Understanding Dog Blood Tests

A blood test or lab test allows us to learn information about your dog's health which can only be found from collecting a sample of blood and having it analyzed. This includes a CBC (complete blood count) and blood chemistries that analyze chemical components in the blood.

What is Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging?

How A Cat's Heart Works

A cat's heart has four chambers. The two upper chambers are called the atrium (plural atria), and the lower chambers are called the ventricles. Additionally, the heart has a right and left side, each containing one atrium and one ventricle. A cat's heart works as follows:

Diagnosing And Treating Cancer In Cats

Our veterinarians and support staff are well-trained, highly empathetic, and understanding of the fact that it is necessary to focus on both the emotional and medical aspects of treating cats with cancer. We are here to work with you to make sure you have a good understanding of your cat’s illness and to help you make decisions that will be best for you and your cat.

If your cat has suffered a sudden trauma or is experiencing any life threatening symptoms, please call us immediately at: 504-290-0025

In an emergency, time is of the essence, please bring your cat to our emergency hospital as soon as possible. The address is:

101 Metairie Road

Metairie, LA 70005

Cat Grooming, Bathing, Clipping, Brushing Services and Tips

Cats typically take care of daily grooming by themselves. If you’ve ever seen a cat lying in the sun grooming itself, it can be quite calming to observe the meticulous routine. Cats instinctively groom themselves to banish any odors that may be noticed by other animals, especially predators. Cats are also able to maintain a healthy-looking coat by daily grooming and distributing natural oils to keep their coats clean and shiny.

If you’re like a lot of cat owners, you know your cat’s daily routine. If you notice your cat is not following his usual activities, or if you see a change in behavior patterns, those could be subtle but important clues that your cat is sick. As a pet parent, it’s time for you to step in and get the vet on speed dial.

Information And Services To Spay And Neuter Cats

Since 1946, the dedicated and compassionate veterinary team at Metairie Small Animal Hospital have successfully performed spay and neuter procedures on many male and female cats of all breeds and ages. We have also helped educate cat owners throughout LA about spay and neuter procedures. These include when to spay or neuter a cat, what to expect during and after surgery, and why cat spaying and cat neutering is essential to helping control the pet population problem in the state of LA.

A part of normal cat behavior is their instinctive need to scratch on surfaces to remove excess claw material and keep the nails clean and in good shape. Cats obviously enjoy this behavior and certainly are not aware that their behavior may be seen as destructive to their owners. Unfortunately, while your cat is happily clawing on your favorite chenille chair, you may be grimacing and very unhappy with one of your favorite family members.

What Every Cat Owner Should Know About Dental Care For Cats

Diagnosing And Treating Cancer In Cats

At Metairie Small Animal Hospital, we understand that feline cancer is a devastating diagnosis. It is natural to feel highly emotional. However, a cat cancer diagnosis is not necessarily a hopeless one. Depending upon how early it is identified and the type of cancer involved, there are certainly options that can lead to very positive outcomes.

What Is Veterinary Acupuncture For Dogs?

At Metairie Small Animal Hospital, we understand that your canine companion is not just a pet, but that he or she is a beloved, cherished family member. The mutual bond of love and loyalty between you can make a diagnosis of any form of dog cancer very difficult to hear. Our veterinarians and support staff are empathetic, compassionate and trained to focus on both the emotional and medical aspects of dog cancer.

Proper dental care at home consists of daily brushing. Just as with humans, dogs need the plaque and biofilm removed from their teeth on a daily basis to avoid dental disease. The vast majority of dogs will accept daily brushing by their owners. We are here to teach you how to brush your dog’s teeth and provide you with the best brush and dental paste according to your dog’s size and flavor preference. It can be a bonding experience for owners to brush their dog’s teeth and your dog may come to really enjoy the process.

At Metairie Small Animal Hospital, we utilize the most up to date equipment which allows us to offer a very high level of care to all of our patients. Canine endoscopy uses a tiny video camera at the end of a very narrow scope, called an endoscope that is inserted either into the stomach through the mouth or the colon via the rectum. This allows a veterinarian to view a dog's gastrointestinal tract, or other areas of concern throughout his or her body.

What Is Laser Therapy For Dogs And How Does It Work?

Laser treatment for dogs employs deep-penetrating light to promote a chain of chemical reactions known as photobiostimulation. This process helps relieve pain through the release of endorphins, and it stimulates injured cells to heal at an accelerated pace. 

Why Should I Microchip My Dog?

What is good dog nutrition?

Good nutrition is feeding your dog the building blocks and energy components that allow them to grow, develop to their potential and stay active throughout their life.There are many ways to feed your dog and hundreds of diets to choose from.  Most people tend to use dry and canned dog food for convenience and cost. However, there are alternatives to dry and canned dog food that may offer quality  nutrition for your dog.

Everything You Must Know About Vaccinating Your Dog

Dog vaccinations play a critical role in protecting your dog from many dangerous and even fatal diseases. While state law requires all dogs are vaccinated for rabies, there are a number of other vaccinations that can protect your dog from serious diseases that are easily preventable.

What To Do If Your Cat May Be Having A Veterinary Emergency

In case of a cat emergency, waiting until “normal business hours” is not an option. In a time of crisis, Metairie Small Animal Hospital is open with an emergency cat clinic located at 101 Metairie Road. Our main hospital is staffed 24/7 and ready to help! 

Our experienced team can help increase the odds of recovery for your feline friend, even in the face of the most severe cat emergency care situations.
 

If your dog has suffered a sudden trauma or is experiencing any life threatening symptoms, please call us immediately at: 504-290-0025

What To Do In Case Of A Dog Emergency

There are times when you are certain that your dog has an emergency (ie: hit by a car) and there are times when you are very concerned but not convinced that it is an emergency requiring immediate care. When in doubt, head to our emergency hospital. If possible, call on your way to let us know the type of emergency and if you will need assistance getting into the building and your E.T.A.

Emergency vet services are a fundamental cornerstone of our commitment to comprehensive pet care. Your pet isn’t going to take “normal business hours” into consideration. Accidents do happen, and when disaster strikes, that is when you need a trained veterinary staff ready and able to help. So, we know that we’ve got to be ready. This is why you can always rely on our emergency vet care team to be here for you and your pet anytime day or night.

Our full service, 24 hour animal hospital is located at:

What Are Microchip IDs, And Why Does My Cat Need One?

At Metairie Small Animal Hospital, we understand that the bond you and your beloved feline friend share is invaluable and irreplaceable. We also understand that by nature, cats are roaming creatures and therefore run the risk of wandering too far from home, or just accidentally losing their way. In fact, a staggering number of cats are lost in the shelter system each year because they lack any means to identify them with. This is why we are happy to offer cat microchip identification services.

The Dangers Of Fleas And Ticks For Cats

Of all the pesky nuisances out there your cat might face, fleas and ticks are two of the most troublesome. For cats, fleas and ticks pose a variety of potential health issues, including:

Examinations
One part of comprehensive preventative care is having a physical exam on a regular basis, no matter what age your pet may be. It’s simple and cost effective. Detecting changes or signs of disease early on is the key to a healthy pet.

Since 1946 the veterinary staff at Metairie Small Animal Hospital has made heartworm prevention for dogs an important part of our approach to preventive care. A heartworm infection can lead to numerous health problems up to and including early death Therefore, heartworm prevention cannot be ignored. Our team is here to educate you and protect your dog from this terrible disease.

Getting a new kitten is a very special experience with lots of joy, warmth and laughter. There is a reason why the internet is so full of kitten and cat pictures and videos. Kittens are super fun, loving and entertaining. Kitten care does involve some amount of hands-on attention from human family members. The focus of kitten care is on acclimating the kitten to its new family, and providing for the kitten's physical well being to support healthy development.

Laser Therapy Reduces Pain and Speeds Healing
Relief and/or improvement is often noticed within hours depending on the condition and your pet’s response. Whether your pet is rehabilitating from trauma or injury, healing from wounds, or simply aging, your companion can benefit from this innovative approach to treating pain.

What is laser therapy for cats?

Veterinary laser therapy provides a non-invasive, pain-free, surgery-free and drug-free treatment for a variety of conditions, and can be performed in conjunction with existing treatment protocols. Laser treatment for cats employs deep-penetrating light to promote a chain of chemical reactions known as photobiostimulation. This process helps relieve pain through the release of endorphins, and it stimulates injured cells to heal at an accelerated pace. The faster your cat heals and the better he or she feels.

Dr. Beth Overley Adamson completed her undergraduate studies at Rice University and her veterinary studies at the University of Pennsylvania, both with honors. She completed a one year general rotating internship and a three year medical oncology residency at the MJR Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Overley achieved board certification in oncology in 2005. She currently treats patients and performs research part time in addition to consulting.

What Is Dirofilariasis, Aka: Cat Heartworm?

Dirofilaria immitis is a blood-borne parasitic nematode (roundworm), commonly referred to as cat heartworm. Heartworms in cats are spread through mosquitos carrying cat heartworm larvae. The severity of heartworms in cats is directly dependent upon the number of worms present a cat’s body, the duration of the incubation, and the response of the infected cat.
 

What Is Involved In A Cat Preventive Care Program?

At Metairie Small Animal Hospital, we understand that prevention is truly the best medicine where the health and wellness of your cat is concerned. This is why we offer our feline patients and their human counterparts a comprehensive array of cat preventive care services that promote cat health,wellness and longevity of life.

A cat preventive care program consists of:

What Goes Into A Dog Health Preventive Care Regimen

Make The Most Of Your First Visit To The Vet

During your first veterinary visit, we will perform a thorough physical and gather information from you to help get a complete picture of your puppy’s health. This is also your opportunity to gather all of the important puppy care information you need to be an informed, responsible and loving guardian to your puppy. Plan to spend around a half hour with us on the first visit, and bring everyone in the family who will be taking an active role in the puppy’s care. Below are some of the topics we will address at the first visit:

Taking The Physiological Changes Of Aging Dogs Into Consideration

It is important to remember that many physiological changes occur during the aging process your canine companion is experiencing. These include:

If you have owned an animal, or if you know anyone who has, chances are you have heard of the terms spay and neuter. Spaying is a term that describes the ovariohysterectomy, or the removal of portions of the reproductive system of a female dog. Neutering is a term that describes the castration, or the removal of the testicles of a male dog. Veterinarians perform these surgical procedures, which render dogs incapable of reproducing.

Stem cell technology is a new and exciting branch of veterinary medicine. Stem cells are cells that can be safely harvested from a variety of adult animal tissues (primarily fat tissue). Once harvested, the stem cells can be injected and induced to grow into a large number of different cell types.

It is very important to have a veterinarian examine your cat at least once a year. Cats age significantly faster than humans and therefore it is imperative for cat owners to stay on top of wellness exams in order to catch any potential health problems before they begin. Most cat illnesses are much easier and less expensive to treat and cure when caught in the early stages before they progress or develop complications. Therefore, regular cat wellness exams are the cornerstone of preventive veterinary medicine.

Our Veterinary ICU Is Here For Your Pet

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Since 1946 the Veterinarians and support staff at Metairie Small Animal Hospital have sought to achieve the highest standards of veterinary medicine. We feel that cats are part of the family, yours and ours. Our clients response to the care we provide is the strongest testament to the quality of care we provide for their cats.

You can find our recent client feedback here.

When Will A Veterinarian Order Blood Tests For Cats

In some cases, the symptoms your cat is showing affords a veterinarian the opportunity for a relatively straightforward diagnosis. However, other times the diagnosis may not be obvious and additional information will be required. In such a case, your veterinarian will order feline blood tests to aid in his or her investigation. The following situations can result in the need for blood tests for cats:

In comparison to traditional surgery, laparoscopic surgery for cats is a minimally invasive alternative and typically results in shorter recovery time. Similar to arthroscopic surgery, your veterinarian will make one or two small openings in the cat’s abdomen and insert both a camera and the surgical tools required to complete the procedure.