DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a painless, safe, non-invasive procedure which can reveal a tremendous amount of diagnostic information. Using sound waves, ultrasound produces a real-time moving picture of your pet’s organs that allows us to visualize objects that cannot be detected by X-ray alone.
The veterinary team at Mountain View Veterinary Services uses ultrasounds to assess the shape, size, tissue density, internal structure, and position of your pet’s abdominal organs, and diagnose pregnancy. Ultrasounds can also be used to identify masses or tumors and as a guide during surgical biopsies.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
CBC measures the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in a sample of blood. The numbers of each type of cell provides information to help diagnose anemia, infections and leukemia. If your pet is undergoing treatment for a condition, a complete blood count can help your veterinarian monitor how your pet is responding to the treatment.
PET WELLNESS SERVICES
Examinations
The staff at Mountain View Veterinary Services is committed to providing you and your pet with the finest veterinary care possible.
Each age and stage of your pet’s life presents different needs that require attention and care.
As part of your pet’s regular wellness examination, our veterinarians will:
- Examine your pet’s teeth, and oral cavity
- Check your pet’s vision and examine the eyes
- Examine the ears for infection, ear mites, allergic reaction and other related health issues
- Examine the respiratory system
- Assess your pet’s heart and evaluate cardiac function
- Test your pet’s reflexes
- Palpate joints and muscles for arthritis and other orthopedic conditions
- Assess changes in your pet’s body weight, appetite, urination and bowel habits
- Inquire as to your pet’s activity level
- Palpate the skin for unusual growths or conditions
- Assess and evaluate changes in your pet’s health since the last wellness visit
- Discuss preventive techniques for future wellness
- Collect and examine fecal samples for signs of parasite infestation
- Evaluate your pet for repetitive licking or biting in one area
- Assess your pet’s hair/fur and check for matting
- Demonstrate how to administer at-home medication
- Answer your questions and concerns
We recommend:
- Testing to evaluate the function of internal organs and other systems
- Utilize lab testing to detect early signs of Lyme or Heartworm Disease
- Monitor your pet’s blood count
To offer your pet optimal care and a long, healthy life, we believe it is important to identify problems before they develop.
Flea Prevention
Ultrasound is a painless, safe, non-invasive procedure which can reveal a tremendous amount of diagnostic information. Using sound waves, ultrasound produces a real-time moving picture of your pet’s organs that allows us to visualize objects that cannot be detected by X-ray alone.
The veterinary team at Mountain View Veterinary Services uses ultrasounds to assess the shape, size, tissue density, internal structure, and position of your pet’s abdominal organs, and diagnose pregnancy. Ultrasounds can also be used to identify masses or tumors and as a guide during surgical biopsies.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are the number one way you can protect your beloved pet from serious infectious diseases and bacteria. The veterinarians and staff at Mountain View Veterinary Services are strong advocates of preventive care.
Heartworm Disease
Heartworm disease is a serious, life-threatening disease affecting dogs and cats. Mosquitoes spread the disease by injecting the parasite into your pet at the time of bite. Clinical symptoms of heartworm disease develop very slowly. Lack of energy and exercise intolerance are early symptoms, as are coughing and difficulty breathing. Because heartworm disease is increasing in frequency and is a serious and deadly disease, we recommend that your dog be tested annually. Heartworm disease prevention is simple and effective.
If you would like to have your pet tested for heartworm disease, or would like additional information on how best to protect your pet and your family from these dangerous parasites, please call Mountain View Veterinary Services at (717)477-8938.
Tick Prevention
Since 85% of confirmed cases of Lyme disease are in the northeastern part of the United States, we are considered to be a high-risk area. Specific diseases such as Lyme, Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis are more common in certain areas. Cases of all 3 have been found in Franklin County PA. For every different environment in the United States, there is a tick that has adapted to that environment so no place is immune to them. Although ticks are primarily thought of as a “summer” problem, different ticks can be a problem at different times of the year. Consequently, tick control, depending on the climate, can be a year-round battle. Since Lyme disease can be transmitted in as little as 24 hours, with peak transmission occurring by 72 hours, it is important to be thorough with tick control. Signs of Lyme disease in dogs include fever, lameness, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes and/or swollen, painful joints.
Tick Control:
The big challenge of fighting ticks is that tick control does not always equal tick borne disease control. If the tick control requires more time to reach full effectiveness or the tick has to bite the animal to receive a dose, then the disease can still be transmitted. Quick kill of ticks is crucial to prevent the spread of disease. Unfortunately, there isn’t any one product that can consistently keep ticks from attaching.
Prevention:
Since there are no tick control products that prevent transmission of tick borne diseases, we strongly recommend vaccination and tick control products as the main defenses in the fight against ticks.
Always check and brush your dog after being outside, especially in grassy or brushy areas. If a tick is attached to your dog’s skin, remove it carefully with tweezers and wash the affected bite area and your hands afterward.
Intestinal Parasites
Did you know that two of the most common intestinal parasites often carried by dogs and cats can be transmitted to humans too? Roundworms and hookworms are intestinal parasites that can be detected in dogs or cat at any stage of life, even as early as 3 weeks of age!
Many pets don’t show any sign of infection. However, some may exhibit signs of vomiting, loss of appetite, or severe weight loss. Heavy intestinal parasite infections in a young animal can be fatal. Roundworms and hookworms shed their eggs intermittently. This means it is possible to have a ‘negative’ stool sample one day and a positive sample the next day. Mountain View Veterinary Services recommends checking a fecal sample yearly on adult dogs and cats. Puppies and kittens should have a fecal checked until there are 2 negative samples in a row.
If your pet tests positive for roundworms or hookworms, you and your family are at a higher risk for contracting these parasites. The eggs and larvae (immature worms) passed in your pet’s feces are very resilient. People become infected through direct contact, of infected feces. Transmission is usually fecal – oral, meaning you have infected feces on your hands and you ingest the fecal material. Children are more vulnerable due to their underdeveloped hygiene skills and routines of playing in public parks, sand boxes and even the back yard. It is important to teach children to wash their hands after playing outdoors or handling animals.
Once ingested, the roundworm eggs hatch into larvae and travel through your body’s organs. Your body’s immune system will most likely step in and fight off these parasites. However, in some cases, these larvae migrate to the eye! A condition called visceral larval migrans which can lead to permanent eye damage including blindness! Cutaneous larval migrans are hookworm larvae that may circulate within the skin causing inflammation. Certain types of hookworms can penetrate into deeper tissues causing intestinal or organ damage.
You can protect your family and yourself by washing your hands after handling soil, sand and pets. Teach your children to wash their hands before they eat. Follow the recommended deworming protocols for your pet. Monthly heartworm preventative is a great way to control the spread of roundworms and hookworms in the environment!