Red Bluff Veterinary Clinic is pleased to offer services that will help ensure a happy and healthy pet from head to tail through every stage of your loved one’s life. This includes annual wellness checks, vaccines, and parasite control, and if necessity, visits to diagnose and treat ailments along the road. Some of the many services we offer are highlighted in detail below. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding these services.
VACCINES
Our clinic offers a variety of vaccines to help safeguard your pets from disease and illness.
DOGS
-Rabies Vaccination: Rabies is always fatal in both animals and humans and can be contracted from unvaccinated domestic animals and most species of wild animals through a bite wound. It should be repeated every 3 years in adult dogs.
-Annual 4-in-1 Vaccine: Canine Distemper, Adenovirus/Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus. These can cause symptoms ranging from flu-like disease to severe vomiting and diarrhea. Parvovirus is especially prevalent in Tehama County.
-Optional Vaccines, depending on where you live and your pet’s lifestyle include; Bordetella (Kennel Cough), Lyme Disease, Leptospirosis and Rattlesnake. Ask our staff if any of these would be beneficial to your pet.
CATS
All of our feline vaccines are ‘Purevax’ brand, the least likely to cause any adverse skin reactions.
-Rabies Vaccination is given annually in cats.
-Annual 3-in-1 Vaccination – Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. These are common viral diseases of cats causing flu-like symptoms, oral ulcers and gastroenteritis.
-Feline Leukemia Vaccination: A virus, which compromises the cats’ immune system, leaving them susceptible to repeat infections and illness. This virus is spread by close contact, including sharing food bowls and grooming.
PARASITES
Our clinic offers guidance on a number of Parasite Control Programs including Fleas & Ticks, Heartworm, Tapeworm, Hookworm, Roundworm and Whipworm.Fleas and ticks are capable of transmitting infection and disease such as Hemobartonella and Lyme disease to pets through a bite. Heartworms can cause changes in the ability of the heart to function effectively, leading to signs of congestive heart failure. Intestinal parasites can cause diarrhea and gastroenteritis; some of these may also be a risk to people, especially children.
ANNUAL EXAMS
An annual wellness exam is an overall general health assessment performed by one of our veterinarians. It can help detect the early stages of disease and is required at least once a year for all patients requesting prescription medications, including heartworm medication and some flea and tick medications.
A wellness examination is a complete physical examination (including dental exam) with the option of blood work, heartworm test, urinalysis, and checking a stool sample for parasites.
FULL DIAGNOSTICS
Our clinic is proud to offer a complete diagnostic laboratory. Our on-site laboratory machines can perform complete blood cell counts, complete chemistry panels, including liver, kidney, and pancreatic enzyme function tests, thyroid levels, glucose, and electrolytes. We can also test for heartworm disease, fecal microorganisms and parvovirus. Additionally, we can send samples out to a diagnostic laboratory with a rapid turnaround time.
Our state-of-the-art digital x-ray machine is generates high quality radiographic images, for accurate diagnostics. We also have an unlrasound machine for soft-tissue imagery.
ALLERGY & ITCHY SKIN RELIEF
Pets can suffer from allergies to elements they inhale from the environment around them such as grasses, weeds, pollens, house dustmites, as well as certain ingredients in their foods. They can have allergic reactions to allergens the skin comes into contact with, and commonly fleabites (even just one bite!) can initiate a whole-body allergic reaction.
Some signs your pet may be suffering from an allergy can include:
Dry, red/pink skin, excessive scratching, discharge from the eyes or nose, hair loss, recurrent ear infections, and feet chewing.
If you suspect that your pet could be suffering from an allergy, it is recommended that you schedule an examination. We will be able to assess your pets’ skin, discuss their symptoms, decide on which course of medication, or diet will help restore your pet to good health. Allergies are very treatable!
ISOLATION WARD
We have an isolation kennel area which is used to accommodate infectious patients. Procedures in this area include the appropriate use of disinfectants, the proper disposal of infectious materials, and the wearing of disposable gloves, boots, masks and gowns while handling infectious patients.
All these measures are meant to keep our patients and staff healthy. If your pet is unvaccinated or not current on vaccines and has vomiting and/or diarrhea, please inform reception before bringing your pet into the waiting room so that we may first rule-out Parvovirus.
EUTHANASIA
Our staff is here to help you cope with the difficult decision to euthanise your beloved pet. Unfortunately, there comes a time in the life of most pets when the quality of life has deteriorated to a level that is no longer acceptable. When medical or surgical intervention can not provide an adequate level of comfort, euthanasia is often considered. Consultation with one of our veterinarians will help you determine whether euthanasia is the kindest option for your pet.
In a quiet and comfortable environment, we can perform euthanasia, with no discomfort to the patient. The patient passes quickly. Pet owners are free to be present or leave depending on their preference.
Prior to euthanasia, pet owners should decide how the pet’s body should be cared for. This reduces the emotional stress at the time of the procedure. We allow you to remove them for burial at your home, or offer removal to ‘Sleepy Hollow Pet Cemetery’ in Anderson for routine disposal or private cremation.
GENERAL SURGERY
We proudly offer a multitude of general surgery services performed under general anesthesia with appropriate post-anesthetic pain management.
Examples of common surgeries include: spay (ovariohysterectomy), neuter (castration), lump removal and biopsy, laceration repair, abscess and wound repair, exploratory surgery, removal of gastrointestinal foreign bodies, enucleation (eye removal), cystotomy (removal of bladder stones), and C-Section, amongst others.
ANESTHESIA SERVICES
The term general anesthesia describes the use of both injected and inhaled drugs to induce unconsciousness and is necessary for all surgical and dental procedures in pets. All patients receive injectable pain medication during the procedure, which helps to ensure they wake up comfortably.
While a patient is under anesthesia, they are monitored extensively. Dr Bateman is a residency trained veterinary anesthesiologist (through the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia) and oversees every anesthesia. We routinely use equipment to monitor your pet’s heart rate, heart rhythm (ECG), blood pressure, level of blood oxygen, expired carbon dioxide and body temperature.
DENTISTRY
We are pleased to offer a variety of dentistry services including prophylaxis (teeth cleaning), polishing, extractions and a full oral examination. Dental procedures are performed with your pet under general anesthesia.
During a dental procedure, your veterinarian evaluates your pet’s teeth for fractures, caries (cavities), excessive wear, and other abnormalities. Your veterinarian will also examine around the gums to detect periodontal disease. Teeth will need to be extracted if evidence of advanced dental or periodontal disease is found.
EAR CHECKS
Our clinic offers thorough ear exams for symptoms of head shaking, scratching and pawing at the ears, rubbing the ears on the floor or furniture, whining, and abnormal odors. Conditions of the ears can be extremely uncomfortable and even painful and it is important to seek medical advice and treatment as soon as possible. Possible problems include foreign material (foxtails), otitis externa or media (ear infection) and ear mites.