Stuart Sound Animal Hospital

Heartworm is a nasty disease affecting our pets, and mosquitoes transmit it from animal to animal. As the name suggests, heartworms live in the heart, and they can also thrive in the lungs and blood vessels. Because they constrict blood flow, they can damage internal organs and cause lung disease and heart failure.

If your dog contracts heartworms, there is a treatment regimen, but it’s harsh and expensive. Currently, there is no cure for cats.

It only takes one bite to infect your pet with heartworm. The good news is there are a number of steps you as a pet parent can take to decrease your pet’s exposure to mosquitos, including:

• Keeping your property free of standing water
• Cleaning your pet bowls weekly to eliminate the presence of mosquito eggs
• Turning over or covering all recycling bins, buckets, or trash cans

You’ll also want to make sure to keep your pet on heartworm preventative all year round. We carry several effective and affordable heartworm preventatives in our hospital pharmacy and online. We also include a heartworm test in every annual wellness check.

Do you need to stock up on your pet’s favorite heartworm preventative? Is it time to schedule a heartworm test? Give us a call at (772) 287-0024.

Vaccines are your pet’s best defense against a wide array of preventable disease. Some vaccines are considered core vaccines and should be administered to all pets, whereas other vaccines are optional and may be recommended for pets based on a variety of factors, such as their risk for exposure to disease. Vaccine recommendations can also change throughout a pet’s life, as travel habits and other variables change. We will consider all these factors as we determine which vaccines your pet should have.

We understand that your pet is unique and that no single vaccine program will be ideal for every pet in every situation. Our doctors and other staff members are well-educated about veterinary vaccines, and our goal is to give you the best advice for keeping your pet healthy. Let us develop a vaccination schedule and ongoing booster routine that accounts for your pet’s lifestyle, overall health, risk for exposure to infectious disease, and other factors.

If your pet is overdue for their shots, give us a call at (772) 287-0024 to schedule an appointment today.

Radiology, the science of using radiographs or X-rays, to diagnose various internal issues in pets, is a valuable tool in veterinary medicine. As we continually strive to offer the highest quality medicine and diagnostic testing, we are pleased to offer radiology services as a means of providing excellent care to our patients.

Radiography can be used to evaluate almost any organ in the body, including the heart, lungs, and abdominal organs, as well as the bones.

Radiography is painless, safe, and completely non-invasive, and it uses only very low doses of radiation. Because the level of radiation exposure needed to perform radiography is very low, even pregnant females and very young pets can undergo radiography.

Ultrasonography

Ultrasonography is a powerful diagnostic tool that creates an ultrasound, or a real-time image of an animal’s body. This composite reveals important information about internal processes including the circulatory, skeletal and gastrointestinal systems.

When used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools like X-rays, ultrasounds can help identify disease, blockages, skeletal fractures, soft tissue damage and other internal injuries.

An ultrasound works by broadcasting high-frequency sound waves that reflect off your pet’s internal structures. A small probe held against the skin collects the returning signals to create an image of the internal body, most commonly used to examine abdominal organs like the stomach, kidneys, liver, spleen and gallbladder. An ultrasound of the heart, known as an echocardiogram, provides precise information about heart valves, blood flow, chamber size and contractions.

Completely painless and non-invasive, ultrasounds usually require some sedation because the patient must remain completely still. Stuart Sound Animal Hospital employs advanced imaging technologies guaranteeing the highest quality of care for our patients.

Our diagnostic suite is staffed by caring, skilled professionals who will provide state-of-the-art care with compassion and expertise. Call (772) 287-0024 to learn more!

Ever heard the expression that “you are what you eat”? Well the same is true for our pets. A nutrition-rich diet is your pet’s first line of defense and a cornerstone of preventive care. Proper daily nutrition will go a long way in keeping your pet healthy by bolstering the immune system and supporting normal development in younger animals.

Every pet’s nutritional needs are different, based on age, breed, health conditions and lifestyle factors—which can make choosing the right pet food complicated. For example, larger breed dogs have different nutritional needs than smaller breeds, and puppies and kittens should eat much differently than most adult dogs.

At Stuart Sound Animal Hospital, our veterinarians and staff can take the guesswork out of feeding your pets by advising you about what’s right for your animal.

Have questions or concerns about what your pet is eating? Call us (772) 287-0024.

Neutering

Neutering is performed on male cats and dogs. This process castrates the animal, removing their testicles and making them unable to impregnate females. Neutering is advised when your pet is 4-6 months old but can be performed on older animals as well.

Benefits include:

• Placates the animal, reducing aggressive behavior and decreasing dominant tendencies
• Reduces roaming and spraying (territory marking)
• Eliminates the risk of testicular and prostate tumors

Although less invasive than spaying, neutering is still a major medical procedure that requires some recovery time. Recovery may also include pain medication and lethargy is common for the first couple days following the procedure. It’s extremely important that you monitor your pet to prevent the animal from licking or biting the incision to reduce the risk of infection.

Spaying

Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) is a common surgical procedure performed on female cats and dogs and involves removing the patient’s uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes, rendering the animal incapable of reproduction. Stuart Sound Animal Hospital veterinarians recommend spaying your pet at 3-6 months, depending on your dog’s breed and ideally before the patient’s first heat.

 Benefits include:

• Prevents unwanted pregnancies
• Eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine tumors
• Remove the possibility of uterine infections

Spaying is a major surgery requiring 7-10 days of recovery time. Recovery may also include pain medication and lethargy is common for the first couple days following the procedure. A small, green tattoo is applied post-surgery that signifies that the animal is spayed should she ever get lost or taken to a shelter.

Anesthesia

Pain Management and Control

Just like people, pets can suffer lingering effects and discomfort from injury or a surgical procedure.

Stuart Sound Animal Hospital takes treating pain seriously and offers several options to help pets feel better, including medication and alternative therapies. We’ll develop a pain management program that’s customized for your pet’s condition and needs.

Patient Monitoring

Many pet parents are concerned when their pets haver surgery or another procedure that requires anesthesia.

As always, your pet’s safety and comfort is our main priority. While there is some degree of risk with any medical procedure, we utilize the safest available anesthetics and require pre-operative blood testing to ensure that your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia.

We closely monitor all vitals to make sure your pet is safe and unharmed while he or she is under anesthesia, including heart activity, ECG, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory system, and temperature.

In addition, our experienced medical team provides skilled pain management during and after all surgical procedures, to see that your pet recovers quickly and with minimum discomfort.

General Anesthesia

General anesthesia is what is often referred to “putting someone under.” While we understand that many pet parents become nervous when they hear the word “anesthesia,” we can assure you that our highly trained and experienced team takes every precaution to protect your best friend prior to, during, and after anesthesia.

Before administering general anesthesia, we will, of course, conduct a thorough physical exam and the requisite bloodwork to determine that your pet is healthy enough to be put under.

Once your pet is cleared for anesthesia, he or she will be injected with a short-acting agent that leads to a loss of consciousness. We then insert a soft plastic tube into your pet’s windpipe through which oxygen and other gasses will flow. Anesthetized pets and their vital signs are monitored constantly during any and all procedures so that, in the unlikely event of an adverse reaction, we can respond to it immediately.

Have questions about general anesthesia prior to your pet’s appointment? Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (772) 287-0024.

Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia refers to the one-time injection of medication meant to numb a particular area of your pet’s body. We might employ “a local” when giving your pet stiches or performing a biopsy or bone repair.

In contrast to general anesthesia, your pet will be awake the entire time, and, while he or she might feel some pressure at the injection site, there should be no significant pain or discomfort. Side effects are very rare and usually mild.

Our surgeons have experience in both procedures and will consult with you about the preferred method for your pet. The best surgical option for your dog will generally depend on size and age. To learn more about our surgery offerings or to schedule a consultation, give us a call at (772) 287-0024.

Whether your pet is a youngster, a “senior citizen,” or any age in between, wellness examinations provide an excellent opportunity for us to conduct a thorough physical examination and develop a health profile for your pet. This information will help us identify medical problems and any other issues that can affect your pet’s health and quality of life.

A wellness examination includes an evaluation of all of your pet’s major organ systems. We’ll use the wellness visit to ask you questions about your pet’s behavior, appetite, exercise habits, and regular activities at home. This is also an excellent time for us to discuss any routine diagnostic testing that may benefit your pet or to recommend any vaccinations that may be due.

If it’s been over a year since your pet’s last head-to-tail checkup or if they’re due for their shots, give us a call at (772) 287-0024 to schedule an appointment today.

Chew on this: the majority of dogs and cats show some signs of dental disease by the tender age of three. And that’s no laughing matter. Tooth decay, gingivitis, and plaque and tartar build-up can lead to heart, liver, and kidney problems.

At Stuart Sound Animal Hospital, we offer professional ultrasonic cleaning, scaling, polishing and fluoride treatments. We also strongly recommend preventative measures like teeth brushing (using special enzymatic toothpaste), oral rinsing, and special tartar-preventing diets.

Our other oral services include:                                                                                      

• X-Rays
• Tooth extractions
• Minor oral surgery

Periodic dental exams help maintain proper oral hygiene and prevent future problems, especially if you have a pet who won’t tolerate brushing. Interested in learning how to brush your pet’s teeth? Call us at (772) 287-0024 and our veterinarians will be happy to help you get started!

We will want to administer a complete medical assessment in the unfortunate event that you have to bring your pet in for a sick visit.

These assessments, which include a head-to-tail physical exam, as well as blood, urine, and other diagnostic tests, are aimed at diagnosing your pet as efficiently and accurately as possible so that your pet gets relief – and you get peace of mind – that much sooner.

During a complete medical assessment appointment, your Stuart Sound veterinarian will examine not only your pet’s eyes, ears, and skin, but also their neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, and skeletal systems for any irregularities.

If your pet is exhibiting a lack of appetite, lethargy, confusion, vomiting, excessive drooling, shaking or shivering, sudden lameness, or other worrisome symptom, give us a call at (772) 287-0024 to schedule a medical assessment.