There is a lot of debate these days on vaccination protocols in veterinary medicine. Unfortunately, no one has definitive answers as to what is right and what is wrong. When making decisions as to what is right for your pet, we, at Ohio Drive Animal Hospital, take three main factors into account.

1) Is the disease we are vaccinating against transferrable to humans?  The most obvious disease that falls into this category is Rabies Virus. We will always recommend that our patients be current on Rabies vaccination, as there is some risk of the disease occurring within the state of Texas, and the disease is fatal in humans.

2) Is your pet protected against the disease? These days we can run titers on common diseases such as Parvovirus and Distemper Virus. Titers measure your pet's immunity against such diseases, and tell us whether or not he/she really needs a booster vaccination. This is a great way to prevent "over-vaccination".

3) Does your pet have health issues that make vaccination more of a potential risk than a benefit? Causes of certain diseases have been associated with or can by compounded by vaccination. In certain cases we may recommend that vaccinations not be given to your pet due to concerns about other disease risks.

You may or may not realize that ear infections are quite common in cats and dogs. These infections can be due to ear mites, bacteria, yeast or any combination of the three. Ear infections in your pet can be very difficult to resolve and can be a source of significant frustration to you.  Additionally, ear infections can lead to pain and discomfort for your pet, as well as odors unwelcome in your home. Left untreated, chronic ear infections can lead to calcification of the cartilage of your pet's ear canals. Once this occurs, the only option that you will have to resolve the problem will be aggressive and expensive surgery.

At Ohio Drive Animal Hospital, we take ear infections very seriously and are equipped with the latest technology to help us combat them. We are now equipped with a video otoscope that allows us to visualize your pet's ear canal and ear drum. With it, we can show you what the inside of your pet's ear looks like, and what a healthy ear looks like for comparison. We can then plan a treatment regimen tailored to fit your pet's specific needs.

Don't let your loved one suffer needlessly. If you notice signs of ear infection, your pet needs to be seen. Watch for shaking of the head, scratching at the ears, dark debris accumulating around the folds of the ear canal, or unpleasant odors coming from the ears. If you suspect an ear infection, don't delay. Have your pet examined today.

At Ohio Drive Animal Hospital we perform all types of elective surgery. Whether your pet needs to be spayed, neutered or declawed, you and your loved one will have an exceptional experience at our facility. We believe that your pet should be treated as well as you would be treated if you were undergoing surgery. We are aggressive and progressive when it comes to controlling pain (call and ask one of our nurses about our use of the Fentanyl Patch). We also recommend that any surgical candidate have pre-surgical laboratory testing to verify that their vital organs are healthy and functioning normally. Taking these steps greatly reduces any risks associated with anesthesia. Another way to make the procedure safer is to place the patient on intravenous fluids before and during the procedure. This helps to maintain blood pressure and hydration, and gives us immediate access should any injections be needed during anesthesia. 

In order to make the procedure as easy as possible on our clients, we always will present you with written pre-surgical estimates. Additionally, we offer convenient drop-off times, and allow you to drop off your pet the night before surgery at no additional charge. We will also call you after your pet's procedure so that you will know that everything went well, and that your loved one is safe.