- Dentistry
- Surgery
- X-rays
- Spay And Neuter
- Microchipping
- Vaccinations
- Wellness Exams
- Nutritional Counseling
- Behavior Management
- Parasite Prevention
- Ultrasound
- Onsite Diagnostics
- Puppy and Kitten Care
- Senior Care
- On Site Pharmacy & General Medicine
- Pain Management
- Oncology and Chemotherapy
- Hospice and Euthanasia
- Anesthesia
- Bathing
- Emergency Care
- Pet Boarding
Dentistry
Dental health is an essential component of your pet's overall health. A dental exam involves checking for signs of dental disease and ensuring your pet maintains a clean and healthy mouth. At Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital, we believe that dental health is an essential component of your furry companion's overall health. That is why we recommend getting your pet's teeth and gums examined by our team. We will check for signs of dental disease and will do everything needed to keep your pet's mouth clean and healthy.
Despite what you may have heard, "dog breath" is not just an annoyance, it likely indicates the presence of dental disease. Bacteria, over time, can cause plaque and tartar buildup around and under the gum line. When left sitting on the gums, plaque and tartar can irritate the gums and can cause infection and inflammation.
Gum disease is the most prevalent dental problem in cats and dogs. If left untreated, the condition can worsen over time. Your pet may eventually develop cavities, gum recession, loose teeth, root exposure, and more. It will probably hurt quite a bit too. Not only does gum disease affect your pet's oral health, but it can also be detrimental to the overall health. It has been linked to problems with the kidneys, liver, and heart.
Your Pet's Dental Exam and Treatment
We will examine your pet's teeth and gums to determine if there are any dental issues that we will need to address. After a brief visual examination, we may recommend a more detailed exam, dental cleaning, or options for at-home dental care. Some of these procedures may require sedation or anesthesia to ensure your pet has a safe and comfortable experience.
Surgery
We are proud to provide Martinez, CA and surrounding communities with state-of-the-art veterinary surgical procedures. We believe in utilizing the highest level of medical technology, and our surgeons are experienced and highly trained.
X-rays
At Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital in Martinez, CA, we are proud to be on the cutting edge of medical technology. Radiology is a technique and diagnostic tool that we use to look inside the body in an entirely non-invasive way. X-rays allow us to create images of all the body's organs.
Spay And Neuter
By spaying or neutering your pet, you'll be helping control the pet homelessness crisis. Your furry companion will also enjoy numerous medical and behavioral benefits. We perform these procedures under general anesthesia to ensure your pet is comfortable and free of pain.
With so many unwanted pets brought into this world every year, there isn't sufficient room in shelters or forever homes. Not only is spaying or neutering the safest and most humane way to curb the animal population, but it also provides many benefits to your furry companion.
These routine procedures are performed under general anesthesia to keep your pet comfortable. There may be some discomfort after the surgery, but we will provide you with prescription medication to help.
Medical Benefits of Spay and Neuter
Spaying helps female pets live a longer, healthier life. It helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying before the first heat offers the best protection for your precious pet. Neutering a male also provides medical benefits. It has been shown to prevent some prostate problems and testicular cancer.
Behavioral Benefits of Spay and Neuter
Spayed female pets don't go into heat, meaning they won't be yowling and urinating more frequently. Neutered males will be likely to roam away from their home. Intact males will do just about anything to get out of the house in search of a mate, which poses the risk of injury and fights with other males. Neutered males are less likely to mark their territory by spraying, and are less likely to mount other dogs, people, or inanimate objects. Moreover, many problems with aggression are avoided by neutering.
Benefits for Your Community
Spaying and neutering can help reduce the number of strays roaming around and potentially causing harm to the community members. Strays can damage property, injure people, and may harm wildlife. Millions of dollars are spent every year to provide care for unwanted animals.
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 they ever become lost.
Vaccinations
Pets can live longer, healthier lives than ever before, thanks to preventive vaccines that protect them from deadly infectious diseases. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) states that the increased use of vaccinations in pets over the last century has prevented the sickness and death of millions of animals.
At Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital, we will tailor a vaccination schedule and an ongoing booster routine taking into account your pet's lifestyle, overall health, and the risk for exposure to infectious diseases.
Not every pet needs every vaccine available. Some are considered "core vaccines" and need to be administered to all pets, whereas "non-core vaccines” are optional and may be recommended based on different factors.
Core Vaccinations
Certain vaccinations must be administered to your furry friends. For dogs, these include rabies and DHPP vaccines. The DHPP vaccine helps protect against distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. We also recommend lifelong heartworm prevention administered every month. When it comes to cats, the core vaccines include the feline distemper vaccine, which protects against feline herpes, calici, and panleukopenia. Just like dogs, your cats are required to receive a rabies vaccination.
Non-Core Vaccinations
The non-core vaccinations your pets will require will depend on various factors. Dogs who are socialized or those who are boarded may require the canine influenza vaccine, along with the Bordetella vaccine, which protects against kennel cough. Cats, on the other hand, will need the feline leukemia vaccine if they go outside the home. We may also recommend the Bordetella vaccine depending on your cat’s needs. Many pet parents are not aware that cats are also susceptible to kennel cough.
Wellness Exams
Whether your pet is young, older, or anywhere in between, wellness examinations provide an excellent opportunity for us to thoroughly examine your furry friend and to and to develop a health profile. Most importantly, we will identify any medical problems or issues that can affect your pet's health and quality of life. When detected in their early stages, illnesses are more likely to be treated with less expense and better outcomes.
Wellness exams are an essential component of preventive medicine, which aims to treat diseases before they become serious.
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With all the advances in veterinary medicine, many diseases which may have shortened your pet's lifespan in the past can now be detected and treated early, allowing your pet to live a longer, happier life.
What To Expect During a Wellness Exam
The visit will include a head-to-tail exam and an evaluation of your pet's major organ systems. We will ask you questions about your pet's behavior, appetite, exercise habits, and regular activities at home. We may recommend routine diagnostic testing and will let you know about any vaccinations that may be due. A wellness exam is an excellent opportunity to note subtle signs that may not be evident to pet parents. Oftentimes, information obtained during a wellness exam helps detect early signs of illnesses, allowing us to address them before they progress.
How often should wellness exams be performed?
The frequency of visits will depend on your pet's age, breed, lifestyle, and illness history. Generally, younger animals need annual wellness exams, while older pets will likely need to be seen twice a year. Pets with chronic conditions or illnesses may need more frequent exams and laboratory testing.
Managing Chronic Conditions
It is important to realize that, with chronic conditions, there is no magic cure. By getting the appropriate care, you can help your pet to live a comfortable and happy life for as long as is possible, even with the disease.
Nutritional Counseling
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.
Behavior Management
Pets with behavioral problems can often pose a frustrating challenge for pet owners. However, through behavioral consultations we can correct unwanted behaviors and enrich both your life and your pets' life. To learn more about how behavioral consultations can help your pet, please contact us today at (925) 372-9200.
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.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses sound waves to offer a non-invasive, painless, and radiation-free method of imaging your pets' internal organs. Providing this service is one of the many ways that we show how dedicated we are to providing your pet with the best care possible.
Onsite Diagnostics
At Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital, we continually strive to provide our valued patients with the highest-quality medical care. We are proud to include a state-of-the-art in-house diagnostic laboratory, as a means of uncovering underlying conditions and providing exceptional care.
Treating an illness in its early stages allows for better outcomes, and can potentially prevent the need for costly and complicated treatments down the road.
Pet Diagnostic Services
At Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital, we utilize the most advanced technology and techniques to help us find answers and get our valued patients on the path to complete wellness. Although some diagnostic tests can only be performed at outside laboratories, most can be performed at our cutting-edge in-house lab. Whether your pet is healthy or seems to be a little off, our diagnostic tools can help us thoroughly assess your furry companion and determine whether treatment is needed. We encourage pet parents to keep up with the regularly scheduled exams and lab tests, which can potentially be life-savers.
What Makes Us Unique?
As an AAHA accredited practice, Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital has demonstrated a desire and ability to provide an exceptional level of veterinary care. To earn an AAHA accreditation, a veterinary practice must be evaluated on around 900 benchmarks of veterinary excellence. We are proud to be one of the 12-15% of veterinary practices to have earned this recognition.
At Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital, we utilize the most advanced technology and techniques to help us find answers and get our valued patients on the path to complete wellness. Although some diagnostic tests can only be performed at outside laboratories, most can be performed at our cutting-edge in-house lab. Whether your pet is healthy or seems to be a little off, our diagnostic tools can help us thoroughly assess your furry companion and determine whether treatment is needed. We encourage pet parents to keep up with the regularly scheduled exams and lab tests, which can potentially be life-savers.
Puppy and Kitten Care
One of the most exciting moments in a pet parent's life is welcoming a puppy or kitten into their home. We, at Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital, would like to congratulate you on your new addition to your family. We look forward to providing your new best friend with quality, personalized care.
One of the first things you should do for your new puppy or kitten is to schedule a visit to meet your veterinary care team. These initial visits provide a unique opportunity to get you and your new family member off on the right foot.
Your tiny newcomer will require special care for proper growth and healthy development, and we are here to help. Our comprehensive approach addresses your pet care needs from disease prevention to pet behavior.
Your puppy or kitten's first visit will include a complete "nose-to-tail" physical exam. We will be on the lookout for any signs of disease and will make sure that your puppy or kitten is in good health. We will also initiate disease and parasite prevention protocols tailored to your pet's specific needs.
We welcome any questions and concerns. We can help provide recommendations for proper nutrition, house training, and behavioral issues, along with offering advice on introducing your newcomer to other pets and family members. Even if you have experience with puppies and kittens, you'll soon find out that each pet is unique and you'll definitely learn something new!
Microchipping
Every year, numerous animals go missing and are never found again. We highly recommend that you consider microchipping your puppy or kitten. This safe procedure will help avoid this tragedy.
Senior Care
Your aging furry companion will need a veterinary visit at least twice a year to stay as healthy as possible. That includes a checkup to rule out issues commonly encountered by senior pets. Detecting problems in their early stages will allow for healthier senior years.
On Site Pharmacy & General Medicine
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.
Pain Management
When our pets are in pain, so are we. It is an awful feeling to know that your special friend is hurting, especially when there isn't anything you can do to help them. It is our goal to eliminate as much pain as possible and to give these pets a better quality of life.
We also anticipate and plan for procedures with the potential for future pain. In addition, we work with pet owners to educate them on how to recognize signs of pain in your pet.
Oncology and Chemotherapy
One of the last things a pet parent wants to hear is a cancer diagnosis. The good news is that treatment options are available to help improve your pet's quality of life, and in some cases, may even offer a cure. Cancer is common in pets and can affect all breeds. It can occur at any age but is most often diagnosed in older pets. Cancer can develop in the skin, lymph nodes, bloodstream, bones, or internal organs. The symptoms can vary depending on the location of the disease but can include lumps on or under the skin, poor appetite, reduced energy levels, or weight loss.
Diagnosis usually involves biopsies, blood tests, and imaging studies.
Cancer Warning Signs
Pets are experts in masking illnesses. For this reason, problems often go unidentified by pet parents. However, there are some warning signs that signal it might be a good time to pay a visit to your vet. These include appetite and weight loss, sores that do not heal, and a decrease in energy levels. Pay close attention to any lumps, growths, or swelling, and also be on the lookout for discharge, or bleeding. The sooner your pet is seen, the better, because early detection and treatment of cancer allow for much better outcomes.
What Next?
Once your pet has been diagnosed with cancer, the team at Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital will determine the best treatment options. Depending on the type of cancer, its location, and how advanced it is, we may recommend one treatment or a combination of procedures. These may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Each treatment plan is customized depending on your pet's needs.
Hospice and 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.
Anesthesia
Many pet parents dread the thought of their furry companions undergoing anesthesia. This fear often prevents pets from receiving the medical care they need and deserve. At Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital, we spare no effort to ensure your pet receives safe, comprehensive, and advanced anesthesia care. From minor and major surgeries to diagnostic procedures, we can meet your pet’s anesthetic needs.
Your pet's safety is of the utmost importance to us. We perform comprehensive pre-anesthetic tests to screen our furry patients and tailor our anesthetic protocols to meet their needs. Our trained staff monitor your pet before, during, and after treatment to help ensure the best possible outcomes. We always take time to answer your questions and address your concerns about the medications, monitoring, and care your pet will receive.
When you trust our skilled and experienced team to manage your pet's anesthetic care, you can rest assured that your pet is in capable hands.
Some veterinary procedures need to be performed under anesthesia, including dentistry, surgery, and some diagnostic imaging. We do not want your pets to feel pain whenever possible, and the last thing we want is a stressed pet moving during a procedure requiring precision. Any movement could potentially harm the animal and may lead to complications.
Caring For Your Pet After Anesthesia
Make sure you carefully follow the discharge instructions we will provide you. It is important to avoid leaving your pet alone with a small child or another animal. Even the most even-tempered pets may act unpredictably while recovering from anesthesia, which can have lasting effects on their behavior for several days.
Bathing
We love keeping your furry friends clean and smelling good! We are happy to offer bathing services for your pet.
Bathing is about more than smell, though! Proper hygiene helps prevent our pets from developing illnesses, and bathing is an important part of a pets' overall hygiene.
Emergency Care
Pet emergencies, accidents, and illnesses can happen regardless of how careful pet parents are. That is why we offer emergency and critical care veterinary services. Our team of caring, compassionate, and highly skilled professionals are here for you and your precious pet. At Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital, we understand that pet emergencies, accidents, and illnesses can happen regardless of how careful pet parents are. That is why we offer emergency and critical care veterinary services. Our expert team of compassionate, highly skilled professionals is dedicated to providing the quality care needed for the best possible treatment outcomes.
Our knowledgeable, caring team will quickly assess whether your pet needs urgent attention. Even if your pet doesn’t need immediate care, we may be able to put your mind at ease.
Pets can’t tell us when they are hurting, and you may question what indicates an emergency. Some common emergencies pets experience are injuries due to accidents or falls, choking, household poisoning, heatstroke, or other life-threatening situations. Signs that your furry friend is experiencing an emergency include vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, shaking, seizures, difficulty breathing, changes in temperature, or difficulty standing. More apparent signs your pet needs emergency care include broken bones or falling unconscious.
The above is not an exhaustive list of symptoms of emergencies, only some of the common ones. If you have any concerns about your pet's health, seek immediate veterinary assistance. After all, you know your pet better than anyone else, and if you are concerned, your pet likely requires medical attention.
Pet Boarding
We happily offer boarding services here at Muir Oaks Veterinary Hospital for Martinez, CA and the surrounding communities.
Our whole staff is really proud of our boarding facilities and the care we give to our patients. It is our goal as a hospital to provide the very best care we can for our boarders.
As animal lovers, we know our pets do best on a routine. Because of this, we work hard to keep your pet's routines as normal as possible. If you have any special requirements for your pet, be sure to let us know. We also prefer that you bring your pet's own food so their stomachs do not get upset.
We also make it a priority to make sure every pet has plenty of fresh, clean water. We are constantly monitoring every pet to ensure they always have plenty of water.
As animal lovers, we understand how hard it is to leave your precious pets, no matter how fun your vacation will be. We are here to take care of your pets while you are away, and we promise we will take wonderful care of them. We don’t want you to worry while your pets are in our care.
We hire only the best. Our staff is well-trained and very professional. They all love animals and will treat your pets like their very own while you are away. We want you to know that your pets are in wonderful and loving hands so you don’t have to worry.
It is our goal to maintain a very clean facility. Because of this, we offer tours for our clients to help them feel more at ease with their decision. We want you to notice how clean we keep our facility, along with how happy all the pets in our care are.
Many people have concerns when it comes to boarding their pets. For this reason, we will be happy to let you tour our boarding facility. Our goal is to set your mind at ease after a visit. We will allow plenty of time for you to ask questions or voice concerns. We will also take this time to discuss our boarding policies so you are comfortable with your decision.
Don’t hesitate to contact us today with any of your questions or concerns. We can also set up an appointment for you to see our facility, if you are interested.