Veterinary Services
Wellness & Preventative Care
As a part of your pet's yearly physical examination, wellness test is performed.. This is specialized blood testing to detect underlying health problems, sometimes before you have even detected changes in your pet.
This exam performed to check your pet from head to tail. During your pet's examination, Dr. Brandon will check your pet's teeth and gums, listen to their heart and lungs, ears, and feeling for any abnormalities, such as lumps and bumps. This is a great time to discuss any concerns you have about your pet's health!
Annual testing is performed on your pet. A fecal exam is done to check for intestinal parasites, such as worms, and a blood test is used to detect heartworms.
Vaccinations
DA2PP, Rabies (yearly), Leptospira, Bordetella (oral), Canine Influenza.
FVRCP, FeLV, Rabies (yearly). We carry recombinant FeLV and Rabies vaccines without adjuvants for our feline patients.
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Dermatology & Allergy Care
Skin and ear problems are among the most common reasons pets visit the veterinarian, and persistent itching can significantly affect a pet’s quality of life. We diagnose and treat a variety of dermatologic conditions, including allergies, recurrent ear infections, bacterial and fungal infections, hair loss, and chronic skin disease.
Our goal is not simply to control the symptoms, but to identify contributing causes whenever possible and develop a long-term plan to keep your pet comfortable.
If your pet is missing patches of fur, this is an indication that it may have a skin issue. Many pets will bite or scratch at an area of the body that feels itchy or painful. Take a closer look at the skin in the spots where fur is missing to determine whether your pet has a rash, dry skin, or fleas.
Fleas are quite bothersome when they infest a pet's body. If your pet has fleas, this problem needs to be addressed before the skin can heal. Fleas bite the skin, leaving behind a sore area that often causes extreme itchiness. Our vet will provide your pet with flea and tick medication to eliminate existing fleas and stop new ones from taking residence in its fur. Many times, skin issues will become resolved after a flea treatment is given.
If you feel raised bumps on your pet's skin when you run your hand across its body, your pet may be dealing with allergies causing a reaction. Keep track of the food you feed your pet, the grooming supplies you use regularly, and the environment your pet is exposed to. If there are changes to any of these points, it may be causing a skin reaction. You can then eliminate that trigger from your pet's daily activities to see if the rash subsides. If it does not, contact our veterinarian for an evaluation.
A pet with dry skin is likely to suffer from itchiness. You will be able to notice pieces of dry skin in your pet's fur if you part it to take a closer look at the condition of its body. If your pet has a dry skin issue, refrain from excessive grooming sessions, as shampoos will strip away essential oils necessary to keep the skin soft and smooth.
Dentistry
Dental health is an important part of your pet’s overall health and comfort. Our dental services include comprehensive oral examinations, professional dental cleaning, digital dental X-rays, treatment of periodontal disease, and dental extractions when necessary.
Dental X-rays allow our veterinarians to evaluate tooth roots and structures below the gumline that cannot be assessed by visual examination alone. This helps us identify painful or diseased teeth and provide more complete dental care for your pet.
Your pet’s teeth should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian for early signs of a problem and to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.
Have your pet’s teeth checked sooner if you observe any of the following problems:
- bad breath
- broken or loose teeth
- extra teeth or retained baby teeth
- teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar
- abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth
- reduced appetite or refusal to eat
- pain in or around the mouth
- bleeding from the mouth
- swelling in the areas surrounding the mouth
Some pets become irritable when they have dental problems, and any changes in your pet’s behavior should prompt a visit to your veterinarian. Always be careful when evaluating your pet’s mouth, because a painful animal may bite.
Although cavities are less common in pets than in people, they can have many of the same dental problems that people can develop:
- broken teeth and roots
- periodontal disease
- abscesses or infected teeth
- cysts or tumors in the mouth
- malocclusion, or misalignment of the teeth and bite
- broken (fractured) jaw
- palate defects (such as cleft palate)
Periodontal disease is the most common dental condition in dogs and cats – by the time your pet is 3 years old, he or she will very likely have some early evidence of periodontal disease, which will worsen as your pet grows older if effective preventive measures aren’t taken. Early detection and treatment are critical, because advanced periodontal disease can cause severe problems and pain for your pet. Periodontal disease doesn’t just affect your pet’s mouth. Other health problems found in association with periodontal disease include kidney, liver, and heart muscle changes.
It starts with plaque that hardens into tartar. Tartar above the gumline can often easily be seen and removed, but plaque and tartar below the gumline is damaging and sets the stage for infection and damage to the jawbone and the tissues that connect the tooth to the jaw bone. Periodontal disease is graded on a scale of 0 (normal) to 4 (severe).
The treatment of periodontal disease involves a thorough dental cleaning and x-rays may be needed to determine the severity of the disease. Your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary dentist will make recommendations based on your pet’s overall health and the health of your pet’s teeth, and provide you with options to consider.
Anesthesia allows our veterinarians to perform a thorough and safe dental examination and cleaning, including areas below the gumline where dental disease often hides. It also keeps your pet comfortable and still while dental X-rays, scaling, polishing, and any necessary extractions are performed.
Have your pet’s teeth checked sooner if you observe any of the following problems:
- bad breath
- broken or loose teeth
- extra teeth or retained baby teeth
- teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar
- abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth
- reduced appetite or refusal to eat
- pain in or around the mouth
- bleeding from the mouth
- swelling in the areas surrounding the mouth
Some pets become irritable when they have dental problems, and any changes in your pet’s behavior should prompt a visit to your veterinarian. Always be careful when evaluating your pet’s mouth, because a painful animal may bite.
There are many pet products marketed with claims that they improve dental health, but not all of them are effective. Talk with your veterinarian about any dental products, treats, or dental-specific diets you’re considering for your pet, or ask your veterinarian for their recommendation. Prevention of the most common oral disease in pets consists of frequent removal of the dental plaque and tartar that forms on teeth that are not kept clean. Regularly brushing your pet’s teeth is the single most effective thing you can do to keep their teeth healthy between dental cleanings, and may reduce the frequency or even eliminate the need for periodic dental cleaning by your veterinarian. Daily brushing is best, but it’s not always possible and brushing several times a week can be effective. Most dogs accept brushing, but cats can be a bit more resistant – patience and training are important.
Sick & Urgent Care
Emergency Care
Surgery
Riverside Animal Hospital provides a variety of routine surgical procedures, including spays, neuters, minor mass removals, wound repair, and other common soft-tissue surgeries. Patient safety and comfort are central to every procedure, with individualized anesthesia protocols, careful monitoring, pain management, and attentive postoperative care throughout the surgical process.
Riverside Animal Hospital offers advanced soft-tissue surgical capabilities for patients requiring procedures beyond routine surgery. We perform a variety of advanced procedures, including gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV/bloat) surgery, total ear canal ablation (TECA), perineal urethrostomy, cholecystectomy, gastrointestinal and intestinal foreign body surgery, cystotomy, splenectomy, complex mass removal, brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) surgery, cesarean sections (C-sections), enucleation, surgical artificial insemination, and other advanced soft-tissue procedures.
Our surgical suite is equipped with advanced electrosurgical technology, allowing for precise tissue dissection and rapid control of bleeding. This technology can reduce blood loss and improve surgical efficiency, helping shorten anesthesia time and minimize tissue trauma while supporting a smoother postoperative recovery.
Every surgical patient is individually evaluated so that we can determine the safest and most appropriate surgical and anesthetic approach for their specific condition.
Diagnostics
Getting the right diagnosis is the first step toward effective treatment. Riverside Animal Hospital offers convenient diagnostic testing for both healthy and sick pets, including bloodwork, urinalysis, parasite screening, heartworm testing, cytology, and other routine laboratory testing.
Many tests can be performed quickly, allowing our veterinarians to make informed treatment decisions without unnecessary delays.
When a pet’s condition requires a closer look, Riverside Animal Hospital offers advanced diagnostic capabilities to help identify the underlying problem. Our services include digital radiography, ultrasonography, and advanced laboratory testing.
By combining advanced diagnostic technology with a thorough clinical evaluation, we can investigate complex medical conditions and develop more targeted treatment plans for our patients.
Hospitalization
Senior Pet Care
As pets age, their healthcare needs change. Regular examinations and diagnostic screening can help identify age-related conditions before obvious symptoms develop.
Our senior pet care focuses on early detection and management of conditions such as arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, endocrine disorders, and other chronic illnesses. By identifying changes early, we can often intervene sooner and help maintain your pet’s comfort and quality of life throughout their senior years.
Internal Medicine
Some medical conditions require more extensive investigation and ongoing management. Riverside Animal Hospital provides medical care for a wide range of acute and chronic diseases involving the gastrointestinal, urinary, endocrine, respiratory, and other body systems.
Whether we are investigating an unexplained illness or managing a long-term condition such as diabetes or kidney disease, our veterinarians combine physical examination findings with laboratory testing and advanced diagnostics to develop an individualized treatment plan.
Pain Management & Arthritis Care
Pain can significantly affect a pet's mobility, behavior, and overall quality of life. We provide individualized pain-management plans for pets experiencing arthritis, injuries, postoperative discomfort, and other painful conditions.
Treatment may incorporate medications, advanced laser therapy, weight and lifestyle recommendations, joint-support strategies, and ongoing monitoring. Our goal is to help patients remain comfortable, active, and able to enjoy the activities they love.
Hospitalization & Medical Care
Some illnesses require more intensive treatment than can be provided during a routine outpatient visit. Riverside Animal Hospital provides hospitalization and medical care for patients requiring intravenous fluids, injectable medications, diagnostic monitoring, supportive care, and continued veterinary treatment.
Riverside Animal Hospital is not staffed 24 hours a day. Our veterinarians evaluate each hospitalized patient individually and discuss appropriate monitoring and overnight-care options with owners when necessary.
Pharmacy & Preventative Medications
For your convenience, Riverside Animal Hospital maintains an in-house pharmacy with many commonly prescribed medications and veterinary preventatives. We provide medications for acute and chronic conditions as well as heartworm, flea, tick, and intestinal parasite prevention.
Our veterinary team can help select medications and preventative products appropriate for your pet based on their age, lifestyle, medical history, and individual health needs.
OFA Health Screenings
Riverside Animal Hospital offers OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) health screenings for dogs being evaluated for breeding or breed-specific inherited conditions. Depending on your dog’s needs, OFA testing may include hip and elbow radiographs, basic cardiac evaluation, patellar evaluation, and other recommended OFA health screenings.
Our team will help you determine which evaluations are appropriate, perform the necessary examinations or diagnostic imaging, and assist with the documentation needed for submission to the OFA.
Whether you are a responsible breeder working toward health clearances or simply want additional information about your dog’s orthopedic and hereditary health, we’re here to help.
