PRIMARY CARE
We are proud to offer an extensive range of general wellness and preventative care services, and we are fully equipped with the latest diagnostic and treatment tools.
Our doctors work diligently to develop individualized treatment plans allowing us to provide the highest-quality of care for your companion pet.
Among the services offered at our location are:
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Primary Care Visits
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Exams
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Vaccines
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Husbandry Consultations
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Sick Visits
WELLNESS EXAMS
Annual and bi-annual wellness exams are critical to your pet’s well being. Wellness exams allow us to evaluate the overall health of your pet, while also providing us with the ability to discuss topics important to your pet’s health.
Wellness exams not only keep us up-to-date with your pet’s health, but they also allow us to detect potential health issues before they become serious.
What can I expect during my pet’s check-up?
During your pet’s veterinary wellness evaluation, they will be thoroughly examined from head to tail by one of our veterinarians, including evaluation of eyes/ears/nose, mouth and teeth, heart and lung sounds, and palpation of joints and muscles.
Regular wellness exams also make your pet more familiar with our veterinary hospital, which makes future visits easier on them and you. We take stress seriously, and work to implement low-stress handling as much as possible.
Vaccinations & Preventative Care
Vaccinations are absolutely critical to protect your dog or cat from a variety of life-threatening diseases. Whether you have an adult pet or have just welcomed a new puppy or kitten into your home, vaccinations are a crucial part in maintaining your pet’s health and longevity.
Canine Core Vaccinations :Rabies, DHPP (Distemper, Adenovirus Type 2 (Hepatitis), Parvovirus, Parainfluenza), Leptospirosis, and Bordetella/Parainfluenza (Kennel Cough)
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Rabies: A fatal brain and nervous system disease that is passed from an infected animal to other animals and humans. Rabies is 100% fatal once clinical signs develop, and there is no treatment. Required by law in New Jersey.
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Distemper: Highly contagious canine disease that can affect the respiratory tract and nervous system. Mortality rates are about 50% and there is no treatment.
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Parvovirus: Extremely contagious disease affecting the canine gastrointestinal tracts. Many young dogs will die within 2-3 days of developing symptoms. Even with days of hospitalization, only about 80% of puppies survive. This virus is common in the United States and South Jersey has hundreds of cases a year.
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Kennel Cough: A highly contagious respiratory disease commonly contracted at boarding and daycare facilities, dog parks, dog shows and training groups. Required by most boarding/grooming/training facilities.
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Adenovirus: Highly contagious virus that can affect many organ systems and has a 30% mortality rate. Dogs that recover often have long term effects and a decreased life expectancy.
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Leptospirosis: Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease. These bacteria can be found worldwide in soil and water. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be spread from animals to people. Infection in people can cause flu-like symptoms and can cause liver or kidney disease.
Feline Core Vaccinations: Rabies, FVRP (Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia), FeLV
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Panleukopenia: Highly contagious feline disease affecting the GI tract and bone marrow. Kittens can die within 12 hours of showing symptoms, and even with aggressive supportive care, fatality rate is about 50-80%.
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FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus): Highly contagious virus spread from cat to cat. About 40% of exposed cats will develop persisting infections and die within 2 years. The virus attacks the immune system in the bone marrow.
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Rhinotracheitis (Herpes) and Calicivirus: Respiratory and ocular viral infection causing symptoms including: fever, organ failure, mouth ulcers and often results in death. Once infected, cats never clear these viruses and are chronically infected. Nearly all cats have exposure to Herpes, and about 30% of cats have Calicivirus. This vaccination is not to prevent disease, but to help cats fight these viruses life-long.
Parasite Prevention
Absecon Veterinary Hospital's Recommended Preventatives:
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Canine heartworm and intestinal parasite protection: Sentinel Spectrum®
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Feline flea/tick and heartworm/intestinal parasite protection: Bravecto Plus®
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Canine flea & tick prevention: Bravecto®
We feel these products provide the broadest protection possible. There are other options available but heartwo rm and flea/tick products are not all comparable and have different effects and coverage for different parasites. The “best” products may vary based on lifestyle and exposures, so please consult with us before trying another product!
Microchipping
A lost pet is a frightening situation, oftentimes with devastating consequences. This is why the team at Absecon Veterinary Hospital considers microchips a fundamental way to protect your pet! One study found less than 10% of un-microchipped pets were returned home, while >95% of microchipped pets were reunited with their families.
Microchips are the size of a grain of rice and are implanted beneath your pet’s skin using a large needle.. Microchips are passive and do not need a battery to work, and do not emit any signal. They work similar to a credit card chip and only contain the unique number. We use only ISO-compliant 15 digit chips which can be read anywhere in the world by any microchip reader.
Nutrition
A balanced and complete diet is essential to maintain your pet’s well being throughout his/her lifespan. Water coupled with necessary proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates are important and the building blocks for life.
Nutritional needs vary with age and disease. Talk to one of our veterinarians about creating an individualized diet plan to best suit your pet’s needs!
Senior Pet Care
Older pets make wonderful companions, and thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, pets are living longer than ever. By taking the time to learn more about the special needs of your senior-aged pet, you’ve taken the first step toward providing the best care for your friend in his/her golden years.
Seniorhood is the last 25% of expected lifespan, which can vary a lot based on breed and disease development. However, this time can potentially be extended and managed through proper veterinary care. Additionally, preventative care tailored to your pet’s age, lifestyle, risk factors and other elements can help prevent common diseases or detect them at early and easily treatable stages. As a part of your senior pet’s wellness care at Absecon Vet Hospital, we offer a comprehensive lab work and other diagnostic screening tests to give you and your veterinarian a complete overview of your pet’s internal health and organ function. With the help of the AVH team, you can prolong your pet’s good health and well-being.
Travel Documents
Traveling with your pet can be stressful! There are many types of documents, testing, and treatments needed to seamlessly move your pet from one place to another! Please contact us with information about your pet, as well as the destination and date of travel for us to help make a plan.
Interstate Travel - All states have their own Departments of Agriculture, each with their own rules and requirements. All states require a valid Rabies Vaccination Certificate for import, and some states require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) which is issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian following an in-person evaluation.
Airline Paperwork - Each airline has their own set of rules and documents required for travel. Some can be filled out by any vet, but others require a USDA Accredited Veterinarian.
International Travel - Importing a pet to a foreign country can be very complex and sometimes takes weeks to months to prepare. Our USDA Accredited Veterinarians are very comfortable with the export process to most countries, and are happy to discuss an effective plan for your individual pet.
Itchy Skin
The most common reason dogs and cats go to the vet outside of wellness care is for skin issues. Allergic skin disease is very common in dogs and cats, and our veterinarians are experienced in making both immediate plans for comfort and infection, but also long-term plans to manage skin issues.
Dog and Cat Behavior
Behavioral problems are common in dogs and cats, and can often be managed with behavioral therapy, sometimes in conjunction with medication. Our veterinarians are familiar with common anxieties and resulting behaviors, and can help make a plan specific for your pet.