Kennels are required to make sure that your pet is healthy and is up-to-date on its immunizations. That requires a trip to the vet if you haven't had a recent appointment.

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition of dogs, cats, and other species of mammals. The parasite that causes heartworm disease is Dirofilaria immitis. It is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. The adult stage of the parasite is found in the heart and major blood vessels of infected animals.

Canine heartworm infection has been found by veterinarians in dogs in all 50 States. All dogs regardless of their age, sex, or habitat are susceptible to heartworm infection. However the highest infection rates (up to 45%) in dogs not maintained on heartworm preventive are found within 150 miles of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast from Texas to New Jersey and along the Mississippi River and its major tributaries. That means dogs in the St. Louis, MO area are highly at risk.

Since heartworm is such a significant problem in the St. Louis area, the veterinarian at Hope Animal Hospital wants to encourage preventative treatments for heartworm. That is why Hope Animal Hospital offers FREE Heartworm prevention treatments for pets that have regular checkups.

Free Heartworm Prevention Program For Dogs

At Hope Animal Hospital we want to reward pet parents that provide the recommended care for their pets. Dogs that receive the following care at Hope Animal Hospital will be provided free Interceptor to prevent heartworms and some intestinal parasites. The following schedules will earn free heartworm prevention.

First six months:

• Examination
• DHPP Vaccination 1 year or 3 year
• Rabies Vaccination 1 year or 3 year
• Bordetella Vaccination 1 year
• Fecal Examination
• Heartworm/Ehrlichia/Lyme Disease/Anaplasma Test

Or if your pet has three year vaccinations at Hope Animal Hospital it would be:

• Examination
• Bordetella Vaccination
• Fecal Examination
• Heartworm/Ehrlichia/Lyme Disease/Anaplasma Test

Second six months:

• Examination
• Fecal Examination
• Mini Blood Profile

If you would like to upgrade your heartworm prevention to purchase Advantage Multi to control heartworms, intestinal parasites in addition to providing flea control we will only charge you the difference in price between Advantage Multi and Interceptor.

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition of dogs, cats, and other species of mammals. The parasite that causes heartworm disease is Dirofilaria immitis. It is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. The adult stage of the parasite is found in the heart and major blood vessels of infected animals.

Canine heartworm infection has been found by veterinarians in dogs in all 50 States. All dogs regardless of their age, sex, or habitat are susceptible to heartworm infection. However the highest infection rates (up to 45%) in dogs not maintained on heartworm preventive are found within 150 miles of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast from Texas to New Jersey and along the Mississippi River and its major tributaries. That means dogs in the St. Louis, MO area are highly at risk.

Since heartworm is such a significant problem in the St. Louis area, the veterinarian at Hope Animal Hospital wants to encourage preventative treatments for heartworm. That is why Hope Animal Hospital offers FREE Heartworm prevention treatments for pets that have regular checkups.

Free Heartworm Prevention Program For Cats

At Hope Animal Hospital we want to reward pet parents that provide the veterinarian recommended care for their pets. Cats that receive the following care at Hope Animal Hospital will be provided free Interceptor to prevent heartworms and some intestinal parasites. The following schedules will earn free heartworm prevention.

First six months:

• Examination
• RCP Vaccination 3 year
• Rabies Vaccination 1 year
• Fecal Examination
• Heartworm Test

Or if your pet has three year vaccinations at Hope Animal Hospital it would be:

• Examination
• Rabies Vaccination 1 year
• Fecal Examination
• Heartworm Test

Second six months:

• Examination
• Fecal Examination
• Mini Blood Profile
• Thyroid Blood Test

Many times cat owners like to upgrade the heartworm prevention to Advantage Multi. Advantage Multi is applied on the skin and includes flea prevention. Ask for Advantage Multi and we will only charge you the difference in the price between Advantage Multi and Interceptor.

Your puppy needs to see the veterinarian as soon as you know you are receiving a new member of the family. Immediate concerns are parasites and contagious diseases. Parasites are not only life threatening to your puppy but they can put your family at risk for serious disease also. Providing your puppy protection from contagious diseases as soon as possible helps keep it safe and healthy.

At this point please keep your puppy at home and away from other dogs and areas where dogs congregate, such as pet stores and parks. Adult dogs can pass contagious diseases to a puppy even if they seem healthy.

Hope Animal Hospital has designed the following program to provide the proper early care for your new puppy.

Puppy Care Program

A choice of three programs to ensure your puppy gets the proper pediatric medical care.

Getting Started

Initial Visit

The initial visit will be tailored to your puppy’s needs based on age and health status. The visit will include:

• Complete Physical Examination: The veterinarian will evaluate your pet’s health status and look for any problems.
• Fecal Examination: Our advanced centrifugation technique is designed to detect the presence of roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, coccidia, and some types of tapeworms.
• Deworming: All puppies are infected with roundworms during the pregnancy or during nursing. We always deworm for roundworms and hookworms to protect your puppy and family.
• Evaluation of nutritional status: Many puppies have special nutritional needs due to parasitism, poor nutrition, and poor environment. The veterinarian will recommend an appropriate diet and supplements if needed.
• Housebreaking advice: With the right approach all puppies can be house broken. Each puppy is different and the veterinarian will give you individualized instructions given your schedule and the puppy’s needs.
• Pedicure: Puppies need frequent nail trims to keep sharp nails from scratching and to train them to allow easy nail trimming when they are older.
• Flea, Tick, and Mosquito Bite Prevention: Most every body has seen these blood thirsty parasites. They can drain a small puppy of enough blood to cause anemia. Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes are very preventable and we will supply your puppy’s first monthly treatment of Advantix. If your puppy has fleas we will give a Capstar tablet by mouth to kill the fleas immediately.
• Vaccination: The veterinarian will give vaccinations as indicated by your puppy’s age and health status. Below are listed diseases your veterinarian will consider vaccinating against at this time.
• Parvovirus: A deadly contagious disease of the intestinal tract.
• Coronavirus: A contagious disease of the intestinal tract that can be a problem in young puppies.
• Distemper: A deadly contagious respiratory disease that can progress to severe neurologic disease.
• Adenovirus 2: Protects against the respiratory disease of the same name and cross protects against adenovirus 1, the virus that causes deadly infectious canine hepatitis (the H in DHPP).
• Parainfluenza: A respiratory disease in puppies that can progress to serious disease.
• Bordetella: A respiratory disease in puppies that can progress to serious disease.

First Follow Up Visit

At the follow up visit in three weeks the veterinarian will again tailor the treatments given to your pet’s needs.

Second Follow Up Visit

At the follow up visit in three weeks the Veterinarian will again tailor the treatments given to your pet’s needs.

• Complete Physical Examination
• Fecal Examination
• Deworming (if necessary)
• Evaluation of nutritional status
• Housebreaking advice
• Pedicure
• Booster Vaccinations
• Rabies Vaccination: Rabies is still a dangerous disease with no reliable treatment available. We must continue to take this disease seriously to protect our pets and families.
• Rabies Tag: Your county rabies tag will be provided to you with this program unless you plan to not alter your pet that lives in St. Louis County. If that is the case you must pay for an unaltered pet tag.

Last Pediatric Visit

Your puppy is growing up and although it will continue to need examinations every 6 months and various vaccinations and diagnostic tests your puppy is done with the puppy series with this visit.

• Complete Physical Examination
• Fecal Examination (only if positive last visit)
• Deworming (only if needed)
• Evaluation of nutritional status: Puppies can start gaining too much weight at this time and may need a diet change to keep a slim figure.
• Housebreaking advice: At this point your puppy should be housebroken or on the homestretch, but don’t worry if you still have problems we are here to help.
• Pedicure Booster Vaccinations (only what is needed)
• Six months of Interceptor: Interceptor is a heartworm prevention that also controls roundworms, and hookworms. You will give this monthly prevention for the rest of your pet’s life.

The above program outlines our Silver Puppy Plan. For more savings continue reading to find out about our Gold and Platinum Puppy Programs.

The Gold Puppy Plan

The Gold Puppy Plan includes everything listed in the Silver Puppy Plan and includes the ovariohysterectomy (spay) or castration (neuter) surgery for no additional charge if the surgery is done by 5 months of age. If the pet is altered later additional charges will apply. Our surgeries include the following services:

• Pre-anesthetic blood work
• IV Catheter
• IV Fluids
• Anesthesia
• Ovariohysterectomy or Castration
• Laser Surgery
• Advanced Monitoring
• Pain Management

To learn more about the procedures and care we take for your puppy's health and comfort, please see our frequently asked question about surgery.

The Gold Puppy Program provides for most of the needs of your new puppy. You will enjoy the convenience of a having your puppy’s pediatric vaccinations and alteration surgery prepaid.

Platinum Puppy Plan

Many problems can come up in the first 6 months of a puppy’s life that may not be apparent on the first visit. The Platinum Puppy Plan covers everything in the Gold Puppy Plan and those common extra tests that may need to be done. Having your puppy on the Platinum Puppy Plan means that if your puppy needs the following tests done in the first 6 months of life because of an abnormal clinical sign or examination finding they will be done at no additional charge.

• Giardia Fecal Test: Giardia is a protozoa infection that can cause intense abdominal cramps and diarrhea in people and pets. If your pet has diarrhea this program includes one test for Giardia.
• Ear mite swab: Ear mites cause intense itching of the ears as well as debris in the ear. This microscopic test finds if mites are present in your pet’s ears. An initial test, when warranted, and a follow up test if your pet is positive are included in this program.
• Milbemite: Milbemite is a one time treatment for ear mites that we apply at the hospital when needed.
• Ear Cytology: Ear infections are common in young puppies and if your pet is infected we will want to know the cause. Two ear cytology tests are included in this package if your pet has an ear problem. Medications for ear infections vary and will not be covered by this program.
• Skin Scraping: Young dogs many times start losing hair due to mange mite infections. If during the first 6 months your pet has signs of mange we will do this microscopic test twice, if needed, to find mites. Treatment varies according to the mite found, therefore medication and additional skin scrapes will be charged for.
• Fungal Culture: Ringworm is a contagious disease that affects the skin of both pets and humans.

The Platinum Puppy Plan insures that if your puppy has a problem with ear infections, hair loss, and diarrhea the initial tests will be covered. In the case of ear mites the treatment is covered. This is not all-inclusive for diagnostic tests but covers the most common tests new puppy parents may have to pay for. The savings allows you to say yes to needed tests and medical care without having to worry about additional charges.

When you purchase the Platinum Puppy Plan at Hope Animal Hospital you can feel secure in the knowledge that, if needed, your puppy will be tested for the most common problems that include some human contagious diseases.

Please contact Hope Animal Hospital by phone or e-mail to find out the discounts available for purchasing one of our Puppy Care Programs and about the payment options.

Your kitten needs to see the veterinarian as soon as you know you are receiving a new member of the family. Immediate concerns are parasites and contagious diseases. Parasites are not only life threatening to your kitten but they can put your family at risk for serious disease also. Providing your kitten protection from contagious diseases as soon as possible helps keep it safe and healthy.

The Veterinarian at Hope Animal Hospital has designed the following program to provide the proper early care for your new kitten.

Kitten Care Program

A step by step program to ensure your kitten gets the proper pediatric medical care.

Getting Started

Initial Visit

The initial visit will be tailored to your kittens needs based on age and health status. The visit will include:

• Complete Physical Examination: The Veterinarian will evaluate your pet’s health status and look for any problems.
• Fecal Examination: Our advanced centrifugation technique is designed to detect the presence of roundworms, hookworms, coccidia, and some types of tapeworms.
• Deworming: All kittens are infected with roundworms during the pregnancy or during nursing. We always deworm for roundworms and hookworms to protect your kitten and family.
• FeLV/FIV Combo Test: Your kitten will be tested for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Both of these deadly contagious diseases attack a cat’s immune system. The diseases can be dormant for periods of time, so testing is the only way to make sure your pet is free from these viruses. During the dormant period kittens are contagious to other cats.
• Evaluation of nutritional status: Many kittens have special nutritional needs due to parasitism, poor nutrition, and poor environment. The Veterinarian will recommend an appropriate diet and supplements if needed.
• Litter box advice: Most kittens are naturally liter box trained. Some times there are problems due to other factors. The veterinarian will go over any problems you are having and help to correct it.
• Pedicure: Kitten need frequent nail trims to keep sharp nails from scratching and to train them to allow easy nail trimming when they are older.
• Vaccination: The Veterinarian will give vaccinations as indicated by you kittens age and health status. Below are listed diseases your Veterinarian will consider vaccinating against at this time.
• Feline Panleukopenia: Known as feline distempe this is a deadly contagious disease of the intestinal tract.
• Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis: A deadly contagious respiratory disease.
• Feline Calicivirus: A deadly contagious respiratory disease.
• Feline Leukemia: A deadly contagious disease that attacks a cat’s immune system.
• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: A deadly contagious disease that attacks a cat’s immune system.
• Bordetella: A respiratory disease that can progress to serious disease.

First Follow Up Visit

At the follow up visit in three weeks the Veterinarian will again tailor the treatments given to your pet’s needs.

• Complete Physical Examination
• Fecal Examination
• Deworming
• Evaluation of nutritional status
• Litter box advice
• Pedicure
• Booster Vaccinations
• Home Again Microchip Identification: A microchip provides a permanent form of identification with a unique number that cannot be altered. The procedure is similar to administering a vaccine. The microchip comes preloaded in a sterile applicator and is injected under the skin between the shoulder blades.
• Heartworm Disease and Prevention: Heartworms are a deadly parasitic infection of the heart that is passed by biting mosquitoes. This infection can easily be prevented by giving a tablet monthly or applying a spot-on product monthly that also prevents fleas. We will provide your kitten a kit that includes the first heartworm prevention product.

Second Follow Up Visit

At the follow up visit in three weeks the Veterinarian will again tailor the treatments given to your pet’s needs.

• Complete Physical Examination
• Fecal Examination
• Deworming
• Evaluation of nutritional status
• Litter box advice
• Pedicure
• Booster Vaccinations
• Rabies Vaccination: Rabies is still a dangerous disease with no reliable treatment available. We must continue to take this disease seriously to protect our pets and families.
• Rabies Tag: Your county rabies tag will be provided to you with this program unless you plan to not alter your pet that lives in St. Louis County. If that is the case you must pay for an unaltered pet tag.

Last Pediatric Visit

Your kitten is growing up and although he will continue to need examinations every 6 months and various vaccinations and diagnostic tests your kitten is done with the kitten series with this visit.

• Complete Physical Examination
• Fecal Examination (only if positive last visit)
• Deworming (only if needed)
• Evaluation of nutritional status: Kittens can start gaining too much weight at this time and may need a diet change to keep a slim figure.
• Litter Box Advice
• Pedicure
• Booster Vaccinations (only what is needed)
• Six months of Interceptor: Interceptor is a heartworm prevention that also controls roundworms, and hookworms. You will give this monthly prevention for the rest of your pet’s life. You can upgrade to a spot-on product called Revolution that prevents heartworms and fleas for a small additional charge.

The above program outlines our Silver Kitten Plan. For more savings continue reading to find out about our Gold and Platinum Kitten Programs.

The Gold Kitten Plan

The Gold Kitten Plan includes everything listed in the Silver Kitten Plan but includes the ovariohysterectomy (spay) or castration (neuter) surgery for no additional charge if the surgery is done by 5 months of age. If the pet is altered later additional charges will apply. Our surgeries include the following services:

• Pre-anesthetic blood work
• IV Catheter
• IV Fluids
• Anesthesia
• Ovariohysterectomy or Castration Laser Surgery
• Advanced Monitoring Pain Management

To learn more about the procedures and care we take for your kitten's health and comfort, please read our FAQ "What is involved in surgery for my pet?

The Gold Kitten Program provides for most of the needs of your new kitten. You will enjoy the convenience of a having your kitten’s pediatric vaccinations and alteration surgery prepaid.

Platinum Kitten Plan

Many problems can come up in the first 6 months of a kitten’s life that may not be apparent on the first visit. The Platinum Kitten Plan covers those common extra tests that may need to be done. Having your kitten on the Platinum Kitten Plan means that if your kitten needs the following tests done because of an abnormal clinical sign or examination finding they will be done at no additional charge.

• Giardia Fecal Test: Giardia is a protozoa infection that can cause intense abdominal cramps and diarrhea in people and pets. If your pet has diarrhea this program includes one test for Giardia.
• Ear Mite Swab: Ear mites cause intense itching of the ears as well as debris in the ear. This microscopic test finds if mites are present in your pet’s ears. An initial test, when warranted, and a follow up test if your pet is positive are included in this program.
• Milbemite: Milbemite is a one time treatment for ear mites that we apply at the hospital when needed.
• Ear Cytology: Ear infections are common in young kittens and if your pet is infected we will want to know the cause. Two ear cytology tests are included in this package if your pet has an ear problem. Medications for ear infections vary and will not be covered by this program.
• Skin Scraping: Young kittens many times start loosing hair and sometimes it can be due to mange mite infections. If during the first 6 months your pet has signs of mange we will do this microscopic test twice if needed to find mites. Treatment varies according to the mite found, therefore medication and additional skin scrapes will be charged for.
• Fungal Culture: Ringworm is a contagious disease that affects the skin of both pets and humans.

The Platinum Kitten Plan insures that if your kitten has a problem with ear infections, hair loss, and diarrhea the initial tests will be covered. In the case of ear mites the treatment is covered. This is not all inclusive for diagnostic tests but covers the most common tests new kitten parents may have to pay for. The savings allows you to say yes to needed tests and medical care without having to worry about additional charges.

Please contact Hope Animal Hospital by phone or e-mail to find out the discounts available for purchasing one of our Kitten Care Programs and about the payment options.

Certain medical conditions may cause concern for anesthesia. This is true at any age, but old age itself is not a disease. A puppy or kitten with a heart problem is an anesthetic concern just as a heart problem would be a concern in a 15 year old pet. With a physical exam, preoperative bloodwork, and a consultation with the doctor concerning expectations, anesthesia can be pursued at any age without undue risk.

Many dogs and cats suffer painful dental conditions because their pet parents are afraid of anesthesia. At Hope Animal Hospital we are well aware of the love you have for your pet and your fear that something might go wrong. We also talk to clients who return for their post operative visits and are delighted that their older pets are acting like puppies and kittens again after dental work or surgery.

We love older pets, and their people, and we want to help your pet live a more pain free life and help you feel brave enough to pursue the surgery or dental care you know your pet needs. Remember that if you do not have needed dental work done there is a 100% chance of the condition getting worse.

At Hope Animal Hospital we practice what we preach. Dr. Linda Beisswenger anesthetized her own dog Jasmine when she was 15 years old and passed all her preoperative checkups with flying colors. There is no doubt her dental work helped her live a longer, happier life. Lea Canada had a liver surgery performed on her cat Kersha at 15 years of age.

Clients have had great success, too. Bo arrived when she was 15 years old with a mammary tumor. This is really old for a rabbit; about the equivalent of a 23 year old dog. Her people elected to have the tumor removed. Bo is now a comfortable and happy bunny spending time with her neutered bond-mate Harvey.

Seven year old Duchess was surrendered to the Missouri House Rabbit Society when her elderly owners could no longer care for her and would not enter an assisted living home until Duchess had a safe place to go. The problem was that Duchess was never spayed and it’s estimated that 80% of female rabbits have uterine cancer by age two. Bloodwork showed she should be fine with anesthesia and she did very well during surgery. Hopefully, she’ll now have many more years ahead of her.

For specifics on the procedures Hope Animal Hospital uses to give your pet the best care possible during surgery please see our FAQs reguarding surgery and dental work. Despite the reassuring words we know that you may need more so we would like to show you some older pets that are enjoying a new lease on life.

These are some of the best practices that we adhere to at Hope Animal Hospital. While it is sometimes more expensive and takes more preparation, we have found that the following things are important for the health of our patients. We encourage potential clients to not just compare price, but to also ask questions about what kind of care will be offered for their pets.

• Pre-anesthetic blood testing We have all the equipment in house to test your pet the morning of surgery for any abnormalities that might cause problems with surgery or anesthesia.
• IV catheter A catheter allows us to give injections and fluids comfortably in the vein. It becomes a vital life line if there are any complications. Precious minutes can be lost trying to place an IV catheter after a problem occurs.
• IV fluids IV fluids support circulation and blood pressure during anesthesia.
• Pre-anesthetic pain medications Pain medications used early on allows us to use lower doses of anesthetics and prevents pain ‘wind up’. Treating pain before it occurs is vital to controlling pain.
• Oxygen supplied by intubation Intubation is placing a tube in the airway to prevent closure of the airway during surgery. Oxygen and gas anesthesia are given this way.
• New, sterile surgical gloves for each case We never reuse gloves.
• Surgeon wears a cap, mask, and sterile gown for each surgery We feel these things are necessary to help prevent incision complications.
• Heated Surgery table Maintaining body temperature helps a patient feel more comfortable and supports normal metabolism during anesthesia.
• Monitoring of patient temperature, heart rate, respiration, ECG, and oxygenation of the patient’s blood Monitoring these vital signs lets us know if a problem is occurring early on and we can respond to it appropriately.
• Trained assistant providing human monitoring of each patient Machines cannot replace having an assistant available to monitor the well being of a patient.
• Fresh, sterile instrument pack for each patient Packs are not shared among patients.
• Sterile instruments for dental procedures Instruments are sterilized between each patient.
• Sterile surgical drape for each patient This keeps the patients hair from contaminating the incision.
• Laser incisions Laser incisions have less pain, less bleeding, and less swelling because the laser seals nerve ending and small blood vessels.
• Swaged on suture This is when a suture is not threaded to the needle but is instead attached to the end of the needle. It creates smaller holes that allows for less irritation at the incision site.
• Postoperative warm water heating pad or heating disk Providing heat postoperatively is important for patient comfort and recovery, but it must be done safely. A normal heating pad is dangerous. We have invested in special heating pads for the safety and comfort of our patients.
• Postoperative hands on monitoring during recovery. Postoperative care to make sure our patients recover well and to provide for their comfort.
• Postoperative Pain Medication Omitting pain medication is not an option at Hope Animal Hospital. We have seen over the years how much better pets do with pain medication and we will not deny them an important part of their recovery.
• A comfortable overnight stay This prevents pets from being too active right after surgery. It also allows them to rest quietly.
• Follow up pain medication We will dispense pain medication to help your pet heal well. Experience and experimental evidence on people and pets overwhelmingly point to how important this is.

A guide to understanding the dental needs of your pet.

It has probably happened to you or someone you know. You take your pet to the veterinarian; they look at your pets teeth and tell you your pet needs a dental. A price is often quoted and either you make an appointment or because you are confused and worried about the risks you don’t make the appointment and go on your way. This guide will help you understand what is being recommended and why.

What is a dental? Veterinarians are guilty of using a shorthand way of describing a procedure that is very important to your pet’s health and should encompass a group of diagnostic procedures and medical procedures that improve your pet’s health and relieve oral pain.

• Anesthesia: Almost everybody sites anesthesia as their biggest concern and number one reason to not pursue dental work. It is natural to be concerned about your pet and there is some risk with anesthesia but if you do not have dental work done in a timely manner your pet could suffer with infection, constant pain, some types of heart disease, and some cases of kidney disease as a result of their dental disease. Many will die as a result of complications from what started as a simple dental problem. There is much lower risk of serious anesthesia complications than the risk of serious complications from untreated dental disease. Hope Animal Hospital is also concerned about anesthesia and using good technique reduces the risk substantially. Below are listed the extra steps we take to provide a safe and comfortable anesthetic experience for your pet.
• Pre-anesthetic blood testing We have all the equipment in house to test your pet the morning of surgery for any abnormalities that might cause problems with surgery or anesthesia.
• IV catheter A catheter allows us to give injections and fluids comfortably in the vein. It becomes a vital life line if there are any complications. Precious minutes can be lost trying to place an IV catheter after a problem occurs.
• IV fluids IV fluids support circulation and blood pressure during anesthesia.
• Pre-anesthetic pain medications Pain medications used early on allows us to use lower doses of anesthetics and prevents pain ‘wind up’. Treating pain before it occurs is vital to controlling pain.
• Oxygen supplied by intubation Intubation is placing a tube in the airway to prevent closure of the airway during surgery. Oxygen and gas anesthesia are given this way.
• Circulating water heating pad Maintaining body temperature helps a patient feel more comfortable and supports normal metabolism during anesthesia.
• Monitoring of patient temperature, heart rate, respiration, ECG, and oxygenation of the patient’s blood Monitoring these vital signs lets us know if a problem is occurring early on and we can respond to it appropriately.
• Trained assistant providing hands on monitoring of each patient Machines cannot replace having an assistant available to monitor the well being of a patient.
• Sterile instruments for dental procedures Instruments are sterilized between each patient.
• Postoperative warm water heating pad or heating disk Providing heat postoperatively is important for patient comfort and recovery but it must be done safely. A normal heating pad is dangerous. We have invested in special heating pads for the safety and comfort of our patients.
• Postoperative hands on monitoring during recovery. Postoperative care to make sure our patients recover well and to provide for their comfort.
• Postoperative Pain Medication Omitting pain medication is not an option at Hope Animal Hospital. We have seen over the years how much better pets do with pain medication and we will not deny them important part of their recovery.
• Follow up pain medication We will dispense pain medication to help your pet heal well. Experience and experimental evidence on people and pets overwhelmingly point to how important this is.

Once under anesthesia the following are the steps we take to provide for you pet’s dental health.

• Oral Examination: You may think this was already done on your initial visit but nothing replaces the veterinarian examining the oral cavity when you pet is under anesthesia. This important step is often left to an assistant or technician who then alerts the veterinarian to any abnormality. At Hope Animal Hospital we believe that a veterinarian should give a complete oral examination before any procedures are performed.
• Dental Scaling: This is the removal of the tartar (a yellowish-brown crust) and calculus (off white mineralized crust) from the teeth. The visible tooth is scaled as well as under the gum where the most dangerous disease hides. According to where you are working on the tooth, scaling is done with an ultrasonic scaler or hand instruments.
• Polishing: Using a low speed handpiece and dental paste the teeth are polished to remove microscopic irregularities in the tooth surface to prevent even faster build up of tartar than occurred before the dental scaling.

The above constitutes a ‘routine dental’ but a majority of patients need more than the above care. Below is listed additional care that may be recommended to provide your pet with the best care.

• Dental Radiographs (X-Rays): Dental disease occurs under the gum line. That is why your dentist does radiographs and that is why your pet needs them. It can help us tell when your pet needs an extraction or when the tooth can be saved. A tooth that needs extraction due to a root abscess that is not visible to the naked eye could be left behind to cause your pet unnecessary pain and discomfort. Dental radiographs can also find early disease that would allow treatment other than extraction.
• Extractions: Extractions are an unfortunate reality when periodontal disease has gone beyond a certain point. Extractions can be traumatic if good technique and instrumentation is not used. At Hope Animal Hospital we have invested in high speed drills and advanced hand tools in order to make extractions easier on your pet.
• Suturing Extraction sites: Many places leave extraction sites open to ‘drain’. Good healing is dependent on suturing an extraction site closed.
• Barrier sealant: For clients interested in home care to reduce plaque build up we can apply Oravet at the time of the dental. Pet parents can then take home the home care kit and reapply it at home once a week.