Wellness Exam and Vaccines for Dogs and Cats:
We do a comprehensive nose to tail detailed physical exam on every pet we see. Yearly exams are emphasized to note any changes from the previous year. It is true that pets age faster than people, so a year’s time can sometimes equal seven years in a pet’s aging. As pets enter their senior years, twice yearly exams may be recommended. We recommend all pets be on heartworm prevention every month. Fleas are also a health issue where we live, so we have many options for flea and tick prevention.
We also provide the vaccines for dogs and cats of all life stages. Vaccinating your pet is a relatively inexpensive but essential way to protect pet’s health. It’s important to administer vaccinations when pets are puppies and kittens because their young immune systems are still developing and need protection to stay healthy. While any medical treatment involves some degree of risk, in the case of vaccinations, the benefits far outweigh any potential side effects. Adverse reactions are rare and usually mild and short-term when they do occur. Our veterinarian can explain what to watch for in your pets after they are vaccinated.
Medical Care and Emergency/Urgent Care:
We are fully equipped to take care of the sick pets. Just like people pets can also be affected by many internal diseases. Such diseases include diabetes, hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism, adrenal diseases, autoimmune diseases, kidney disease, liver disease, etc. Many of these diseases require blood tests, urine tests, radiographs, etc. to diagnose. We have in-house and outside laboratory capabilities to run these tests. We can discuss your pet’s symptoms and test results on an individual basis and can also take help of specialists available in the area.
We see urgent care and emergency cases on priority to save the precious lives. Some common emergencies are allergic reaction, trauma/injury, cut/lacerations or other wounds, heat stroke, breathing problems, seizures, bloat, collapse/ not walking, struggling to urinate etc. If possible, call on your way to let us know the type of emergency and if you will need assistance getting into the building and your E.T.A.
Surgery: Spay, Neuter and Much More:
A short list of procedures offered at Harmony Pet Clinic are: spays and neuters, declaws, tumor removals and lumpectomies, biopsies, exploratory, foreign bodies in digestive tract, splenectomy, bladder stone surgeries, wound repairs, amputations, eye surgeries, ear hematoma, hernia repairs, etc. If your pet is in need of a surgical procedure, please call us and we will discuss the procedure with you and recommend treatment plan options. We are strong believers of pain control during and after the surgery and we strive to minimize patient discomfort. We do a thorough physical exam and pre-anesthetic blood testing on your pet before surgery to ensure they are healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. We also adjust the amount and type of anesthetic used depending on the health of your pet. All our surgical patients receive IV fluids during their procedure, and if serious problems are detected, surgery will be postponed.
Dental Cleaning under Anesthesia:
By age three, most dogs and cats have some evidence of periodontal disease. Periodic dental exams and cleanings help maintain proper oral hygiene and prevent future problems and can spare your pet possible tooth loss and chronic pain. There’s also evidence that good dental health can help your pet live longer. We perform dental cleanings under general anesthesia, extractions if needed, and certain oral surgeries. Dental cleaning is done with an ultrasonic scaler to remove the plaque and the teeth are then polished. We also carry toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental chews to help you develop a good dental hygiene routine for your pet.
Today’s modern anesthetic monitors and new drugs have made anesthesia much safer than in the past. We do a thorough physical exam and pre-anesthetic blood testing on your pet before anesthesia to ensure they are healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. We also adjust the amount and type of anesthetic used depending on the health of your pet. All our anesthesia patients receive IV fluids during their procedure, and if serious problems are detected, anesthesia will be postponed. If you have any concerns regarding anesthesia, or if your pet has had problems in the past while under anesthesia, please inform us so we can discuss these issues with you.
Skin Diseases (allergies/itching) and Ear Infections:
While not usually life threatening, allergies in dogs do cause discomfort. Most symptoms are associated with dermatologic problems but some can also lead to ear problems, digestive issues and chronic respiratory issues in some dogs. If your pet is itching more often than they should, licking paws, or you notice anything unusual about your pet’s skin, please call to set up a consultation and examination. Allergies are as common in pets as they are in people in the Gulf Coast environment. We would love to help with any of your pet’s skin issues. We can also do allergy testing if indicated for your pet. Ear infections can also be results of underlying allergies. We can test for ear infection with ear cytology and accordingly treat the pet. We also have special foods for pets who have food allergies.
Geriatric and Arthritic Care:
Pets are living longer and that’s a good thing. At Harmony Pet Clinic old age is not considered a disease. But as dogs age, just like people, nutritional needs change. Maybe they need some changes around the house because they’re developing some arthritis, weight gain, hearing and cataract/vision problems etc. In addition older dogs also have more dental problems, have higher chance of developing kidney disease or heart problems. Fortunately, we have many ways to help our aging friends. Many products have become available to help with arthritis. If your pet is slowing down, appearing “stiffer” on rising, or just not able to run or exercise like they used to do, please call us. We would like to help. We also recommend yearly blood work, urinalysis, fecal test and x-rays to find early onset of diseases to better manage them.
In-House Lab with Digital X-rays:
Harmony Pet Clinic utilizes a state-of-the-art in-house laboratory, fully equipped with the best analyzers available to the veterinary practitioner. We are able to run a wide variety of blood tests including but not limited to: general health profiles, pre-anesthetic profiles, thyroid tests, clotting factors, canine and feline pancreatitis testing, heartworm testing, FeLV and FIV testing for cats and many more. Having a wide spectrum of testing in house means health issues are discovered and addressed more quickly, often during the same visit. Digital Radiographs, or x-rays, are a diagnostic tool that allows us to see a snapshot of the internal organs. X-rays are often used to detect foreign body ingestion, urinary bladder stones, abdominal or chest tumors, heart size and shape, changes in the lungs that could indicate cancer or pneumonia, and many other disease processes. When needed we can also take help of external reference laboratories and board certified radiologists.
In-House Pharmacy:
We have a in-house pharmacy stocking all commonly prescribed medications including injectables, providing a one stop shop for quality pharmaceuticals. We also stock a variety of heartworm, flea and tick preventatives, to protect your pet from harmful, and sometimes fatal, parasites common in our area. We also carry 12 months heartworm prevention injection called ProHeart12. Most vets have a well stocked pharmacy for their patients. It is best to get your pet’s prescription filled at your veterinary hospital. Some drugs that need to be compounded or flavored have to be made and then either picked up or mailed to you. For refills on medications, call us one week before you run out. Your pet may need to have occasional blood tests to make sure he/she is on the correct dosage throughout the prescribed treatment. We carry only high quality medicines that are backed by scientific research and data. Come visit us or call us to find more about the products we offer.
Nutrition and Behavior Counseling:
Just as with humans, a pet’s nutritional needs change with age and lifestyle and can also be based on a medical condition. Nutrition is an important component of preventative medicine and life-long good health and can provide therapeutic support to pets with certain medical conditions or nutritional needs. Stage of life diets (puppy/kitten, adult, and senior diets) as well as diets designed for special health conditions (diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, food allergies, arthritis, etc.) have been developed that increase the quality of life for our pets. Generally, we consider a dog senior after 7 years. Every Senior is different in aging and nutrition needs. Some senior dogs may have health concerns they have developed over the years that may require special diets. We carry and recommend a variety of quality foods from companies we know do extensive nutritional research on their foods and formulas.
Puppy training and adult dog training play a key role in helping you to raise a well-behaved and socially adjusted canine companion. Behavior issues are something most pet owners face at one time or another and sadly, they can create such frustration it breaks the bond between pet and person. Initially, it’s always important to rule out a medical or physical cause for the behavior, especially if it is a sudden change. Pets can’t tell you when something is wrong, so the behavior could be the symptom of a serious health problem. If you notice your pet acting abnormally you should schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible.
Microchip and Health Certificates:
Did you know that nearly one in three pets will become lost during their lives? Even if you have a collar with ID tags on your pet, it can easily be lost or taken off. Not so with microchip implants, which are an incredibly easy and inexpensive way to find lost pets. Microchipping is a simple process that can be done as part of a routine office exam. The microchip is contained in a biocompatible capsule smaller than a grain of rice that’s non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and completely safe. Microchips are rated for 25 years, meaning they never need to be replaced or recharged during your pet’s lifetime. The likelihood of a lost pet being reunited with their family is greatly increased if the pet has a microchip with the most recent contact information for the owner. It is important to note that 90% of microchipped pets will be returned to their families and homes. At our veterinary clinic we have located the families of near 100% of lost pets that have a microchip and are brought to us for a scan.
Travelling with your pet? We can provide you the health certificate for your pet. Call us to make an appointment and know more about our health certificate process.
Bathing, Nail Trim, Ear Cleaning, Anal Gland Expression etc:
We also offer bath services for your pets. Nail trims, anal gland expressions and ear cleanings are done along with a bath or on their own. If anal glands are not cleaned naturally they can be irritated and get infected. One of the sign of irritated anal glands is scooting or rubbing bottom on the floor. We can also provide flea prevention medicines at bath time if needed. We also offer nail dremmeling and “Furminator” treatments. For pet with skin problems we offer medicated bath with specialty shampoos. We can also do sanitary clips and remove hair mats. We like our pet guests to feel good and look good, too! At Harmony Pet Clinic the pets need to be up-to-date on core vaccines including rabies vaccine to get the above mentioned services done.
Euthanasia and Cremations:
Making the decision to relieve a pet’s suffering with euthanasia is a difficult one. At Harmony Pet Clinic, our veterinarian and staff are committed to supporting families during this process.
Our euthanasia services are available only at the clinic, and we do offer several options for general or private cremation of your pet through our end-of-life partners. You can also get the ashes of your cremated pet returned in an urn to you after private cremations.
