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Providence Veterinary Hospital Services
We offer a wide variety of routine and advanced veterinary services for
your dog, cat, ferret, gerbil, or any other small animal that you love
and care about.
We have listed many of our services here, however they are quite extensive.
Click a service type from the listing below for detailed information. We encourage you to call the hospital at 610-872-4000 to ask your specific
question or use our contact form and inquire
online. |
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X-Ray
X-Ray service at any veterinary hospital is like having heat and air
conditioning in your car. It is essential for diagnosing problems found
in your pet and usually is a part of other diagnostic procedures used in
making a definitive diagnosis.
Many problems can only be diagnosed with x-ray films. Bone or soft tissue
diseases like a fracture of a bone or a stone in a bladder sometimes can
only be diagnosed by x-ray. At PVH, we have a Bennett 300MA X-ray
machine capable of penetrating the largest of dogs and an automatic
processor capable of developing films rapidly and ready for reading in
less than a minute. Coupled with the use of rare earth film, which gives
very high detail, our x-ray service is state of the art.
In addition, PVH also has a dental x-ray unit. This unit will take
dental x-rays for diagnosing dental disease in your pet's mouth.
Endodontics, such as root canals, cannot be
performed without dental films. |
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Emergencies
As with most businesses, we are not open 24 hours a day. That does not
mean that emergencies can not happen any time of the day or night.
When you call our hospital at 610-872-4000 any time, a person will
answer (not a machine) and direct you to either an open and ready for
service emergency veterinary hospital or to one of our two veterinarians
that may be on call. Either way, your pet will be seen by a competent
licensed veterinarian.Often, a pet will receive life saving emergency
care and then spend time as an in-patient at our hospital, while
recovering from the illness or trauma.
Emergency calls are very important to us and we take pride in knowing
that we stand ready 24 hours a day to handle your call. |
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Surgery
There are many procedures that can be listed for this surgery page. Some
examples of the surgery that we perform at Providence Veterinary
Hospital are routine, like spays, declaw, laceration repair, and
castrations. We also do the specialized procedures which are much more
involved and gratifying. Some examples of specialized procedures are:
EAR: Reconstructive ear surgery, ear crop, lateral ear canal
resection, vertical ear canal ablation and whole ear canal ablation.
EYE: Reconstructive lid surgery, ectotropion, entropion, removal
of the nictitating membrane (third eye lid), tumors of the eye and lids,
nictatans flap, ulcer treatment, and enucleation.
DENTISTRY: Cavities, fractures of the teeth, root abscess, root
canal, and Endodontics
DIGESTIVE: Repair and reconstruction of the palate, dental
surgery, gum flaps, neoplasms of the oral cavity, gastric dilatation,
intestinal anastamosis, diaphragmatic repairs, and biopsies of abdominal
organs.
RESPIRATORY: such as thoracotomy and lung lobe removal.
UROGENITAL: such as nephrectomy, removal of bladder and urethral
stones, bladder tumors, perineal urethrosotomy in the cat, episioplasty,
C-Section delivery and descended and retained testicles.
HERNIAS: Repair of umbilical, inguinal, perineal, and
diaphragmatic hernias.
SKIN: Mammary tumors and reconstructive mammary surgery, plastic
and reconstructive surgery of the skin, elbow hygromas, ear crops, and
skin growths.
LYMPHATICS: Tonsillectomy, lymph node biopsy, removal of the
spleen and bone marrow biopsy.
MUSCLES AND TENDONS: Repair of torn muscles and tendons.
BONE AND JOINT: Decompression of cervical herniated disk,
anterior cruciate repair, atlantoaxial instability, thoracolumbar disc
herniation, femoral head resection, and spinal trauma.
FRACTURES: All bone fractures using splints, casts, pinning and
ASIF bone plating.
OTHER ORTHOPEDICS: Excision of the femoral head and neck,
meniscectomy, collateral ligament injuries, cranial and caudal cruciate
ligament injury, ununited anconeal process, OCD of the shoulder, bone
grafting, and arthrodesis.
Providence Veterinary Hospital accepts:
Delaware County SPCA Spay Certificates
American Education League Certificates
Friends of Animals Certificates |
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Nutritional Counseling
Whether you have a well pet or a sick pet, Providence Veterinary
Hospital is ready to advise you on the nutritional needs of your pet. By
feeding appropriate nutrition to your pet, and most important, taking
into consideration the condition of your pet, we can optimize the health
of your pet.
We carry two main lines of special medical diets:
Hill's Prescription Diets offer a variety of formulas to support the
treatment of your pets' adverse reaction to foods, cardiovascular
disease, fiber responsive diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, hepatic
disorders, renal disease, obesity, oral health, pre and post-surgery,
urolithiasis, urinary tract disease and more. Please see us to determine
which Prescription Diet product is right for your sick pet. Hill's
carries a line of healthy pet diets as well.
You may want to explore Hill's Prescription Diets on your own by going
to the Hill's web site at your leisure. Iams Eukanuba Veterinary Diets
are also helpful in aiding similar medical conditions as well as having
a full line of normal diets too.
Since there are so many diets to choose from, we have provided a link to
Iams Eukanuba Veterinary Diets as well so that you can familiarize
yourself with their product line.
We feel that by offering a variety of the best diets for your pet, one
specific diet will appeal to your pet's taste and make treatment easier.
If your pet looks forward to dinner and you know you are doing the right
thing by feeding your pet a special diet, everyone wins! |
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Laser Surgery
What is a laser?
A laser is a device that generates an intense beam of light at a
specific wavelength.
How does a laser work?
Our patients are treated with a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, the most
widely used type of medical laser in the world. CO2 lasers produce an
invisible beam that vaporizes the water normally found in the skin and
other soft tissue. Because the laser beam can be precisely controlled,
it removes or "cuts" only a thin layer of tissue at one time, leaving
the surrounding areas unaffected. This level of control allows us to be
extremely precise in every laser surgery procedure.
Why laser surgery?
Less Pain - The laser seals nerve endings as it "cuts", so your pet may
require less anesthesia during the operation, reducing the risk of
complications. Pain after surgery is also reduced.
Less Bleeding - The laser seals small blood vessels during surgery.
Less Swelling - Laser energy does not crush, tear or bruise because
there is no physical contact with the tissue.
What does this mean for my pet?
Reduced Risk of Infection - The laser sterilizes as it removes diseased
tissue, killing bacteria that cause infection.
Precision - The laser can remove unhealthy tissue without affecting or
removing surrounding healthy tissue.
Quick Return to Normal Activities - Healing is rapid and there is less
post-operative discomfort.
Laser procedures reduce the trauma to your pet, improve healing, and may
shorten time spent in the veterinary hospital.
Are lasers new?
No. Laser technology has been proven to work for more than 20 years -
medical doctors have used lasers to help many thousands of people. We
are pleased to be among the first veterinary practices to offer laser
surgery specifically for animals.
What types of procedures can a laser perform?
A laser is ideal for a wide variety of surgical procedures for dogs,
cats, birds and other animals. Laser surgery can correct many common
conditions such as cysts, tumors, warts and infections that may occur
around the eyes, ears, in the mouth, and anywhere on the skin.
Specialized internal procedures are also possible. Your veterinarian at
Providence Veterinary Hospital will be able to tell you if your pet's
procedure can be performed with a laser. |
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Microchip Installation
Many dogs and cats are destroyed at shelters because their owners can
not be found. The HomeAgain Microchip Identification System is an
excellent method of insuring that your pet has a method of being found.
This system is available at our hospital and takes about as long to put
in place as a vaccination.
How Does the Microchip Work?
Permanent identification is provided by a tiny microchip that can be
implanted quickly and safely in your dog. The microchip, approximately
the size of a grain of rice, is encased in bio-compatible glass. It has
no active parts. It is programmed with a unique, unalterable code number
that can be identified with a hand-held scanner (similar to the
hand-held scanners used in grocery stores).
Implantation of the microchip is similar to a vaccination. Using an
injection, the microchip is inserted between the dog's shoulder blades
as part of an office examination. The identification number is read when
a scanner passes over the microchip. These scanners are in use at
thousands of veterinarians' offices, animal shelters, and animal control
agencies around the country.
When your lost dog is brought to us or one of these other locations, the
identification number is retrieved and called in to the AKC Companion
Animal Recovery Program. The database network is expertly managed by the
American Kennel Club, Inc. (AKC), an organization with more than 100
years of experience in maintaining animal registries. The AKC presently
maintains the nation's largest high-tech database of purebred dogs. This
data base is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, through a
central 800 number. You are contacted immediately and every possible
step will be taken to reunite you and your dog.
AKC Companion Animal Recovery will enroll dogs identified with a
microchip from any manufacturer. However, the AKC has formed an alliance
with Schering-Plough Animal Health, marketers of the HomeAgain Companion
Animal Retrieval System. The AKC recommends the HomeAgain system, which
uses the Destron microchip.
HomeAgain provides safe, lifelong identification and enhances the
chances of retrieving a lost dog. This system is available through
Providence Veterinary Hospital and other veterinary hospitals.
Schering-Plough Animal Health has more than 40 years of experience in
animal health.
About the Scanners
Schering-Plough Animal Health is distributing scanners to veterinarians
and animal shelters across the U.S., creating a nationwide network for
identification. There is no universal scanner available (one which reads
all microchips). However, the HomeAgain scanner can identify the
presence of most microchips from other vendors. If a scanned dog is
identified as having a microchip from another vendor, the AKC will make
every effort to locate an appropriate scanner to read the microchip.
Lifetime Dog License In Pennsylvania
You can get a Lifetime license by coming in to the hospital and getting
your dog microchipped. We then fill out a special form. Go to the court
house and get your permanent, Lifetime license. You will never need to
register your dog again or pay another license fee.
To find out more information, visit the
HomeAgain web
site. |
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Bathing
Bathing a dog or cat or other pet in the hospital serves many purposes:
- A pet can be bathed for the obvious reason... it's dirty and needs to
be cleaned
- A medical condition has been diagnosed and bathing a pet with a
specific shampoo can be very therapeutic.
Shampoos act as tools to the veterinarian. One shampoo or another can
make the difference as to whether your pet improves the skin condition
it has. If your dog has scaly, dry skin, bathing that dog in a shampoo
designed for scaly dry skin will improve your dog's coat. If a different
shampoo is used, let's say a grooming shampoo or a supermarket generic,
then your dog's coat and skin will not improve nearly as much.
Sometime pet owners will confuse the words: bathing and grooming.
Bathing is the washing, drying, and combing of your pet.
Grooming is done by professional stylists
that personalize and cut your pet's fur. A groomer will bathe your pet
during the grooming process, much like you get your hair washed before
it gets cut. On the contrary, one does not usually get a haircut every
time one takes a bath. |
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Vaccinations
Vaccinations for your pet insure that the common diseases that can make
your friend very sick or even cause death, do not occur. Few people can
conceive of not vaccinating a child against polio or diptheria. Today we
vaccinate dogs and cats against diseases that are as lethal as those for
a child.
Our recommended vaccinations for dogs are:
5/CVL* (Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus,
and Coronavirus)
Bordatella*
Rabies*
Lyme
Canine Influenza
Our recommended vaccinations for cats are:
Eclipse4* (Distemper, Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, and Pneumonitis)
Rabies*
FeLV (Feline Leukemia Vaccine)
FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis)
FIV (Feline Infectious Virus - AIDS)
*Required for boarding or for in-patient care.
All vaccines are repeated at regular intervals to boost the immune
system. When a vaccination reminder arrives in the mail, it is important
to come in to the office so that we can give your pet the proper vaccine
booster to insure continuous protection.
Even if your pet received vaccinations as a puppy, without boosters your
pet will loose that immunity over time. |
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Boarding
Boarding your pet can be an unsettling experience. It's like dropping a
child off for summer camp or taking your older child to college for the
first time and saying good bye.
Fortunately, we understand those feelings and make every effort to care
and comfort your pet while boarding with us. Sometimes this means that
your pet needs a special medical diet, or likes to have its special
blanket with your scent, or requires bottled water to drink. Whatever
the need, if it can be met, we will meet it so that your pet maintains
its level of comfort while you're on vacation or business trip.
We have over 50 kennels reserved for boarding. It is advisable to make a
reservation during busy boarding seasons. Times such as the summer,
Christmas, New Years, Easter, and any holiday you would consider
vacationing, other pet owners probably are planning to do the same
thing. Reservations are easy. Call the hospital at 610-872-4000 to make
a reservation to ensure we can accommodate your pet.
Boarding Bonus:
If you board your pet with us for three consecutive days, we offer a
bath at half price so your pet can come home clean and smelling fresh. |
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Geriatric Care
All living creatures eventually enter a sunset phase of their lives. For
pets, it seems that their lives are much shorter than ours. It seems
that way because it is shorter. We live our lives for 70 or 80 years,
while your pet may live for 10 or 20 years.
As your pet ages, more maintenance is needed to insure that your pet
lives as normal a life span as possible. By finding little problems as
your pet ages, the big problems are put off or corrected. The effort
results in your pet living longer.
We recognize the need for special care and detection of little problems
as your pet ages. We call this geriatric care program the "Wellness
Program" much like your aging parents get as they get older. The more
diligent we are in detecting small problems in aging pets, the less
likely they will die prematurely.
The Wellness Program is designed to maintain health and prevent illness
during your pet's declining years by promoting early detection and
treatment of illness. This is done by getting a baseline of information
on the health of your pet through
diagnostic procedures
before it shows signs of illness. After establishing the baseline of
information, the wellness program involves regular examinations and
periodic testing specific to each individual. The baseline information
will help to determine whether your pet is in an early disease state.
This information also provides you with more effective and often less
costly treatment options, a longer life for your pet, and few surprises. |
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Grooming
Part of our full service in veterinary medicine is the service of
grooming your dog or cat. Dogs and cats get dirty and matted and
sometimes it's not practical to groom your own pet, just as it's not
practical to give yourself a haircut or perm. Sometimes, it's just nice
to treat your pet to a grooming, even if you can do it yourself.
Professionals will usually do a better job and make your pet look its
best.
Fill out our grooming form and/or talk to one of our groomer before the
actual groom, if our groomer haven't groomed your pet before. That way,
it will turn out just as you expect and both you and your pet will be
satisfied.
Michelle Kennedy is our groomer. Scheduling a grooming appointment is as
easy as picking up the phone, calling 610-872-4000, and picking a
Tuesday or Saturday that is convenient for you and your pet. You can
also request a grooming appointment online by using the link at the
bottom of this page.
Grooming, unlike bathing, requires time and
concentrated effort. Groomers style and cut your pet. Therefore, we
usually do not take more than four appointments per grooming session. We
can bathe (wash) your pet any day except Sunday. |
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Parasite Control
Parasites or "worms" in your pet rob your pet of much needed nutrition
and magnify any disease condition. The kinds of parasites found in pets
can be divided into areas of the body in which they parasitize.
In the ideal condition, parasites do not kill your pet. Their goal is to
rob just a little bit to live and not kill the host. Often, you will not
be aware of your pet having parasites. Sometimes, because of the great
number of parasites, or because your pet is very young or very old,
parasites can be fatal! It is very important that we look for these
nasty parasites when we examine your pet. Often, a request for a stool
sample will be made when your pet is due for vaccinations. A Heartworm
test is scheduled for your dog once a year. During the flea and tick
season, careful examination is made of your pet to detect the presence
of these parasites.
Parasites can be classified into those living in:
-The Digestive System
-The Blood Vessels and Heart
-On The Skin or Outer Body
The Digestive System:
Roundworms or ascarids are intestinal parasites found in both dogs and
cats. But, the common ascarids of cats does not infect dogs and vice
versa. Roundworm infection can be fatal in young puppies and kittens.
Infection in healthy adult pets is seldom serious, but can cause a
general unthrifty look to your pet.
Hookworms are bloodsucking parasites found in both dogs and cats. But,
the common hookworm of dogs does not infect cats and vice versa.
Hookworm infection can cause severe, even fatal blood loss, especially
in pups.
Tapeworms are common intestinal parasites of dogs and cats. Fleas,
rabbits, mice, rats, and other animals carry the intermediate stage in
the life cycle of tapeworms. Dogs and cats become infected by eating
these carriers. The most common tapeworm of dogs and cats are carried by
the flea. If your pet is exposed to fleas, watch for tapeworm segments
passing with the stool.
Whipworms are intestinal parasites of dogs. They are usually found in
the large intestine and cause a mucous and sometimes bloody diarrhea.
Coccidia are intestinal parasites of dogs and cats, which can cause
diarrhea and weight loss. Coccidiosis usually affects young animals,
especially those from places where large numbers of pets are kept
together, such as kennels, catteries, and pet shops.
Toxoplasma are intestinal parasites of cats that can infect people. Cats
become infected by eating mice, rats, birds or meat containing
Toxoplasma cysts. This parasite is especially dangerous to women that
are pregnant.
Giardia are intestinal parasites of dogs. They are very difficult to
detect. They cause diarrhea and are usually found in places where large
numbers of pets are kept together.
All intestinal parasites should be treated at the hospital. We do not
recommend pet store treatments.
Blood Vessels and Heart Parasites:
Heartworms are most common in dogs, but cats have been known to be
infected. They are blood parasites that spend their adult life in the
heart and large blood vessels. They are transmitted by the mosquito.
They can be prevented with a heartworm test once every year and regular
preventive medication every month of the year. There are two choices you
can make regarding heartworm prevention. One type is a generic
medication called (Iverheart) which can be given monthly as a treat or a
brand name medication (Interceptor or Sentinel). The second type is
given monthly as a treat as well. Either type is effective and safe for
your dog.
The Skin or Outer Body:
Ticks carry many diseases and live in specific areas of the country.
Depending on where you live, you will find different species. In the
Northeastern USA, specifically in the Philadelphia area, the Deer tick,
the Brown dog tick, and the American dog tick are threats to your pets.
Ticks are out from April through October, but this timing can vary
depending on the kind of weather we are having.
Ticks are blood-sucking pests that target dogs and cats, as well as
humans. Dogs and cats trying to get relief from ticks will scratch
frequently, many times breaking the skin and causing infection, which
ultimately lowers the resistance of your pet to disease.
Two products that would be effective in protecting for ticks are
Frontline and the Preventic Collar.
Flea control is very important to the health and well being of your dog
or cat. Flea bites cause discomfort and irritation, and they are
responsible for a serious skin condition known as flea allergy
dermatitis. In addition, fleas often carry tapeworms, a harmful
intestinal parasite. One female flea can lay approximately 300-400 eggs
in three weeks! Fleas can quickly infest your home and even attack
humans.
To understand the magnitude of the flea problem, let us look at the life
cycle. The flea develops in four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and finally,
adult. The adults live on your dog or cat where the females lay eggs.
These eggs fall off the dog or cat into your home. There they hatch and
pass through the larva stage and pupa stage. They then develop into
adults. These new adults jump onto your dog or cat and the cycle begins
all over again.
Pet owners see adult fleas and recognize them as the source of
aggravation for their pet. Owners get satisfaction in killing the adult
flea because they think the problem is solved. What they do not realize
is that for every one adult flea they kill, there are at least 10 eggs,
7 larvae, and 2 pupae developing to take their place. A single adult is
backed by at least 19 pre-adults rapidly maturing to add the discomfort
of your pet and the your frustration.
Frontline is effective against the adult flea. Program or Sentinel
prevents the larvae from hatching. Knockout Area Spray can be used for
the house to prevent fleas and ticks and their eggs from hatching and
living in the rugs, furniture, etc.
A note about store bought flea and tick collars:
In our experience, we have taken many, many pet shop and store bought
flea and tick collars off pets with fleas and ticks. They are called
over the counter products. Usually, the owner just assumes the collar is
working and to their surprise and disappointment, it is not working.
Avoid them!
This note is not a scientific study, just our opinion... for what it is
worth...
Ear Mites are very small insects that infest the ear canal of dogs and
cats and are highly contagious from pet to pet. They are not contagious
to humans. Common signs of ear mites include scratching at the ears, and
or shaking the head. A black dry crusty material can be seen in the
ears. If you suspect your pet has ear mites, please make an appointment
so we can diagnose the problem and treat it. If left alone, secondary
complications such as bacterial infection, yeast infection, or worse - a
broken blood vessel of the ear (Aural Hematoma), which would require
surgery are all waiting for your pet. |
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Diagnostics
When a pet gets sick and the owner brings it in to the PVH to find out
why it is sick, an examination is performed. During the examination,
questions are asked to determine what clinical signs are present. It's
like having a bunch of clues and it is up to the veterinarian to
determine exactly what is wrong. Part of the "behind the scenes" work to
determine if our suspicions are correct is the diagnostic service.
We have the ability to get multiple diagnostic blood values in minutes
with our Idexx QBC Auto Reader and Vet Test 8008 Blood Analyzer. We can
get complete blood counts and blood chemistries that help us make the
proper diagnosis.
We can measure your pet's intraocular pressure with our Tonovet
tonometer. This device is used in the diagnosis, follow up, and
screening of glaucoma. The Tonovet is based on the new patented
induction based rebound method, which allows intraocular pressure (IOP)
to be measured accurately, rapidly and without local anesthesia.
Part of our diagnostic capability is our
x-ray service
which is discussed in a different section.
In addition to the blood analyzer and x-ray service, other lab services
are available and are used frequently to determine your pet's illness. A
few of our test capabilities are listed below in order to give you an
idea of how we might proceed in determining what is wrong with your pet:
Canine Heartworm Test
Fecal Analysis
Feline Leukemia Test
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Feline AIDS
Lyme Screening
Quant C6 Lyme Testing |
Erlichia
Anaplasma
Urinalysis
Culture and Sensitivity
Biopsy Service
Wellness Exams for Older Pets
Annual Physical Exams |
Glaucoma Evaluation
EKG Service
PennHIP Evaluations
OFA Evaluations
Commercial Lab Service
Extensive Medical Library
And Much, Much More. |
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Automated Reminder System
It's easy to forget with the busy life style most people have. Our
computer never forgets an appointment or when to bring your pet back for
care. Here at Providence Veterinary Hospital our computer to tracks
exactly when your pet is due for a booster vaccination, follow-up
examination, or any type of return visit that may be forgotten.
Every month, reminder letters, magazines or post cards are sent to those
owners that are due for routine boosters or tests. Every week our
computer will send out reminders to those owners that need to come back
in a few weeks for a follow-up visit. We also track grooming
appointments and know when your pet has grown it's fur long enough to be
groomed.
We work hard to remember what you may forget. Preventive care and
medical treatment often need to be administered in a timely fashion. By
sending reminders to you, we hope to keep the preventive care of your
pet focused when you may forget. |
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Dental care
The teeth and gums are part of the digestive system. Lack of care can
lead to far reaching disease in other parts of the body. Sinusitis,
heart disease, kidney disease, and respiratory disease are a few
examples of disease that can be traced back to a diseased mouth.
We recommend that your pet have their teeth examined once a year. It is
very likely that a professional scaling and polishing will be
recommended once your pet reaches the age of two or three years of age.
Simply put: If you take care of the teeth and gums your pet has, your
pet will live longer. If you do not pay attention to the mouth of your
pet, your pet may acquire systemic disease because of diseased gums, and
die an early death. Systemic disease can include kidney, liver, lung,
heart, sinus, and gastrointestinal disease.
Did you know that about 75% of all dental problems serious enough to be
seen by a veterinarian and almost all teeth lost in adult dogs and cats
are a result of periodontal disease? It is associated with 95% of all
cases of bad breath. It can also be associated with loss of appetite,
diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, heart disease, kidney disease, and just
plain irritability.
You can do your own home examination to determine if your pet needs a
dental cleaning:
1. Check the teeth your pet has by lifting up the upper lip and look at
the teeth.
2. If the teeth have brownish discoloration near the gum line, or if the
gums are red above the teeth, or if your pet has bad breath, make an
appointment to have a dental examination and confirm that your pet needs
a dental prophy.
3. If a tooth looks like it is broken, check the other side of the mouth
and see if the opposite tooth looks different. If the tooth appears
broken, seek out professional veterinary help for evaluation.
At PVH, we can clean your pet's teeth, repair fractured or broken teeth,
perform root canals, treat apical abscess, periodontal or gum disease
and can treat many more dental diseases your pet may encounter. We
recommend that your pet should be examined for dental disease at least
once per year. If your pet is prone to disease, than the examination
should be performed more often. |
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VetStoreRXWe have a retail store where you may shop online. It's called the
VetStoreRX and you can get there by clicking
here.
Don't forget to register first before you shop!
You can find:
Accessories
Anti Infectives
Behavioral drugs
Cardiovascular and respiratory medicines
Chemotherapeutic
Dental Care
Dewormers
Accessories
Anti Infectives |
Behavioral drugs
Cardiovascular and respiratory medicines
Chemotherapeutic
Dental Care
Dewormers
Diets
Ear Care
Endocrine
Eye Care |
Flea and Tick Products
Fluid Therapy
Gastrointestinal
Heartworm Preventive
Pain Management
Seizure Medications
Skin Care and Allergies
Urinary Tract
Vitamins and Supplements |
Some Items need a prescription from us! |
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Anesthetic Safety And Comfort
When a patient is scheduled for surgery, or for that matter, any
anesthetic procedure, certain options are offered to the owners to
insure their pet's safety and comfort. Like you, our greatest concern is
the well-being of the patient. Before putting your pet under anesthesia,
we will perform a full physical examination. However, many conditions,
including disorders of the liver, kidneys or blood, are not detected
unless blood testing is performed. Such tests are especially important
before any kind of surgery or putting your pet under anesthesia.Our
laboratory is fully equipped and staffed to perform these important
blood tests for the safety of your pet. Results will be immediately
available to examine before anesthesia and/or surgery.
During Surgery:
Our hospital has a machine that can measure internal temperature, heart
rate, and the amount of oxygen in your pet's blood stream on a continual
basis during anesthesia. We recommend every dog and cat get "EM" or
Electronic Monitoring during their procedure. We can tell how your pet
is doing on a moment to moment basis.
When these parameters are measured on a moment to moment basis,
adjustments to your pet's anesthesia, and temperature control can be
accomplished by our technicians during surgery long before any clinical
signs develop. This insures your pet the utmost comfort and safety
during short or long surgical procedures.
After Surgery:
From time to time, after surgery, your pet will experience some pain
usually upon coming out of anesthesia. We suggest and can administer
pain medication to your pet for the purpose of alleviating surgical pain
after surgery, if needed.
Consent Form:
All the above mentioned items, pre-operative blood testing, electronic
monitoring, and pain management are all listed on a
consent form prior to your dropping off your pet for surgery. For
the safety and comfort of your pet, we recommend that all options be
answered "yes". |
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Prescriptions And Refills
Prescriptions, Refills, Over the Counter products, Flea and Tick
Products, Dental Products, Heartworm Preventive, Iams Prescription Diets
and More.
You can pick up prescriptions on line and have it delivered to your
home,
provided we write the prescription and set your account up first. This
service is meant to provide you with a safe, convenient way of doing
your prescription shopping through our hospital website.
Please keep in mind the difference between prescription drugs and
products and over the counter products.
You still need a prescription from the doctor for prescription items.
You can shop without a prescription for over the counter products.
How To Pick Up Your Pet's Prescription:
Call the hospital at 610-872-4000
Tell us what you want to refill or order
Some prescriptions will be discussed during your pet's exam
Be sure to get an OK from the doctor before you go online
Find and click the
VetStoreRX
link below.
When you are asked to sign in, use your home phone with all 10 digits for your
Username and Password.
Example:
Username: 6108724000
Password: 6108724000
- After establishing your sign in or new register form you will get
inside the pharmacy.
- You will see your pet's personalized prescription waiting for you in
the medicine cabinet.
- Prescription will be mailed to your home after you complete your
transaction.
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PennHIP EvaluationCanine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) is the most common, inheritable
orthopedic problem seen in dogs. It afflicts virtually all breeds of
dogs but is especially problematic in large and giant breeds.
Clinically, the disease manifests itself in one of two ways: 1) a severe
form that typically afflicts the younger animal and is usually
characterized by marked pain and lameness, or 2) a more chronic form
with more gradual onset of clinical signs such as mild, intermittent
pain, stiffness and restricted range of motion in the hips as the dog
ages. In many cases, the chronic form may be clinically silent.
Dog owners and veterinarians have long sought a reliable method to
accurately predict the likelihood of a dog developing CHD and passing
that genetic trait to any offspring. It was generally recognized that
the traditional diagnostic methods of hip evaluation were associated
with disappointing progress in reducing the frequency of CHD. The
PennHIP method was developed to address this problem.
PennHIP is a scientific method to evaluate a dog for Hip Dysplasia. In
1983, Dr. Gail Smith from the University of Pennsylvania School of
Veterinary Medicine began to actively research and develop a new
scientific method for the early diagnosis of Canine Hip Dysplasia. This
research resulted in a diagnostic method capable of estimating the
susceptibility for CHD in dogs as young as sixteen weeks. The method has
shown distinct advantages over other diagnostic methods that recommend
final evaluation be performed when the dog is two years of age or older.
| The radiographic procedure involves a special positioning of the dog so
that the dog's passive hip laxity can be accurately measured. In simple
terms, passive hip laxity refers to the degree of "looseness" of the hip
ball in the hip socket when the dog's muscles are completely relaxed.
Research has shown that the degree of passive hip laxity is an important
factor in determining susceptibility to developing Degenerative Joint
Disease (DJD) later in life. Radiographic hip DJD, also known as
osteoarthritis, is generally accepted as confirmation of CHD. |
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To obtain diagnostic radiographs, it is important that the patient and
the surrounding hip musculature be completely relaxed. For the comfort
and safety of the dog, this requires deep sedation, or based on our
preference, general anesthesia. Typically, three separate radiographs
are made during an evaluation.
The PennHIP method can be performed on dogs as young as sixteen weeks,
compared with two years of age using the standard technique. An early
estimate of a dog's hip integrity is invaluable, whether the dog's
intended purpose will be for breeding, for working or as a family pet.
For the breeder, the information compiled in the PennHIP database
permits informed selection of breeding stock based on hip tightness
relative to other members of the same breed. Studies show that the
selection process for tighter hips can be imposed without sacrificing
other desirable traits.
For the pet owner, the ability to identify your pet's susceptibility to
develop DJD will allow you and our staff to plan lifestyle adjustments
to minimize disease expression if necessary.
For everyone, breeders and pet owners alike, the PennHIP method offers
an accurate and early appraisal of passive hip laxity. We are certified
PennHIP collaborators and would be happy to discuss the procedure with
you.
For an appointment for a PennHIP evaluation at the hospital call 610 872
4000 or use our inquiry form. For more information about
PennHIP, click
here or call 1-800-248-8099 |
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Printable Patient Forms
You can print and complete the following forms prior to coming to the
hospital and save some time:
●
New Patient
Information Form
●
Safety and Comfort
Form
●
Surgery Consent Form |
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Contact Us/Inquiry Form
Click here to use our
convenient online contact form. Your comments are inquiries are
encouraged and appreciated! |
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Customer Satisfaction Survey
At Providence Veterinary Hospital, we are constantly striving to provide
you and your animal companions with the best service and medical care
possible. Please take a moment to click
here and provide us with your
feedback on your recent visit. |
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USDA Veterinary Accreditation
Accreditation is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
program that deputizes licensed veterinarians to perform regulatory
functions on behalf of Pennsylvania and the USDA.
Dr. Peter Herman is an accredited veterinarian permitted to sign both
domestic and international health certificates for dogs and cats
traveling domestically and internationally.
International (USA to Another Country)
If you are planning to transport your dog or cat to another country, you
will need an international health certificate. Please make your plans
and consider that it could take three to four weeks to get the
international health certificate in your hands once it is approved and
stamped in Harrisburg. It is your responsibility to check with the
country you are traveling to and find out if they require additional
documentation, requirements or restrictions. You may also need a
temperature tolerance certificate for the airline if you are flying your
pet.
Domestic (from State to State)
Most domestic airlines require a domestic health certificate for
transportation from one State to another. A domestic health certificate
does not require the waiting time and can be issued at the time of the
examination. You may also need a temperature tolerance certificate for
the airline if you are flying your pet. You will need to check with the
specific airline. |
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Hill's
Prescription Diets
Iams Eukanuba Veterinary Diets