Small Animal In-Home Veterinary Services

Vaccinating your pet keeps your dog or cat healthy by preventing serious diseases. Every pet has their own unique lifestyle and deserves to be given individual attention and consideration when preparing for their vaccinations.

At High Water Veterinary Services, our vaccine programs are tailored individually for each pet. You are invited to take an active part in creating the vaccination plan for your dog or cat. In creating your pet’s vaccination plan, we will take into consideration their lifestyle, such as exposure to the outdoors, travel plans, breed, health status, and immune competence. These factors may change over time, so it’s best to review your pet’s vaccination plan at every wellness exam.

During the exam, please discuss what you have planned for your pet’s life in the months ahead and what has happened in the past. Information about vaccination reactions in the past is critical for your pet’s safety during future vaccinations, so be sure to discuss your pet’s vaccination history with our staff. 

Dogs and cats are susceptible to both internal and external parasites. Unfortunately, people can also contract the same parasites. Therefore it’s very important to control parasites in your pet to protect your entire family.

The intestinal parasites include four common worms and some species of microscope protozoan. The common worms are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. Coccidea, toxoplasmosis, and giardia are a few of the protozoa. It is important to have a fecal (stool) sample checked twice a year for the presence of eggs or parasites.

For dogs that have frequent contact with other animals at dog parks, kennels, boarding facilities, and groomers or pets that have abnormal stools should have a fecal sample checked more frequently.

External parasites include fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. These parasites not only cause discomfort, scratching, and skin infections but can also transmit several serious diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, Erlichiosis, Babeseosis, Tularemia, Typhus, Plague, Hemobartonellosis, Bartonellosis, and more. Once we identify the specific parasites we can begin the proper treatment for your pet.

We can help protect your pet and family from all of these parasites and diseases. Call us today to set up an appointment for examination and treatment or preventative measures.

During a physical exam, the doctor will thoroughly assess your pet’s eyes, ears, skin, mouth, respiratory, circulatory and musculoskeletal systems for any abnormalities.  From this examination, plus the history you have provided, the doctor will determine if any additional diagnostic tests are needed.

Additional diagnostic tests can range from something as simple as an ear swab to look for ear mites to a blood and/or urine test. Others may be as extensive as an x-ray or ultra sound.

Acupuncture was developed thousands of years ago in ancient China. Today, holistic veterinarians recognize acupuncture as a safe and effective form of medicine. At High Water Veterinary Services, we are able to provide this unique type of treatment for a variety of disorders in both dogs and cats. Some of the medical issues that may benefit from acupuncture include:

• acute musculoskeletal pain
  
• acute or chronic back pain
  
• arthritis
  
• hip dysplasia
  
• Renal disease 
  
• Inappetence
  
• Decreased activity  
  
• and more!
  

Acupuncture takes advantage of points on body tissue where nerve bundles and blood vessels come together. When we use the needles to stimulate these areas, the nerve endings respond by jump-starting production of endorphins (which acts as a type of natural painkiller) and hormones such as cortisol to balance your pet’s health.

These naturally occurring chemicals play an important role in the body’s defense against pain and inflammation. Understanding the relationship between the points and the various disease processes requires specialized training. The ultimate goal of treatment is to balance your pet’s body. Acupuncture prescriptions are individualized to your pet’s particular needs and aim to bring balance and alleviate their pain.

Most pets will accept acupuncture readily. The needles are very small and stay in place for 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the prescribed treatment. 

Acupuncture treatments are generally scheduled every 3 to 7 days for the first several weeks.  As a response is monitored, the frequency of your cat or dog’s treatment may be reduced.  The end goal of acupuncture is to achieve a customized treatment plan to maintain your pet’s health once the original condition has improved or been resolved.

We are very excited for the opportunity to bring both traditional western treatments with this ancient form of medicine.

Ultrasounds can be an important, non-invasive diagnostic tool for your pet. Used primarily for abdominal and cardiac problems, ultrasound provides veterinarians with high level imaging of what is happening insides your pet’s body. This can help diagnose disease and other health problems quickly and efficiently.

For existing patients, at home Euthanasia provides a peaceful, less stressful environment for both your pet and family.

Home Euthanasia includes:

• full sedation of the pet
  
• euthanasia
  
• grief counseling resources