Services Offered

• Physical Exams and Vaccinations
• Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services
• Surgical Services
• Pharmacy
• Dentistry
• Cancer Therapy
• Holistic Medicine
• Grooming

PHYSICAL EXAMS AND VACCINATIONS

• Detailed Annual Exams and Vaccinations - Necessary for the well being of your pet
  
• Individualized Flea and Tick Control Program – There are many solutions for flea and tick problems these days and we recommend preventative measures for all pets to minimize the risk of infestations in the home. We will develop a program for the specific needs of your pet.
  
• Puppy and Kitten Care and Counseling
  
• Preventative Medical Care
  
• Microchip Identification Services – We provide a microchip implant for your pet that cannot be removed or lost. A very small microchip is injected under the skin of your dog or cat. Each chip has a unique code registered with Home Again, the manufacturer of the system. The chip does not harm your pet and lasts a lifetime. Should your pet become lost, animal shelters and veterinary hospitals can scan your pet to detect a chip. The code is read by the scanner and it can be matched to owner information.
  
• Mature Companion Animal Health – A Senior Well Care program
  
• Emergency Care – Please call our main telephone number for instructions for after hours emergencies. Our staff doctors are always available to answer your concerns and see your animal if needed. We are also affiliated with local emergency care facilities for those critical patients.

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DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES
We are a self reliant hospital, able to perform most diagnostic procedures and treatments on site. From obtaining blood and urine samples to performing complex chemotherapy treatments, it’s all a part of what we do. In the event that a procedure falls outside our normal scope, we do not hesitate to refer to appropriate specialists.

• Laboratory – Our on-site lab equipment enables us to perform pre-surgical and emergency blood work with immediate results. We offer many pathological services such as blood chemistry analysis, urine analysis, tests for parasites and many other diagnostic tests. Commercial veterinary laboratories are also utilized for expanded diagnostics and consultations. With results immediately available, treatments can begin as soon as possible if any problems are detected.
• Radiology – Mt Carmel Animal Hospital is proud to be among the first veterinarians in this area to incorporate digital radiology into our practice. Digital radiographs enable the doctors to view images within seconds. These are an important tool for the doctor. Images can help detect such problems as bone fractures, calcium deposits, and identifying objects in the stomach, intestines and urinary tract. They can also be used to confirm or detect disease. The images are also easily transferred to either a hard copy to take with you or email to a specialist for consultation.
• Ultrasound – Ultrasound is used to view soft tissue and organs, and is completely non-invasive to your pet. Diagnostic ultrasound uses sound waves to produce an image on a monitor. With this innovative technology our veterinarians will be able to visualize liver, adrenal glands, bladder, kidneys, spleen, gall bladder, pregnancies, cyst and tumors. Ultrasound helps to bridge the gap between our clinical findings, blood work and radiographs to diagnose and treat your pet.
  

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SURGERY – MCAH is equipped with two state of the art operating suites. We perform a wide range of general soft tissue surgery. We also employ the services of a specialist, Dr. Ron Fallon, to perform more complicated orthopedic surgeries such as cruciate repair procedures known as TPLO’s.

• Routine Spays, Neuter and Declaws
  
• General and Orthopedic Surgery
  
• Laser Surgery – A less painful alternative for your pet. The laser seals nerve endings as it “cuts”. As a result, your pet will be more comfortable after surgery. Also, as the laser works, it closes small blood vessels during surgery resulting in less bleeding. Finally, there is less post-operative discomfort.
• Intravenous Catheter Placement – For most surgical procedures your pet will receive a intravenous catheter (I.V.) To accomplish this we first clip the hair over your pet’s vein on the front leg so that it is easier to see and to keep the area clean. As soon as the catheter is in we begin IV fluids which help to maintain blood pressure and hydration during surgery. The IV line also gives us direct access to deliver medicine in case of emergency. An intravenous catheter and fluids are critical to a safe anesthetic experience.
• Anesthesia – To provide that extra margin of safety, especially for older or high-risk pets, MCAH uses the safest available anesthesia on the market. Using the most modern equipment, much like that you would see in a human operating room, we monitor the patient’s vital signs throughout the surgical procedure – EKG to monitor the heart, pulse oximetry to measure the level of oxygen in the blood and carbon monoxide monitors to evaluate respiration and blood pressure.

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PHARMACY
MCAH keeps a complete inventory of most medications as well as all the flea, tick and heartworm control your pet may need. We also work with a compounding pharmacy to provide medications in a form and flavor that your pet might like. For example, we can have many medications compounded into chewable tablets for cats that are resistant to being “pilled”. Some medications are effective as transdermal gels, which are applied to and absorbed through the skin. Convenient refills can be made either on-line through our Pet Portals feature and store or you may call into the hospital and we can have your prescription ready for you to pick up or put into the mail.

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DENTISTRY
Dental disease can be a serious problem for many pets. Food, saliva, and bacteria deposit on the surface of the teeth to form a yellow layer of dental plaque. This plaque and tartar promote the growth of bacteria, which leads to infection and destruction of the gums and supporting tissue around the teeth (periodontal disease) Bacteria can also spread and cause infection to the kidneys, lungs and heart. Once tartar has formed, it can be removed only by having the teeth cleaned. A good dental program is essential to your pet’s overall health and well being. MCAH staff has the skills and equipment necessary to perform routine teeth cleaning, extractions and gum procedures. In fact, almost anything your dentist does can be done for your pet. Routine dental procedures include inspection of all the teeth, assessment of disease, cleaning and polishing. The animal is anesthetized, the teeth are cleaned using an ultrasonic machine and then polished and a fluoride treatment is applied. Severely infected teeth are extracted. Very often antibiotics may be prescribed for use as long as three weeks to treat infected gums.

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CANCER THERAPY

• Cancer Surgery
  
• Chemotherapy
  
• Chemotherapy Monitoring
  
• Nutrition

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HOLISTIC MEDICINE
Welcome to a Growing Health Care Movement

There is a growing interest today in therapies which are considered alternatives to so called "conventional" medicine. Pet owners are no exception as evidenced by the ever expanding variety of products for animals which are advertised as natural or holistic.

Holistic therapies are those that take the whole patient into account when prescribing, and that encourage the body to call on its own recuperative powers to heal. Holistic medicine is individualized for each patient. Appropriate treatment is determined not only by the presenting problem, but also by the patient's past history, personality and peculiarities. This is one of the more difficult concepts for pet owners, that animals with the same apparent problem may receive very different homeopathic remedies, herbs or acupuncture treatments, all individualized to the nuances of their particular state.

Many problems may be treated with holistic therapies only, but some may require the continuation of certain medications. In either case, maintaining a good working relationship with the patient's regular or referring veterinarian is important to ensure the best quality of care.

• Acupuncture - This is a method by which solid needles are inserted into specific locations (acupuncture points) in the body, for the purpose of treating or preventing disease. While Dr. Calabrese uses acupuncture to treat a variety of medical conditions and behavior issues, the majority of acupuncture patients come for relief of pain from musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis or hip dysplasia. Many patients experience significant relief of pain, increased mobility, and a better quality of life after completing a course of treatments after which they can be placed on a maintenance schedule.
• Chiropractic - This is a drugless method of health care the deals with the nervous system, primarily through spinal manipulation. When the bones of the vertebral column are misaligned even slightly, nerves and the flow of energy are affected. Chiropractors call these small misalignments "subluxations". A chiropractic adjustment is aimed at correcting the subluxation, restoring normal energy flow and function resulting in relief of pain.
• Herbal Medicine - Herbal Medicine involves the use of botanical sources to help the body re-establish a state of health. Examples are Western herbs, usually used singly, or Chinese herbal formulas which consist of centuries old combinations that have been found useful. Dr. Calabrese will most often use herbs in combination with acupuncture treatment.

The holistic approach to your pet's healthcare requires that you, the owner, become involved in the healing process. Careful observation of the patient's behavior and change in symptoms will help your practitioner determine what further therapy is needed. Holistic medicine also requires patience. Many patients do respond quickly, but the animal's age and degree of disease will determine how rapidly and the extent of improvement possible.

Finally, it is important to realize that natural does not mean safe. These therapies are extremely powerful, and should only be used by veterinarians with proper training. Acupunture, chiropractic and homeopathy organizations offer rigorous training and certification programs.

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GROOMING - We offer grooming services with Leslie, our pet stylist. Please call for an appointment.

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