SERVICES

Established in 1979, Hurricane Animal Hospital is headed by Dr. Shawn D. Sette, DVM.

Our professional staff cares for all types of small animals and pets, including ferrets and rabbits. We provide a wide range of services, including:

• Preventative health exams
• Up-to-date laboratory facilities and pre-anesthesia testing
• Dental cleaning and care
• Radiology Services
• Surgery
• Nutritional Consultations
• Boarding
• Medical Services from Cardiology to Dermatology
• Microchipping
• Pain Management

Allergy Therapy

One of the most common problems reported by owners of dogs and cats is the discomfort brought on as a result of allergies. The term allergy refers to a disease process in which the immune system reacts abnormally to an everyday substance. The most common signs in pets are scratching, face rubbing, biting and chewing at the skin. Most usually allergies show up in young adult animals and have a tendency to worsen with age.

While allergies cannot be cured or prevented, they can be effectively controlled. Treatments are directed at relieving the symptoms. There are several options available to your pet which include avoiding contact with the offending allergens, topical treatments, allergen free diets, drug therapy and immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy is most often suggested in severe cases and involves blood testing to identify your pet’s specific allergens. We use Bio-Medical Services for our allergy testing. You can learn more about their lab and allergies at www.bmslab.com. An individualized de-sentasization regiment is then developed from this information to provide your pet with relief. Immunotherapy is a long term treatment that can help your pet avoid prolonged use of potentially harmful drugs such as steroids. Steroids are very good at reducing itching, but frequent use produces serious side effects that decrease the quality and length of your pet’s life. Our veterinarians can work with you to provide your pet with a comprehensive plan to relieve the irritation of allergies safely.

Dental Care

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show some signs of dental disease by the age of three. A diseased mouth can affect the total health of an animal just as it can humans. Without regular oral care, plaque and tartar begin to build up on the surface of a pet’s teeth. Over time this deposit of bacteria leads to bad breath, inflamed gums, and tooth loss. This infection causes pain and each time the pet chews, the infection is pushed into the bloodstream where it spreads to the liver, kidneys, heart and other places including the brain and spinal cord. Additionally, an infected mouth can cause harm to other members of your family. Cases of conjunctivitis in people have been documented as a result of a pet’s dirty mouth. Getting the pet’s saliva on your hands and then rubbing your eyes can transmit the infection to you.

Dental care for our companion animals is essential to providing them with a long and comfortable life. We offer professional dental cleanings by trained and experienced staff. Just like human dentists, we use ultrasonic scalers to remove plaque and tartar above and below the gum line, followed by polishing to smooth out the tooth surface and delay plaque reformation. We check the entire mouth for any other signs of disease, and our veterinarians prescribe medication and home therapies, as needed, to keep your pet’s pearly whites in top shape. Prevention is always the best medicine, and we can show you how to keep your pet’s mouth as clean as possible using a variety of products and approaches tailored to your specific pet’s needs.

Senior Pets

Soon, you may begin to notice signs that your pet is entering the senior years. In the past, many have accepted declining quality of life of our aging pets as a fact of life beyond our control. But, thanks to advances in animal nutrition and health care, there is now an alternative.

A pet, 7 years or older, is classified as a senior. (Except giant breed dogs, such as the St. Bernard and Great Dane, which are considered senior at age 5). Because pets age approximately 7 years for every 1 year of human life, significant changes in health can occur in as little as 3 to 6 months.
(Calculate your dog’s age in human years at www.dogage.com )

Even if your pet is in good health at age 7, we should develop a senior program tailored to your pet’s needs. This program will consist of nutritional evaluation and preventative health care, based on your pet’s health, weight and breed.

Technicians
What is a Certified Veterinary Technician?

A Certified Veterinary Technician has completed a focused course of study, and graduated from an accredited school, with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technology. Following graduation, the student then must pass either the state or national boards. Only then do they receive the title of Certified Veterinary Technician.

These technicians complete many of the same courses of study as nurses, but they actual receive training on a much broader scale. Yes, they hold your puppy or cat for the doctor, and provide excellent bedside or tableside comfort.

Patient care is probably the reason that they entered the field to begin with. But did you know that they are also educated in Radiology, Critical Care, CPR, Laboratory, Post-operative care, Wound care, Dentistry, and Anesthesia, to name a few? This is why the term technician is used instead of nurse. They are technically proficient in each of these areas.

At Hurricane Animal Hospital we pride ourselves on having some of the best Technicians in the business. Each technician works in the area of the hospital that is closest to their heart and that best suits their talents. In this way our patients get the best and most compassionate care.