With our new graduates and our experienced veterinarians we can offer both the latest medical technology and the knowledge that comes from years of clinical experience with small animal medicine. Browse this section or Contact us at: Animal Medical Services Mount Airy, NC (336) 786-9444 or Galax Veterinary Clinic Galax, Virginia (276) 236-4212
In an effort to provide our patients with cutting-edge veterinary medical care, we are excited to offer this alternative therapy. We had to see it to believe it too, but now we are convinced. Laser therapy really works. See our Laser Therapy Page for additional information.
Fleas and ticks are not just annoying. They carry potentially deadly diseases for both you and your pet. We have many options when is comes to keeping these pests away.
Click here for our product page: Flea and Tick Prevention
On a regular basis we see the benefit of routine vaccination: deadly cases of Parvovirus that could have been prevented, pets who are in quarantine due to expired Rabies vaccine, even cases of Tetanus in large animals. Your pet faces enough threats to his or her health. Preventing the disease through vaccination makes humane and monetary sense. We will assess the risk your pet faces for each disease and will only recommend the vaccines we believe are appropriate.
Purchasing your vaccines from feed stores and catalogs is risky. Vaccine handling is essential to it’s effectiveness. With a store or catalog bought vaccine you have no certainty of proper storage prior to your purchase. Our vaccines come directly from the manufacturer to us, shipped on ice. We apply strict quality control. Our manufacturers stand behind their vaccines. With store bought vaccines, if your pet contracts the disease they were vaccinated for you have little recourse. Furthermore, vaccines are not benign. They can be at least ineffective if not given properly or can even be harmful to your animal. The small cost savings you may receive from purchasing and administering your own vaccines will not be realized if you have one case of disease breakthrough or complication like a vaccine reaction or abscess.
Please contact us if you have questions about your pet’s vaccines.
When choosing us for your pet’s medications, you will receive a quality product and same-day convenience. If you have any problems you can be assured that we address the situation, something not always true when purchasing from a local or online pharmacy. Our large array of medications are competitively priced as well.
In our hospital pharmacy we carry:
Please use the form below to request your prescription refill or food item. This will save you time when picking up your order. Please allow 48 hours for order processing.(click your location)
Animal Medical Services, Mount Airy, NC Galax Veterinary Clinic, Galax, VA
Coming soon: Our own online pharmacy with home delivery – exactly the right medication with the same high quality of our in house pharmacy but with the added convenience of home delivery
If you choose to purchase from a different pharmacy, be sure to do your research. Be aware that not all local pharmacies are familiar with animal medications and quality control has been a problem at some online pharmacies. See these links for a more detailed discussion:
https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/online-pharmacies.aspx
http://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/resourcesforyou/animalhealthliteracy/ucm203000.htm
Tranquilization or sedation is used to calm an animal under various conditions. The animal remains awake or may ‘sleep’ but is easily aroused when stimulated. Pet owners frequently request sedation for their animals during travel, thunderstorms, fireworks, etc. We have both homeopathic/natural products that are quite effective and more potent prescription medications. Our goal is not to “knock out” your pet, but to use just the right amount of medication to keep your pet calm and happy. Sedation and tranquilization are not without risk and each animal should be assessed prior to dispensing these medicines.
According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have oral disease by the age of 3. It is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in pets. Common signs of oral disease include tartar buildup, red and swollen gums, bad breath, changes in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face and generalized depression.
A veterinarian should evaluate your pet’s dental health at least once a year. We recommend this because bacteria and food debris accumulates around a pet’s teeth and, if left unchecked, will lead to deterioration of the soft tissue and bone surrounding the teeth. This decay results in irreversible periodontal disease and even tooth loss.
There are other reasons why you should pay close attention to your pet’s dental health. Dental disease can affect other organs in the body: bacteria in the mouth can get into the blood stream and may cause serious kidney infections, liver disease, lung disease, and heart valve disease. Oral disease can also indicate that another disease process is occurring elsewhere in a pet’s body. A physical exam combined with appropriate laboratory work can determine if this is the case.
At Blue Ridge Veterinary Services, we are particularly vigilant about monitoring for and treating dental disease. We have seen many pet’s lives literally changed by proper dental care. Our clients will call us with comments like, “My dog is acting like a puppy again!” If we have recommended dental care for your pet, but you have concerns about the procedure, anesthesia, recovery time or ability to eat if teeth are lost, call one of our staff members. We can discuss the options you have that will address your concerns, such as alternative anesthesia or speeding recovery time with laser therapy.Also see our articles on Dental Disease in our pet care section.
We know the issue of pain management is of great concern to pet owners today. As in human medicine, we have a variety of medications and complimentary therapies available to manage your pet’s pain.
Cases that benefit from pain management:
We would be pleased to discuss the options available to you and your pet under any of the above circumstances.
Affiliate Referring Practice to:
Our experienced team of veterinarians and veterinary technicians provides many services at our clinic, ranging from routine to advanced procedures. Although we handle the majority of your pet’s medical and surgical needs in-house, we occasionally refer patients to veterinary specialists or specialty clinics when advanced training or equipment will be beneficial.
Board-certified specialists, such as oncologists, ophthalmologists, and neurologists, have extensive experience and training in a particular area of veterinary medicine or surgery. Specialty clinics and university-affiliated referral centers have specialized equipment to perform procedures that are not routinely performed by general veterinary practitioners. For our large animal patients, we sometimes recommend referral for sugical procedures we do not feel can be safely performed “in the field”.
We make referral decisions because we want to ensure that our patients receive the highest standard of care and best possible outcome. Be assured that when we refer a patient to another hospital, we continue to stay involved with his or her care, consulting with the treating specialist and often providing any needed follow-up care and rehabilitation.
Our veterinarians are alumni at the closest veterinary colleges. Thanks to our Mount Airy location, we work frequently with Carolina Veterinary Specialists as well. With all our “connections”, if we find referral necessary, we will help you pick the best specialist for your needs.
Giant breeds such as Great Danes, Irish wolfhounds, and giant schnauzers have unique health concerns not shared by all dogs.
First, are their nutritional requirements. Very few commercial puppy foods offer the ideal mix of calcium, phosphorus and energy, and at levels that these breeds need. We can provide you with feeding recommendations that will encourage your dog’s maximum growth potential without causing developmental problems. For added convenience, we also stock veterinary-approved diets for giant breeds.
These same breeds can also be prone to a condition called Gastric Dilitation-Volvulus or “Bloat”. We can perform a simple procedure, known as a gastropexy, to prevent this deadly condition.
Prevention of orthopedic problems will help to keep you giant breed dog part of you family as long as possible. Weight management, dietary intervention, proper joint supplements and early diagnosis all play a role in prevention of debilitating orthopedic problems.
Finally, behavioral problems can be much more serious in a dog that weighs as much as you do. We can assist with recommendations for training and training aids such as “Halti head collars“.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns regarding your dog’s nutrition or if you would like to discuss any of these topics with us.
Has your pet been diagnosed with a condition that you are unfamiliar with? Are you interested in learning more about how a particular drug works? Would you like more information or advice on behavior, nutrition, or administering medications? We are always here to discuss these topics and more, but sometimes you may want to investigate or explore on your own, which is why we provide an extensive collection of pet health information.
Considering the wide availability of information on the Internet, it can be difficult to differentiate between what’s trustworthy and what’s not. The Pet Health section of our website contains accurate, current, and reliable information on a wide variety of topics. Feel free to search through our articles, educational programs, tips, and videos, and contact us with any questions you might have.
