Primary Care for Pets

Establishing a relationship with a primary care veterinarian is one of the most important things you can do for your pet’s long-term well-being. Just as in human medicine, primary care veterinarians prioritize preventive care. They provide regular wellness exams, vaccinations, screenings for early disease detection, and other services to ensure your pet stays as healthy as possible for as long as possible.   The primary care veterinarian is also usually your first point of contact when your pet is sick or injured. There’s tremendous peace of mind in knowing you have someone to turn to who knows your pet and you. That’s why the best time to establish a relationship with a primary care veterinarian is when your pet is healthy.

At Animal Hospital at Thorndale, we offer a full range of veterinary primary care services, including: 

Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be used for pets to treat a variety of conditions, including:
  • Pain management: Acupuncture can help with pain from injuries, surgery, or cancer.
  • Musculoskeletal issues: Acupuncture can help with arthritis, hip dysplasia, and other joint conditions.
  • Skin issues: Acupuncture can help with hot spots, granulomas, and allergic dermatitis.
  • Gastrointestinal issues: Acupuncture can help with diarrhea, nausea, and other digestive issues.
  • Respiratory issues: Acupuncture can help with asthma, allergies, and other respiratory conditions.
  • Hormonal or metabolic conditions: Acupuncture can help with conditions like Cushing’s syndrome, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and Addison’s disease.
  • Cancer side effects: Acupuncture can help with cancer symptoms like pain, nausea, and decreased appetite

Pets require regular exams just like people do since they don’t always show signs of illness or disease. Young, healthy pets should visit the veterinarian at least once a year; pets with chronic diseases or older pets should visit more often.

Aggression, thunderstorm phobia or separation anxiety are some of the troubling behaviors that pets can exhibit. We have the skills to diagnose the root cause(s) of these behaviors and provide guidance on how to resolve them.

If you’re planning to breed your dog or cat, we can provide the regular veterinary care, health screenings, vaccination, parasite control, nutrition and environmental management that are necessary to support reproductive health and fertility—and produce healthy puppies and kittens.

Periodontal disease affects more than 80% of dogs and cats. When it’s not removed, the bacteria in plaque (the slimy film that can build up on teeth) can cause gums to become inflamed and infected. Left untreated, this can cause painful deterioration of the gums and jawbone and tooth loss. Bacteria also can enter the bloodstream and cause damage in vital organs, including the heart. With regular oral exams and dental cleanings, this is preventable. 

We have an array of diagnostic tools—including diagnostic imaging and an onsite lab—that helps us quickly and accurately determine what may be causing your pet’s health issues and speed the time to treatment. Our digital x-ray imaging and screening ultrasound are performed and interpreted by a board-certified radiologist.

The most common reason pets need to visit a veterinarian is due to skin and/or ear issues. In fact, there are more than 160 known causes of skin or ear problems in dogs and cats, ranging from allergies to bacterial infection to autoimmune issues. Our doctors are highly trained and experienced in diagnosing and managing a wide range of skin and ear conditions.

We offer the Home Again microchip identification system to help properly identify your pet and ensure their prompt return in case they become lost. Microchips can be read in any shelter, rescue or veterinary hospital that has a universal microchip reader.

Dogs and cats have distinct nutritional requirements, making a good diet essential for your pet’s health and longevity. So is maintaining an appropriate weight. We can make nutritional recommendations to optimize your pet’s health at each life stage. We also can provide guidance if your pet needs to lose weight or is a reluctant eater.  

Pain management

In humans, pain has been called the fifth vital sign. It’s an equally important measure of a pet’s well-being. Our aim is to ensure that your pet is always comfortable and enjoys a good quality of life whether they’re dealing with a chronic condition like arthritis, post-surgical discomfort, or pain resulting from trauma. Our clinicians are trained at assessing pain and will develop a pain management plan that’s tailored to your pet’s unique needs.  

Parasite prevention plays a key role in your pet’s health. Parasites—which include fleas, ticks, lice, mites and worms—can be avoided with such preventive measures as topical medicine or monthly oral medication. Good hygiene, regular grooming and tick checks are also vital. Our veterinarians can provide guidance on the appropriate preventive measures based on your pet’s exposure and medical history. 

With our well-stocked onsite pharmacy, you have fast, convenient access to a wide variety of oral and topical medications for your pet. Most medications that are prescribed for your pet can be dispensed at the time of your visit. If special-order medications are needed, we’ll take care of it for you.

As pets get older, they need extra care and attention to their medical needs because they become more vulnerable to age-related issues, including certain diseases. Regular veterinary visits are a must; they can help detect problems before they become serious or life-threatening—leading to a longer, healthier life for your pet. We ideally like to see our senior patients twice a year, more often if we’re dealing with known health issues.  

Based on current medical knowledge, we recommend that all dogs and cats not intended for breeding be spayed or neutered at about 6 months of age. This not only helps reduce the risk of certain health issues including breast cancer, prostate gland enlargement and behavioral problems, but it also helps reduce the overpopulation of unwanted animals living on the streets or in shelters. We use the latest surgical techniques to spay and neuter pets safely and comfortably.    

When your pet needs surgery, they’re in expert hands here at Animal Hospital at Thorndale. While our primary care veterinarians perform a range of routine surgical procedures such as spaying and neutering, we also have a board-certified specialist in veterinary surgery on staff should your pet require more advanced surgical care. In addition, our veterinary technicians have deep experience in safely administering anesthesia and carefully monitoring your pet during surgery. 

Vaccinations are an essential component of effective preventive healthcare. In Pennsylvania, cats and dogs are required to have a current rabies vaccination. Other vaccines are highly recommended; still others are optional, depending on your pet’s lifestyle. We’ll thoroughly discuss your pet’s risk factors with you and customize a vaccination regimen that’s appropriate for your pet.

In humans, pain has been called the fifth vital sign. It’s an equally important measure of a pet’s well-being. Our aim is to ensure that your pet is always comfortable and enjoys a good quality of life whether they’re dealing with a chronic condition like arthritis, post-surgical discomfort, or pain resulting from trauma. Our clinicians are trained at assessing pain and will develop a pain management plan that’s tailored to your pet’s unique needs.  

Parasite prevention plays a key role in your pet’s health. Parasites—which include fleas, ticks, lice, mites and worms—can be avoided with such preventive measures as topical medicine, wearing a flea and tick collar, or monthly oral medication. Good hygiene, regular grooming and tick checks are also vital. Our veterinarians can provide guidance on the appropriate preventive measures based on your pet’s exposure and medical history. 

With our well-stocked onsite pharmacy, you have fast, convenient access to a wide variety of oral and topical medications for your pet. Most medications that are prescribed for your pet can be dispensed at the time of your visit. If special-order medications are needed, we’ll take care of it for you.

As pets get older, they need extra care and attention to their medical needs because they become more vulnerable to age-related issues, including certain diseases. Regular veterinary visits are a must; they can help detect problems before they become serious or life-threatening—leading to a longer, healthier life for your pet. We ideally like to see our senior patients twice a year, more often if we’re dealing with known health issues.  

Based on current medical knowledge, we recommend that all dogs and cats not intended for breeding be spayed or neutered at about 6 months of age. This not only helps reduce the risk of certain health issues including breast cancer, prostate gland enlargement and behavioral problems, but it also helps reduce the overpopulation of unwanted animals living on the streets or in shelters. We use the latest surgical techniques to spay and neuter pets safely and comfortably.    

When your pet needs surgery, they’re in expert hands here at AH Thorndale. While our primary care veterinarians perform a range of routine surgical procedures such as spaying and neutering, we also have a board-certified specialist in veterinary surgery on staff should your pet require more advanced surgical care. In addition, our veterinary technicians have deep experience in safely administering anesthesia and carefully monitoring your pet during surgery. 

Vaccinations are an essential component of effective preventive healthcare. In Pennsylvania, cats and dogs are required to have a current rabies vaccination. Other vaccines are highly recommended; still others are optional, depending on your pet’s lifestyle. We’ll thoroughly discuss your pet’s risk factors with you and customize a vaccination regimen that’s appropriate for your pet.

Partner with us for primary care for your pet

It would be a privilege to serve as your pet’s primary care veterinarian. Know that you can always count on us to go the extra step when it comes to your pet’s health. To get our relationship started, please reach out to us. 

Questions?

Simply call us at 610-873-4091.

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