Medical care
Medical care for cats
Whether your cat has a simple issue or a complex problem, our comprehensive medical evaluations, diagnostics and treatments can help.
Veterinary medical care
Diagnosing and treating cats quickly
Our state-of-the-art equipment and facility allow us to diagnose and treat many conditions quickly and efficiently. Acquiring important diagnostic information quickly can be vital when your cat is ill or injured.
Appointments
Care for every kind of visit
Plus many services not listed here. Don’t see what you are looking for? Contact us – we probably offer it!
Diagnostics
We use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment
- Digital x-rays
- Tonometry (for glaucoma)
- EKG (for heart evaluation)
- Blood pressure readings
- In-house laboratory
Dental care
As important as your own dental hygiene
Dental care for your pet is just as important as your dental hygiene. A pet with clean teeth and fresh breath is happier and nicer to be around. There are also good medical reasons for prophylactic dental care.
- Most dental problems in animals occur under the gum line and go unnoticed until severe dental decay, gum infections and jaw bone loss occur.
- Oral disease can lead to infections and damage to organs far from the mouth (i.e. heart, liver and kidneys).
Cancer treatments
How often do pets get cancer?
Unfortunately, cancer is common in pets and the incidence increases with age.
Almost 50%
Of deaths of pets over the age of 10 are caused by cancer
The categories of tumors
Tumors or masses can be ‘benign’ or ‘malignant’. Malignant tumors equal the term “cancer”. The definition of a tumor is the uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells or tissues in the body.
Types of cancer
Under the general category of cancer, there are about a hundred specific types, each one involving different body parts and having its own name. Cancer can attack the skin or bones or liver etc. The name of the cancer is connected to the type of organ or cells that are involved.
Cancer treatments
How is cancer treated?
There is no single right answer to this question. Every dog and cat is unique and every kind of cancer is different. The types of treatment chosen will depend on the animal’s age, general health, type of cancer and other factors. The three most common cancer treatments are:
Holistic and alternative therapies for cancer
There have been major advances in holistic therapies for cancer treatment. We offer several comprehensive alternative therapies for cancer. Relevant therapies for specific types of cancer are discussed on an individual patient basis.
Screening
Screening for cancer
Is there a test to find out if my pet has cancer? Unfortunately, there is not a straightforward test that will screen for all types of cancer. Routine blood work and radiographs can help screen for certain cancers. Skin lumps & bumps should be evaluated & possibly removed.
Identifying cancer early can greatly increase the chance of a full recovery.
Protecting your pet from cancer
- Don’t smoke around your pet
- Spay or neuter your pet at an early age
- Feed high quality nutritious food
- Keep your pet at a healthy weight
- Go green: use non-toxic cleaners when possible
- Keep track of lumps and growths and any changes in size or appearance
- Watch for changes in eating and bowel habits
- Schedule veterinary exams at least semi-annually
10 common signs of cancer in pets
- Abnormal swellings that continue to grow
- Sores that do not heal
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
- Offensive odor
- Difficulty eating / swallowing
- Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
- Persistent lameness / stiffness
- Difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating
Microchipping
What is a microchip?
A microchip is a permanent pet ID designed to help your pet find his way home if he becomes lost. Even if your pet wears a collar and identification tag, they can come off and leave your pet unprotected.
Microchips are permanent IDs placed under the skin. A lost pet can be ‘scanned’ for their microchip and can be reunited with their owner. A microchip is the only form of pet identification that is permanent, with a unique number that cannot be altered or removed.
The microchip itself has no internal energy source, so it will last the life of your pet. It is read by passing a microchip scanner over the pet’s shoulder blades. The scanner emits a low radio frequency that provides the power necessary to transmit the microchip’s unique cat or dog ID code and positively identify the pet.
1 in 3
Pets will become lost in their lifetime
We recommend that all pets be microchipped
- Microchips help to give your pet the best chance of being identified should they ever become lost
- Although tags are important, they can tear or slip off
- A microchip is placed under your pet’s skin
- The microchip is scanned with a reader by animal clinics and humane societies
- Microchips are convenient, safe and reliable
- The procedure is simple and inexpensive
For more information about microchipping, please visit HomeAgain Microchips.
What to do if your pet is lost
Learn more on how to prevent losing a pet and what to do if your pet does become lost.
Body condition & obesity
Is my pet really fat?
Do you know what your pet’s current weight is? Do you know what the ideal weight is for your pet? As important as your pet’s specific “weight number” is his body condition. Body condition is determined from a visual and touch perspective. A pet with a healthy body condition should have:
- A “waist” when viewed from above
- A “tucked stomach” when viewed from the side
- Ribs that can be easily felt through a thin layer of body flesh
If any of these 3 items are absent your pet may be overweight. If all are missing and you notice fleshy deposits over the chest, spine, and tail base your pet is obese.
Obesity
Why a healthy weight matters
Up to 40%
Of pets in the U.S. are considered overweight or obese
Obesity is a growing problem, linked to dozens of serious and even life-threatening illnesses and medical conditions.
2 years
Lean pets live an average of two years longer than overweight pets
Medical problems associated with obesity
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Compromised immune system
- High cholesterol
- Heart disease
- Heart failure
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Breathing problems
- Greater risk of heat stroke
- Kidney disease
- Cancer
- Pain / orthopedic problems
- Pancreatitis
- Skin conditions
- Diminished quality of life
- Premature death
From our blog
Reading for your cat’s health
Hyperthyroid Disease in Cats Is it normal for your pet to lose weight as he gets older? Is it typical for a pet to become more vocal or needier as she ages? Do pets eat more as… Read more
Feline Heartworm Disease Many people have heard about heartworm disease, heartworm testing, and heartworm prevention for dogs, but how come no one discusses heartworm disease… Read more
Diabetes in Pets Diabetes (or diabetes mellitus) is a disease where the sugar (glucose) levels in the bloodstream become elevated. Both people and pets can get… Read more In their words
The hearts we’ve touched
“I can’t thank Dr. Heintz enough for her great service, her knowledge, her care, and her explanation regarding Aspen’s health. Dr. Heintz is outstanding!!! I can’t forget the staff, too. Thank you Becky, Priscilla, and Kyle for your compassion, call backs and thorough explanations. This type of service means so much to us.”
“Words cannot express our gratitude for your kindness and attention towards Georgia. She is as good as new — maybe even a little better. Thank you for the miracle of a healthy life!!!”
“I just wanted to write to thank you for the excellent service that Countrycare has provided over the years. I have horses, dogs and cats and Countrycare has always been there, diagnosing doing surgeries and treating them. I have found the staff and doctors to be very friendly, honest and professional. I also appreciate the fact that I can use the same clinic for my horses as well as my small animal needs.”
“A big thanks to the staff at Countrycare for caring for Ellie and Murphy, our border collies! Everything from ACL surgery and arthritis, to paw injuries and snacking on dog bedding has been taken care of at Countrycare.”
“We were extremely happy with how Doodles visit went. He is usually a very nervous and anxious dog when going to the vet and you took the time to help him feel at ease (first time he has ever calmed down during a vet visit). We are so happy we found your clinic and are comfortable and confident in making Countrycare Animal Complex Doodles new healthcare clinic. Thank you!”
“I always feel welcome and at home when bringing my fur kids for a visit. The front staff is always kind and I love how they love up on the dogs. The exam rooms are beautiful after the new renovation. So much easier for the pets and staff to hold the dogs. The exam room staff is great at making sure all of my concerns and questions get relayed to the doctor and answered. The doctors go on and above to make sure my pet is well cared for. Thank you for all you do to help keep my fur kids happy and healthy!”
“Integrated veterinary care & very skilled technicians. All staff are kind & engaging.”
“As always, the Country Care staff were all very friendly and helpful. We did not have a true emergency. But our dog, Russell, needed medical attention right away and we were so happy we were seen quickly. We appreciate the Vet Tech listening to our concerns and the full history of the situation. And everyone showed that they really cared about Russell.”
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