A complete physical examination is performed by our doctors before any vaccines are administered. Standard vaccination protocols are currently under professional evaluation, and while our doctors believe strongly in the importance of vaccines (especially after seeing an increase in distemper cases in the past several years), they considers the vaccination needs of each animal individually. For instance, those dogs which travel with their owners to Mexico, or go hiking in the mountains, may be more at risk for encountering certain diseases then a dog who rarely leaves his owners home.

Regardless of your pet's personal vaccination schedule, it is very important that your pet receive an annual physical exam. Because animals age faster than people, a yearly check-up for your pets is the equivalent of you getting a physical every seven years! During the exam, the doctors will listen to your pet's hearts and lungs, check his ears, eyes, and teeth and palpate (examine by touching) your pets abdomen to make sure all is normal. This is the perfect time to tell our doctors about anything different you may have noted in your pet's regular routine, or ask any questions about his (your pet's, not the doctors) health or behavior.

Our modern, well-equipped surgical suite allows us to perform a variety of soft-tissue and orthopedic surgeries. Every precaution is taken to ensure your pet's safety and well-being during any surgical procedure. A complete physical examination is done before any anesthetic is given.

Surgeries are performed on a heated water blanket to maintain your pets temperature. Isoflurane gas anesthetic is used to ensure a deep anesthetic plane while allowing for a smooth recovery.

More important than the type of anesthetic, however, is the monitoring which takes place from the time your pet is prepared for surgery. We use the latest in monitoring equipment, including a heart monitor and pulse oximeter to measure the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. A technician monitors your pet's temperature, pulse and respiration throughout the procedure and recovery. It is this hands-on monitoring which is most critical, and our staff takes these responsibilities very seriously.

Keeping your pet's best interest in mind, we require pre-anesthetic bloodwork to make sure that your pet's internal organs can process the anesthetic properly, a pre- anesthetic EKG, to check the electrical function of your pet's heart, and IV catheter for fluid administration throughout the procedure. This is mandatory with all surgerical procedures.

Imagine if you didn't brush your teeth for five years-ick! Then imagine if you ate the 'variety' of things your dog or cat eats well, maybe you shouldn't. The point is, regular dental examinations and cleanings are crucial for your pet's general health.

Poor dental hygeine can lead not only to mouth and gum problems, but left untreated can also contribute to heart, liver and kidney disease.

When your pet comes in for a dental cleaning, a trained technician will perform both ultrasonic and hand scaling to remove tartar and plaque from the pet's teeth, and a high-speed polishing to remove any microscopic grooves left in the enamel. A fluoride treatment is applied, and your pet will come home with a bright smile and fresh-smelling breath!

Our staff has both personal and professional experience with breeding, raising and exhibiting dogs: we understand the special needs of these special dogs, and will go the extra mile to ensure the delivery of healthy puppies. At the same time, we recognize the problem of pet overpopulation, and encourage only responsible breedings. (See the American Kennel Club for additional resources.)

We highly recommend the WhelpWise service offered by Veterinary Perinatal Specialties to all breeders who wish to reduce potential risks to both the bitch and her puppies. WhelpWise provides equipment with which to monitor uterine contractions and puppy heart rates, and tremendous support 24 hours a day.

Reproduction services provided include:

• Pre-breeding Health Screening, including OFA & PennHIP (please see orthopedic evaluations)
• Ovulation Timing
• Fertility Diagnostics
• Collections for fresh and chilled semen inseminations
• Artificial Inseminations (vaginal and surgical) and Breeding Assistance
• Pregnancy Diagnosis and Management
• Whelping Assistance, including after-hours caesarean sections
• Neonate Care
• Puppy Development

While most small-animal veterinarians treat dogs and cats, at Grayhawk, veterinary services are also provided to less traditional pets, including birds, rabbits, reptiles and primates. We also provide services to pocket pets like gerbils, hamsters and guinea pigs.

Dr. Howard began working with birds as chairman of the Raptor Rehabilitation Program in veterinary school. A long-time member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, Dr. Howard enjoys the special challenges of treating these unique pets. All pets are treated with the same compassion and gentle hands at the Animal Hospital at Grayhawk.

Canine hip and elbow dysplasia are the most common hereditary orthopedic problems seen in dogs. Screening can help to reduce the risk of producing puppies with these potentially crippling diseases. We offer two methods of diagnosing hip dysplasia: radiographs submitted to either the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and/or to PennHIP.

The OFA evaluation is based on a single x-ray with the dog in a hip-extended position. This film is evaluated by three board-certified veterinary radiologists to determine the dog's rating. Dogs must be 24 months or older to receive an OFA certification. The OFA x-rays consist of a single x-ray with the dog in a hip-extended position, which is then evaluated by three board certified veterinary radiologists to determine the dog's rating. In addition to hip certifications, OFA provides certifications on elbows, cardiac, thyroid and a variety of breed-specific disorders. Dr. Howard has been performing OFA evaluations for more than a decade, and holds bi-annual OFA clinics sponsored by the Valle del Sol Golden Retriever Club.

PennHIP is an alternative method of diagnosing hip dysplasia. For PennHIP evaluation, three separate x-rays are submitted for interpretation. Rather than receiving a pass/fail score on the hips, owners receive an actual measurement of the amount of laxity in their dog's hips, in addition to a scale indicating where that dog's score compares to other dogs of the same breed. PennHIP radiographs can be done as early as 16 weeks, and provide a more scientific and less subjective evaluation than other methods.

Dr. Howard was one of the first in Arizona to become a certified PennHIP veterinarian, having completed training and the certification process in 1994. Since then he has taken hundreds of PennHIP radiographs, and is very experienced in the process.