Routine Wellness Exams:  We believe that regular exams are a valuable way to ensure the health of everyone's pets throughout their lifetime. We have found much truth in the old adage that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!" Therefore, we offer physicals for pets at all life stages, and especially prefer to see pets be given the best chance at long healthy lives by addressing everything from their dietary needs to how we can support our animal friends through the natural aging process.

Health Certificates: These are documents provided by a USDA-certified veterinarian after a physical exam is performed and are necessary when traveling to prove that a pet is in good health & safe to move about the country or world. Depending on where you might be traveling with your pet, there are different policies on what documents are needed. Please visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel to get properly prepared for your trip!

Vaccinations & Deworming:  We provide all the core vaccinations needed to keep your pet healthy & prevent deadly diseases, as well as some other vaccines your pet may need when traveling, boarding, and based on different lifestyles. Puppies & kittens need several rounds of vaccines (Boosters) as they are developing their immune systems, then most adult animals needs vaccines either yearly or every few years. We also offer Titer Testing, which is a blood test to check and see if your pet is producing enough antibodies from previous vaccines so that it is safe to skip a round of vaccinations for the year.

DEWORMING: Dogs and cats who hunt prey or eat carcasses (or other unmentionables!) can get different types of worms. Puppies & kittens can also get worms from their mothers. We recommend deworming all puppies & kittens with their vaccine boosters. Adult pets should either be dewormed routinely or have their feces tested for internal parasites.

DOG VACCINES:
     • DHPP - most commonly called the Distemper/Parvo vaccine (also includes hepatitis & parainfluenza) - recommended for all dogs
     • DHLPP - Distemper/Parvo vaccine which also includes Lepto
                    (Leptospirosis is a disease that can be transmitted from wildlife urine, and is also contagious to humans)
     • Bordetella - also known as Kennel Cough vaccine - we have a 1 year vaccine (not just 6 months) in injectable or intranasal forms
     • Rabies - 1 year & 3 year vaccines available

CAT VACCINES:
     • FVRCP - commonly called the feline 3-in-1 or combo shot - this vaccine covers the viral respiratory & gastrointestinal diseases
                    (Rhinotracheitis, Calici, & Panleukopenia)
     • FeLV - feline Leukemia vaccine - recommended for cats who go outdoors
     • Rabies

FYI - Rabies is legally required for all dogs & cats! This fatal disease can be transmitted to humans and there is no cure. Pets can get it from wildlife bites (raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats etc...). If an unvaccinated pet bites a person, there are serious consequences including quarantining the pet, costly fines, and potentially the legal mandate to have the pet destroyed. Please protect your pets and people from this deadly disease! We offer 1 and 3 year Rabies vaccines, and provide a certificate to prove your pets are safe & legal.

Individualized Flea, Tick, & Heartworm Control Programs:  We offer routine Heartworm testing, fecal testing & treatment for worms & other parasites, and prescriptions for preventative products. We aim to develop programs for the specific needs of your pet and your own particular environmental situation by reviewing with you the parasites for which your pet is at the greatest risk based on their lifestyle and your location, as well as the best ways to use preventative products.

Microchipping for Permanent Identification: We offer microchip implantation and FREE lifetime registration. The procedure is as quick as a vaccination and could save the life of your pet!

While it's very true that most pets don't just "run away," there are certain unforeseen situations that can happen during traveling, natural disasters, stormy weather, other frightening events (fireworks), or an accident like someone forgetting to latch a gate, that can result in a pet getting lost. One study has stated that only about 15% of dogs and 2% of cats without permanent identification return home to their owners. Another study has found however, that the return-to-owner rate for microchipped pets was over 52 percent (a 238 percent increase)! It has been said that approximately 9 million companion animals are admitted to shelters in the U.S. every year, and many of these who may have at one time had a home are euthanized because their owners cannot be found. We sincerely want your pet to have the best chance of getting back to you if ever lost!

Diagnostic Laboratory & Therapeutic Services:  We utilize commercial veterinary laboratories for specialized diagnostics and consultations, including serum chemistry, hematology, serology, urinalysis and parasite testing.

We can draw blood or collect samples at your home to send off for almost any type of laboratory services. These may include & are not limited to the following: Heartworm testing, feline Leukemia/FIV testing, basic annual health screens, thyroid testing, food allergy testing, senior health checks & organ functioning, medication level monitoring, and pre-anesthetic bloodwork if you are considering a surgical procedure at a referral clinic.

     • Results are typically available in 24-48 hours

     • Basic health screens test the organ functions, blood counts and clotting function of your pet
       (recommended prior to surgery, on an annual basis for aging pets, or those with chronic conditions)

     • Allergy testing can be done for food and environmental allergens

Based on the results of your pet's lab work, we will design the appropriate plan to treat or manage your pet's condition. This may include medications, diet changes, or other options.

Pharmacy:  We use a combination of online & local human pharmacy services. All of our clients have been very pleased with being able to use a familiar local pharmacy, or the fact that the online pharmacies deliver their pet's important medications right to the front door within just a few days!

     • Online pharmacies, in addition to the convenience, also offer the very best prices for a variety of prescription medications, vitamins,
        supplements, flea & tick control products, and Heartworm preventatives

     • When prescriptions are called into your preferred human pharmacy, we also provide you with coupons from GoodRx.com which
       can be used on the same day for medications such as antibiotics or pain medications

     • Prescription diets can also be ordered online or picked up from some of our local retailers

**We believe that everyone should be able to afford pet care. Therefor we want you to save your hard-earned dollars when it comes to the purchases of medications so you can invest in the necessary diagnostics and avoid the difficulty of possibly finding out later that the ongoing costs of treatment may prevent your pet from getting the best care!**

Dentistry:  We are currently in the process of undergoing certification to offer anesthesia-free dental cleanings. This service will not take the place of a full anesthetic dental procedure that may be needed in a pet's lifetime. Rather, the anesthesia-free cleaning will provide an adjunct to regular oral maintenance programs and will include scaling & polishing of your pet's teeth. For more advanced procedures such as dental X-rays, tooth extractions, and minor oral surgery, we refer to other veterinarians in Durango whom we feel will safely and comprehensively address your pet's needs during the anesthetic procedure.

Dietary Counseling:  We will provide guidance regarding your pet's nutritional needs for each life stage, including dietary requirements for growth, weight maintenance and performance. Food allergies and prescription diets are also be discussed.

Behavioral Counseling:  We can provide advice regarding the correction of problems such as excessive barking, chewing, spraying, scratching, digging, house soiling, aggression, and self-destructive patterns (fur or feather plucking). Sometimes the best way to address these issues is to brainstorm a number of possible solutions and then see what works best! In this area of concern, we have the added benefit of observing a pet's natural environment which may provide very important clues to behavior problems.

Referral Services:  Although we do not currently have X-ray or ultrasound equipment, we can refer you to other local offices for these services here in Durango, CO, with whom we share close working relationships. Additionally, we also partner with a couple of veterinarians here in Durango who have experience with certain types chemotherapy. Regional referals are also an option for more complete cardiac work-ups (Farmington NM), or full medical specialty & surgical needs at centers in (Albuquerque, NM, and Colorado State University Veterinary Hospital, Fort Collins, CO).

Pet Sitting:  We partner with several local medically-trained veterinary technicians who can provide pet sitting services for routine pet care while you are away, and for more advanced care that might be needed for senior pets, those on medications, or special-needs animals. Please contact us for a referral!

Hospice & At-Home Euthanasia:  We understand the many difficulties associated with senior animals when the end is in sight... Our pets are part of our families, and because of that fact, we desire a life of quality, dignity, and freedom from suffering for them. It is also an emotional time for human family members when a pet is coming to the end of their journey here with us. We want you to know that your are not alone in this challenging time ♥ We are available to assess a pet's quality of life with you, provide medications to address their possible pain & anxiety on those tougher days, or even to simply discuss where and your pet may be at in this process, and how to navigate the many concerns with this period of their life.

Hospice care includes medical management and addressing the many senior needs as they can change quickly sometimes, and the whole process may seem like a roller coaster of good days & not so good days... when the time comes for a pet to pass from this world, we want the experience to be as comfortable and peaceful as possible for everyone. We always use sedation for the procedure so as not to cause any discomfort, and to allow things to go at a soothing pace. When the time comes, your pet can leave this world while resting under their favorite tree in the yard, or any other special place in the privacy & familiar surroundings of your home where they feel safe, and have shared so many memories & so much love with you.

After care arrangements can be made to suite your needs, from your own choice to provide burial to a few different cremation options. We believe in respecting the physical body even after an animal has passed, and so we work with others who also provide this same type of attention to detail.

 Surgeries & Emergency Care: Unfortunately we are not equipped to currently handle urgent emergencies or surgical procedures as we do not have anesthetic equipment or the ability to conduct sterile procedures. Please call one of our local full service veterinary offices for these types of care.