The Care They Deserve

From the team you trust.

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Preventive Care

golden retriever in the river
Preventive Care for all stages of your pet's life.

A healthy dog or cat is no accident. It takes a commitment. It starts with regular veterinary care to prevent or minimize disease or injury, improve your veterinary care to prevent or minimize disease or injury, improve your pet's quality of life, and help your pet enjoy a healthy life for as long as possible.

Your veterinarian will accomplish this in several ways:
  • Routine health screenings
  • Ongoing communication between you and your veterinarian.
  • Preserving the veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

Pets age seven times faster on average than people do. Most pets are adults by age 2, middle-aged by 4, and by age 7, many dogs, particularly larger breeds, are seniors. Because pets age so rapidly, health problems can occur in a short amount of time.

Yearly wellness exams provide two key benefits. First, they allow your veterinarian to diagnose, treat and prevent health problems before they become serious. Second, wellness exams are a great opportunity for you to ask the veterinary team about pet behavior, nutrition, flea and tick control, and other issues on a regular basis.

Yearly wellness exams can and do save lives. Be sure to schedule your pet's yearly exam today. Know the risks, protect your pet.

Follow the link below to the preventive page that correlates to the type of pet(s) that you have.
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”-Josh Billings

Iron Mountain Animal Hospital provides a full range of preventive care services to help your dog live a longer, happier life and to increase the odds of detecting problems early, before they become severe and costly.

Our veterinarians make their annual preventive care recommendations based on the guidelines established by the American Veterinary Medical Association and American Animal Hospital Association. We then customize our recommendations based on your dog’s hereditary factors, age, medical history and lifestyle.

Annual preventive care for dogs typically includes:

  • At least one annual Physical Examination at which time our veterinarians will take a complete medical history, make nutrition recommendations, assess behavior, and review any known medical conditions. During the exam our doctors will perform a:
    • Ear and Eye Examination
    • Cardiopulmonary (Heart and Lung) analysis
    • Temperature Reading
    • Abdominal Palpation
    • Dental Exam
    • Dermatological Exam
    • Musculoskeletal Evaluation
  • Vaccines based on your dog’s lifestyle and/or breed. Core Vaccines include Rabies, Distemper and Leptospirosis. Our veterinarians may also recommend additional vaccines such as Bordetella (Kennel Cough) and Influenza.
  • Parasite Control Products to control parasites such as heartworm, intestinal parasites (such as round worms), fleas and ticks. Controlling these parasites helps protect your dog and your family members from easily transmitted parasites.
  • Diagnostic Testing to confirm the absence of heartworm or other internal parasites and early disease screening tests to help identify any internal issues which cannot be detected during a thorough physical exam.
  • Your veterinarian will also discuss other services, such as dental care or microchipping that will benefit your dog’s overall health and well being and advise you on any questions you might have regarding your dog’s health.

“A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.”― Ernest Hemingway
Iron Mountain Animal Hospital provides a full range of preventive care services to help your cat live a longer, happier life and to increase the odds of detecting problems early, before they become severe and costly.

Our veterinarians make their annual preventive care recommendations based on the guidelines established by the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association and take into consideration your cat’s hereditary factors, age, medical history and lifestyle.

Our recommendations for feline annual preventive care include:

  • At least one annual Physical Examination at which time our veterinarians will take a complete medical history, make nutrition recommendations, assess behavior, and review any known medical conditions. During the exam our doctors will perform a:
    • Ear and Eye Examination
    • Cardiopulmonary (Heart and Lung) analysis
    • Temperature Reading
    • Abdominal Palpation
    • Dental Exam
    • Dermatological Exam
    • Musculoskeletal Evaluation
  • Vaccination recommendations include core vaccines Rabies and Feline Distemper. Your veterinarian may also suggest the Feline Leukemia vaccine for outdoor cats.
  • Parasite Control Products to prevent and repel heartworm, intestinal parasites, fleas and ticks. Round worms can be transmitted to humans, so controlling these parasites protects your cat and also your family.
  • Diagnostic Testing to check for Feline Leukemia and/or Feline AIDS (Felv/FIV), heartworm or other internal parasites and early stages of diseases which cannot be detected during a physical exam.
  • Your veterinarian will also discuss other services, such as dental care or microchipping, that can lead to a longer and healthier life for your cat.
At Iron Mountain Animal Hospital each pet’s first year of care is customized based on its specific needs to help your puppy or kitten get the right start in life. Just like human children, puppies and kittens require additional physical exams and vaccine boosters to ensure that they get the very best start in life.

Below are our recommendations, in addition to ones noted above, for your puppy’s or kitten’s first year.

  • Physical Exams: Your puppy’s or kitten’s lifetime of wellness starts with its first comprehensive physical exam. Puppies and kittens should have 3-4 exams between the ages of 8-16 weeks. These visits are important because they give our veterinarians an opportunity to assess your pet’s overall health and to administer vaccines.
  • Vaccinations: Due to their immature immune systems puppies and kittens must receive a series of properly staged vaccines. Since every puppy and kitten is unique, we tailor our vaccination recommendations based on their lifestyle and/or breed and according to the suggested guidelines.
  • Diagnostic Testing: We recommend that puppies are tested for heartworm at 6 months of age if not done previously and that kittens are tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline AIDS at their first visit if not done previously.
  • Additional Recommendations: Your veterinarian will also discuss and recommend other services, such as spaying, neutering or microchipping that can lead to a longer and healthier life for your dog or cat.
Obesity in our pets is on the rise in the United States.  Obesity is defined as an animal that weighs 15-20% over its optimum weight.  In the U.S. today, studies estimate that 25-28% of dogs are obese, while 35% of cats fall into that classification.  Many factors affect this trend:  breed, lifestyle, gender status as well as the factors we normally change to alleviate the problem, such as diet and exercise.

Our veterinarians and veterinary staff are available to assist you in your pet’s weight loss health care plan.  We offer an assessment of your pet’s current health and weight, develop a program for weight loss, recommend the proper diet with the availability of specialized weight loss food, as well as education as to how obesity can affect the health and longevity of your pet.

Follow these nutrition and excercise tips for overweight pets:

Always start a pet weight loss program with a visit to a veterinarian.  A knowledgeable doctor can recommend the correct amount of food and advise how to reduce the amount gradually.  He or she can also uncover any underlying health issues, such as an underactive thyroid.

Eliminate the bottomless bowl.  Whether they’re on a diet or not, pets should be fed once or twice a day, preferably at the same time each day.

Use treat time to promote bonding between yourself and your pet, but consider giving treats in smaller amounts.

Exercise regularly with pets.  Don’t overdo it, start by walking your pet twice a day for at least 10 to 15 minutes each time.  Coax cats to chase a toy or a string in multiple shorter sessions.

Below you will find before and after pictures of what a typical weight loss program can do.

By offering education, proper food, and by changing feeding and exercise habits, we can curb the rise of pet obesity and enjoy longer, happier years with our faithful friends.

Surgery

Dog and cat best friends playing together outdoor
Surgical procedures are done daily, and while some are extremely common, we consider none to be routine. At Iron Mountain Animal Hospital great care is taken that nothing interfere with continued patient monitoring whenever anesthesia or sedation is needed. We pride ourselves on the record we have established with respect to our surgical successes.

Our highly skilled veterinarians are capable of performing many surgeries. While spaying, neutering and dental cleanings are performed most frequently, our surgeons and surgical assistants also have extensive experience in orthopedic, gastrointestinal, urological, ear/nose/throat, oncologic and other complex surgery. Monitoring of all parameters of our anesthetized patients is performed using sophisticated equipment measuring heart rate, internal temperature, and oxygen saturation of the red blood cells, as well as pulse and respiration. A continuous EKG is also employed for the safety of your pet undergoing a surgical procedure

Before surgery, we recommend your pet to have pre-anesthesia blood testing to determine the effect of anesthesia on your pet's body. Anesthetic medications are cleared by the kidneys and liver, so knowing that those organs are in good shape according to blood chemistry levels is an important tool for our doctors. We recommend pre-anesthesia blood work for all animals undergoing anesthesia, and require it for those animals age 7 years or older.

We take special care when administering anesthesia to your pet. Prior to the procedure, a catheter is placed in the vein of one of the limbs so that we have constant easy access to the vein in case of emergency. We also provide fluid support through the catheter during surgery, which helps the animal recover faster and with less complications. All pet's body temperatures are carefully monitored and outside heat sources are used to support a safe body temperature.

For your pet's recovery, we engage in a comprehensive pain management program, including non-sedating, non-steroid based medications, anti-inflammatory medication, pain patches and constant rate infusions of pain killer for relief of extreme pain. We have a veterinary nurse monitor the surgical patient during recovery in our heated ICU post-surgery area.

See the information on our advanced orthopedic surgeries that we are now offering on the ‘TTA link’ located on the upper right of this page.

See the information on our 'radiowave' surgery (better than laser) on the link located in the upper right side of this page.

Tibial Tuberosity Advancement Procedure (TTA)

Cranial cruciate ligament deficiency (like a “torn ACL” in humans) in the dog is the most common orthopedic lameness seen in practice today.

The Iron Mountain Animal Hospital is proud to announce we are now performing the Tibial Tuberosity Advancement Procedure (TTA) on dogs with ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments.

For a complete look at the information explaining the TTA surgery that we are now doing at IMAH, or to print out the TTA brochure, please click on the link below:

Tibial Tuberosity Advancement Procedure (TTA)

Radiowave Surgery-High Frequency/Low Temperature

Concerned about the discomfort of surgery? We know how you feel. We have pets too. You’re scheduling a surgical procedure for your pet. While you know that the procedure needs to be done, you’re having second thoughts because of the associated pain and discomfort. We understand that because we hear comments all day long from concerned pet owners just like you.

Did you know that most surgical procedures can now be performed with radiowaves? That same tool that is used in human medicine has been adapted for use on animals. We have always made great efforts to lessen the discomfort to pets undergoing surgery. However, with new technology we can do even better.

We now are using radiowave technology in our surgical suite. This gives us the ability to offer your pet shorter anesthesia and post-surgical healing times. In fact, some procedures may require only a local anesthetic. Many clinics are now advertising laser surgery as the latest technique, in fact, many human surgeons are abandoning laser surgery in favor of this technology.

Why is Radiowave Safer?

There is no risk of accidentally burning other areas of tissue through reflection or penetration of a light beam (as with laser). RADIOWAVE SURGERY OFFERS DISTINCT BENEFITS TO YOUR PET:

  • Decreased Post-Surgical Edema (swelling); low temperature = less tissue destruction
  • Less Blood Loss; radiowaves close off blood vessels and nerve endings as they cut
  • Reduced Risk of Infection; radiowaves vaporize bacteria, preventing infectious agents from being seeded along the length of the incision
  • Quicker Recovery; with less tissue destruction healing is hastened and your pet will recover more quickly
  • Safer Than Laser Surgery; there are no safety hazards involved with radiowave technology
  • No Burning or Charring of the Tissue; radiowave surgery does not burn the tissue, unlike laser or high-temperature electrosurgery
How Does Radiowave Work?

An RF micro fiber tip becomes energized by the radiowaves but does not become hot. The ultra high frequency radiowaves provide specific and delicate tissue interaction. This results in a focused cutting and coagulating effect, which disintegrates and volatilizes single cells minimizing the amount of tissue destruction. Healing is rapid and painless. Radiowave surgery does not burn the tissue, unlike laser or high-temperature electrosurgery.

If you have any questions about radiowave surgery, or to see if it applies to your pet’s surgery, please speak with one of veterinarians by calling our office.

Why it is Important to Spay or Neuter Your Pet
  • Having your dogs and cats spayed or neutered will help them live longer, healthier lives.
  • Eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat. Pyometra (infection of the uterus) is a relatively common disease in un-spayed females that results in emergency surgery to save the pet’s life.
  • Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of mammary cancer, particularly when your pet is spayed before her first heat cycle.
  • Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate disease.
  • Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray and mark their territory.
  • Reduce the problems with territorial and sexual aggression, inappropriate urination and other undesirable behavior issues.
  • Help stop pet over-population. By making sure your pet can’t have puppies or kittens, you can have peace of mind that fewer pets will need to be euthanized in shelters. More than 3 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters nationwide every year.
If you have any questions about spaying or neutering, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Diagnostics

Vacuum tubes for collecting blood samples in the lab
Iron Mountain Animal Hospital offers a full range of internal medicine services for dogs, cats, and several other species of animals.

A key to our success in treating these illnesses is the broad range of advanced diagnostic capabilities available to us including
  • Digital Radiography – Digital x-rays are far superior to conventional x-rays for obtaining the detailed images necessary to make difficult diagnoses. Because they are digital, we can e-mail them to a board-certified radiologist to read and review. We can have an answer back within an hour for emergency consults.
  • Ultrasound – This diagnostic tool allows detailed visualization of organs and abnormalities that can’t be seen on radiography. They are often used together to diagnose abdominal diseases, bladder abnormalities or heart conditions. We have a registered ultrasonographer available to perform and analyze our ultrasounds.
  • Full In-House Laboratory Services – We can perform comprehensive serum chemistry and blood-count analyses for rapid results. When uncommon diagnostic tests are required, we send out blood, urine and fecal samples to an outside laboratory; most results are available within 24-48 hours. Iron Mountain Animal Hospital carries many serum tests for rapid in-house diagnostics-diseases like Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), pancreatitis, blood glucose, parvovirus, and heartworm disease. We can have results and a diagnosis within a few minutes.
  • Rigid endoscopy – This small video device can look up the nose to find tumors, foreign bodies or identify other abnormalities. This is utilized to visualize the inner ear to diagnose and treat persistent ear infections or travel through the urethra to image the inside of the bladder.
  • Microscopy-For evaluation of common and uncommon infections, tumors, parasites or other conditions.

The combination of our computer-based records, digitized lab work results and radiographic imaging enable quality and rapid consultation with experts in the fields of cardiology, oncology, internal medicine, and dermatology, to name a few. Further, our doctors are members of an online community called Veterinary Information Network (VIN), which connects veterinarians around the world with each other and provides a wealth of veterinary medicine. This invaluable resource provides a wealth of information for our veterinary team in diagnosing and treating those unusual and difficult to manage cases.

We are constantly investigating and implementing the newest techniques, supplements and drugs in the field of advanced arthritis and pain management.

We can provide further information on any of the above listed diagnostic tests. Please e-mail us or call Iron Mountain Animal Hospital with questions or inquiries about Internal Medicine Services or our Diagnostic Capabilities.

Anesthesia

Dog lies in the foliage and looks into the camera
All surgeries require general anesthesia. Anesthesia itself scares many people, but at Iron Mountain Animal Hospital we promise to do our best to help prevent surgical complications, anesthesia problems, or pain in your pet. Anesthesia does sound frightening but is actually extremely safe, especially at IMAH where we take every precaution to avoid complications. When blood work shows us that kidney or liver functions are not within normal limits, we adjust the anesthetic protocol to safeguard your pet’s health and recovery.

Anesthesia can cause a lowering of blood pressure and decreased blood flow to the kidneys. We always make sure that every patient undergoing surgery has an IV catheter for fluid support to prevent these problems. The IV catheter also allows us a safe way to administer pain medication during and after surgical procedures.

It is also important to keep in mind that our facility always uses sterile instruments on every surgery, and the instruments are re-sterilized after each procedure. Each patient is draped to create a sterile field for the procedure and we wear caps, masks and gowns and use a clean, dedicated surgery suite.

Iron Mountain Animal Hospital has made a significant investment –over $50,000—to insure safe anesthesia. This includes staff training, following protocols from the American Animal Hospital Association (in which we are certified), state of the art monitoring equipment, gas anesthesia machines, heated recovery intensive care area, constant patient observation and monitoring by a nursing staff member, and medical gas installed to human facility standards. You can be sure that your beloved pet will be in good hands with us.

Diagnostic Imaging

X-ray of the chest
Digital Radiography (X-Ray)

The Diagnostic Imaging Department at Iron Mountain Animal Hospital utilizes the most advanced tools available to help diagnose pets' medical issues. We have incorporated digital radiology into our Diagnostic Imaging capabilities leading to more immediate treatment and giving our doctors the chance to share patient information in a much more time-efficient manner.

Digital x-rays provide quicker, clearer and faster images than film x-ray. A digital x-ray of your pet's injury or area of concern is taken and developed in four seconds, eliminating the need to wait for the x-rays to develop. Digital x-rays also help provide a better diagnosis for your pet. Like a digital photo, a radiograph can be manipulated after it is taken allowing our team to view the image in ways that weren't possible with film x-ray.

IMAH also works with board certified veterinary radiologists to interpret and consult on x-ray images

Diagnostic Ultrasound

An Ultrasound examination is an imaging technique that allows internal body structures to be seen by recording echoes of ultrasonic waves. This gives a 2-dimensional “picture” of the tissues under examination.

The technique is invaluable for the examination of internal organs, evaluating heart conditions and is very useful in the diagnosis of cysts and cancers.

Anesthesia is not usually needed for most ultrasound examinations. This is one of the great advantages of ultrasound. The technique is non-invasive but does involve clipping an area of hair and applying a water-soluble jelly on the skin. The technique is totally painless and most pets will lie comfortably while the scan is being performed.

Along with our veterinarians, Iron Mountain Animal Hospital has a registered Ultrasonographer available to perform all ultrasounds.

Dental Radiography (X-Ray)

Iron Mountain Animal Hospital is proud to include a full mouth x-ray on every pet that undergoes a dental cleaning with us. Just like in people, sometimes pets can have disease or infection below the gum line. Without a dental x-ray, we would never know about those issues. By being able to treat them, we can prevent pain in your pet, and possibly delay the time in which your pet would need another dental cleaning in the future.
To read more about our dental x-rays, please click link text here.

Laboratory

Close-up shot of microscope with metal lens at laboratory.
In-House Laboratory(X-Ray)

There are many reasons why your pet might require diagnostics, whether blood work, urinalysis or other laboratory tests. Our fully equipped veterinary laboratory allows us to perform advanced diagnostics such as blood chemistry panels, CBC's (complete blood counts), electrolytes and blood gasses to help us determine the best treatment plan for your pet's medical condition. IMAH is dedicated to getting accurate, timely answers for you and your pet.

With our state-of-the art Idexx Vet-Lab station, our doctors receive laboratory results within 15 minutes. In critical situations, these immediate results can be shared to help you and your Veterinarian determine treatment options available for your pet's health care needs.

Our in-house laboratory also provides a full line of parasite testing, serology, and urinalysis. IMAH uses the Idexx Laboratory and Marshfield Clinic Veterinary Laboratory as reference laboratories for specialized diagnostics and consultations with Board Certified Veterinary Pathologists. We also send our histopathology requests to our referral laboratories. Histopathology is the examination of cells under a microscope. Most commonly, these cells come from masses removed from an animal surgically, and the histopath report tells our vets what kind of a mass it is, how likely the mass is to return, and in some cases a general prognosis for your pet. This test may take up to 14 days for us to receive results.

We also offer in house electrocardiograms (ECGs) and blood pressure evaluations to help us diagnose and monitor certain diseases.

Dentistry

Licking cat
We all understand that dental health is very important for ourselves and our well-being. Dental care is also extremely important for the long term health of your pet. We will work to help you find a way to prevent tartar accumulation and subsequent dental disease in your pet with a method that works for you and your family. If your pet does, unfortunately, develop tartar and/or dental disease, we are here to help.

Once you have made that important decision to have your pet's teeth cleaned/scaled/extracted, the next important decision you must face is which clinic you want to entrust with your pet as this procedure is performed. At Iron Mountain Animal Hospital, we realize how important the safety of your pet is to your family. As you choose a clinic, you are not only trusting the veterinarian who will be overseeing the procedure, but also the staff who will perform the cleaning and extractions and will provide important monitoring and aftercare for your pet.

You will find that prices for performing these procedures will vary widely between clinics depending upon the type and number of services provided. At Iron Mountain Animal Hospital the price for these procedures include all of the following services:

  • A pre-surgical examination by a doctor
  • A pre-anesthetic pain injection pain injection to prevent pain before it occurs.
  • An intravenous catheter and fluids to maintain blood pressure and provide venous access in the event of an emergency
  • Gas anesthesia and intubation (tube in airway) to protect the airway/lungs
  • Anesthetic monitoring by licensed technicians with EKG, pulse oximeter, electronic respiratory and pulse rate monitors, and blood pressure readings. We maintain body temperature with a warm pad and warmed air blanket.
  • . Full mouth radiography (x-rays) of your pet (see why dental x-rays are important here)
  • Cleaning, scaling, sub-gingival (under the gum) exam of dental health, and charting of any findings
  • Post-dental care with a technician or assistant staying with your pet during recovery and monitoring comfort and pain during their hospital stay.
  • Instructions for after care at home, including before/after pictures of the teeth, and a print out of the dental x-rays (digital copies available upon request).
  • Complementary nail trim while under anesthesia
  • New, state of the art dental suite
  • Dental recheck in 2 weeks with a staff member to see how the gums are healing and to talk about about home care.


IMAH veterinarians and staff strive to provide you with top quality care at all times. Our doctors and staff members are highly educated and they are continually improving their dental education through online courses and by attending educational meetings. Pain management of the dental patient is of paramount concern.

We would be happy to answer any further questions you may have about your pet's dental procedure. Please feel free to call us at 906.774.5961 and our staff would be happy to answer any dental concerns that you may have.

To view the AAHA Dental Guidelines and learn more about pet dental health view the following link:

https://www.aaha.org/public_documents /professional/guidelines/dental_guidelines.pdf

For additional pet dental health please visit the Veterinary Oral Health Council website at http://www.vohc.org/. .

Geriatric Care

Portrait of a happy old dog at the dog park
Geriatric Care (Senior Wellness) Our pets are very important to us, as they provide us companionship and unconditional love. As pet owners ourselves, all of us at Iron Mountain Animal Hospital are dedicated tohelping our pets live longer with the best possible quality of life As a result, we have designed a comprehensive wellness program for our senior pets. The fact that our pets age more rapidly than we do allows diseases and other health problems to develop more rapidly. The best defense against these health problems are awareness and prevention. If we can spot the warning signs early on, we can help ensure your pet a smooth transition from their adult years to their senior years.

To view our complete Senior Wellness Brochure, please click on the following link:

https:// ironmountainanimalhospital .com/ clients/3666/documents/ Senior_ Health_Screen_Brochure.pdf

Nutritional Management

Grey cat eating food
We are fortunate to have a wide array of prescription diets available to address many common health problems in pets from a nutritional standpoint. Several different formulas of both canned and dry foods are made to help prevent and control the following diseases:

  • Obesity
  • Kidney Disease
  • Liver Disease
  • Feline Hyperthyroidism
  • Urinary crystal and stones
  • Skin Allergies
  • Heart Disease
  • Gastro Intestinal Disease
  • Arthritis
  • Tea
  • Diabetes
  • Dental Disease

Obesity
The most common nutritional problem seen in our pets is obesity affecting over 50% of our patients. As an owner, keeping your pet in ideal body condition starts by choosing a nutritionally complete and balanced pet food. Then, you should work with your veterinarian to evaluate your pet and come up with a plan to maintain your pet at ideal body condition. An ideal body condition rating is based on the Body Condition System. The Body Condition System is a 9-point scale used by veterinarians. Evaluation is made by visual observation and by feeling the pet’s body. As a rule, pets should be maintained at a 5 for cats and dogs on this scale.

Canine Body Condition Chart
Feline Body Condition Chart

Whether your pet has special dietary needs or simply needs to shed (or gain) a few pounds, our nutritional counseling services can help you accomplish your goals and keep your pet in good health. We offer counseling in dietary selection and feeding practices for pets during various life stages, such as growth, pregnancy, nursing, and the “golden years.” If your pet has a medical condition, we can help you select the most appropriate diet to suit your pet’s needs. It can be easy for a pet owner to become overwhelmed by the available selection of pet foods, all of which claim to have specific benefits for pets. We can offer expert advice to help you negotiate the complicated array of choices. Let our nutritional counseling service help you achieve and maintain optimal nutrition for your pet.

Iron Mountain Animal Hospital maintains a fully stocked variety of prescription diets, treats and supplements from Royal Canin and can place special orders from Hill's.

Pain Management

Beagle puppy standing on the walkway in public park with sunlight
Pain Management

Pain management is an important issue in veterinary medicine in order to relieve suffering after surgery or trauma. Compassionate practices manage stress and pain from the first puppy or kitten procedures right through the lifetime of the pet.

As more research has been done on pain management in animals during the past decade, this topic has become extremely important to Iron Mountain Animal Hospital. We follow the guidelines of the AAHA/AAFP for pain management of cats and dogs.

To learn more about the pain management guidelines please follow the following link:

AAHA./AAFP Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats

To learn more about pain management and your pet, please follow the following link

Pain Management and how to recognize pain in pets

Fleas

kitten on the steps itches
Did you find fleas on your pet? Let us walk you through the steps you need to treat it! This information is also available in a save-able PDF version found at the bottom of this page.

First, we need to treat the pet, and any other pets in the home. If your pet has contact with pets outside the home, it would be best to also treat those pets (like if your dog goes to classes, for example). We would recommend a dose of Bravecto to kill fleas that are on your pet if it’s a dog, or Frontline Plus if it’s a cat. We recommend treating for at least three months in a row to get rid of the fleas. Bravecto lasts three months so you will not have to dose again. Frontline Plus and many other products are a monthly product so you will need to re-dose. Your pet should then be kept on a flea preventative to prevent re-infestation (ideally year-round, but at least from March to November).

Next, we need to address the home. Only 5% of fleas in a home are actually found on the pet, so this is a VERY important step to getting rid of the infestation. Thoroughly vacuum any carpets, rugs, and furniture. Move any furniture you can to vacuum as best as you can. Sweep tile or wood floors- if you have a vacuum that can be used on this type of floor, it would be best to also vacuum those. Throw away the bag after vacuuming.

Finally, we need to treat the home using products such as carpet sprays and foggers. The best way to address your home is to call a local exterminator and have them come out and do it for you. Many of them will guarantee their work, saving a lot of headache for you rather than doing it yourself.

Going forward, if you keep your pets on a good flea product that you purchase through a veterinarian, the manufacturer will stand behind their product. Meaning if your pet becomes infested with fleas while on their product, they will pay to treat the home. It is some nice insurance against having to battle fleas again!

Link to Downloadable PDF