Our Services

Wellness
Services

Examinations are the first step in the health of your pet and preventative care. These exams allow our staff to maintain the health of your pets and help in preventing any conditions from getting worse. We highly recommend annual examinations.

What to expect during a wellness visit:

  • Infectious Tick
    disease panel
    (if needed)

  • Heartworm Test
    (if needed)

  • Consultations on
    owners concerns

  • Thorough physical exam

  • Oral exam

  • Weight check

  • Vaccinations (if due)

  • Fecal exams and urinalysis
    (if needed)

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are an important part of maintaining the health of your pet and we will tailor a vaccination protocol that meets the needs of your pet. We follow AAHA vaccine schedules which start at 6-8 weeks of age and are typically a series of vaccinations throughout the first few months of age for puppies and kittens. These initial series of vaccines are followed by annual or triennial boosters.

Common diseases that are vaccinated for include:

  • RABIES
    Rabies is a deadly virus spread among animals and humans. It is typically found in wildlife such as bats, raccoons, foxes, and skunks. Clinical signs include seizures, erratic behaviors, aggression, and foaming of the mouth. Due to the deadly nature and potential spread to humans, it is required by law in New York State for animals to be up to date on their rabies vaccines.

  • PARVOVIRUS
    ParvoVirus is a highly contagious and potentially deadly gastrointestinal virus affecting puppies and other immunosuppressed dogs that is found in the environment. Clinical signs include vomiting, bloody diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Even with treatment death can still occur 24-72 hours after clinical signs. 

  • CANINE DISTEMPER
    Canine Distemper is a viral infection affecting the respiratory system beginning with nasal and ocular discharge and can progress to coughing and pneumonia. In the later stages of the disease it can lead to gastrointestinal and neurological signs such as seizures.

  • LEPTOSPIROSIS
    Leptospirosis is a viral disease found in contaminated waters and urine from both wild animals and domestic animals that has the potential to spread to owners. The virus causes liver and kidney failure that carries a poor prognosis for treatment.

  • LYME DISEASE
    Lyme Disease is transmitted by ticks and is extremely prevalent to our area. It is strongly recommended that dogs in our area receive this vaccine. Clinical signs are general lethargy and lameness. In most severe cases it can progress to kidney failure leading to a poor prognosis.

  • PANLEUKIPENIA
    Panleukopenia, also known as Feline Distemper or Parvo, is a disease affecting the white blood cells and suppresses immune systems. Clinical signs include lethargy, nasal discharge, loss of appetite, high fevers, and diarrhea.

Parasite Testing & Prevention: 

Being in the foothills of the Adirondack mountains your pet is at risk of a number parasites from wildlife, mosquitos, fleas, and ticks.  For this reason, we encourage annual screening for intestinal and blood parasites in the early spring and then establishing prevention protocols that are specific to you and your pets life style.

  • HEARTWORM DISEASE
    Heartworm is a potentially deadly disease that is becoming more prevalent in our area. It is transmitted by mosquitos that feed on dogs carrying the disease and that then carry the larvae of the worm to other dogs. It primarily affects the heart and lungs of dogs. Clinical signs that you may notice include coughing, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, and heart failure.  The treatment for this disease is expensive and can be hard on your pet. However, with routine testing and preventatives this is a preventable disease.  We follow guidelines from the American Heartworm Society in regards to annual testing and preventative use. Our doctors can help guide you through testing and selecting the best preventatives for your pet.

  • TICK BORNE DISEASE
    Tick borne diseases are on the rise in this area with Lyme disease being the most prevalent. However, ticks in this area can carry other diseases such as Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichia.  With the rise in these diseases we strongly encourage testing for these diseases on an annual basis if your pet's lifestyle exposes them to a high number of ticks.  There are large number of flea and tick preventatives available. Our doctors will help guide you through the options and help you make the best decision for your pets needs. We recommend your pet be placed on a flea and tick preventative starting in early spring and remain on them until late fall. 

Dental Care

We know that brushing the teeth of your pet can be difficult, yet oral care is important in maintaining health. Dental disease can occur at any age and can lead to infections and discomfort. We offer prophylactic cleanings that keep your pets breath smelling fresh and healthy.

Prophylactic cleaning include:

  • Evaluation for periodontal pocketing and other oral disease

  • Ultrasonic scaling of the teeth to remove plaque and tartar

  • Polishing of the teeth's enamel to curb future tartar build up

  • Extractions of any damaged or diseased teeth our staff feels necessary

At home we encourage the use of dental treats, water additives, or oral wipes to help maintain a healthy oral environment!

Imaging &
Diagnostics

When your pet is not feeling well our staff will guide you through a plan to help get them back to acting like themselves.  We can perform in house diagnostics in our lab that include fecal exams, urinalysis, skin scrapes, fine needle aspirates and more. 

For the more critically ill pets, our lab has access to state-of-the-art in house laboratory equipment to evaluate liver and kidney function as well electrolytes, glucose, and red and white blood cells. These tests will guide our doctors in discussing diseases and in making a treatment plan for your pet.

Diseases Detected on Bloodwork:

  • Kidney Disease

  • Liver Disease

  • Diabetes

  • Addisons Disease

  • Cushings Disease

  • Select Neoplasias

Imaging

At Glens Falls Animal Hospital we have advanced digital imaging in the form of digital radiographs and ultrasound. These imaging modalities will allow our staff to evaluate your animals lungs, heart and gastrointestinal system.

Reasons for Imaging:

  • Gastrointestinal obstructions

  • Urinary bladder stones & obstructions

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Lameness

  • Trauma

  • Neoplasias

Surgery

Spaying & Neutering

Spaying and neutering your pet is important in maintaining the health of your pet. The spaying and neutering of your pet will help prevent reproductive diseases, inappropriate behaviors, and unwanted litters.

We recommend spaying/neutering at no earlier than 6 months of age. However, in some larger breed dogs it may be beneficial to wait to 12-18 months of age and can be discussed during your pets initial visits.

BENEFITS TO HAVING YOUR PET SPAYED OR NEUTERED:

  • Spaying your animal early in life significantly reduces the risk of mammary tumors. In cats, a majority of these tumors have a high rate of malignancy while in dogs only half of these tumors present as malignant

  • Neutering will reduce instances of prostate disease and eliminate testicular cancers

  • Spaying eliminates the risk of pyometra which is a deadly infection of the uterus as well as ovarian or uterine cancers

  • Neutering will aid in reducing spraying and unwanted aggressive behaviors 

  • Spaying will prevent females from going into heat cycle which can be a frustrating mess at home

At Glens Falls Animal Hospital, in addition to routine procedures, other complex procedures can be performed. The choice to have your pet go through a surgery is not an easy one. During consultations our doctors will discuss risks involved with anesthesia and procedures in order to help make you make the best decision for your pets needs.

OTHER SURGERIES THAT WE ARE EQUIPPED TO HANDLE INCLUDE:

  • Mass Removal

  • Cystotomy (Bladder Stones) 

  • Intestinal Foreign Body Removal

  • Gastric Torsion

  • Splenectomy

  • Cesarean Section (C-Section)

  • Perineal Urethrostomy (Cats)

  • Select Orthopedic Procedures 

  • Select Ophthalmic Procedures 

  • Other Soft Tissue Procedures