Your pet’s ongoing care is more important than you think. From their first visit to their senior years, we’ll put together a comprehensive health plan built just for them.

For the health of your pet, regular professional veterinary care is essential, especially for your senior pet. Preventive veterinary care not only lengthens the life of your pet, but it also improves your pet’s quality of life. A regular and complete physical for your pet can increase the chances of early diagnosis and treatment of physical ailments. The earlier in the disease process we can make a diagnosis and recommend treatment, the better the outcome. We also offer geriatric screenings for your older pets, which include urinalysis and bloodwork. We are happy to work with you to determine the best diagnostic, wellness, and treatment programs for your pets.

Vaccines are special proteins that prime the immune system to fight off specific infections. They work in two ways: to reduce the severity of such diseases should they strike or to completely prevent infection.

There are several diseases that can afflict cats and dogs, but most pets can be protected from the worst of them if they are vaccinated properly. For dogs, these include parvovirus, distemper, and infectious hepatitis. For cats, these include panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus, and feline calicivirus; for outdoor cats, protection can include feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus.

Once contracted, these illnesses can prove painful, distressing, and even fatal. Luckily, most of these illnesses can be prevented with vaccination.

Our team is highly skilled and experienced in performing a wide variety of pet surgeries using modern techniques and cutting edge equipment and always adhering to the strictest standards of safety and care. We provide surgical options in a clean and safe environment. Most importantly, our veterinary team can closely track each animal’s vital condition during surgery. Your pet is in safe hands at Gaines School Animal Hospital!

Gaines School Animal Hospital is proud to offer laser surgery. In many procedures, the laser can replace the scalpel and provide a better alternative to traditional surgery.

CO2 lasers produce an invisible beam that vaporizes the water normally found in the skin and other soft tissue. Because the laser beam can be precisely controlled, it removes, or “cuts,” only a thin layer of tissue at one time, leaving the surrounding areas unaffected. This level of control allows us to be extremely precise in every laser surgery procedure.

Why choose laser surgery?

• Less pain – The laser seals nerve endings as it “cuts,” reducing pain. As a result, less anesthesia may be required, reducing the risk of complications. Pain after surgery is also reduced.
• Less bleeding – The laser seals small blood vessels during surgery.
• Less swelling – Laser energy does not crush, tear, or bruise because there is no physical contact with the tissue.

How does this affect your pet?

• Reduced risk of infection – The laser sterilizes as it removes diseased tissue, killing bacteria that cause infection.
• Precision – The laser can remove unhealthy tissue without affecting or removing surrounding healthy tissue.
• Quick return to normal activities – Healing is rapid, and there is less post-operative discomfort.

What procedures qualify for laser surgery?

• Canine spay/neuter
• Feline spay
• Feline declaw
• Canine rear dewclaw removal
• Cyst, tumor, and wart removal

Your veterinarian at Gaines School Animal Hospital will be able to tell you if your pet’s procedure can be performed with a laser.

Laser therapy reduces pain and inflammation and increases blood supply to speed healing with no known side effects. It is used to treat a variety of injuries, wounds, fractures, neurologic conditions, dermatological problems, and pain. Whether your pet is recovering from trauma or injury, healing from wounds, or simply aging, the laser can provide relief and speed healing!