Preventive Care

• Dental Care
  Oral health is an important factor in your pet's overall well being. We perform routine check-ups on your pet's teeth and gums at their annual wellness visit, and we also recommend full cleanings once a year. This allows us to closely examine your pet's mouth, check for lesions or abnormalities, remove tartar and plaque, and polish their teeth.
• Vaccination
  All cats should be vaccinated to prevent harmful and potentially life-threatening diseases. The types of vaccines your cat should be given will vary based on the lifestyle of your cat. If your cat lives in the house and does not come into contact with other cats, only the FVRCP and Rabies vaccines are recommened. If your cat spends time outside and around other cats, we also recommend leukemia vaccinations.
• Veterinary Ophthalmology
  The Tonopen is a precision electronic intstrument that allows us to measure the pressure of an animal's eye. Many breeds of dogs are prone to glaucoma (an increase in intraocular pressure) which causes pain and can lead to blindness if not caught early. Often the only outward sign is redness of the eyes - which is also true for many other eye diseases. This gives us a quick, easy way to measure the eye pressure so treatment can be intituted early. It is also invaluble in monitoring the treatment for glaucoma.
• Nutritional Counseling
  The more common name for this virus is “distemper”. It is a highly contagious disease which is why vaccination is recommended. Symptoms include fever, seizures, loss of appetite, and possibly death. Kittens are born with a natural immunity for the first few weeks of their lives. Vaccinations should start at around 8 weeks old and continue every 3-4 weeks for a total of three vaccinations. Your cat should also receive a booster vaccination every 1-3 years going forward.
• Comprehensive Examination
  Physical exams are just as important for your pet as they are for you and me. They are probably even more important because your dog or cat can't tell you when they need to go to the doctor!

Illness Treatment

• Parasites Treatment and Control
  Ticks are carriers of many different types of diseases - Lyme, Ehrlichia, Anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever just to name a few. Most of us in the Northeast are familiar with Lyme disease, but the others can be just as life-threatening. They primarily affect the white cells and clotting functions of the blood and can be devastating if left untreated. These diseases affect primarily dogs and we test for them yearly as part of their heartworm test.
• Behavioral Disorder Treatment
  Canine Distemper: This is a viral disease that is easily spread through direct contact and contact with bodily fluids or contaminated food and water. Puppies are the most susceptible to the disease and also have the highest mortality rate from severe cases or complications from the disease. Vaccinations have proven to be effective, so it is important to have your puppy vaccinated. The disease can be treated if contracted, but requires quarantining your dog from other dogs for many months, and can result in some long term health problems.
• Pain Management
  Ite wound, laceration, or other puncture that then becomes infected causes the abscess. If the abscess is not open and draining, surgery may be needed to allow the pus to drain out and for us to clean the wound thoroughly. Keeping the wound clean until it heals is very important. We will send you home with an antiseptic soap, antibiotics, and usually, pain medication. If the pet allows, the wound should be gently massaged, flushed and cleaned at least twice daily as long as there is visible discharge. Do not hesitate to call if your pet has a
• Vomiting Treatment
• Skin Condition and Allergy Treatment
  Skin and Coat: This is checked to make sure that there are no fleas, ticks or other parasites that have made your pet their home. The skin is the largest organ of your body and abnormalities in haircoat or skin texture are valuble clues to possible hormonal or allergic issues going on with your pet. If any potential problems are uncovered further tests may be necessary to rule out the disease, or properly diagnose it so that it can be treated.

Infection Treatment

• Leptospirosis Treatment
  Leptospirosis: This is a serious bacterial disease that infects domestic animals, wildlife and humans. The bacteria are spread through the urine of infected animals and can survive for weeks to months in soil and surface waters (lakes, streams, puddles). Leptospirosis brings on symptoms of fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, and depression and it can lead to chronic kidney or liver disease. Some dogs have allergic reactions to this vaccine. However, due to the serious nature of the disease, we still recommend it for the majority of dogs.
• Parvovirus Infection Treatment
  Parvovirus: This disease is more commonly referred to as “parvo” and is one of the leading causes of viral infections in dogs. It is highly contagious and transmitted by direct or indirect contact with contaminated feces. There are cardiac and intestinal forms of the disease, both of which are fatal in most cases when left untreated. The vaccination is highly recommended and is given in a series of shots starting when the puppy is about 8 weeks old.
• Feline Retro Virus Treatment
• Bacterial and Viral Infection Treatment
  During the visit we will check your pets’ vitals, make sure all vaccinations are up to date, and perform any necessary blood work. Blood work can help to diagnose heartworm, Lyme disease, viral infections, and other diseases that can be treated more easily when detected early. The best way to combat these diseases is actually to stop them before they happen. There are many vaccines and medications available to prevent or slow down disease progression.

Chronic Condition Treatment

• Hip Dysplasia Treatment
  There are many different reasons to perform hip surgeries, including hip dysplasia and fractures. These surgeries are done to alleviate pain and return an animal to as close to normal function as possible. We have a board-certified surgeon, Dr. Geoff Clark, that performs these surgeries at our hospital. Each case must be evaluated to determine which surgery is best for that patient.
• Diabetes Treatment
• Thyroid Disease Treatment
  Although your older pet may still be very active and healthy, his or her body has become more susceptible to chronic kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, failing vision and hearing, and a general weakening of the body. Instead of waiting until the appearance of one or more of these diseases, we can choose to be vigilant and to focus on all of the things we can do to make his or her senior years happy, healthy and enjoyable for the both of you.
• Heart Disease Treatment
  The food your pet eats depends on their age, size, breed as well as other factors. If your pet has a health condition such as kidney disease, heart disease, cancer, stomach ailments, or obesity there are prescription diets available to help them combat their ailment. Your veterinarian has extensive knowledge on this subject and can prescribe the best food for your pet. We offer foods by Hills, Royal Canin, Purina and Iams.
• Kidney Disease Treatment
  We offer counseling to assist with weight loss and nutrition plans to help manage a variety of diseases, from kidney failure to inflammatory bowel disease. Besides our variety of maintenance and prescription diets, we also can assist with formulating balanced home-cooked diets that may be necessary with certain diseases.

Emergency Care

• Wound and Fracture Care
  Wounds can occur for a variety of reasons from simple cuts/lacerations to bite wounds to extensive wounds from being hit by a car. Some of these can be managed medically, but often they require surgery to repair the damage and promote faster healing. The sooner we are able to evaluate and repair these wounds, the better the wound will heal. Older wounds will become contaminated with bacteria and the tissue will be dried out meaning that more extensive cleaning and removal of dead tissue will be necessary. Wounds involving joints, tendons or body cavities can necessitate referral for intensive care or surgery performed by a board-certified surgeon.

Surgery

• Veterinary Surgery
  Winter Harbor Veterinary Hospital also offers specialized surgical procedures performed by a board certified veterinarian surgeon. These procedures are more involved and require the expertise and knowledge of a surgical specialist. For more information, you may read about the specialized surgical services we provide below. If you have any questions about any of these procedures, please contact us directly. We are happy to discuss any of these procedures with you.
• Small Animal Surgery
  Dr. Clark is a 1986 graduate of the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He completed an internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and then completed a residency in Small animal surgery at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Clark became board certified in surgery in 1992 and became a staff surgeon for 5 years at the Animal Surgical Clinic of Seattle. Upon returning to the Northeast in 1996, he joined the staff at Dover Veterinary Hospital in Dover, NH. In 1999, Dr. Clark started Veterinary Surgery of New England, a mobile surgical referral practice based in Durham, NH. He provides on-site orthopedic and soft tissue surgery services at veterinary hospitals in NH, southern ME and northeastern MA. He has also been providing surgical services at the Capital Area Veterinary Emergency Service. Dr. Clark provides surgery services on our orthopedic and complicated soft tissue cases at Winter Harbor Veterinary Hospital as needed.
• Spaying and Neutering

Lab and X-Rays

• Laboratory Services
  Internal Organs: The internal organs are examined to check that they are functioning properly. The abdominal area can be checked by hand for any growths or tumors. A stethoscope is used to listen to the heart and lungs. If abnormalities are detected, we will discuss blood work and radiographs or ultrasounds to assist in determining the cause.
• X-Ray
• Microchipping
  Every pet owner's worst nightmare is having their pet run away. Microchips can help to alleviate some of that worry. If you do have the misfortune of losing your cat or dog, a microchip can help to return them to you quickly. The microchip is placed under the skin behind the shoulder of your pet. It is relatively painless and poses no long term side effects. Each microchip has its own barcode that links to your pet's information. If a lost pet is found, they can be scanned and their owner's address and contact information will be shown. Collars can fall off and "Lost Dog" flyers can be ineffective, but this advance in technology helps reunite more lost pets with their owner than ever before.

General Pet Care

• Grooming