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Disputanta Animal Hospital

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Disputanta, VA
Disputanta Animal Hospital

Dr.Kim Eaton, Dr. Ana Cerreto, Dr. Valerie Johnson We are a full service veterinary hospital and medical center. Please call us for an appointment today.
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Our services also include boarding, grooming, and doggie daycare. We would be happy to help you with any of your pets needs or answer any questions you may have.

11/20/2024

Today, there are a variety of treatment options that can potentially extend and/or impact your pet's quality of life after a cancer diagnosis.

Current options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, cryosurgery, hyperthermia, and immunotherapy. Primary care veterinarians may offer some of these options, but more complex therapies require the care of a veterinary oncologist. Sometimes, a combination of treatments and therapies are used for a multi-modal approach depending on the type of cancer.

While some human drugs are occasionally used off-label in veterinary medicine, there are some newer medications that have either received either full or conditional approval to treat certain canine cancers.

Another option for some pet owners may be enrolling the pet in a clinical trial, which is usually conducted through a university. To see a list of ongoing clinical trials and to consider whether your pet may be a candidate, visit the AVMA Animal Health Studies Database at https://ebusiness.avma.org/aahsd/study_search.aspx

11/18/2024

There are a variety of diagnostic procedures that your veterinarian may turn to if they suspect your pet may have cancer. With some cancers, a fine needle aspirate is used to gather cells from a mass or suspicious area so they can then be examined under a microscope. Biopsies involve collecting tissues from the area in question, and then, having a pathologist perform a comprehensive a**lysis. X-rays and other imaging methods-like an MRI-can be used to assess the extent of the cancer, and many clinics now have access to ultrasound technologies to further evaluate the potential spread of a tumor.

11/14/2024

No one wants to think about their pet having cancer, but it's important to know common signs to watch for. Being able to spot these changes in your pet can help your veterinarian make an earlier diagnosis, which can help improve the prognosis. Signs of concern include changes in appetite, unexplained weight loss, difficulty eating, a swollen abdomen, lameness/stiffness, lethargy, wounds that won't heal, and abnormal swellings. Coughing, collapse, and excessive thirst are also signs to discuss with your veterinarian. If you notice any of these signs, contact our clinic right away to schedule an exam by calling (804)991-3909

11/13/2024

Is your pet usually nervous or stressed during veterinary visits? Talk to your veterinarian to see if a PVP--pre-visit pharmaceutical--might be an option. These medications are used as an addition to training, behavioral, and/or environmental modification to treat veterinary-related fear, anxiety, or stress.

When implemented with a behavioral treatment plan, these medications can increase the odds of a successful visit. They help reduce the stress and anxiety so the veterinary team can work to change the way your pet feels about specific procedures. If your pet is anxious about veterinary visits, your veterinarian can recommend a plan to help make exams less stressful.

11/12/2024

It's common for pets to experience stressful events at home, such as storms or fireworks. There are several medications that your veterinarian may suggest for your pet, and most are known as "quick" acting, meaning it will take about 1-2 hours to see the full effect. For most pets, the medication leaves their system within 8-12 hours. It is also recommended to trial the medication at home before the stressful event so you can watch for potential side effects and negative responses.

After the trial, your veterinarian will want to know:

How soon does the medication take effect in your pet? (e.g. 1 hour)
What effects are seen? (e.g. less barking out the window)
How long did the effects last for? (e.g. returned to normal behavior after 7 hours)

Share this information with your veterinarian so they can advise you on the next steps. Keep in mind that these medications will NOT create a "zombie" pet. If this is seen, this is considered an abnormal side effect and the veterinarian should be contacted immediately.

Talk to your veterinarian for recommendations if your pet has a history of situational anxiety or stress.

11/11/2024

It is normal for pets to be mentally affected from sedation or anesthesia 24-72 hours after their procedure. Your pet will be discharged from the hospital when they are fully awake, warm (normal body temperature), and comfortable. Most clinics will keep the pet under observation for up to 3 hours post-procedure.

After their procedure, your pet may have some temporary behavioral changes where they are unable to recognize people or familiar surroundings. These effects are normal and usually resolve in a few days. Because most sedatives and anesthetics reduce body temperature, your veterinary team may also advise keeping your pet in a warm room to help control their body temperature. Lastly, it is important to recognize that obese animals can often have delayed recoveries. Most of the medications used are fat soluble, so the more body fat the pet has, the longer it will take for their system to remove the anesthetic.

Every patient responds to sedatives and anesthesia differently. Talk to your veterinary team to create a full sedation/anesthetic plan that would work best in your pet.

11/11/2024

Sadly, cancer is the leading cause of death in pets middle-aged and older, and certain types of cancer are more common than others.

The six most diagnosed canine cancers are:

Lymphoma (approximately 24% of all new canine cancer diagnoses)
Osteosarcoma (most common primary bone tumor in dogs)
Mast cell tumors (most common skin tumor in dogs)
Oral melanoma
Hermangiosarcoma (cancer of the cells lining blood vessels)
Transitional cell carcinoma (cancer of the urinary system)

In cats, the four most diagnosed cancers are:

Lymphoma - can affect cats of any age
Squamous cell carcinoma - the most common oral tumor
Fibrosarcoma - cancer of the soft tissue
Mammary tumors - most commonly spreads to other locations

[source: Colorado State University, Flint Animal Cancer Center]

11/07/2024

There are many different levels of fear, anxiety, and stress that your pet may experience at the veterinary clinic. Some pets may show more signs than others, and with each new sign, the animal is pushed into a different level. The Fear Free Initiative has been extremely helpful in educating veterinary professionals as well as pet owners on the different levels of fear, anxiety, and stress. Fear Free uses a scale where the animal can have high levels (Levels 4-5) of fear, stress, and anxiety as well as lower levels (Levels 0-1). In dogs, higher levels of stress can include aggression, ears back and tail tucked between their legs, actively trying to escape, excessive panting, trembling, increased respiratory rate, and immobility. When cats are experiencing a high level of stress, they can exhibit aggression, hissing, actively trying to escape, ears back, tail tight or tucked, and immobility.

11/05/2024

takes place each November, and according to Colorado State University, 1 in 4 dogs and 1 in 5 cats will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life. Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing useful information about cancer in pets, including common types, clinical signs to watch for, diagnostic methods, and various treatment protocols.

11/04/2024

Understanding your pet's body language and being an advocate for your pet's veterinary behavioral health is a very important tool as a pet owner. Our pets communicate with us through visual communication which is different from how people communicate through verbal communication. When breaking down body language, it's recommended to look at the entire dog and to monitor its posture and 6 different body parts. The body parts are the tail, hair, ears, eyes, mouth, and face.

In a behaviorally comfortable dog, the dog would be showing the following signs:

Posture: Loose, showing no muscle definition or stiffness, may have a wiggly posture.
Tail: The tail is neutral and held parallel or a bit lower to the spine.
Hair: Flat - Not standing up.
Ears: Neutral (where the ears would normally rest in the patient)
Eyes: Pupils normal (may have a small amount of dilation), white part of eye is not noticeable.
Mouth: Closed, loose lips.

In a behaviorally comfortable cat, the cat would be showing the following signs:

Posture: Loose, showing no muscle definition or stiffness.
Tail: Horizontal with a slight dropping; flagpole (straight up) tails can also be seen.
Hair: Flat - Not standing up.
Ears: Neutral - Forward or slightly to the side.
Eyes: Eyes may be half-open with a smaller pupil.
Mouth: Closed, loose lips.
Face: Whiskers to the side, relaxed and soft.

10/31/2024

True or False: Most pets should be fasted prior to a sedation/anesthetic procedure.

Answer: True. Most veterinarians ask that pets be fasted for at least 12 hours prior to arriving at the clinic for their procedure if possible. Any food in the patient's stomach will increase the likelihood of aspirating food into the lungs if the pet vomits during induction of the procedure. Fasting your pet can also help reduce defecation during the procedure. This is important so the veterinary team can keep a clean and, potentially, sterile surgical site if needed.

10/28/2024

Do you know the difference between sedation and general anesthesia? Sedation refers to a state where the patient is calm and relaxed and may or may not be conscious. Sedation is typically used for shorter (up to 30 minutes), less-invasive veterinary procedures such as diagnostic imaging, joint injections, suture removal, and wound management. Injectable sedation is short-acting, and with most sedatives, a reversal agent can be given once the procedure is complete. This agent reverses the effects of the sedative on the central nervous system and can provide quick recovery within 15-20 minutes after injection.

On the other hand, anesthesia produces a loss of consciousness. General anesthesia is typically used for longer, more invasive procedures such as surgery or dental cleanings. When a pet is under general anesthesia, they are connected to an anesthetic machine, and a tube is placed through their mouth into the trachea to allow oxygen and the inhalant anesthetic to be dispersed as the patient breathes.

10/28/2024

Anyone looking for 2 new kids!!

10/21/2024

Routine visits with the veterinary team help ensure pets are living healthy and well. Although there are many types of veterinary visits, as pet owners, it is best to be prepared for what may or may not happen at those visits.

First thing's first, safety! All pets should be on a leash or in a carrier if possible. It never fails, if a pet gets loose, they WILL be scared and could escape or be injured. Those situations can be prevented by securing pets before entering the clinic. Use caution when walking into the clinic--there are likely other pets on the other side of the door. No one likes awkward meetings and neither do our pets. It is important to remember, while you are waiting with your pet for your appointment or to see a staff member, your pet needs to stay secured and safe with you. If your pet currently takes any medications, bring a list with you that also includes when those medications were last given. If you plan to stay with your pet, bring a book or something to pass the time in case you need to wait.

10/19/2024

An excellent way to accommodate the high volume of patients inside veterinary practices and allow adequate time for some treatment modalities, are drop-off appointments. This type of appointment usually has the pet owner dropping off the patient before a set time (depending on the clinic). A veterinary assistant or veterinary technician may be the staff member admitting the pet to the hospital. Common reasons for a drop off appointment would be for surgeries, diagnostic tests, treatments, grooming, and dental procedures. If the pet is on medications or certain foods, pet owners should also bring a detailed list of those medications and type of food.

10/17/2024

Veterinary visits can be stressful for both pets and their owners, but there are some things you can do to make visits go as smoothly as possible.

Above all, be kind. Your veterinary team is doing all they can to care for your pet as efficiently as possible.
Use a leash or a carrier for your pet.
If your pet needs medication refills, plan ahead and call them in prior to Friday at 5 p.m.
Ask questions! You are a valuable member of your pet's healthcare team.
Feel free to take notes or record discussions. It can be a lot of information to process and remember.

10/17/2024

This is a special week for all veterinary hospitals. It is Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week. Congratulations to our newest licensed technician, Maegan Davis. While working full time, going to school and becoming a mom, she was able to complete her degree.🐾❤️and pass the boards! For human medicine, it is much like an RN. We are all very proud of her and lucky to have her skill set as part of our team! She is a superstar!!!

Our hospital, without taking away from the credentials earned celebrate all of our staff this week. There are not weeks for every section of the hospital but it takes a village to do the job!

As veterinarians, we could not even begin to get through the day without the help of the veterinary receptionists, veterinary technicians, assistants, hospital/kennel staff and groomers. Disputanta Animal Hospital is especially blessed because we are truly filled with amazing people that care about the animals and the people that seek out our help. There are happy days, hard days, sad days, challenging days, and busy days. I can truly say these people bring their genuine heart to work. Without our crew, none of our vets would be able to do even 1/4 of what we do in a day! Everyone makes our team what it is and I must say thank you!!!🐾❤️🐾
Eaton
Photo: Bill Ray trying to break in the house!

10/16/2024

There are many reasons a pet may come into the hospital that may not require seeing the veterinarian (if the pet is an established patient). Technician appointments are ideal for procedures like nail trims, blood draws, physical exams, a**l sac expression, and other tasks that do not require a veterinarian. This allows the team better utilization of everyone's time and increases patient care. Pet owners can call their veterinary healthcare team to see what type of technician appointments are available for their pet's needs.

Address

8401 County Drive
Disputanta, VA
23842

Opening Hours

Monday	7am - 7pm
Tuesday	7am - 7pm
Wednesday	7am - 7pm
Thursday	7am - 7pm
Friday	7am - 5pm

Telephone

8049913909

Website

http://www.disputantaanimalhospital.com/

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