Below are some of the services we offer:
- Health Certificates
- Preventative Care
- Surgery
- Advanced Digital X-rays
- Spay and Neuter
- Microchipping
- Vaccinations
- Wellness Exams
- Nutritional Counseling
- Parasite Prevention
- Ultrasound
- Boarding
- Onsite Diagnostics
- In-House Laboratory
- Allergy Testing
- Pain Management
- Emergency & Urgent Care
- Pharmacy
- Euthanasia
- C-Section
- Dermatology
- Puppy and Kitten Care
- Geriatric Care
- Heartworm Preventative
- Dental Care
Health Certificates
If you want to travel internationally with your pet, you need to plan ahead. Since each country is different, you will have to contact the embassy or consulate where you are going to find out what you need to do.
Though every country has different requirements, most require a health certificate that is done by a USDA-accredited veterinarian. Luckily, we have a USDA-accredited veterinarian. If you are not a client, you need to make sure you bring your pets' records in with you to the examination.
You will always need a health certificate and proof of vaccination. You may also need a microchip and blood tests. Many countries require that your pet get treated for parasites prior to travel. You may also need certificates for the airplane ride.
Since each country is different and we can’t stay up to date will all of the changes in each one, it is important that you call ahead and know what you need. Then, we will make sure that your pet is all ready to go!
Preventative Care
In the old days, a veterinarian only treated “sick pets” and vaccinated healthy ones. We have now found that preventative medicine is so much better at ensuring longer healthier lives.
Preventative medicine includes:
- Examining pets every 6-12 months depending on their age and current illness. Cats and Dogs bodies physically age 5-7 years for every 1 human year.
- Performing annual fecal parasite checks and treating any parasite infections as needed. Remember some parasites can be transmitted to humans – more commonly children and immunocompromised adults.
- Performing annual blood tests help ensure that your pet is healthy and help us to find diseases that may not yet be apparent. Annual blood testing helps us to see trends/changes in your pet’s health as they age, allowing us to hopefully catch disease early. Some examples of things we monitor include checking to see if your pet is anemic, checking for adequate white cells to fight infection, measuring protein levels for adequate healing and immune response, testing kidney and liver functions, measuring sugar levels for diabetes, checking cholesterol and many more important values.
- Checking urine samples for evidence of infection and kidney disease
- Heart worm testing – VENTURA COUNTY IS NOW CONSIDERED A HEARTWORM AREA! Heartworm disease is deadly and is transmitted by mosquitos. This disease can easily be prevented by giving your pet preventative medications.
- Testing your pets Blood Pressure for hypertension (if you pet is a senior or has a disease at risk for causing hypertension).
- Taking Xrays of your pet’s heart and lungs (if your pet is a senior or has heart or lung disease).
- For senior pets we also recommend checking blood pressure levels.
Comprehensive Physical Exams
In order for pets to survive, it is instinctual for them to be masters at hiding illness and disease. They also cannot talk and tell you exactly what is wrong. That is why it is extremely important to be very detailed when performing a physical exam and obtaining a history.
I am always amazed at how many times a pet comes in for a relatively minor issue, and we find other more serious conditions through our history taking, examination and diagnostic process. Catching serious medical conditions early provides the best chance at treating your pet effectively and often significantly reduces the costs involved.
A picture is worth 1000 words. At Yosemite Pet Hospital we document your pet’s visible medical issues using digital photography. This helps us assess your pet's response to treatment and make adjustments accordingly. We also can email these images to specialists when needed.
Before treatment
During treatment
After treatmentNot all medical records are created equal. Keeping an accurate and detailed medical record is an important part of tracking your pets health and identifying when changes occur.
Ask for a copy of your pet’s medical record from your existing Veterinarian to see if they are receiving the level of care they deserve.
Surgery
Our Surgical Suite includes the latest in state-of-the-art surgical equipment and we perform most types of general surgery, including: mass or tumor removals, laceration or wound repairs, bladder and gastrointestinal surgery, spay and neuter and common eye & ear surgeries.
One of the most critical factors in surgery is monitoring the patient while under anesthesia and while your pet is recovering from the surgery. At YPH, a trained technician is dedicated specifically to monitor your pet’s vital signs, including blood pressure, oxygenation, temperature and heart rate and rhythm. We utilize the latest available anesthetics to provide that extra margin of safety, especially for our older or high risk patients.
To ensure that your pet is warm and cozy during and after surgery, your pet is wrapped in a Bair Hugger blanket that surrounds your pet in a blanket of warm air. Your pet is also recovered in a pre-warmed cage that is treated with pheromones, which studies have shown provide a much smoother recovery.
Advanced Digital X-rays
Yosemite Pet Hospital's in-house X-Ray facilities offer the latest in digital radiographic technology. Combined with our fully computerized medical records program, we are able to electronically transmit X-Rays to specialists for review and consultation when needed.
Spay and Neuter
Spaying and neutering are important and necessary medical procedures that enhance the quality of your pets' life. Not only does spaying and neutering have positive effects on your pets' health, it's also vital to controlling the homeless pet population.
Microchipping
At Yosemite Pet Hospital, we are happy to offer microchipping. Every year, thousands and thousands of pets go missing. Not knowing where your pet is or how to bring them back can be a helpless, hopeless feeling. It’s a tragedy that happens all too often.
But there is a simple, safe, and effective way to ensure your pet's safety and retrieval should he or she ever become lost. Microchipping is a standard procedure that implants a tiny chip underneath your pet's fur. It is a painless and relatively fast procedure and is completely safe.
Vaccinations
Should I have my pet vaccinated at Yosemite Pet Hospital or go to a Vaccine Clinic?
Vaccinations are an important part of your pet’s health care. However, they need to be tailored to your pet’s lifestyle and health. Life style choices such as travel, housing indoors versus outdoors, exposure to other pets, livestock or wildlife can affect vaccination recommendations. For vaccines to be effective your pet needs to be healthy and free of disease. That is why an exam is an important part of your pet’s vaccine assessment.
“Annual Vaccinations” may not always be in the best interest of your pet. Vaccinations can have serious side effects, including cancer and death, and should not be taken lightly. Many vaccines are now given every 3 years rather than annually. Having your pet vaccinated at the appropriate interval costs you less and limits your pet’s risks.
At YPH we understand these issues and can tailor a vaccine program specific to your pet’s needs.
The following links can provide you with some helpful information when making your decisions.
Consumer's guide to Vaccinating your pet - Download File
The following guidelines set by the U. C. Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital can help you understand the various factors involved in developing a proper vaccine schedule for your pet.
Please review these and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
Wellness Exams
At Yosemite Pet Hospital in Simi Valley, CA , we believe that regular checkups and wellness exams are critical to your pets' well-being. These wellness exams give us a chance to evaluate the overall health of your pet while also giving us a baseline for their unique bodies and tendencies.
Not only do these exams keep us up-to-date with your pets' health, but they also allow us to detect potential problems before they become serious. This thorough checkup gives us vital information to help keep your pet healthy!
Nutritional Counseling
Yosemite Pet Hospital offers nutritional counseling for pet owners of Simi Valley, CA and surrounding communities. If you have any questions about your pet's diet or would like more information about your pet's nutritional needs, please contact us today. We can set up a nutrition plan for your pet.
Obesity is a common problem among pets, as it can be easy to overfeed a cute dog or cat that knows how to beg. Being overweight is a serious problem for animals, and can cause real health problems. With proper diet and exercise, all pets should be able to meet their dietary needs and stay within a healthy weight range.
Parasite Prevention
The idea of your pet being infested with parasites is a disturbing thought, but it's also a medical issue that can have serious consequences if not properly dealt with or prevented. Parasites pose a variety of health issues for our pets, who can be very susceptible to certain parasites depending on age, region, and other factors.
At Yosemite Pet Hospital, we emphasize the importance of preventing parasites. Through preventative measures, you can successfully protect your pet. Pets that are not protected often develop parasites, leading to serious problems for them and their owners.
Ultrasound
Ultrasounding is a quick and painless procedure. It uses sound waves to allow us to see inside your pets, without using the harmful radiation produced when we take x-rays.
We are pleased to be able to offer ultrasounds, along with all of our other diagnostic tools, to help your sick pets start to feel better soon. The quicker we can find the problem, the sooner your pets will be back to their normal selves.
Boarding
While your pets are with us, we will do everything we can to give them an exciting visit. If you are concerned about leaving your pet, please don’t hesitate to set up a time to visit our hospital and look around our boarding facility. We will be happy to discuss our boarding policies and answer any questions you may have.
Onsite Diagnostics
We have state-of-the-art diagnostic tools that allow our staff to diagnose your pets' condition or illness better. It is our commitment to stay on the cutting edge of diagnostic technology.
Having these advanced diagnostic tools allows us to examine specific areas more carefully and provide a quicker and more accurate diagnosis. We use many tools such as radiology, lab tests, and various other equipment and tests.
In-House Laboratory
Yosemite Pet Hospital is fully equipped to run diagnostic lab tests on your pet immediately, if needed in critical situations. We can perform blood chemistry analysis and red blood cell counts on just a few drops of blood and have results in a matter of minutes. We also perform cytologies on tissue or body fluids, fungal cultures, blood pressure, intraocular pressure measurements, urinalysis, fecal tests, parasite tests and viral tests such as feline leukemia and aids and parvo testing. If results are not needed immediately, we can send samples out to our local laboratory and still get most results back in 1-2 days!
Allergy Testing
Dogs and cats can be allergic to almost anything, similar to allergies in people. Pets can be allergic to allergens in their household environment, outside environment, or even their food. Symptoms can range from itchiness and ear or eye infections to constant licking, and even vomiting or diarrhea. Many pets suffer from allergies which can directly affect their quality of life, as well as their owner’s.
Pain Management
Pets that are in pain are miserable. For this reason, we will do whatever we can to keep your pets comfortable.
We have many different choices when it comes to treating apets' pain. There are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which are very helpful with mild pain. We also prescribe steroids which can offer a lot of relief. We also have stronger pain medications if the non-steroidal medications are not enough. We also offer glucosamine in tablets and injections to help with arthritis.
Emergency & Urgent Care
Yosemite Pet Hospital will see emergencies during business hours
Our staff is dedicated and well trained to handle emergencies of all types. If you’re experiencing an emergency, please call us immediately. Our team of professionals will be able to determine the best course of action for your pet.
Pharmacy
It is our goal to provide you with complete veterinary care in a professional and accessible atmosphere. That is why we offer a fully stocked pharmacy to fill your pets' prescription needs.
Having an on-site pharmacy provides you with a more convenient way to get your pets' medication. We hope that this will save you time and ultimately enhance your experience with us.
Euthanasia
Saying goodbye to your pet can be extremely difficult. The process can be emotionally and mentally draining. We don't want you to be alone at the end stages of a pets' life, and we promise to do everything we can to make it easier on you and your pet. Most of all, we promise to treat each case with compassionate and understanding care.
Knowing when the time is right can be a difficult choice. There are many factors that go into deciding to euthanize a pet, and it is a personal issue that differs from pet owner to pet owner. But every pet owner is inevitably faced with making that tough decision, and we want to be there alongside you to aid in any way we can.
If you have special requests, please let us know and we will be sure to accommodate them. Dealing with the end of a pets' life is never easy, but we want to do whatever we can to make the process less difficult.
C-Section
We are highly skilled when it comes to c-sections for breeds such as English Bulldogs, Frenchies and Pugs. These breeds have large heads that can become stuck in the mother’s birth canal.
Over 80% of bulldog litters are delivered by c-section, and because of their body type certain breeds will typically need a c-section to give birth, or whelp.
That’s why we are proud to have expert surgeons who are knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to performing c-sections on these breeds. As a pet owner you want the best for your pet, and that is what our surgeons provide.
Dermatology
When your pet is experiencing skin or ear disorders, it can be a painful, uncomfortable time for them. There are many different causes for these ailments. These may be the result of a bacterial or fungal infections, parasites, autoimmune disease, metabolic diseases, foreign bodies and cancer. In addition, in Simi Valley many ear and skin diseases may be allergy related.
Did you know that some pets have food allergies, flea allergies or even grass allergies? A single flea bite may result in a "Hot Spot" that your dog continues to chew at. These allergies can then lead to secondary infections. If the secondary infection is treated and the primary allergy is not addressed, the infections recur over and over again.
At YPH, we will examine your pet to determine what the source of the problem may be, then develop a treatment and maintenance plan to help relieve your pet's discomfort and hopefully minimize recurrence.
Puppy and Kitten Care
Getting a new puppy or kitten is very exciting. You have a lot to look forward to. The great companionship that a good pet can bring is very rewarding. However, puppies and kittens come with a lot of responsibility and work. Here at Yosemite Pet Hospital, we are here to help you with your new addition.
First, you should always bring your new puppy or kitten in for a full nose-to-tail examination to make sure that you have a healthy new animal. You also want to get him or her familiar with our veterinary hospital.
Geriatric Care
Preventative medicine is important when our pets are young, but as our pets age, and become prone to certain disease processes, annual exams and blood work becomes even more critical.
Annual exams and blood work to check liver and kidney values, along with thyroid function have the potential to alert us to early changes that may give us valuable information about your pet's health. We understand the changes your pet will have as they become older, and we also know the importance of keeping your pet healthy as they enter their golden years.
Please call us today at (805) 526-3455 to learn more about caring for your senior pet.
To view the full, interactive map please click here.Heartworm Preventative
Heartworms are transmitted through mosquitoes. An infected mosquito bites an infected dog and then transfers the worm larvae to other dogs. That larvae then develops into worms that live in the dog's heart and its vessels. This can cause many complications and can be fatal if left untreated.
Simi Valley has seen an increase in heartworm positive cases in recent years, creating a hot spot for this parasite to spread. However, it is preventable. The American Heartworm Society recommends annual heartworm testing and year-round prevention to protect your dog.
We offer several options on heartworm preventative, both oral and topical. These products also act as monthly deworming for intestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms that can be spread to humans. As simple as one dose a month, these products protect your dog against several different parasites. Please call if you have any questions.
Dental Care
Good dental health is a key element in your pet's medical health. A problem with dental health means more than just bad breath. This can also spread bacterial infections throughout your pet's body.
Our dental program provides periodontal cleaning of the teeth and gums, polishing of the teeth, charting the condition of your pet’s teeth, dental xrays and may include extractions when required.
Our facility is equipped with Digital Dental X-Rays, which are recommended for all dental procedures. Dental X-Rays not only identify problems associated with the crown of the tooth but also allows us to visualize the roots where most of the dog and cat disease occurs. Studies have shown that we can miss 30% more of the disease in your pet’s mouth when you do not use Dental X-Rays.
There are different techniques used to extract teeth depending upon the condition of the structure of tooth root and surrounding bone. Dental X-Rays show us this critical information so we can use the proper extraction technique for your pet. Without this knowledge, jaw bones can be fractured, and tooth roots or root fragments can be retained leading to future abscesses.
Providing regular dental cleaning and treatment can help your pet enjoy a healthy and active life (and freshens their breath!)
Perils of Anesthesia Free Dental Cleaning
What you need to know
Periodontal Disease is the most common ailment of dogs and cats. Regular home care and professional treatment are the the first and best means of preventing and combating this problem. Anesthesia-free methods DO NOT provide the opportunity for thorough cleaning or for proper examination of the oral cavity. Pet owners who rely on anesthesia-free dentistry are leaving a smoldering problem that may well cause chronic pain and become manageable only by extraction.
What about anesthesia risks?
No one should pretend that anesthesia doesn't entail some risk. Fortunately, today these risks are very low for healthy animals, even those of advanced age. Underlying medical conditions may increase the risks associated with anesthesia. You should discuss these issues with your veterinarian, along with his or her plans to minimize risk.
Things to remember
Periodontal disease is caused by infection below the gum line. It has little to do with the calculus or tartar that is seen on the crowns of the teeth Just removing calculus from the crowns does nothing to address periodontal disease and it creates a false sense of security.
The American Veterinary Dental College is a great resource for dental health for owners and their pets. Please check out their site here, for a great article on Dental Cleanings, and their importance.
Please check out the video below from NBC about Anesthesia Free Dental Cleaning.