MARBACH ROAD ANIMAL HOSPITAL
7508 MARBACH ROAD SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78227
210 673 8020

Doctor’s Consultation and Physical Examination Your pet can’t talk, so we have to look! We humans can moan and groan and point and complain at the earliest sign of a medical problem. Not so with animals. If we don’t look our pets over regularly, we may miss these subtle early signs of disease and rob ourselves of the chance of early intervention. All too often disease is well advanced before we even notice. Remember! Your pet’s life span is much shorter compared to your own. A lot can happen in 12 months. At Marbach Road Animal Hospital we recommend a complete physical examination by our veterinarians at least once a year for the young and fit, and twice a year for our less fit and/or older patients.

Vaccination and Health Programs for Puppies and Kittens Preventive health care is one of our strongest weapons in the fight against disease and we achieve this, in part, through routine vaccination, regular physical examinations, and early detection diagnostic testing. Vaccinations for Adult and Senior Dogs At Marbach Road Animal Hospital we only use the very best quality and safest vaccines available. For example, for cats we use only non-adjuvanted vaccines whenever possible to lessen the threat of vaccine associated cancers.

Dental Care and Routine Dental Cleanings Both animals and people need regular dental care. While humans tend to get cavities, small animals are more prone to tartar (calculus) and plaque build up, which leads to gum disease. Gum disease in animals causes pain, bad breath, eventual loss of teeth, and can even lead to bacterial infections in internal organs, such as the heart and kidneys. At Marbach Road Animal Hospital our yearly physical examinations include a thorough examination of your pet’s mouth and teeth. If we find halitosis (foul breath), gum disease, tartar or plaque when we examine your pet, we will advise you on diet, routine pet dental care and a regular professional teeth cleaning to remove plaque and tartar and freshen your pet’s breath. This is an important step in preventing lasting dental problems. Whether your pet is young or old, whether you have a dog or cat, your pet’s dental care is of vital importance and we are here to help. We are fully trained and equipped to provide all of the following dental services: · Oral Cancer Screening · Tooth Scaling · Tooth Polishing · Tooth Extractions (for teeth damaged beyond repair) · Periodontal Surgery (to repair serious gum damage) · Oral Surgery · Dental Pain Control

Spay and Neuter Procedures The aim of spaying and neutering is to prevent the production of unwanted puppies or kittens who often end up, unfortunately, on the unwanted and unloved list.

Spaying and neutering is also done to avoid certain behavioral issues such as fighting, straying, roaming, urine marking, or the unwanted attention of males when a female is in season, as well as to avoid the inconvenience of having a female bleed for 2 to 3 weeks while in heat every 5 to 7 months. Spaying your female pet will prevent serious medical issues including pyometra (infected uterus)—a surgical emergency—and significantly decreases the probability of developing breast cancer. Neutering your male pet will prevent testicular cancer and can help control prostate diseases that can be life threatening. Complications and side effects of the surgery, while are possible, are rare. Any changes in temperament are almost always for the better, if they occur at all. The cost is reasonable when compared with alternatives so if you are considering having it done at some stage, sooner may be more economical than later!

Advanced Surgical Procedures Sometimes surgery is the best, or maybe even the only, alternative to cure your pet. At Marbach Road Animal Hospital in addition to routine spays and neuters, we are equipped to perform many types of surgical procedures. For example, removal of intestinal foreign bodies (balls, corks, pins, socks, etc.), removal of tumors, removal of bladder stones, cesarean sections, surgical repair of many types of bone fractures, surgical correction of eye and facial abnormalities, etcetera.

For surgery requiring special equipment or special surgical skills, we can refer your pet to a veterinary surgical specialty practice here in San Antonio.

At Marbach Road Animal Hospital, our surgical services include: · A complete pre-surgical physical examination before anesthesia · Pre-op blood testing for increased patient safety · IV catheter and IV Fluids to speed recovery and increase patient safety · State-of-the-art anesthesia, using generally isofluorane gas · The surgical procedure itself using the most up-to-date techniques including the CO2 Laser and highest standards of care · Individual patient monitoring by trained veterinary nurses, during surgery and in recovery · Wholesome foods, fresh water, clean bedding, and lots of TLC · Post-operative pain relief, as appropriate · Return visits for re-check or suture removal, if required When a patient’s life depends on the skill of the doctor, quality of the medical equipment, and the level of nursing staff training, we cannot afford to take any chances, and we won’t. We will communicate with you at all times to make certain you are informed and comfortable with the level of service offered and the costs involved. Radiology Service (X-rays) A picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes, an x-ray is the only way to diagnose and treat illness and injury. Our x-ray suite and radiology team give our veterinarians the tools needed to determine the best course of action and treatment for your pet’s situation. If necessary, we also have a radiology specialist we can send your pets pictures to for an expert second opinion.

Treatment of sick pets and Internal Medicine At Marbach Road Animal Hospital, we take pride that our first priority is identifying the cause of your pet’s illness so that we may treat it correctly. Our in-house veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory provides us with essential information that could be critical to your pets’ treatment and recovery. With equipment such as our Complete Blood Count machine and blood chemistry analyzer, we can perform same-day diagnostic tests providing results in less than an hour in most cases. This is especially important in veterinary medicine because, unlike human medicine, our patients can’t tell us when and how they’re feeling poorly. We also have several “snap tests” which help us diagnose acute and painful illnesses like pancreatitis. We also have a veterinary diagnostic lab where we send blood and/or urine samples in more advanced cases—usually these results are returned within 1 to 2 days. As with our specialty surgeries, we can also refer your pet to an internal medicine specialist visit to give expert consultations, perform ultrasounds of the belly or heart, and perform certain procedures requiring a specialists’ touch.

Common illnesses we routinely manage include: · Vomiting, Diarrhea, and/or decreased appetite—Parvo, etc. · Urinary problems—infections, blood in the urine, urinating outside the litter box, etc. · Coughing and upper respiratory infections · Heart disease · Kidney disease · Liver disease · Endocrine diseases—diabetes, thyroid problems, Cushing’s disease, etc…

Skin and Allergy Treatment—is your pet itchy? Allergies (also known as inhalant allergies or atopy) vary a great deal in both their severity and age of onset. They can start as early as 3 to 6 months and progress through to old age. Symptoms are usually progressive and become clinically apparent before 3 years of age. Among humans, the nose is the primary target of allergies - and hay fever symptoms predominate. Among dogs and cats, the skin is the major target organ, so itching, scratching, and foot licking are the main symptoms. Depending on what they are allergic to, some dogs and cats have seasonal allergies while others are itchy all year long. The biggest offenders are tree pollens, grass and weed pollens, mold spores and the house dust mites. Food allergies are also a common offender. Fortunately, there are now many options for diagnosing and treating allergies. Allergy treatment generally takes the form of some combination of the following: · Treatment of secondary yeast and/or bacterial infections · Medicated baths with soothing leave on conditioners · Anti-itch sprays · Antihistamines and special fatty acid formulations · Allergy shots (hypo sensitization injection), if necessary short term, low dose steroids to control inflammation · Other immune system controlling medications like Atopica · High quality, skin supportive diet · Regular Flea and Tick preventative

Emergency and Critical Care Accidents, illnesses, injuries and other emergencies do occur. You’re upset, nervous and you need help fast. We understand, we take it seriously, and we stand ready to guide you, gently but rapidly, through the crisis as we work together to determine or do what’s best for your pet. Call us at any time if you are worried about your pet. Our facilities are available for small animals in medical emergencies during regular business hours. For after-hours emergency advice, we refer to our local emergency animal hospitals. Again, please call us at any time if you are worried about your pet.

In-House Pharmacy and Prescription Diets Fully stocked, on site, and for the exclusive use of our patients. We maintain an extensive inventory of veterinary treatments and medications so that most needed prescriptions can be dispensed before your pet leaves the hospital. Our hospital carries several heartworm prevention options, as well as a large inventory of flea and tick control products.

Pet Boarding Rest easy and enjoy yourself knowing your pets are in good hands. We offer veterinary supervised pet boarding, at affordable rates for dogs and cats. Your best friend will get good wholesome food, fresh water, a “comfy” bed, and will be checked on frequently, played with and exercised. Special food or special medications for your pet while he or she stays with us is not a problem! Just bring them along. Other medications or special dietary needs can certainly be accommodated. Remember! Vet supervised boarding is safe boarding!