Preventive Care

• Dental Care
  When we perform a professional veterinary dental cleaning, we look at the whole mouth, not just the cosmetic appearance of teeth. We look at the tissues that support the teeth and the health of the gingiva or gums, and focus on addressing the underlying problems to make your pet more comfortable.
• Vaccination
  Vaccinations are not only safe and effective; they are a fundamental piece of your pet's preventive health-care plan. Advances in veterinary immunology have made diseases that once were relatively common and fatal to pets easily preventable. Additionally, with each passing year, veterinary science is improving on existing vaccines as well as increasing the ability to prevent an even wider array of contagious diseases.
• Veterinary Ophthalmology
• Behavioral Counseling
  At Sweetgrass Animal Hospital, we believe a great deal of behavioral problems can be prevented. Most issues relate to anxiety and environment, and we perform behavioral consultations that give owners the tools to treat their pet's behavioral problem at home.
• Nutritional Counseling
  €¢ Diet - Diet is one of the most important considerations in health maintenance. Its importance lies not only in optimizing a pet's health, but also in the prevention and management of many diseases. Nutritional counseling is an essential part of the veterinarian's checkup and many owners use the opportunity to gain valuable advice on what to feed their pets.
• Comprehensive Examination
  Whether you're seeking a routine examination, lifelong animal-care provider, immediate medical treatment, or preventive veterinary care for a long and healthy life, you can rely on Sweetgrass Animal Hospital as your pet's animal-care partner. Since 2012, we have provided pets in Summerville and the surrounding Dorchester County area with advanced veterinary medicine combined with state-of-the-art technology.

Illness Treatment

• Parasites Treatment and Control
  Spread by mosquitoes, heartworm disease is a serious threat to the well-being of your pet. Fortunately, protective medications exist to prevent heartworm disease and to help keep your companion healthy and happy. Dr. Askins recommends administering preventive medication once-a-month, all-year long.
• Pain Management
  Just as with humans, pain has many negative effects on pets that go beyond physical discomfort. Pain after surgery can slow healing and worsen diseases like arthritis. And, because our furry companions don't understand why they are experiencing pain, pain can cause behavioral issues and interfere with the bond between you and your pet.
• Vomiting Treatment
• Diarrhea Treatment
• Skin Condition and Allergy Treatment
  Allergies are quite common in dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, typically due to fleas, but can also be the result of food or inhaled irritants like dust or pollen. And because we're located in the low country, something is always blooming year-round—meaning a greater risk of allergy symptoms. Using the latest in veterinary medicine, we are capable of diagnosing and treating a range of pet allergies with the goal of providing long-term relief for your pet.
• Upper Respiratory Illness Treatment

Infection Treatment

• Leptospirosis Treatment
• Feline Retro Virus Treatment
  Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV): FeLV is one of the most important infectious viruses in cats. FeLV is responsible for a number of diseases in cats including leukemia. FeLV is highly contagious and is transmitted through body fluids.
• Urinary Tract Infection Treatment

Chronic Condition Treatment

• Diabetes Treatment
• Thyroid Disease Treatment
  Thyroid Levels: Checking your cat's thyroid level is making sure your cat is not suffering from thyroid disease. The most common thyroid disease in cat's is hyperthyroidism. This presents with many symptoms such as weight loss, unkempt coat, vomit, diarrhea, increased water intake and appetite, and etc.
• Heart Disease Treatment
  The heart is a very complex organ. It has four valves, an electrical conduction system, and four chambers, all of which are crucial to its function. As in people, animals suffer from a wide variety of heart diseases. In order to correctly diagnose and treat these diseases, it is necessary to see inside the heart, visualize the movement of the chambers, and to look at the valves in motion. This is the area where ultrasound predominates. Using ultrasound, it is possible to watch the heart in motion and to measure each of its’ parts. Ultrasound also allows the doctor or technician to measure the actual physical effects of various heart medications and to carefully adjust dosages.
• Kidney Disease Treatment
• Periodontal Disease Treatment
  Classic "doggy breath" is not necessarily normal. Halitosis (bad breath) is the most common symptom of periodontal disease—an infection of the gums and potentially the other supporting structures of the teeth—and is sometimes the only warning sign pet owners notice. Plaque builds up every day on the tooth surface including at the gum line. Left in place, the plaque can harden in less than two days, forming calculus or tartar. The continued build-up of tartar—both above and below the gum line—can create an environment where destructive bacteria can flourish, causing damage to periodontal tissue and producing an offensive odor.

Emergency Care

• Wound and Fracture Care
  Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): FIV is another virus that is specific to cats. FIV reduces the capacity of the cat's immune system to respond to other infectious agents. FIV is highly contagious and is transmitted primarily through cat bite wounds.

Surgery

• Dental Surgery
  Should we find any issues—such as evidence of gum or tooth erosion, gingivitis or excessive plaque buildup—we will discuss this with you and offer treatment options for your pet. We are experienced dental practitioners and are capable of offering a number of dental procedures and oral surgeries.
• Veterinary Surgery
  Dr. Askins is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association. His professional interests include soft-tissue surgery, dermatology, and preventative care. When asked how he brings his personal values into his professional life, Dr. Askins says that he carries his honesty and family values with him every day. He strives to build long-term relationships with his clients to make sure that every person and their pets feel like family the moment they walk into the door.

Lab and X-Rays

• Laboratory Services
  Before your pet undergoes any surgical procedure, a thorough examination takes place. This exam includes a pre-surgical blood screen, which, along with your pet's anesthetic history, breed, preexisting conditions and age, will be used to determine a unique anesthesia protocol. These tests have the added benefit of establishing a baseline for the comparison of future blood tests, should your pet require any.
• X-Ray
• Dental Radiology
• Microchipping
  A lost pet is a frightening situation with often devastating consequences. Studies have shown more than 10 million pets get lost each year, and approximately 90 percent of those found would not have been returned to their owners without some form of permanent identification.

General Pet Care

• Grooming
  Sara joins Sweetgrass Animal Hospital after relocating from Georgia to be closer to her son. Sara has a long history working in kennels and as a groomer. She had the first mobile grooming service in the Atlanta area! Sara will be at Sweetgrass Animal Hospital part time to assist our Technicians. When not at work, Sara loves spending time with her son, Jonathan, and exploring the Summerville Area.
• Dog Training
  So you have a cute furry companion who loves to play fetch and go to the dog park. But are they well-behaved? It really doesn't matter whether your canine is a four-pound Chihuahua or a 104-pound Rottweiler. An untrained dog is an invitation to disaster. And a dog that won't come when called is always in danger.