Horizon Veterinary Specialists

07/01/2024

This is one of the busiest days for veterinary medicine and animal shelters! Be sure to take some time to ensure your pets are safe during the celebration!

We wish you a safe and happy holiday!

06/29/2024

We will be closed for the day on June 30th, if you are seeking medical care for your pet, see our list of alternative facilities in our area:

https://horizonvets.com/alternative-veterinary-hospitals-closest-to-horizon/

We will re-open on July 1st at 9am!

06/27/2024

Providing exceptional, compassionate care is always our top priority! When your pet comes to Horizon, we always strive to give them the most love and comfort possible while maintaining high levels of care.

06/22/2024

Meet Lilith! She came to us from due to her red blood cell count being dangerously low. After giving her a transfusion, she was doing much better. Dr. Herrera performed a bone marrow biopsy, and we were able to rule out tough illnesses like leukemia and other cancers.

She is back at her rescue and looking for a forever family

06/18/2024

Keep your pets in mind as it gets hotter this summer. Heat stroke and heat-related illnesses are easily preventable. Make sure to keep your dog by your side when running errands and be mindful of the temperatures outdoors as well as the temperature of the asphalt when planning an excursion with your furry family!

06/15/2024

Desi came to us last week from Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center, she was extremely malnourished and suffering from an upper respiratory infection. This caused her to have difficulty breathing and gave her quite a challenge to overcome. Luckily, with the help of our team, Desi is now back at the shelter and recovering well!
We often treat local shelter animals at our hospital and are grateful to help give them a new chance at life and adoption.

06/11/2024

When compassion meets care, every patient is family. 🐾

06/01/2024

Are you passionate about veterinary emergency and critical care? Do you want to work in a hospital with a positive, team and growth-oriented culture? If you are looking for opportunities and balance, Horizon Veterinary Specialists may be the place for you! We are looking for emergency and critical care veterinarians to join our emergency & critical care team. Horizon is a privately owned and rapidly growing, fast-paced emergency and specialty hospital located in beautiful Ventura, California. Interested in emergency medicine but unsure if you have the right experience to enjoy working in an emergency department? Wait no longer and take the opportunity to learn from and work with two incredible, board-certified emergency and critical care specialists, Sarah Gray, DVM, DACVECC and Nancy Scott, MS,
DVM, DACVECC. Learn more about our team and hospital using the link below or call us today for an in-person visit and hospital tour!

https://horizonvets.com/employment-application/

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05/23/2024

Foxtail foreign bodies are a common issue for dogs, especially during warmer months. Take a minute to learn about the risks and dangers that are posed by these pesky seeds, and how to best protect your pup!

05/20/2024

Preparation for any and everything is at the top of the job description for anyone working at an emergency vet. We take advantage of the slow moments to ensure we’re ready for the busy moments!

05/15/2024

Meet Daisy🌼! She's a brave lady who came to us last week with multiple bites from a baby rattlesnake. By the time Daisy got to us, there was no time to waste when getting her treated. We were grateful to be able to give Daisy antivenom and other treatments she needed to recover from her snake bites. We are happy to report that she is home and recovering well with her family!

Unfortunately, rattlesnake bites are fairly common in regions like ours that are abundant with hiking trails and wildlife. Keeping your dog leashed and supervised when outdoors is the best way for you to protect your pup from rattlesnakes!

05/11/2024

Our customer service representatives make the first impression on our patients and clients. They are here to answer questions, provide information, and keep our medical staff supported at all times. Our CSR team ensures your experience at Horizon is up to an exceptional standard!

05/06/2024

It's beginning to look a lot like tick season! As the weather warms up and our pets spend more time outside, they are more exposed to ticks in their habitat.
Every summer we see a handful of patients experiencing complications from tick-borne diseases. Learn more about how to keep your pet safe and healthy this summer!

04/30/2024

Teamwork makes the dream work! At Horizon, communication and collaboration are the main focus when we walk through the door. Providing exceptional care is at the top of our list, our connected team ensures we always go above and beyond for each patient. 💟

04/27/2024

Happy World Veterinary Day! We are lucky to have a powerhouse DVM team that leads our hospital with exceptional care and wisdom. We couldn't ask for a better group of doctors and specialists to treat our patients 24/7!

04/26/2024

Meet Winnie! She came to us with a complex case of perforation to the stomach. She had a long stay with us that included 2 surgeries and lots of encouragement from the Horizon team! We are happy to report that she is home, healthy, and doing better since her stay at our hospital.
Large breeds like Great Danes are more susceptible to complex digestive issues due to their deep chest and the anatomy of their digestive system. We have more information about common digestive issues seen in dogs on our website blog!

04/22/2024

Happy Veterinary Receptionist Week! We are thrilled to have the best team of customer service representatives, doctor's assistants, inventory managers, data entry liaisons, and call center operators. These team members are a crucial part of our hospital, and we couldn't have more appreciation for each and every one of them!

04/16/2024

One of our internal medicine specialists, Dr. Ortega, and vet assistant, Alex, performed an endoscopy on a staff pet, Chad, last week. This is a common procedure that is minimally invasive and typically used for investigating persistent digestive symptoms. This equipment allows for full-color visualization of the digestive, urinary, and respiratory systems which can aid in the diagnosis of diseases or cancer.

We have more specific information about endoscopies on our website!
https://horizonvets.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-endoscopies/

04/09/2024

Both veterinary technicians and assistants play a crucial role in the care of patients in any veterinary hospital. Here is some information on the differences between assistants and technicians and their place in veterinary medicine.

Learn more specifics about these veterinary careers on our blog:
https://horizonvets.com/veterinary-technicians-vs-veterinary-assistants/

04/03/2024

Toby is a 12 year old Chihuahua mix who came to us with an oral mass. Once the mass was biopsied, we discovered the tumor was Oral Melanoma. This is the most common oral cancer in dogs and it can be aggressive.

Once it was decided that Toby needed a partial mandibulectomy (removal of part of the lower jaw), staging was needed to plan the surgery. CT scans were used to evaluate the extent of the cancer and check for any spreading to the local lymph nodes or chest. Due to the cancer's tendency to spread, we needed to ensure we did all we could to fully remove the tumor, and remove the local lymph nodes.

Toby had his mandibulectomy at VetSurg in Ventura, performed by Dr. Holsworth. He was then transferred to Horizon for post-op care. Recovery from this surgery is surprisingly fast, Toby was able to eat and drink within 3 days of the surgery. He is much more active and visibly happier after the removal of his tumor. (He also looks cute as ever with his little tongue out!)

See our blog for more information about Oral Melanoma in dogs.

1st photo: Toby today
2nd photo: CT scan day
3rd photo: 1st day after surgery
4th photo: After stitches were removed
5th photo: 2 weeks post-op

04/01/2024

While we do not perform dental services at our hospital, we often see patients who have complications from untreated dental issues or poor dental hygiene.

Dental health can be an indicator of your pet's overall health. It can point to signs of more serious issues that can develop complications in the future when left untreated.

Read more about the importance of your pet's dental health, and the complications that arise from poor dental hygiene on our blog!

03/29/2024

Our pets are family, but it's not always best for them to eat like the rest of the family.

These foods are known to cause anything from mild stomach/digestive issues to life-threatening poisoning. It is important to take note of what foods to keep out of reach when it comes to our furry friends!

See our blog to learn more about food-specific symptoms after ingestion.

https://horizonvets.com/toxic-foods-for-pets/

03/26/2024

Check out Vetsurg's awesome new location!

It's official! We have moved into our new building.

03/19/2024

We are so proud to give HUGE congratulations to Selena. She has passed the VTNE and is now a licensed Veterinary Technician. We are grateful to have such dedicated team members who are committed to growing and expanding their education in Veterinary Medicine.

CONGRATULATIONS🥳🥳🥳 SELENA

03/13/2024

Dr. Anderson and Vet Assistant, Kylie, performed the removal of a urinary obstruction yesterday. This is a procedure we see often in emergency medicine, however, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of your cat developing urinary issues such as an obstruction.

This condition is quite painful and can be life-threatening to your cat, click below to learn more about how to maintain your cat's urinary health!

https://horizonvets.com/how-to-maintain-your-cats-urinary-health/

03/09/2024

Nearly 50% of all calls received by the Pet Poison Helpline involve human medications, both over-the-counter and prescription. Here is our short list of the most common medications that can poison your pet!

To learn more about symptoms related to medication ingestion and tips to prevent the ingestion of medication, check out our blog:

https://horizonvets.com/medication-and-pets-prevent-poisoning/

03/05/2024

Meet Diamond, a chihuahua puppy who was with us for treatment of Canine Parvovirus a few weeks ago. She had lost her mom and brother to Parvovirus but didn't let that stop her from persevering and recovering in our care.

This brave girl was adopted last week from Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center !

To learn more about the treatment and prevention of Canine Parvovirus, check out our blog:

https://horizonvets.com/canine-parvovirus-take-preventative-action/

03/01/2024

Boy, are we appreciative! Our team is packed with talented, dedicated professionals who take our abilities as a hospital to the next level. From our specialty doctors, our techs and assistants, to our customer care team, each person here at Horizon Veterinary Specialists plays a crucial role in the care we provide to each and every patient. We are grateful to have an amazing group of individuals who keep our hospital moving forward.

02/28/2024

Last week, our newest doctor Dr. Degen, and veterinary assistant Gaby performed a routine GI foreign body surgery. Gaby is currently a student in Ventura College's Veterinary Technology program. We are grateful to have an excellent veterinary program locally to help take students to the next step in their veterinary career.

Foreign body surgeries are some of the most common procedures performed here at Horizon. Learn more about GI Foreign Bodies and how to prevent them here:

https://horizonvets.com/gi-foreign-bodies-in-pets/