In-Home Services

• Physical Exams/wellness exams
• Vaccines
• Health Certificates for travel
• Presurgical evaluation
• Abdominal and Cardiac Ultrasound Diagnostics
• Euthanasia

Species treated:

Domestic small animals

• Dogs
• Cats

Exotics

• Ferrets
• Rodents
• Guinea Pigs
• Rabbits
• Hedgehogs
• Reptiles (snakes, turtles, lizards)
• Prairie Dogs

If your pet has not had a dental checkup recently, you need to bring him or her to our facility as soon as possible. Regular dental exams are essential for finding and treating any issues with your pet’s oral health. The teeth and gums of your pet should be checked at least once a year. We also use anesthesia during dental cleanings, depending on the severity of plaque and tartar around the pet’s teeth.

Apart from dental health checkups, we provide diagnosis and treatment for several types of dental health-related conditions. We offer cleanings, tooth extractions, adjustments, oral repairs, and other types of dental care services. In your pet’s first session with us at Lenox Hill Veterinarians, our veterinarians will perform a comprehensive oral exam of the pet. In some cases, we may require a dental x-ray to complete the diagnosis of the teeth and jawline. Several dental conditions can occur below the gum line, so an x-ray helps provide a complete understanding of your animal’s current oral health.

FAQS

Does My Pet Need Routine Dental Care?
Although you can help with good oral hygiene at home, pets are still susceptible to periodontal disease, bleeding gums, and broken teeth. If these issues are not resolved, they can lead to severe complications for your pet’s health. Our veterinarians will identify potential problems early, which makes treating them easier. We can also recommend ways to promote better oral health at home.

Are There Signs of Dental Issues That I Should Know About?
A pet can show behaviors or symptoms that indicate a dental problem. Some of these symptoms may include:

• Bleeding or red gums
• A loss of appetite or pawing at the mouth
• Drooling more than normal
• Discoloration of the teeth
• Foul breath
• Atypical behaviors such as an inability to sleep or increased aggression

If you notice any of these symptoms, contact one of our veterinarians right away.

How Often Should I Bring My Pet for a Dental Checkup and Cleaning?
Pets should have their teeth examined once per year. However, if your pet has had a history of teeth or gum complications, the frequency may be higher. Preventative care is the best way to avoid a costly procedure and ensure your pet is not experiencing discomfort. Periodontal disease affects cats and dogs as early as the age of three. Not only can it cause damage to your pet’s mouth, but dangerous bacteria can get into the bloodstream, affecting major organs like the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Why Is Anesthesia Used during the Exam and Cleaning?
General anesthesia helps ensure that your pet remains calm during the thorough cleaning and examination. Your pet will not experience any pain and it allows us to complete all of the necessary aspects of dental care. The cleaning includes scaling of the teeth, X-rays, and an inspection of the gums. It would not be possible to do these things without sedation.

Symptoms of Skin Diseases in Pets

Some of the symptoms that indicate a pet has a skin disease include:

• Rash
• Sore skin
• Irritation
• Redness
• Hair loss
• Bumps
• Lumps

Common Dermatology Issues in Pets

Some of the common dermatology conditions in pets include:

Allergies
Pets can be allergic to substances in their environment, such as pollen, mold, dander, and dust. They can also be allergic to certain foods. The most common sign of an allergic reaction is scratching after coming into contact with an allergen. Scratching leads to other conditions such as scabbing and wounds.

Ringworms
Ringworms appear as crusty patches mostly on the head, ears, and paws of dogs. Ringworm is a fungus and can spread to other pets and humans.

Mange
Mange is a pet’s skin condition caused by mites. It makes pets itchy, which leads to scratching and the development of wounds. Mange is contagious to other pets and humans.

Ticks and Fleas
Ticks and fleas suck blood from the body of a pet. Their saliva can cause an allergic reaction, causing your pet to itch profusely. In response to the itching, pets may scratch and chew their fur, which leads to fur falling out.

Preventing Skin Diseases in Pets

It is possible to prevent skin disorders in pets by practicing the following:

• Brushing and washing your pet regularly
• Following parasite prevention measures from a veterinarian
• Feeding pets a high-quality diet
• Getting rid of allergens in the environment
• Avoid giving foods that cause allergic reactions

Frequent wellness exams are also crucial to maintaining your pet’s health. Skin disorders can be identified during these exams, and the necessary measures are taken to prevent the problem from becoming worse.

Common Pet Emergencies

Poison ingestion: If you think your pet may have ingested a poisonous substance, call us immediately. Some of the poisonous substances your animal companion may consume include cleaning supplies, rodenticides, plants, some human foods like chocolate, and human medications.
Severe diarrhea and vomiting: Your pet may vomit or have diarrhea for a variety of reasons including eating something bad, a virus, or intestinal parasites. If your pet is having trouble keeping any fluids down, bring it to us right away.
Injury: Cars, bikes, skateboards, other animals, you name it, accidents can happen to your pets just as easily as they do to people. If your pet is injured, try and keep it calm and bring it to us as soon as possible.
Heatstroke: Heatstroke can be a life-threatening emergency for pets, especially in the summertime. Signs of heatstroke include excessive panting, drooling, vomiting, and seizures. If you think your pet may be suffering from heatstroke, bring it to our animal hospital immediately.
Difficulty breathing: This is a sign of many serious illnesses in pets, including pneumonia, heartworm disease, and others. An assessment by one of our veterinarians can pinpoint the exact problem for suitable treatment.

What to Do In a Pet Emergency

If you are experiencing a pet emergency and need to take your pet to the veterinarian, do the following:

1. Remain calm and assess the situation.
2. Collect any necessary items, such as your pet’s medical records, a leash, and a carrier.
3. Drive or transport your pet to our veterinarian’s office as quickly as possible.
4. If possible, notify us ahead of time that you are coming so we can be prepared to treat your pet.
5. Relax and let our team take care of your pet. We are here to help!

Transmission

Pets can become infected through direct contact with urine from an animal with leptospirosis. Pets can also be infected through contact with contaminated water or soil containing infected urine. Pets are often infected due to drinking or swimming in contaminated water. Leptospira can penetrate through mucous membranes or enter the body through broken skin due to a cut or scratch. Once inside the animal’s body, the bacteria can multiply in its bloodstream and move into the liver and kidney.

Symptoms

Signs of leptospirosis vary from patient to patient. However, we often see infected pets experiencing:

• Anorexia
• Fever
• Weight loss
• Lethargy
• Diarrhea and vomiting
• Jaundice
• Abdominal discomfort
• Acute renal failure
• Depression
• Respiratory distress
• Blood in urine, while uncommon, may still occur

Dogs that have access to lakes, streams, or ponds are more likely to be infected. However, pets can also be exposed to lepto in shelters or other pet care facilities. If you live around wild animals or a body of water, it’s crucial to ensure your pet is properly protected against leptospirosis.

Treatment and Prevention

If your pet is infected, our veterinarians can prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are effective in treating leptospirosis, with most pets responding quickly once administered. The chances for recovery are very good if treated early and aggressively. However, permanent liver damage or kidney failure can occur, requiring intravenous fluid treatment or other possible therapies.

Vaccinations against leptospirosis can prevent your pet from being infected. Although the vaccine does not provide complete protection, it greatly reduces the possible chances of an infection. We recommend that at-risk dogs receive a vaccination for leptospirosis annually. The best way to prevent your dog from a leptospirosis infection is by reducing its exposure to sources of the bacteria.

What Is Rabies?

Rabies is a virus that aggressively attacks the central nervous system. It is carried in saliva, which is why the condition is transmitted so easily via bites by infected animals. Warm-blooded creatures like dogs, cats, and even humans are at risk of rabies infections. Once an animal or human starts showing symptoms of rabies, the disease is often fatal. That’s why it’s essential to prevent your pet from ever getting rabies by ensuring he or she is vaccinated.

Signs of Rabies

It’s important to understand the signs of rabies infections to know when your pet needs emergency care. You should bring your pet to our veterinary clinic as soon as possible if you notice:

• Aggression
• Excessive Drooling
• Awkward Gait
• Paralysis
• Difficulty Swallowing
• Seizures

These are signs that your pet may have already contracted rabies. However, rabies vaccinations prevent this viral disease from being life-threatening.

Rabies Vaccination

The best way to avoid rabies is not only to keep your pet inside and away from harmful animals. However, whether you have an indoor or outdoor animal, all pets are at risk of rabies infections, making vaccinations essential. Booster doses for rabies are required every six months to two years to keep your pet well protected.

What to Do if Your Pet Is Bitten

If your pet is bitten, the first thing you need to do is call our veterinary team. We can tell you if you should bring your pet in for emergency care. Even if your pet has been vaccinated against rabies, you should bring your animal in for a professional assessment. Our veterinarians will assess your pet for any potential health risks and work to ensure he or she is well-protected in the future.

Take All the Tests Offered

One of the reasons why pet surgery is so much safer now than decades ago is that better pre-surgical tests have been developed. If your pet needs to go under general anesthesia, tests will often be done to make sure your pet gets the right anesthesia. Tests can also reveal any health problems that do not show symptoms, like the early stages of heartworm disease.

Prepare a Recovery Room

Depending on the surgery, your pet may need a few days of rest. Your pet will need a warm, quiet place to recover. This room should be shut off from other pets that may bother your recovering pet. Make sure your children know that your pet needs to rest, not play. Pets may need a darker room to help them sleep. Make sure there is clean, warm bedding available, and a litter tray if you have a cat.

Does Your Pet Need to Stop Medication?

If your pet is on daily medicine, ask if this medicine needs to be stopped in the days before surgery. If your pet is diabetic, ask when you can last give insulin, or if the veterinary staff will give insulin. Also, ask how soon after the surgery can your pet go back on the medication.

Fast Your Pet

Pets usually need to fast overnight before surgery. You may also need to take away water bowls. Keep your pet indoors and in a separate room to make sure he or she does not sneak any food. The animal hospital will let you know when you need to start the fast, how soon you can start feeding again, and what diet to give.

Recovery Tips for Dogs

It is important that pets have very limited activity after surgery to not rip open their stitches or injure themselves before their bodies have a chance to heal. Dogs will often run about, especially if they see something exciting, like a squirrel. When your dog needs to go outside to eliminate, place your dog on a leash and go out with your dog to be sure he or she does not run about. Do this every time. It is normal for dogs to have accidents in the home just after surgery.

Why Are Vaccines So Important?

In the last century, animal deaths from communicable diseases have greatly been decreased through the use of animal vaccines. Animals are susceptible to diseases that can be passed on to humans. This puts both pets and their owners at risk. Many state and city laws also require that pets living in certain areas be fully vaccinated for the safety of humans and other animals alike.

When animals become sick with preventable illnesses, it can create greater care expenses for pet owners as well. Although many health benefits come with having your pets properly vaccinated, preventative care also has financial benefits as well when you can avoid additional visits to the animal hospital.

Common Vaccinations

Let’s look at some of the common diseases which can be prevented by vaccination.

• Rabies: Rabies is a highly contagious disease that is common in many different types of wild animals. Although this disease thrives in wildlife, it can easily be passed on to domesticated animals and even people. Rabies is a fatal condition that must be prevented at all costs.
• Distemper: In dogs, distemper can be compared to the flu. It is a virus that affects both the respiratory system as well as the gastrointestinal system. This illness is often seen in the wild but can be spread from dog to dog through coughing or sneezing. Distemper can be a fatal condition.
• Feline Leukemia: This disease only affects cats. Feline leukemia cannot affect other species of animals and it cannot be passed to humans. However, feline leukemia is one of the deadliest diseases in cats.

There are also many vaccinations available that may be needful based on your pet’s environment or lifestyle. For instance, if your pet spends a lot of time outdoors or you travel frequently, you will want to discuss other vaccines worth considering with your veterinarian.