Veterinary Health Care Services in Ingleside and Balboa Park San Francisco
Vaccines for Your Dog or Cat
Vaccines are an essential aspect of any preventative medicine program.
Vaccines have proved to be an invaluable tool in protecting our pets from fatal diseases, but that does not mean some thought shouldn’t be given to how they are administered. Ocean Avenue Veterinary Hospital tailors its vaccination protocol to guidelines established by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the lifestyle of your pet, as well as the diseases he or she is most likely to be exposed to. During your kitten or puppy’s first year of life we also spread out the series of vaccines in order not to put too much strain on his or her developing immune system.
We believe our vaccine protocol offers the best protection from disease as well as to reduce the possibility that your pet will have an adverse reaction to a vaccine.
Microchip Lost Pet ID
Dogs and cats often will run off for an hour or so to explore the world and then find their way home for food and warmth. However, what would you do if your pet failed to come home? How would someone find you if your pet loses his or her tag, it is unreadable, or you are traveling?
It is unfortunate, but according to statistics on lost pets compiled by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, less than two percent of cats and 15 to 20 percent of dogs that become lost are returned to their owner.
To help prevent this tragedy from happening to our clients, the Ocean Avenue Veterinary Hospital recommends that all pets should receive a lost pet microchip ID. About the size of a grain of rice, the microchip is painlessly injected into the skin of your pet, generally between the shoulder blades. The microchip contains a unique identification number that is linked to a database with important information about your pet, which includes your contact information.
A microchip lost pet ID is permanent and all pets brought into an animal hospital or humane shelter are routinely scanned for a microchip and that information is used to quickly reunite them with their owner.
Ocean Avenue Veterinary Hospital uses the HomeAgain microchip system. HomeAgain provides a number of very useful services to pet owners such as their National Pet Recovery Database, Lost Pet Specialists, Rapid Lost Pet Alerts, Lost Pet Medical Insurance, Travel Assistance for Found Pets, and more.
Nutritional Counseling for Your Pet's Dietary Needs
One of the ley factors that have extended the life span of companion animals as well as improved health and vitality throughout their lives is our growing knowledge of the role of proper nutrition. During your pet’s wellness exam your veterinarian will evaluate your pet’s body condition and provide nutritional recommendations based on what they see.
However, for some pets with nutritional issues or chronic diseases such as diabetes, they may require a bit more intervention. This can include specialized foods, feeding strategies, and even prescription diets. Your veterinarian can also provide advice and information about diets that benefit specific medical conditions such as liver disease, bladder and kidney stones, renal failure, food allergies, and other conditions.
Ocean Avenue Veterinary Hospital also stocks a number of prescription diets that are specialized to each patient’s stage of life, nutritional requirements or medical needs. Primarily, we carry Hill’s and Royal Canin, but we can also order a number of nutritional products to better meet your pet’s health needs.
Veterinary Pain Management
Whether your pet is recovering from surgery or experiences chronic pain, a pain management plan can help your best friend enjoy increased quality of life. We offer pain management plans for a variety of situations, including:
- General surgery and post-op healing
- Orthopedic and neurological pain
- Arthritis pain
- Ear infections
- Hospice/end of life care
Interstate & International Veterinary Health Certificates
If you like to travel with your pet to other countries or states, you may need a national or international health certificate. These certificates document the health of your pet as well as that he or she has been properly vaccinated. If you do not have this form of documentation it is very likely your pet could be quarantined for an extended period of time.
Ocean Avenue Veterinary Hospital is authorized and well-versed in handling the documentation required for traveling with your pet.
Generally, these certificates are only valid for a certain period of time, must be filled out within a specific timeframe prior to when you travel, and require different forms depending on your destination. We encourage you to contact your airline to find out the specific documentation that is required.
We can help you understand what you need and advise you on how to safely travel with your pet by air. We also can provide you with valuable recommendations for other travel concerns.
Fast, Convenient & Affordable Medications for Your Cat or Dog
In numerous acute or chronic conditions, medication is required to cure or alleviate symptoms. At Ocean Avenue Veterinary Hospital we believe that timely and convenient access to these medications is an important aspect of caring for your pet. For this reason, we maintain a comprehensive pharmacy.
Not only does our pharmacy mean you don’t have to wait for important medicines for your pet, but there is a direct line of communication between the examination room and the pharmacy window. Each medication becomes part of your pet’s medical record, which reduces the chance for errors and enhances our ability to monitor its use and the outcome for your pet.
Refills are easy too. Simply visit our online pharmacy or give us a call and we can either mail them to you or have them ready at your next visit.
Hospice & End-of-Life Care for a Beloved Pet
Even the healthiest of pets reach that time where we must find a way to say goodbye. We understand that this is a painful and difficult experience for our clients and is one that we all have been through in our own lives. When the time comes to say goodbye to your pet, we can come to your home to provide gentle and compassionate home euthanasia. It is our goal to help make this time in life easier for both our patients and clients.