COMPREHENSIVE
ANNUAL EXAM
The most important component in maintaining your pet's health is
the yearly Comprehensive Medical Exam. In this exam, which is comparable
to your own yearly physical, your veterinarian will check your pet's:
Coat and skin
Eyes/Ears
Nose and Throat
Mouth/Teeth/Gums
Legs and Paws
Lungs/Heart/Abdomen
Lymph Nodes
Urogenital System
Central Nervous System
The information gathered at this exam, combined with your own experience
and observation, as well as your pet's past medical history and
treatment allow you and your pet's doctor to create a custom annual
medical plan for your pet. This plan may include treatment options
for existing problems or preventative measures such as changes in
diet or exercise.
COMPREHENSIVE
SENIOR EXAM
If your pet is 7 years of age (or even 5 years in some larger canine
breeds) then he or she is considered Senior or Geriatric. As with
humans, many health complications such as diabetes, arthritis and
heart problems become more prevalent in our pets as they age. A
recent study of 100 "healthy", symptom-free senior pets revealed
that 20% of them were in early stages of various diseases that were
undetectable without diagnostic testing. This is why we recommend
the Comprehensive Senior Exam that includes various blood work and
urinalysis to reveal any hidden problems before they become more
serious. We also recommend that your pet's visits increase from
once a year to every six months.
If you would like more information about your senior pet, and the
services we offer speak with your veterinarian or a staff member.
Or, if you would like, contact us at info@centralpetvet.com
and we would be delighted to send you a brochure.
INPATIENT
SERVICES
SURGERY
At Central Hospital, surgeries are performed on a daily basis. Routine
surgeries, such as spays and neuters, are scheduled during weekdays
with one of our four staff doctors. As we are open and fully staffed
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, we also perform emergency surgeries
as needed around the clock. With our 4 spacious surgery suites and
Intensive Care unit for recovery and observation, we are able to provide
your pet with the personalized attention required for a safe and speedy
recovery.
First, your veterinarian will recommend pre-surgical blood work that
determines if there are any potential internal organ abnormalities
that may impact how your pet will react to the anesthesia and surgical
procedure. Changes in surgical protocol may be made based on these
results. During surgery, your pet's surgical team uses technologically
advanced anesthetics and pain management that will result in the safest
surgery and highest level of comfort for your pet. Each surgery uses
an individual pack of sterile surgical instruments. Your veterinarian
will be assisted by a trained surgical assistant, who will monitor
your pet's heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels throughout
the procedure. Once out of surgery, your pet will be made comfortable
in our Intensive Care Unit where our staff can monitor his recovery.
After the surgery is completed, your doctor will call you with an
update on your pet's status.
We strive to make the experience of your pet's surgery as stress-free
as possible for you and your pet. Please let us know if you have questions
at any time.
DENTAL CARE
Your pet is not unlike you - her teeth and gums require proper maintenance
for them to remain healthy and strong throughout her life. Current
research shows that pets with dental infection have higher rates of
kidney, liver, heart and lung disease due to the increase of bacteria
entering your pet's blood stream from his mouth. So what can you do
to help your pet maintain a healthy mouth?
First, make home dental care a part of your pet's routine. At Central
Hospital we carry toothbrushes and specially formulated toothpaste,
mouth rinses and chews, as well as prescription diets that promote
dental health. Our veterinary staff can help you in deciding which
products are right for you and your pet.
Second, observe your pet. Symptoms such as trouble chewing or swallowing,
excess drooling, mouth or face pain, or halitosis (bad breath) can
all be signs of dental or periodontal (gum) disease.
Third, let us know! If you have any questions about your pet's oral
health, give us a call. A dental exam is a part of every comprehensive
check up, but we would be happy to schedule a brief dental exam to
address any questions or concerns you may have. Once the doctor has
examined your pet he or she will make a treatment recommendation.
Our staff is trained in performing dental cleaning almost identical
to the one you receive at your dentist's office. First, dental tartar
is removed from the surface of the teeth using ultrasonic and hand
instruments. Second, the areas under the gums are cleaned with dental
curettes to prevent pocket formation. Third, the teeth are polished
to remove microscopic residues of tartar and to smooth the enamel
to slow future tartar formation. If serious disease is found, dental
x-rays are taken to determine the extent of tooth root involvement.
Unfortunately, teeth that have lost their bony attachments may need
to be extracted. Dog and cat teeth are multi-rooted, and due to the
expanded nature of their teeth, we usually need to section the tooth
with a power drill, than remove each root separately. If necessary
the gum is sutured to hasten healing.
As you may imagine, anesthesia is required to perform these dental
procedures. Therefore, we follow the same protocol as any other surgical
procedure. Your veterinarian will recommend pre-anesthetic diagnostic
blood work, and your pet will be monitored during and after surgery
to ensure a safe and speedy recovery.
Please give us a call if you have any questions. We would also be
happy to send you a brochure on dental health - contact us at info@centralpetvet.com.
• Click here for more about your pet's dental health.
EMERGENCY
SERVICES
Whether you come to Central Hospital for your pet's routine medical care or if you use one the area's many clinics and hospitals, we welcome your pets for critical and emergency care. We are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our goal is to be part of your veterinary care team as we are available at those times when your regular veterinarian may not be. All of your pet's records during his stay here will be sent back to your regular veterinarian to be included in his full medical record.
Experienced staffing: We have assembled a medical team of which we are very proud. Our Staff Veterinarians have over 75 years of combined experience in the fields of emergency and clinical medicine. In addition, our nursing and technical staff includes some of the most experienced and qualified technicians in Connecticut.
This department is overseen by Dr. Anna Crosby, VMD, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care who is a boarded specialist in emergency and critical care.
24 Hour Care - We're always here: These words are more than our slogan. In addition to our Doctors, the hospital is staffed with at least 2 qualified technicians and additional nursing staff, around the clock. So as well as ensuring high quality care, it also means there will always be someone here to answer any questions or concerns may have, day or night.
Specialized Diagnostic Equipment: We have the diagnostic equipment on site to offer complete, stat laboratory services and high tech surgical monitoring. Our critical care equipment includes a SCA 2000 Coag Analyzer, Heska I-Stat Blood Gas Analyzer, Doppler Blood Pressure Analyzer, Tonopen Intraoccular Pressure Analyzer, Telemetry Unit, Oxygen Habitat and electronic EKG.
DIAGNOSTIC
SERVICES
THE DR. ALAN H. HART MEMORIAL LABORATORY
The Dr. Hart Memorial Laboratory was named in honor of Dr. Alan H. Hart, a founder of Central Veterinary Hospital and a pioneer in modern veterinary laboratory medicine.
This state of the art, 24-hour facility offers Central Hospital patients the speed, convenience and accuracy necessary for appropriate diagnoses and treatment. We are able to perform emergency, pre-surgical and routine blood chemistries, as well as QBC's with our Vet Test IDEXX machines. This equipment also allows us to monitor blood levels of patients with diseases that require monitoring over a period of time, enabling us to make any necessary changes to treatment and care.
In addition to our computerized system, our lab staff is trained to perform various manual laboratory services. Fecal floats are read regularly on all patients to check for internal parasites. We also routinely run SNAP tests for Canine Heartworm, Lyme Disease and Erlichiosis as well as Feline Leukemia/FIV. Ear swabs and skin scrapings are observed for infections, yeast, bacteria and mites. Urine samples are analyzed for infection, and/or cancerous cells. Cytology samples are read to differentiate the severity of various tumor cells. In house urine cultures, Feline Heartworm and Senior Wellness Testing are also routinely processed. On going Beta testing with IDEXX Labs has allowed us to keep on the cutting edge of laboratory technology.
Some testing done at Central requires referral laboratories. We have access to major University laboratories throughout the country. Blood titers for Parvovirus, Distemper and Lyme Disease are done at Cornell. IDEXX Laboratory runs diagnostic tests such as comprehensive chemistries, histopathy, immunology and therapeutic drug monitoring.
SPECIALISTS
BOARD CERTIFIED SURGEON Dr. Melvyn Pond B.V.M.S., M.R.C.V.S., Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, one of the foremost Board Certified veterinary surgeons in the region, performs orthopedic and general surgery at Central Hospital. Dr. Pond graduated from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine and has held teaching and research positions at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Georgia, University of Glasgow and the Yale University School of Medicine
In 1982, he established a surgical referral practice in Connecticut and has been associated with Central Hospital since that time. He does the majority of his procedures at this hospital. Because we are staffed with doctors and technicians 24-hours a day, we are able to provide his patients with the highest level of monitoring and treatment both before and after surgery. Dr. Pond's patients are generally referred to him by the veterinarian responsible for their routine care.
Dr. Pond performs a wide range of orthopedic procedures including, but not limited to, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Replacement, Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy to manage anterior cruciate ligament tears, Total Hip Replacement, Fracture Repair, Spinal Surgery, and Arthroscopy. Dr. Pond is one of twenty veterinary surgeons in the United States performing the recently introduced Total Elbow Replacement surgery. Also, general surgery of the chest, abdomen, head and neck is regularly performed by Dr. Pond at Central Hospital. When appropriate, he will use minimally invasive surgical techniques.
Dr. Pond is available for consultation in person and by telephone to discuss your pet's problems, help with diagnoses and guide you through the process of deciding the most appropriate treatment.
BOARD CERTIFIED INTERNIST Dr. Leyenda Harley DVM Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine provides medical consultations on an in-house and out-patient basis. Dr. Harley graduated from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 and completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery in Norwalk, Connecticut. She went on to do a residency in small animal internal medicine at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan. She stayed on at AMC as staff in Internal Medicine and was co-director of post-graduate education and the internship program.
In addition to consultations, Dr. Harley regularly performs upper and lower GI endoscopy, bronchoscopy, cystoscopy, rhinoscopy and nasopharyngoscopy. This allows us to help diagnose and treat many problems without having to perform surgery, including the retrieval of numerous items that cats and dogs should not have eaten!
RADIOLOGY / ULTRASOUND Lance Rozear, D.V.M. Dipolomate American College of Veterinary Radiologists Dr. Rozear is a 1998 graduate of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Rozear completed a small animal internship at Boston Road Animal Hospital. He completed his radiology residency at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. Dr. Rozear was the owner/operator of Northeast Veterinary Imaging, LLC, before joining Central Hospital full-time.
As in human medicine, veterinarians rely on diagnostic tools to help evaluate "hidden" problems. Fractured bones, an enlarged heart, fluid or air in the chest, identification of foreign bodies, arthritis, bladder stones, or abnormal growths or tumors can all be visualized through radiography. Dr. Rozear is on site five days a week to give us the highest level of professional interpretation of your pet's radiographs.
Central Hospital recently took advantage of the increasing affordability of digital radiology and installed the IDEXX Digital Radiography System. This new technology has allowed us to increase the level of diagnostics we offer and has also improved our ability to communicate with referring doctors, specialists and clients. This upgrade included the installation of several high definition monitors as well as computer terminals in each of the four operating rooms and four exam rooms, and at each doctor's workstation. This allows our staff to easily interpret, review and discuss radiographs with staff, clients and referring veterinarians.
Dr. Rozear also performs ultrasounds at Central Hospital that allow the doctors to diagnose conditions and disorders that are undetectable by radiography such as heart abnormalities and any problems involving fluid-filled and soft tissue organs. Ultrasound offers a non-invasive, non-painful method for the diagnosis and staging of many diseases. Because it allows us to visualize the internal architecture of many organs, internal abnormalities which are undetectable with radiography, such as nodules, masses, cysts and abscesses, can be detected, counted and measured with ultrasound.
New
Haven Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine
843 State Street • New Haven, CT 06511 • (203) 865-0878