes in bowel or urine habits, or coughing.
Dental Care
Most pets will experience some form of dental disease in their lifetime. This can include gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth abscesses, broken teeth or other conditions. Signs may include salivation, halitosis (bad breath), or decreased appetite. Regular cleanings, as recommended by your veterinarian, may reduce dental disease significantly. Dental disease can affect other organs in the body, causing infection or inflammation of the liver, heart or kidneys. Our state of the art digital xray unit helps us to identify and treat early crown and root disease.
Immunizations
As with people, preventive care is key to long-term health for our pets. Vaccines help provide protection against certain canine and feline illness. Your doctor will discuss with you the necessary and recommended vaccines according to your pet’s individual needs.
Exotic Animal Care
Exotic animals such as birds, rabbits, reptiles, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rodents need yearly check ups too. During this visit, a complete physical examination will be performed on your exotic pet. A stool sample is often recommended to screen for intestinal parasites. In birds, an annual gram stain is performed on the feces to screen for abnormal bacteria, yeast or parasites.
Fish Medicine
We understand that your fish are important members of your family. We offer phone consultations to help you correct any pond or tank abnormalities that might arise. We are equipped to see goldfish and pond fish and perform physical exams and other diagnostics such as fin biopsies, gill biopsies and skin scrape tests.
Surgery
Our hospital is fully equipped to perform most surgeries. We work with a visiting board-certified surgeon who may be consulted to perform complex surgery on selected cases in our hospital.
Radiology
X-rays are an important tool in the diagnosis of many disorders. We use state of the art digital radiography to produce a very high quality digital image within a few seconds. This allows for greater patient comfort with minimal restraint in addition to a rapid diagnosis.
Ultrasound
When indicated, we are able to perform an ultrasound on your pet to examine inner organs for illness. An ultrasound allows the doctors to look at the inside of an organ, such as the heart or liver, and often aids in a quick diagnosis of certain illnesses and disorders. In addition, ultrasound images may be sent to a specialist for consultation.
Cold Laser Therapy
We are proud to offer state of the art Cold Laser Therapy specifically designed to reduce pain, relieve inflammation and restore mobility in our veterinary patients. This exciting technology is cutting edge and allows us to attack and relieve pain in our patients. Because of laser therapy, many pets are able to be weaned off or reduce the amount of medications that they are taking to combat pain. It is completely safe and a painless procedure that can be done right in the office. The benefits are endless.
Veterinary Chiropractic
Chiropractic can be used for prevention and maintenance as well as to treat a variety of conditions and injuries like arthritis, injuries, intervertebral disc disease, hip dysplasia, etc. Chiropractic is a therapy that is done by hand to perform manipulations that correct subluxations. Subluxations are small misalignments of bones typically along the spine. Manipulations are performed using gentle pressure to correct the subluxations place the bones back into the correct alignment. This relieves any pressure on the nervous system allowing the immune system and organs to function optimally.
Veterinary Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be used in addition to conventional medicine to treat a variety of conditions including orthopedic disease, lameness, injuries, neurological conditions, allergies, behavioral problems, anxiety, cancer, and internal medicine conditions. Veterinary acupuncture is an Eastern modality that involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the nervous system and restore balance. In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) the goal of acupuncture is to restore the flow of Qi in the body. At each acupuncture point there is a concentration of free nerve endings, arterioles, lymphatic vessels, and mast cells. These acupuncture points can be stimulated though dry needling, aqua puncture, electrical simulation, and moxibustion. The stimulation of the acupuncture points leads to an endorphin, serotonin release. Some acupuncture effects include but are not limited to fever reduction, GI regulation, decrease in inflammation, blood pressure regulation, stress relief, aging prevention, and performance enhancement.
In House Laboratory Testing
Our hospital is equipped to perform laboratory tests for rapid diagnosis of Feline Leukemia Virus, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, pancreatitis, tick borne diseases (Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis), canine and feline heartworm disease, and certain intestinal parasites through fecal examination. Results of such tests are usually available within 15 minutes. We also have a full-service professional laboratory for more comprehensive testing.
Microchip Placement
We offer a permanent form of identification called Home Again Microchips. These tiny microchips are easy to place and provide an additional means of identification in your pet in case it gets lost.
Hospitalization
We are fully equipped to hospitalize and care for your pet should an illness arise that requires intravenous therapy and monitoring. Our staff is trained to handle all emergencies and manage even the most complicated medical case. Doctors do rounds daily on all in hospital cases and oversee the ongoing treatment of each case. Our doctors communicate regularly with you should your pet be hospitalized for treatment.
Pain Management
The comfort of your pet is very important to us. Our goal is to keep your pet pain free using multi-modal therapeutics as well as acupuncture and laser therapy.
Admit Service
If you need to bring your pet in for an appointment and are unable to do so during scheduled appointment times, or if our schedule is full, you may leave your pet with us for the day. Your pet will be attended to by one of our veterinarians.
Emergencies
Please call our office any time you perceive your pet has an emergency. Alerting us allows us to be fully prepared to treat your pet when you arrive. After hours, please call our daytime telephone number 203-544-9098 and follow the instructions for after hours emergency care.
Board-Certified Specialists Available
Georgetown Veterinary Hospital is closely associated with Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (located in Stamford, Connecticut) should the need arise for specialized diagnostic or surgical procedures.
Phone consultations with Board Certified specialists are available through our Antech Laboratory on a daily basis.
Payment Information
Clients are encouraged to discuss fees and ask for a treatment plan and associated costs before any procedure is done. We ask that you pay in full when any service has been performed. Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. For any unexpected or non-elective procedures, we are happy to provide a treatment plan with estimated costs in advance and discuss payment options before the service is provided.
