Preventive Care

• Dental Care
  During your pet’s teeth cleaning, a dental technician will gently clean the surface of the teeth with an ultrasonic scaler that cleans using the vibration of sound waves and water. The waves push the water creating tiny scrubbing bubbles that implode on tooth surfaces and kill microbes as they separate plaque from the tooth structure. After scaling the teeth, the technician lightly buffs and polishes your pet’s teeth to complete their dental cleaning.
• Vaccination
  Our goal is to nurture happy, healthy pets. Our preventative program relies on the cooperation between pet-owner, pet, and our physicians to communicate and work as a team. To maintain essential pet health, we recommend a combination of routine check-ups, balanced nutrition, regular vaccinations, and early disease detection.
• Veterinary Ophthalmology
  When a pet is suffering from eye discomfort or is having difficulty seeing, most pet owners take notice right away. The symptoms are usually apparent, which allows an owner to quickly notice the issue and schedule an exam. Most common eye problems are either hereditary or caused by trauma, and when given proper veterinary care, heal well.
• Behavioral Counseling
  To eliminate the fears of separation anxiety, gradual behavior modification is necessary. With the help of our staff and your dedication and commitment, we can build a treatment plan that helps your pet enjoy or tolerate being left alone, easing their grief and yours.
• Nutritional Counseling
  The first step in helping your pet lose weight is to stop free-feeding. Giving your pet unlimited access to food is one of the worst things you can do for their health. Pets should be fed small, regular meals, 2 to 4 times per day. Frequently feeding smaller meals allows your pet to feel fuller without overfeeding and enables the body to burn off the meals more easily, concentrating on burning fewer calories at a time (rather than trying to burn off one giant meal). Also, avoid feeding your pet table scraps; human food is high in calories and fat. Finally, try to increase physical activity. Simply adding just 30 minutes of exercise per day can help your pet lose weight. For cats, consider switching to a canned or medicated food. Most dry foods are high in carbohydrates which can cause weight gain. Wet food and medicated dry food have fewer carbohydrates and can help with weight loss.
• Comprehensive Examination
  Upon bringing your pet in, the veterinarian will first perform a thorough physical exam to properly diagnose FPV. A Complete Blood Cell Count test will be completed, along with testing on a fecal specimen (when possible). The blood sample will indicate a drop in white blood cell count, suggesting panleukopenia, while the specimen can register traces of the FPV virus.

Illness Treatment

• Parasites Treatment and Control
  Deworming your pet is an integral aspect of pet care. While nearly 85% of kittens and puppies are born with parasitic infections, most animals develop immunity over time. However, illness and stress can weaken the body’s response to fight off these parasites and can awaken any dormant larvae living in your pet.
• Behavioral Disorder Treatment
  It is entirely possible to recover from Canine Distemper Disease. Recovery is usually dependent upon the strength of the dog’s immune system and the strain of distemper they have contracted. It can take up to 2 months to fully recover. How quickly you respond to potential CDV symptoms also impacts your pet’s chances at survival. Studies show that canines vaccinated as many as 4 days after contracting the disease still receive immunity and can fully recover. We highly recommend seeking immediate veterinary attention after suspecting that your pet has come into contact with the disease.
• Pain Management
  We believe that pain management is a critical aspect of recovery. We make an added effort to provide your pet with superior comfort. If we feel that post-operative pain management would be beneficial to your pet, we will prescribe additional medication.
• Vomiting Treatment
• Diarrhea Treatment
  The treatment of IBS focuses on identifying and addressing the anxiety or stressor. Inconsistent schedules, frequent moving, or weather changes can all contribute to anxiety, as can numerous other causes. Increasing fiber in the pet’s diet tends to help IBS symptoms, as does adding an anti-diarrheal medication during flare-ups. In extreme cases, the veterinarian can prescribe anti-anxiety medication to keep a pet’s stress level under control, but this is typically used as a last resort.
• Skin Condition and Allergy Treatment
  Most pet owners are unaware that scratching, licking, biting, and chewing are tell-tale signs of an underlying skin problem. While there are over 150 different skin diseases that can affect pets, managing skin problems is possible.
• Injury Treatment
• Intestinal Foreign Object Removal
  Once foreign objects have been positively identified, they should be removed promptly. The outlook for foreign object removal is very good, and most pets do very well. Depending on the precise location of the item, the veterinarian will advise you on the different methods of removal, and you can decide which method is best for your pet. Some objects can be removed with induced vomiting; others can be extracted with an endoscope and forceps. If the object has moved further down the esophagus, it can be pushed into the stomach with the endoscope where it will be digested and passed.

Infection Treatment

• Parvovirus Infection Treatment
  CPV can be contracted directly or indirectly. Most dogs obtain the virus via fecal-oral contact. Heavy concentrations of Canine Parvovirus are excreted in an infected dog’s stools, so if a healthy dog sniffs or licks contaminated feces, it can contract the disease. Even indirect contact with fecal matter on an owner’s shoes can bring the disease into an environment. The virus is extremely resilient and can live in soil for up to one year, and it is resistant to weather changes and most cleaning products. If you suspect CPV to be present in your home, bleach is the only household disinfectant known to kill the virus. Should you bleach any surface your pet comes into contact with, be sure they are not present and do not ingest the bleach. Also, cats cannot contract parvovirus, but they can be carriers for it. If you have a household with multiple pets, it is important to be sure that one isn’t infecting another.
• Feline Retro Virus Treatment
  Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is comparable to AIDS in humans and is often found simultaneously occurring in cats with feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Similar to AIDS, FIV is present in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and saliva. The most common transmission of the virus is through a cat fight or during pregnancy as an infected mother passes it to her offspring. In very rare cases, a cat may contract FIV through saliva. Feline immunodeficiency virus is a slowly progressing virus and cannot survive outside its host.
• Bacterial and Viral Infection Treatment
  The cause of diarrhea in felines ranges from a bacterial infection or parasite, to a systemic illness or cancer; however, a sporadic case could be caused by something as simple as a change in diet. The condition can be acute or chronic, where acute diarrhea occurs suddenly and for a short period of time, and chronic diarrhea is a continuing ailment over a period of a few weeks. If you witness your cat having diarrhea, it is important to monitor the issue, and schedule a veterinary appointment if symptoms last longer than a couple of days.
• Ear Infection Treatment
  Video Otoscopy – Video otoscopy is used to diagnose and treat chronic ear infections and diseases. A magnified camera is inserted deep into the ear canal to identify any abnormalities, tumors, or foreign bodies that might exist. If immediate treatment is needed, tools can be attached to the otoscope to flush waxy build-up, perform surgery, or remove foreign objects.
• Anal Gland Infection Treatment
  If your pet has frequent reoccurrences of anal gland infections, the veterinarian may teach you how to express their anal glands on your own. This can prevent frequent veterinary visits and allows you to perform expression the second you notice your pet suffering.

Chronic Condition Treatment

• Obesity Treatment
  An obese pet is also considered high-risk during surgical procedures. Overweight pets are at-risk when undergoing anesthesia, with their weight causing decreased lung functioning, reduced kidney and liver functioning, as well as a need for increased anesthetic than a pet of normal size. All of these complications create a life-threatening scenario for a procedure that might otherwise be routine. The obstacles caused by obesity attribute to a reduced lifespan, affecting a dog’s quality of life, their happiness, and comfort.
• Diabetes Treatment
  Diabetes, also referred to as Diabetes Mellitus (DM), affects a pet’s ability to properly use or produce insulin; their body stops producing insulin altogether or cannot produce the quantity necessary. With diabetes, a pet’s body also inhibits organs and muscles from converting sugars into energy, creating a condition known as hyperglycemia – an excess of glucose in the bloodstream.
• Vestibular Disease Treatment
  Any animal with a vestibular system can suffer from vestibular disease; this ranges from fish and birds to dogs and cats. A pet’s vestibular system is comprised of nerves and inner ear workings that inform the brain of bodily motion, maintain equilibrium, and control eye movement while the body is in motion; essentially, it is responsible for balance, coordination, and posture. Vestibular disease occurs when the nerves have difficulty performing these functions. There are two types of vestibular disease, peripheral and central, with peripheral vestibular disease being more common. Peripheral vestibular disease is caused by disorders of the inner ear (the body’s balance center), whereas central vestibular disease arises from balance issues within the brain.
• Thyroid Disease Treatment
  Hypothyroidism is a pet’s inability to create enough of the necessary thyroid hormone, which results in a low-functioning metabolism. The disease is usually caused by a shrunken or inflamed thyroid gland, which commonly appears in middle-aged large dog breeds; hypothyroidism rarely occurs in cats and small dogs. On occasion, hypothyroidism is caused by a tumor that forcefully puts pressure on cells of the pituitary gland. In these cases, hypothyroidism can be life-threatening, thus seeking veterinary care is critical.
• Heart Disease Treatment
  With its ability to onset at any age, in any breed or gender, congestive heart failure (CHF) is one of the most serious canine and feline heart conditions. Congestive heart failure is characterized by the heart’s inability to circulate enough blood to meet the body’s demands. Because a heart muscle becomes weakened by CHF, the health of other organs suffers, including that of the liver, kidneys, and lungs.
• Kidney Disease Treatment
  Medicated diets are created to augment nutritional needs for pets dealing with illness or disease. A variety of manufacturers design pet food specifically for pets suffering from allergies, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, pancreatitis, and more. If you think a medicated diet would benefit your pet, contact our office today.
• Periodontal Disease Treatment
  Orthodontics – Pet orthodontics is an entirely elective procedure that helps realign crooked teeth and misaligned bites. Some pets do not have the “scissor bite†(lower canines that intersect upper canines and lateral incisors), which can lead to serious periodontal disease and can cause excruciating pain. As a result, traditional metal braces can be affixed to the teeth to properly align the bite. If caught prior to losing baby teeth, the adult teeth can be surgically straightened to prevent orthodontic problems.
• Cancer Treatment
  Our veterinarians are highly knowledgeable in diagnosis and offer aggressive treatment plans to help your pet endure a long, healthy life. With extensive training and experience treating pet cancer, our veterinarians and staff can provide quality care and support throughout the therapy process. We know that a positive cancer diagnosis can be difficult, troubling, and confusing. Our staff is here to offer our complete support throughout your pet’s treatment, and we are here to help your family through this trying period.

Emergency Care

• Poisoning Treatment

Surgery

• Dental Surgery
  Oral Surgery – Occasionally a pet’s breathing difficulties are a combination of airway restriction in the nostrils, mouth, and throat. In these instances, surgery can be performed on the soft palate and larynx, restoring the pet’s ability to breathe well. Other oral surgeries are performed on pets suffering from severe dental problems that may affect the pet’s health and cause pain, including tooth decay, exposed dentin, severe periodontal disease, and cracked or chipped teeth.
• Veterinary Surgery
  It is standard procedure to intensively monitor your pet’s levels during anesthesia and throughout the entire surgery. If you have any questions about your scheduled surgery, or would like to inquire about a soft tissue surgery, please contact our office.
• Laser Surgery
  Western Animal Hospital AMAZING! Western Animal Hospital is the best place in the valley.The staff is professional, friendly, caring and accommodating. The hospital is very clean and upscale. The customer service and the provided services are outstanding.Dr. Petcu is one of the most professional veterinarians that i have ever met in my 25 years of pet parenting. I drive across the valley just to see him( i live in Anthem).He really cares about his animal patients and it shows in every visits. He is very knowledgeable, compassionate, friendly and always takes the time to answer any question i have and explaining in detail any situation we are dealing with. I had my share of visits to many animal hospitals in the valley but none of them had the last technology as Western - digital X-ray ( they send you home with a cd for you x-ray records ) every room has a computer monitor where the x-ray shows and Dr. Petcu can review with me every detail of it. Also they have the laser surgery and digital dental x-ray. Dr. petcu is one of the most
• Declawing
  Declawing – Declawing can be medically necessary if tumors exist or the claw is injured and not repairable, but it is primarily an elective procedure. Usually pet owners opt to have their feline declawed to prevent scratching, or elderly pet owners decide on the surgery because their health status could not support exposure to the bacteria in the claws.
• Spaying and Neutering
  In an effort to help your pet live a healthy life, we provide spay and neuter services. Choosing to spay or neuter your new pet is one of the most responsible decisions you can make as a pet owner. Spaying and neutering pets is estimated to add years to your pet’s life in decreasing or eliminating their chances of getting certain cancers; it also helps decrease the amount of animals in shelters and the number of euthanized pets each year.
• Cropping

Lab and X-Rays

• Laboratory Services
  Heartworm treatment for dogs is possible, but treatment is costly and hard on your pet’s body. It typically requires many vet visits, blood work, x-rays, hospital stays and multiple medications. There is no drug approved to treat heartworm in cats. That said, cats that test positive for heartworm have a better prognosis as they are not ideal hosts for the parasite. The best thing for you to do for your pet is to prevent heartworms from ever developing.
• X-Ray
  Stage 3 – A cough, tiredness, and some trouble breathing. Signs of heart and or lung damage are usually seen on a chest x-ray at this stage.
• Dental Radiology
  Pet dental exams are similar to human dental exams and involve teeth cleaning and buffing. Additional services offered include sedation dentistry and dental X-rays. If more serious conditions are discovered, root canals, tooth extraction, etc. might be required.
• Microchipping
  Even the most responsible pet owner could leave the garage door open or forget to close the gate, resulting in a lost pet. Microchipping your beloved pet could be the difference between having your pet returned and not being able to find them. While it is estimated that nearly 3 million pets in shelters are euthanized annually, some of those animals are pets whose owners were unable to find them. AVID, one of the major microchip manufacturers, states that approximately 1,400 pets with microchips are reunified with their owners per year, saving them from euthanasia.

General Pet Care

• Boarding
• Grooming
• Senior Pet Care