Upon discharge, the veterinary team will review any instructions pertaining to post-dental medications, special feeding instructions, and when to resume home dental care. Your pet will thank you for remembering to take care of his or her mouth and live a longer and happier life as a result.
Vaccination
Getting your new puppy or kitten off to a healthy start sets the stage for their lives as healthy adults. Regular physical examinations, core and elective vaccinations, fecal testing for parasites, and deworming are all important elements of ensuring good health for your puppy or kitten. Our knowledgeable staff can help your family learn about potty training your pup, performing nail trims on your puppy or kitten, dietary recommendations, and potential health hazards for your new pet.
Comprehensive Examination
If your pet is overdue for their annual wellness exam, schedule an appointment today. Catching medical concerns before they develop opens your pet up to further treatment options that could save their life!
When health problems are identified, a medical plan will be outlined to evaluate the problems in depth. If your pet appears to be healthy enough for routine preventive care, your veterinarian will discuss which immunizations are advised, as well as parasite prevention including heartworm disease, intestinal parasites, and ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, etc.). Annual age-appropriate lab tests, testing for heartworm and/or tick-borne diseases, and fecal tests for parasites may also be recommended for your pet. Finally, your pet’s nutrition, diet, and exercise routines can be assessed and optimized to help your pet be in best physical condition for their lifestyle and age. Remember, keeping up with preventive care for your pet is the best way to keep your pet happy and healthy for life.
Pain Management
Placing an IV catheter and administering IV fluids, giving oxygen supplementation, and pain relief medications may be elements of the initial stabilization of your pet. As your pet is stabilized, your veterinarian will review a diagnostic plan which may include imaging (radiographs, ultrasound) and laboratory evaluation (blood and/or urine tests) to ascertain the severity of the situation and tailor treatment for your pet.
SNAP tests: point-of-care “snap” tests are available for certain infectious diseases such as Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, Canine Parvovirus, Giardia, and Leptospirosis.
Parvovirus Infection Treatment
Feline Retro Virus Treatment
Bacterial and Viral Infection Treatment
One of the most common but also frequently overlooked health problems for companion animals is dental disease. By age 3, most pets have some degree of periodontal disease. This occurs as a result of bacterial infection along the gum line, due to the formation of plaque. Plaque is a sticky substance containing millions of bacteria that forms along the tooth surface and gum line. Without frequent removal, plaque eventually hardens into tartar. Left untreated, this leads to gradual destruction of the gum tissue and supportive structures around the teeth, which can result in tooth loss. Not only is periodontal disease harmful and painful because it results in loss of teeth, but it can also cause damage to important vital organs such as the...
These conditions will start to become more prevalent as your pet gets older. For this reason, we recommend twice-yearly veterinary visits for pets over 7 years of age. Your aging pet may be showing early signs of osteoarthritis such as stiffness after rest or play, difficulty going up or downstairs, and reduced activity. Early intervention with joint supplements and prescription arthritis medications when indicated, along with modified nutrition and exercise plans, can greatly improve your pet’s comfort and mobility. Likewise, performing annual screening lab work on your older pet can help identify early stages of medical problems that might go unrecognized, and progress significantly without treatment.
Heart Disease Treatment
Heartworm is another important endoparasite, but one which is not zoonotic. Heartworm infections result from pets being bitten by infected mosquitos. The larval form of the heartworm travels through the bloodstream to the heart where it develops into an adult. The adult heartworms live in the right side of the heart and left untreated, result in progressive heart failure and death. In initial stages of heartworm disease, pets may be asymptomatic. As the condition progresses, symptoms may evolve including a cough and exercise intolerance in dogs, and vomiting/coughing in cats. Treatment of heartworm disease can be very risky for the pet, and very costly.
Kidney Disease Treatment
Any pre-surgical testing that is recommended – baseline laboratory testing is beneficial so that there are no surprises on surgery day. Knowing that your pet has normal blood test results can help prevent anesthetic complications or surgical complications such as excessive bleeding, which can occur when patients have low platelet counts or abnormal clotting. When there is liver or kidney disease, this may affect the choices of anesthetic drugs recommended by your veterinarian, to prevent anesthetic complications and promote a smooth anesthetic recovery.
Dr. Holzhauer grew up in Crown Point, Indiana. She obtained a B.S. in Biochemistry with a minor in Biology and Wildlife from Purdue University and later completed her veterinary medical degree at Purdue University. Before starting at Gate City, Dr. Holzhauer completed a rotating Medicine, Surgery, and Emergency Internship at Carolina Veterinary Specialist in Greensboro. She also studied abroad in Australia for 6 months and did multiple externships at various zoos, wildlife centers, and shelters across the United States and Brazil. Her special interests lie in soft tissue surgery and exotic medicine (mammals, reptiles, and avian medicine). Dr. Holzhauer enjoys her free time hiking trails in the mountains and local parks and spending time at the beach. She takes her adopted dog, Breeze, almost everywhere with her when the weather permits. She also has two lizards, a Bearded Dragon named Stella and a Uromastyx named Sobek.
Laser Surgery
Dr. Andress was raised in Georgia, Virginia, and South Carolina. He obtained a B.S. in Microbiology from Clemson University and graduated from the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Animal Hospital Association, and North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Andress has special interests in surgery, laser surgery, and cardiology. Dr. Andress and his wife enjoy hiking and camping with their two sons and daughter. They have two adopted pets, a cat named Carly and Shelby the dog.
Spaying and Neutering
Spaying and neutering are additional topics to consider; the appropriate age for the timing of sterilization surgery may vary upon the species and breed of your pet. You may also want to consider Pet Health Insurance – a great way to get your new little family member off to a good start. Last but not least, you’ll also want to consider whether your new puppy or kitten may need preventives such as monthly heartworm prevention and flea/tick preventives. We realize that adding a new family pet can come with lots of questions... but don’t forget, we’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to call.
Our high standards enable us to provide the devoted care that your pet deserves. We know trusting your pet’s health with a stranger can be difficult, which is why we make our best effort to get to know our pet parents and patients on a more personal level. We implement diagnostic imaging alongside laboratory services to provide pet parents with a well-defined diagnosis.
Many pets need routine grooming. Let us take the hassle out it for you, and pamper your pet for you! We offer several grooming services including...
Senior Pet Care
We love Senior Pets! Senior pets have special needs and benefit from more regular veterinary visits compared to their younger counterparts. Age-associated conditions include...
Animal Daycare
Providers Add and quickly view your pet care professionals in one place (veterinary clinics, grooming facilities, boarding, pet daycare, and more!).