West Valley Pet Clinic Services

Preventative Medicine (well pet exams)

We consider preventative medicine the most important thing we do here at West Valley Pet Clinic. Our doctors have a commitment to perform a thorough exam each and every time your pet visits us, whether for an "annual" exam or due to some minor problem. We can often diagnose unnoticed problems early and prevent illness or injury from occurring to your beloved family member. Our doctors decide what vaccines and routine tests are appropriate for the individual pet, and treat them accordingly.

New puppy/kitten exams

A new puppy/kitten exam usually takes longer than usual, as there is so much to go over. We discuss training, vaccines, dental care, heart worm prevention, deworming, flea control, diet, neutering, and answer any other questions as well as perform a complete physical to check for any congenital or puppy/kittenhood illnesses. Families adopting an older pet for the first time receive the same thorough treatment.

Internal Medicine

All of our doctors can provide the very latest in diagnostics and treatments for your pet. We are experts in diagnosing and treating many disorders such as: age related conditions, endocrine disorders, dermatologic diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, benign and malignant cancerous conditions, ear infections, genitourinary tract disorders, and a wide variety of other systemic problems.

Surgery

We perform surgery every day of the week. Our anesthesia techniques are the safest available. We do all general surgery and most orthopedics here, and when necessary can have a board certified surgical specialist come in to do a procedure. We hope your pet never needs surgery other than the routine spay or neuter, but if he or she does, it is nice to know it can be done by doctors you know and trust rather than having to go to another hospital. Many surgeries can even be performed on an outpatient basis.

Avian Medicine and Surgery

At West Valley Pet Clinic, we understand how much your bird means to you, and are proud to be able to offer the special care these animals need. Dr. Timothy Govers received his board specialty in Avian Medicine in 1994. Many of our staff have feathered members of their family as well. Our technicians are trained to be able to properly handle your pet bird, and you can be assured of gentle yet confident care. Our doctors can take blood tests, do x-rays, or perform surgery as needed to keep your bird happy and healthy. Our technicians will also do wing trims, beak trims or nail trims as needed as long as your pet has had a physical exam within the last year.

Medicine and Surgery for Other Animals

All of the doctors at West Valley Pet Clinic have extensive experience in treating rabbits and rodents such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, gerbils, and hamsters. One of the reasons they see so many of them is that we provide free veterinary care for any classroom pet kept by the local schools. Our doctors have attended continuing education seminars, and have a library of texts dealing with these animals. We frequently hospitalize critically ill rabbits, and perform surgery including spays and neuters. (Did you know that every female rabbit should be spayed to prevent the extremely common development of uterine cancer?) Dr. Govers is one of the few surgeons who frequently perfoms abdominal surgery on ferrets, and all of our doctors see ferrets on occasion. We see hedgehogs and Chinchillas very rarely, but are willing to see more of them to fit the needs of the community. We do not treat reptiles, but can refer you to someone who does.

Dental Cleaning

Dental cleaning or "prophylaxis" is performed M-F. We feel strongly that it is important to clean your pets teeth at the first sign of gingivitis. We use an ultrasonic scaler to remove tarter, a polishing "prophy" cup with pumice to polish the teeth, and a fluoride treatment to freshen the breath and slow the development of plaque. The whole procedure takes about 30 minutes, and your pet goes home the same day. Unfortunately, when a tooth is infected and has lost too much bony support, it is best to extract it so the mouth can heal. We use the most up-to-date extraction techniques and periodontal surgery techniques so that your pet has the shortest time possible to recovery.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of therapy that has been practiced in China and the Far East for over 3000 years. It has gained popularity in the United States over several decades and is being used to treat a wide variety of ailments and conditions. In our practice, Western medicine is the mainstay of treatment. Acupuncture is an adjunct to Western therapy or an alternative treatment when Western therapies have been attempted without success. Acupuncture's uses include, but are not limited to, treatment for chronic arthritis pain in dogs, asthma in cats, nervous disorders such as feather picking in birds, and GI atony in rabbits and guinea pigs. Please inquire if you're interested in the potential of acupuncture for your pet.

Emergency and Critical Care

An emergency can walk through our doors anytime during business hours and will be triaged immediately, and seen by a doctor immediately if necessary. We have state of the art critical care equipment and can offer oxygen, emergency surgery, or CPR if needed. After hours we refer to our local emergency clinics, but one of our doctors is always on call to answer urgent questions, give advice about home care, decide on the need for a trip to the emergency room, or communicate with the ER doctor. Instructions for paging the doctor on call are on our answering machine. This service is for existing clients only.