4 Reasons To Choose Pet Health Animal Hospital As Your Veterinarian

There are many different reasons to choose one animal hospital in Las Vegas over another, with the most important reasons obviously being convenience in traveling from your home and the experience levels of the veterinarians on staff at the location.  There are many reasons, however,  to choose one veterinarian over another that go far beyond the obvious, and it is for many of these reasons that we feel we should be your choice of animal hospital if you live in the Las Vegas area.  The following list of 4 reasons to choose us over another animal hospital, even if another one is closer to your home:

1. Knowledge of the Las Vegas area, and the special effects on pet health that Las Vegas has.

Las Vegas is a unique city, and even though all cities are unique from a cultural or architectural standpoint, the weather and climate in Las Vegas makes us unique from a health standpoint.  The pethelthanimalhospitalhot temperatures combined with the dry climate, along with the fact that many of our suburban neighborhoods are literally filled with plants that are not native to the Las Vegas area and which are being supported by climate control and landscaping systems in order to survive creates a completely unique ecosystem that is only found here.  From the standpoint of living beings that spend a good amount of time outside and exposed to the elements, Las Vegas has a set of health issues for pets that is all it’s own.  Allergies are completely unique here, and just like humans are effected by allergies to plants and environmental elements, so are animals.  Your pets are breathing the same air that you are, air that is filled with allergens and pollution from cars, and just like you have periods of the year when you feel the effects of allergies, so do your pets.  In addition to these elements, your pets probably spend more time closer to the ground than you do when they are outside going to the bathroom, wandering around your yard, or playing.  Infections that can be produced by organisms living on plants and the ground can have an adverse effect on pet’s health, as their feet, noses, skin and tongues are continually exposed.  You may notice your dog or cat licking their feet or fur more than when you lived in other places of the country, and there is a good chance that this is being caused by irritation to their systems from the climate.  Combine the allergies that may be increased in your pet with dry skin from the heat and you produce animals that have health issues that are very specific to the Las Vegas area.  Our veterinary staff has lived in the Las Vegas area for decades, and has grown accustomed to looking for the potential health risks that are unique to the Las Vegas area as symptoms when your pet feels sick.

ScorpionIn addition to the natural climate of Las Vegas, we also have a unique mix of insects and other small animals.  Interaction from a curious pet in the yard (or even inside your house) can produce stings and bites that cause reactions ranging from pain to being deadly if an allergic reaction happens, poison is injected or blood is lost.  Scorpions and black widow spiders, along with camel spiders, brown recluses, tarantulas and wasps are quite common in areas of Las Vegas, and a curious pet can be stung or bitten by any of these insects quite easily.  When a sting from an insect happens to your pet, they will probably begin exhibiting immediate signs of pain or discomfort, and need to be taken to the veterinarian immediately in order to begin treatment if there is a necessity.  Most times you will not find the insect that has stung your pet, so the level of treatment that is necessary must be assumed to be a high level until they are examined by a veterinarian who knows the local insects and who has seen stings or bites like this one before.  Quick and accurate diagnosis may be critical to saving the life of your pet.  Our veterinary staff is familiar with the local insects and animals in Las Vegas, and understands what to look for in order to make the fast and accurate diagnosis that is crucial in an emergency.

2. We literally wrote the book on pet lifetime care programs.

Dr. B has had years of experience honing his veterinary skills by working in other animal hospitals in the Las Vegas area as well as other areas of the country, and has developed a completely Canine Health - generalunique take on veterinary science and pet care.  His belief that it is more beneficial to the pet as well as the owner to not only understand the benefits of preventative health care for animals, but also to be a guide through the process over the course of your pet’s life will lead to longer lives and healthier situations, ultimately costing the pet owner less money over the lifetime of the pet.  Not only understanding that preventative vaccinations, examinations, checkups and wellness exams will be crucial to your pet leading a happier life, Dr. B put together the “Canine Wellness” and Feline Wellness” programs that are exclusive to Pet Health Animal Hospital.  These programs are free for Pet Health clients, and provide a road map to healthier pets by taking into consideration the breed, age and health factors that are both unique to the animal as well as being know to effect the breed itself as a whole.  By combining these elements into a unique plan that will span the life of the animal, the Pet Health Wellness programs provide pet owners with the understanding and knowledge necessary to get the preventative steps completed at specific times of life. The idea is to have ongoing, low cost maintenance done in an attempt to avoid costly surgeries or treatments that come with ailments that are known to be preventable.  While the attempt to prevent the illnesses in pets might make less money in the long run than the treatment of expensive illnesses, Dr. B believes it is worth it.

3. We are convenient to every area of Las Vegas.

Las Vegas veterinarian

Las Vegas veterinarian

Although it could be argued that there is a closer animal hospital to your home no matter where you live in Las Vegas, we have positioned our clinic to be centralized as much as possible so as to be an option that you would consider.  Our location at 8520 West Desert Inn Road #1 in Las Vegas is within a 30 minute drive from as far north as Nellis Air Force Base (19 miles away) and is less than a 20 minute drive from as far southwest as Mountain’s Edge.  Although the option to go to a closer clinic always exists, we hope that you will consider that we are worth the extra travel time.  Our staff is the most knowledgeable in the city, our facility is modern, clean and fully equipped to do everything from surgery to boarding, and our staff has proven for years that we really do care about your pets.

4. We work with Las Vegas shelters and rescues.

Many shelters and rescues have a favorite animal hospital or veterinarian that they tell people to visit after they adopt an animal.  Many times, that clinic will provide some discount on service or some gift to you as a thank you for adopting from the rescue they are partnered with.  At Pet Health Animal Hospital, we wanted to go further than that and offer a package of free or low cost services to your newly adopted pet, no matter what shelter or rescue you chose.  Our “Adoption Rewards” program is open to anyone who adopts a pet from a Las Vegas shelter or rescue within the first three Adoption Reward Program2months of ownership.  This means that no matter where you adopt your pet from (as long as it is a licensed rescue or shelter) we will provide you with a really great start by making your medical responsibilities as inexpensive as possible.  We even go as far as to pay for your first month pet insurance, so if a medical issue arises you will not have to consider taking that animal back to the rescue because you cannot afford it.  Our goal is to get as many animals rescued as possible in Las Vegas, and reduce the unbelievably large numbers of animals sitting in cages at shelters.  It is our way of giving back to the Las Vegas animal community, so if you adopted a pug from Southern Nevada Pug Rescue or you adopted a pit bull from The Animal Foundation, we have you covered.  Come in and get your gifts.

There are many reasons that people in Las Vegas choose one animal clinic over another.  There are many animal hospitals in our town that have been here for years and are part of a network of clinics that are owned by the same people or companies, making them able to advertise themselves for more than smaller or newer animal hospitals like ourselves.  We are not trying to be the biggest or make the most money.  We are trying to create a new idea in what a veterinarian is and what healthcare for your animals should entail.  We want to create a higher standard for veterinarians and animal clinics to follow because we really do believe that your pets deserve better.  We ask you to choose us as your animal hospital in Las Vegas, and if you do we are sure that you will be convinced.

Is pool chlorine safe for dogs?

dog diveAs the summer temperatures get hotter (especially in extremely hot areas like Las Vegas) it is common for families to consider allowing their dog to jump into the pool with them in order to cool off.  One of the most common questions that are asked of veterinarians and animal hospitals during the summer months will be something like “Is the chlorine in my pool safe for my dog to swim in or drink?”

The chlorine in your pool is safe for your dog to swim in, just as much as it is safe for you to swim in, however, there are several things that you must watch out for when your dog jumps in the pool.  Dogs tend to ingest more of the water they are swimming in than humans typically do, as they do not understand that the water is not good for them to drink.  If your dog drinks too much water from the pool, the result could be salt poisoning or electrolyte imbalance, or the chlorine may upset their stomach.  In order to prevent your dog from ingesting too much chlorinated water, make sure you provide plenty of freshwater to them and show them where it is.  Typically, dogs will prefer to drink the freshwater over the chlorinated water as it tastes better, however, if they are hot and cannot find any alternative they will drink the chlorinated water to reduce their thirst.  It is important to make sure they can find freshwater to drink.

Additionally, the chlorine in the pool water might cause irritations to your dog’s skin or eyes.  Make it a habit to rinse your dog off in the shower or by a garden hose providing fresh water after they are done swimming.  This will reduce the chances of their skin or eyes being irritated by the chlorine or pool chemicals.  If you notice your dog itching or scratching after they have gone swimming, it might be an indication that the chlorinated water is irritating their skin.  Bathing your dog in freshwater will reduce the irritation, but in the case of ongoing irritations or any behavior that is unusual after swimming it could be that your dog is allergic to the chemicals in the water.  If you notice anything that seems unusual about your dog’s appearance or behavior after swimming contact your veterinarian or animal hospital immediately.

Lastly, remember that not all dogs know how to swim.  It is a common belief that any dog will begin to swim if put into the water, but dogs that have never been exposed to deep water may panic and thrash about instead of swimming.  Also, many dogs that have had injuries or are older may not be able to swim enough to keep their head above the water.  Introduce your dog to the water slowly and carefully, supporting their body during the process in order to allow them to get accustomed to the water and how to swim.  Throwing your dog into the water could result in drowning.

As a final note, if you have a pool and your dog has never been in it, it is a good idea to spend some time putting your dog slowly into the pool to make sure they know how to swim if they were to fall in when alone.  Spend the time to support their body and allow them to get used to swimming, and show them how to find the shallow end and exit the pool.  A little bit of time spent training your dog to swim can save his or her life.

How To Choose An Animal Hospital

pet health animal hospital staffThere are many different things to consider when you are choosing an animal hospital or veterinarian for your new pet.  Several aspects of the clinic are probably more important to you than others, as you can assume that as long as the clinic has a good reputation (look through Yelp and Google+ reviews or ask your friends) that they are going to be able to provide the basic veterinary services that are found at almost any clinic.  The most important aspect to consider for most people is the location and the distance to the hospital from your home.  The main reason that this is so important is that if the location is too far away, you will probably have more of a tendency to make fewer appointments as it is more difficult to arrange a convenient time.  Regular visits to the veterinarian for checkups, vaccinations, and treatments are crucial to the well-being and health of your pet, so choosing a hospital that is convenient to your home will probably allow you to arrange for more regular visitations.  Another important aspect to remember to ask when you are looking at veterinarians is the hours they keep, and what you should do if there is an emergency either after the hours they are open or if it is something they can handle.  Many veterinary clinics are limited in the scope of work they can handle in emergency situations when time is crucial, so finding out after you bring your emergency case into the location that they are not equipped to handle the situation is not the best thing to do.  When you are interviewing your potential new veterinarian, ask what hours they are open and where they suggest you go in case of an after-hours emergency.  Make a special note of the location they suggest, and keep the directions and hours of that location handy at all times.  Emergencies are stressful, and in an emergency situation, you need to be as prepared as possible.  Ask your veterinarian what they suggest in an emergency like if your dog was hit by a car.  Are they equipped to handle that situation during their office hours? Do they have a surgery center and a veterinarian on staff who can perform emergency surgery?  Ask them if you should bring your cat to them if the pet stops breathing, falls down, or has an allergic reaction.  Ask if they can handle emergency poisoning if your puppy eats fertilizer from your yard.  Ask if they are equipped to handle these situations at any time, or if they are simply to be considered only for non-emergency situations.

Ask your potential animal hospital if you can tour their facilities, and get a sense as far as the cleanliness and professionalism of the staff.  Does the facility look like a professional animal hospital or does it look like an unprofessional office?  Does the clinic have modern-looking equipment and a room where they can do surgery or dental work? If you want to be able to take your pet to a single location to have all of these types of treatments done, then you have to make sure that your potential choice can perform these important services.  If they cannot, you will have to go to a different location to get that work done.

Lastly, use your gut feelings to see if you like the veterinarian and the staff of the animal hospital.  Keep in mind that you are choosing a doctor that you are putting in charge of making decisions for your pet with regards to their health.  Do you get a good feeling from the staff?  Are they pleasant or are you getting the feeling that you do not like them?  Are they on top of appointments or do you feel like you are being forgotten about?  Use all of these aspects to make your choice of animal hospital, and both you and your pet will benefit from your decision.