Services  

 Thank you for giving us the opportunity to care for your pet. Our caring staff and three dedicated doctors enjoy seeing all kinds of domestic pets. From dogs to cats, to hamsters and ferrets, to cockatiels and iguanas - we’ve seen about everything! We want to help you and your pet have a happy, healthy life together, and we’ll do our best to keep you informed about the best ways to care for your pet.  Our mission is to help pets and their people enjoy a long and happy life together by providing proactive wellness care, appropriate and effective medical and surgical care when illness or injury strike and by educating owners on the best pet care.
   The doctors and staff make every effort to explain nutritional and housing requirements, address medical concerns, and answer any other questions you may have about your pets. Exotic pets and birds are becoming popular as more people become interested in these intriguing companions. Birds, rabbits, and iguanas are some of the more common “exotic” pets to visit the hospital.  Patients have also included potbellied pigs, chinchillas, turtles, fish and snakes.  Our doctors also work with the local humane societies and various rescue organizations. 

Wellness Exams
   As in human health care, preventive care is the single most important thing you can do to safeguard your pet’s health. Your pet ages much faster than you do, so a yearly physical examination, stool check for worms, and a heartworm blood test for dogs, allow the doctor to spot conditions that need treatment. In addition, all dogs, cats and ferrets should have their vaccination status evaluated annually.  Vaccinations are are an important tool for the prevention of serious and even deadly, diseases in both pets and people. The doctor will establish an individual vaccination protocol for your pet based on his species, age and risk factors. Rabies is a very real threat in Black Hawk county; it is vitally important, and required by law, that all pets be vaccinated against rabies, unless medically inadvisable.  In addition to reducing the number of orphaned and abandoned pets, ovario hysterectomy (spaying) and neutering are important to protect your pet from reproductive cancers and life-threatening infections.  These surgeries are usually done before your pet’s first birthday.

Medical Mysteries
   “I can’t tell you where I hurt.”  Because your pet can’t tell us where it hurts, the doctor will conduct a thorough physical examination to arrive at a diagnosis of your pet’s condition. This might involve various diagnostic tests including x-rays, blood chemistry, urine analysis, and microscopic study of tissue samples.  We perform both soft tissue and orthopedic surgery in our hospital, and should your pet need a specialist the doctor will refer you to the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine or another veterinary teaching hospital of your choice. Sometimes this can be done by simply sending x-rays or tissue samples.
   The hospital has an in-house laboratory for diagnostic blood chemistry, hematology and basic pathology while biopsies and other more specialized tests are sent to various outside reference laboratories around the country.

Ultrasound
   We have recently invested in ultrasound equipment that enables the doctors to diagnose conditions that aren't readily observable using radiographs (x-rays) or for situations when radiographs are not effective such as early pregnancy detection.  Ultrasound is also helpful in diagnosing cardiac problems.   

Emergency After-Hours Call
   If your pet becomes critically ill or is seriously injured during office hours, when possible, please call ahead so the doctors can prepare for your pet’s arrival. Should your pet need medical attention after office hours, dial (319)277-1883 and a professional answering service will page the doctor on call, who will address your concerns and meet you and your pet if necessary

Hospitalization
   Should your pet be hospitalized for either illness or surgery you will be asked to sign a consent form. This form gives the doctor permission to proceed and states that you agree to pay for services rendered. Your pet must be current on vaccinations and be free of fleas and intestinal worms.  Vaccinations can be done the day your pet is admitted to the hospital, though they should be done well in advance of the hospitalization to give your pet the best protection. For this reason we start all new puppies and kittens on a series of vaccinations that will protect them from diseases they can be exposed to at home as well in a hospital or boarding environment. Pets found to have fleas will be treated at the owner’s expense to safeguard hospitalized pets.

Surgeries (Soft Tissue and Orthopedic)
   Medical and surgical procedures, along with any anesthesia used, carry varying degrees of risk. We minimize that risk by using modern anesthetics and continually monitoring your pet’s vital signs.  If your pet is having surgery you will be offered the opportunity for pre-surgical blood testing of your pet to test for infection and problems with liver or kidneys that could be a concern during surgery. For younger pets this establishes a baseline that can be helpful if your pet becomes ill at a later time. For older pets it is important to detect conditions that develop as a pet ages, but are not apparent by doing a basic physical examination.  
   Our doctors will perform a wide variety of surgeries from the routine spay or neuter to the more complex orthopedic surgeries such as knee ligament repair, internal and external fracture reduction using bone plates, pins and external fixators.  Surgical procedures are performed using safe inhalation anesthetics, monitored electronically and by surgical assistants, in a modern surgical suite. 

Dental Care
     Dental procedures, such as ultrasonic tartar scaling and tooth extractions, are being performed more frequently as people become increasingly aware of the importance of good oral health for their pets.  We include dental evaluations in each annual wellness exam so we can prevent or correct dental problems before they affect the pet's overall health

Behavioral Consultations      
   Pets are becoming increasingly important members of our families and we want to help you build a rewarding lifetime relationship with your pet. Unfortunately, while a well-behaved pet can be a joy for everyone, behavior problems are the leading cause of pet surrender to animal shelters.  A behavior consultation can give you the information and tools to transform poor pet’s manners from a source of frustration to yet another reason to love your furry friend.

Boarding
    Boarding is available for clients’ cats, dogs, and ferrets.  There is limited space, so do call a week (or month) ahead of time to make a reservation. We have runs for larger dogs and cages of different sizes for other pets.  Boarding cats and dogs receive Eukanuba Veterinary Diets. If your pet requires a particular diet, you will need to bring an adequate supply of that food. We request that no personal belongings such as toys, blankets, and food dishes be left with your pet when it is in the hospital for reasons of sanitation and orderliness.

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