Summit Veterinary Services

03/15/2025

As the warmer months approach, we want to remind you that it’s time to think about your pet's health and well-being as we enter flea, tick, and heartworm season. At Summit Vet Services, we are passionate about preventative care, and we want to make sure your pets stay healthy and happy throughout the season.

Why Prevention is Key
Ticks pose a serious threat to your pet’s health. They can transmit life-threatening diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Ehrlichiosis. Aside from these dangers, ticks can also cause skin irritation and discomfort.

Fleas are not just annoying—they can also lead to significant health issues such as severe anemia, infections, and allergies. Additionally, fleas can carry diseases that can be transmitted to both pets and humans, which makes prevention even more crucial.

Finally, heartworm disease is fatal if left untreated. It can cause severe damage to your pet’s heart and lungs, and in many cases, the symptoms are not obvious until the disease has advanced. The good news is that with regular preventive treatment, heartworm is easily avoidable.

Safe and Effective Prevention Options
At Summit Vet Services, we offer a variety of safe and effective prevention options for fleas, ticks, and heartworms. Our team is happy to discuss the best options for your pet based on their age, lifestyle, and specific needs.

Whether you prefer oral medications, topical treatments, or injectables, we have the perfect solution for keeping your pet safe and comfortable.

Book your appointment or stop in for your preventative today. Don’t wait until it’s too late—prevention is always the best medicine!

Thank you for trusting Summit Vet Services with your pet’s care. We look forward to seeing you and your pet soon!

03/05/2025

Update: we will be closed until Thursday

Due to inclement weather, we will be closed until noon today. Everyone stay safe!

02/24/2025

Our phones are currently down. However, we can receive text message. We apologize for the inconvenience.

01/28/2025

We LOVE dentistry here at Summit Vet Services! There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing the immediate change in a pet’s demeanor after a dental cleaning. Dogs and cats hide pain so well that you might not even know they’re suffering until they feel better. We often hear of pets acting like kittens and puppies again—being unaware of the discomfort they were in before!

To celebrate Dental Health Month, we’re offering 10% off all dental cleanings throughout February. But hurry—appointments fill up fast! Give your pet the gift of a pain-free, happy smile. Call today to schedule!

01/05/2025

Dear Pet Families,

Happy New Year from all of us at Summit Veterinary Services! As we kick off 2025, we are more committed than ever to providing exceptional care for your pets. At Summit, we believe that prevention is key to keeping our furry friends healthy and happy.

A Message from Dr. Lindsay:
At Summit Veterinary Services, we are very passionate about preventative care for our patients. When disease is diagnosed and intervention is started early in the disease process, outcomes significantly improve. My New Year’s resolution for 2025 is to be even more proactive about my patients’ health, ensuring that we catch potential issues before they become serious problems. I look forward to working with you and your pets to make 2025 a year of optimal health!

Preventative Care: The Best Way to Protect Your Pet
Prevention is not just about vaccinations. It includes a full range of services, from dental cleanings and parasite control to routine health exams and nutrition counseling. By staying on top of these important measures, we can help keep your pets in the best shape possible. Early detection and intervention can make all the difference in your pet’s health journey.

Here are a few ways we’re helping you stay proactive this year:

Wellness Exams: Regular check-ups are essential in catching health issues early.
Vaccinations: Ensure your pets are up to date on their vaccines to prevent potentially life-threatening diseases.
Dental Care: Dental disease is one of the most common health issues in pets. Let’s work together to keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy.
Nutrition: Let's discuss your pet's diet. Food is medicine!!

Together, we can ensure that your pet enjoys a long, healthy life. Thank you for trusting Summit Veterinary Services with your pets’ care. Let’s make 2025 the healthiest year yet!

Send a message to learn more

11/26/2024

Attention:

As of January 1, 2025, we will no longer be open on Saturdays. There will be a doctor available on the following Saturdays in 2024:

December 7
December 21

We will continue to be open for medication refills, appointment scheduling, general inquiries, etc. on all Saturdays until the end of the year.

To ensure that all of our clients and patients continue to receive the care they deserve, we will be open later, until 7:00PM, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

If your pet needs attention over the weekend (or after business hours in general), please contact the following hospitals:

Westfield Veterinary Hospital - Now offers urgent care services
515-986-5738
Johnston, IA

Iowa Veterinary Specialties (IVS) - Emergency Services
515-280-3100
Des Moines, IA

Blue Pearl Pet Hospital - Emergency Services
515-727-4872
Des Moines, IA

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Here's to a great a new year!

11/08/2024

We will be closed until 1:15 today for a staff meeting. Please feel free to text or leave us a message for when we return.

11/01/2024

Halloween costume contest!

10/21/2024

Attention Clients:

We’re excited to announce that we will be transitioning to a new software system starting Tuesday, October 22. During this time, we will have limited appointment availability as our team gets up to speed with the new system.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this important transition. This change will ultimately enhance our ability to serve you and our patients more effectively.

Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead!

Thank you for your support!

09/25/2024

Case of the Week!

Meet Bentley. This sweetheart of a Bulldog came to us for evaluation of UTI symptoms and urinary incontinence. Bentley had a chronic history of urinary tract infections but this time was different - he was lethargic and not eating. Bloodwork revealed kidney failure. During an ultrasound, Dr. Vaske discovered small bladder stones that were not easily visible on radiographs, as well as a stone lodged in his urethra causing an obstruction. Despite our attempts to flush the stone back into the bladder, we were unsuccessful, leading to Bentley's transfer to Blue Pearl for emergency care. Thankfully, they were able to relieve the obstruction with a special catheter and placed a urinary catheter overnight before transferring him back to us for surgery the following day. During surgery, we removed the stones and also castrated Bentley to help prevent future formation of cystine crystals and stones.

Cystinuria is an inherited disorder in some breeds (particularly Newfoundlands and Bulldogs) and can be common among intact male Bulldogs. Neutering male Bulldogs with this trait is recommended to prevent the disorder from being passed on and is typically curative.

Thankfully, Bentley has been thriving since the surgery! This case exemplifies the successful collaboration between primary and referral veterinarians in achieving positive outcomes for our patients.

09/04/2024

We have a job opening!!

Job Title: Kennel Attendant

Job Type: Part-Time

Hours: Mornings and Every Other Weekend (some Holidays)

About Us: At Summit Veterinary Services, we’re dedicated to providing top-notch care to our furry friends. Our team is passionate about animal health and well-being, and we’re looking for a motivated individual to join us as a Kennel Attendant.

Job Description: As a Kennel Attendant, you will play a vital role in maintaining the cleanliness and comfort of our kennel facilities while ensuring that our pets receive excellent care. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to gain experience in the veterinary field.

Responsibilities:
-Walk and exercise dogs regularly
-Bathe animals when needed
-Administer medications as directed by veterinary staff
-Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of the kennel area
-Assist veterinary assistants with various tasks as needed
-Ensure the well-being and comfort of all animals in our care

Qualifications:
-No previous experience required; training will be provided
-Passion for working with animals and a willingness to learn
-Ability to handle multiple tasks and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment
-Reliable and able to work mornings and every other weekend

Benefits:
-Opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a veterinary setting
-Friendly and supportive work environment

We look forward to hearing from you!

08/28/2024

Case of the Week

Meet Bixby. He was a hungry boy and swallowed an entire Busy Bone. His owners knew something was off and brought him in the next day when he started vomiting and having trouble breathing. We took X-rays and diagnosed an esophageal foreign body and aspiration pneumonia. We attempted to remove the Busy Bone from his esophagus with the endoscope but it kept breaking apart and would not budge. He began bloating to the point of causing breathing issues so he was taken to surgery. It was touch and go for a little while but we were able to pass a stomach tube to push the bone down while manipulating the lower esophageal sphincter to allow it to pop into the stomach. WHEW!

Bixby is doing pretty well considering what he has been through. He is on medications to try to prevent an esophageal stricture which can happen after a traumatic injury like this. He is also still battling aspiration pneumonia. Fingers crossed for a full recovery!!!! 🤞

08/20/2024

Case of the week:

Meet Teeter. He’s an 8 week old Olde English Bulldog that presented to us for difficulty breathing. He was otherwise a completely normal puppy. Radiographs revealed a severely enlarged heart sac (pericardium) which contained abdominal contents. He was diagnosed with a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH). This is a hole in the diaphragm which is the muscle that assists in breathing and separates the abdomen from the chest. This hole allowed his liver, gallbladder, and intestines to be snuggled up next to his heart.

He was immediately taken to surgery to repair the hernia. He also got a complimentary gastrotomy to remove two collars that he naughtily ingested. The surgery went well but he crashed on us while waking up from anesthesia. Radiographs showed a pneumothorax which is air outside of the lungs within the chest cavity, causing an inability of the lungs to inflate with air. A chest tube was emergently placed to relieve the pneumothorax and he recovered with no more complications.

Video in comments!

Teeter is now enjoying life with his new owners and is a happy, healthy boy!

08/20/2024

We will be closed today over the noon hour for a staff meeting. Please leave us a message or send a text message and we will get back to you as soon as we return. Thank you for your understanding!

07/09/2024

Case of the Week:
Meet Doug the Pug

Doug is a 6 year old Pug who has always struggled with breathing issues. This is a common problem among brachycephalic breeds (English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Pekingese, Boston Terrier, etc.) and is therefore called Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome. This syndrome is comprised of 4 problems (some dogs will only have 1-2 symptoms while others will have all four):
* Elongated soft palate (excessive/thick tissue at the back of the throat)
* Stenotic nares (narrow nostrils)
* Everted laryngeal saccules
* Hypoplastic trachea (small trachea)

We performed a stenotic nares repair and elongated soft palate resection on Doug about one month ago and we are happy to report he is doing great!!! He had one of the most severe elongated soft palates that Dr. Lindsay has seen! His owner does miss his loud snoring though 🤣

If your dog is showing any of the following symptoms, they may have Brachycephalic Syndrome and we may be able to help!
* difficult/loud breathing
* snoring
* difficulty catching their breath
* chronic regurgitation/vomitting
* heat intolerance
* exercise intolerance

Video in comments!

06/26/2024

Lost dog found by Criss Cove area.