Complete Care.
A full suite of medical, surgical, and imaging services.
A full suite of medical, surgical, and imaging services.
OUR COMMITMENT
As an accredited member of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), we have undergone inspections by AAHA to ensure that we comply with the association’s high quality standards of care.
These standards cover nearly every aspect of our hospital, so you can be sure your pet is receiving the best care available.
As an accredited member of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), we have undergone inspections by AAHA to ensure the association’s highest quality of care in every aspect of our practice.
Your pet will likely experience an illness or injury sometime in their active life. Many illnesses can be handled as an outpatient appointment. These patients are assessed on physical examination with your history of concerns and symptoms. We may need to consider some routine lab testing with blood, urine, or stool tests. A treatment plan will be developed and reviewed and in most cases, you and your pet will return home with medications, special diet, and specific instructions to follow.
In some cases, your pet may need more time for testing or evaluation and we may recommend a day admission to the hospital. This will allow our nurses time to perform necessary diagnostic tests and to observe your pet for symptoms. Often treatment will be started with medications to control nausea, pain, or infection. Patients staying for the day are typically discharged in the evening between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm and the doctor will review the recommended at home care with you at discharge.
On occasion the doctor may feel it necessary to admit your pet to the hospital for overnight hospital care for further treatment or perhaps surgery. As pet lovers, we understand how anxious pet owners feel at leaving your pet in an unfamiliar environment. Whether the in-hospital procedure is simple or complex, we respond to your pet with skill and compassion. Every effort is made to help your pet feel comfortable and secure.
The doctor will call you once daily with your pet’s progress and will discuss any changes in treatment plan. In is our intention to honor treatment plans given prior to admission unless we receive permission for additional necessary procedures.
Visitation for animals hospitalized for extended periods is encouraged. There are remarkable changes seen in attitude and appetite when you visit your pet. Visitations work best during early afternoon hours but can be accommodated at any time.
Most animals will require surgery sometime in their lifetime. Our surgical care provides the highest standard of care within veterinary medicine. We recommend preanesthetic lab testing to evaluate kidney and liver function prior to surgery. It is suggested that all animals undergoing general anesthesia receive intravenous (IV) fluid support. This allows us to maintain blood pressure, administer drugs, and keep the animal hydrated throughout the day.
Our surgical suite consists of gas anesthetic machines, EKG, pulse oximeter, blood pressure monitoring, and warm water circulating blanket. A veterinary technician and a veterinary assistant are assigned to each surgical patient to assist the doctor during anesthesia, surgery, and recovery. Post-operative pain management is incorporated into every surgical patient’s treatment plan. The utmost care is taken to provide each patient with sterile, skilled, and compassionate surgery.
Professional dental cleanings (prophylaxis) remove existing plaque and tartar that cause tooth and gum disease. Many people assume all animals have bad breath. Bad breath or halitosis is a sign of tooth and gum disease; which is often uncomfortable and painful. Our veterinary technicians and doctors, with the aid of general anesthesia, can perform ultrasonic cleaning and polishing that will keep your pet’s mouth in good health. We take digital dental radiographs, measure periodontal pockets, clean well under gum lines, and other dental therapies to help fight tooth and gum disease. Dental cleanings will require that your pet stay with us for the day. We believe the benefit to good oral health far outweighs the risk concerning anesthesia, age, and cost. Animals whose teeth are cleaned regularly (every 1 to 2 years) have a longer, happier, and healthier life. As a service to our existing patients, we offer complimentary dental exams when requested.
We provide full-service radiology and ultrasound services. Digital radiographs can be taken while in the hospital or for an outpatient appointment. In addition to accidents or illness, we routinely offer hip screens or elbow screens to evaluate for early dysplasia. Radiographs can be submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals if breeding is considered.
Our diagnostic ultrasound provides us with advanced information regarding suspected disease. We can image all of the organs within the abdomen to look for gastrointestinal disease, tumors, fluid, or other abnormalities. Ultrasound imaging provides us with more detailed information than we can obtain from standard radiographs. Biopsies can be guided via ultrasound as an alternative to a surgical approach. Our doctors have received additional training in veterinary diagnostic ultrasound techniques.
Lakewood Animal Health Center is happy to provide services in the area of both grooming and boarding.
Professional grooming services are part of our complete health program. Our staff groomers work with all breeds, providing clipping, bathing, nail trims, ear cleaning, and comb-outs. Sending animals home that look great on the outside and are healthy on the inside is our goal.
Our boarding area allows your pet to be in a clean, supervised area while you are away. We put the veterinarian in charge to be certain your pet has professional care and personal attention during your absence.
Reservations for boarding should be made at least three weeks in advance during the summer and certain holidays. We require your pet to be current on vaccinations. If your animal is on a diet other than Science Diet, please bring in sufficient food for their stay, as any change in diet can lead to digestive upset. You may bring security objects your pet will enjoy during his/her stay.
Our boarding fees include housing, three daily outdoor walks, feeding, and medicating. Prices are dependent on weight and size of room or run. We offer discounted boarding baths for dogs staying less than 5 nights and complimentary bathing for dogs staying 5 nights or more. Please call our office for current pricing and if your pet has any special medical needs.
Our indoor play and exercise room allows you to schedule free play during your dog's stay. Playtime is supervised by trained staff and allows your pet additional opportunities to play with other dogs or simply enjoy additional cuddle time or extended walks.
We want to welcome your family member to Lakewood Animal Health Center for their boarding stay!
We want your pet to be comfortable while boarding so we provide them with clean, indoor enclosures with bedding and size appropriate cots. We keep your feeding schedule and take them for outdoor walks three times per day.
If your pet is on a special diet, please bring an appropriate amount of the diet to last a little over their intended boarding stay. We provide low-fat adult dry food at no additional cost. Please let us know if your pet has any food allergies. Medications need to be clearly labeled in the original prescription container with the name of the drug and dosage instructions.
While many owners desire their pet to have their bed from home, we would have you reconsider. Our bedding is easily washable and easily disinfected for proper hygiene. When in a different environment many dogs will actually soil or chew up their bed from home. Boarding anxiety and excitement can make a dog do things they normally would never do.
Please bring all personal items clearly labeled with your pet's first and last name. Any unlabeled toys, treats or bedding will be labeled by our staff.
We want our hospital to be your trusted pet's home away from home and want it to be a positive experience for everyone!
For more information or to schedule your next appointment.
