Spayed and Neutered Pets live a healthier and longer life!

At American Pet Hospital we believe in the importance of spaying/neutering puppies and kittens to provide them with a long and healthy life.

Spaying or neutering your dog or cat will reduce common problems such as:

• A pyometra, or uterine infection, is a potentially life-threatening condition which can cost thousands of dollars to treat. Occurrence is 100% preventable if your pet is spayed.
  
• Over one half of all mammary tumors are malignant and can spread to other areas of the body. Early spaying, prior to your pet beginning its heat cycles, significantly reduces the incidence of tumor formation.
  
• There are more puppies and kittens overpopulating shelters than there are people willing to provide them with love and care. Sadly, many are euthanized.
  
• Testicular cancer can be eliminated and prostatitis, an infection causing malignant or benign swelling of the prostate, can be greatly reduced with early neutering.
  
• Unwanted behavioral problems such as dominance aggression, marking territory and wandering can be avoided with early spaying/neutering.

Microchipping Services for Pets

At American Pet Hospital, we believe that properly identifying your furry family member is essential to the health and happiness of you and your pet. Should your dog happily run off after a squirrel or go for an adventure around the neighborhood, microchip identification will give you peace of mind that they will return home.

Microchip identification is the absolute best way for you to recover your best friend if you become separated. During this quick and affordable procedure, one of our trained veterinary staff members will insert a tiny transponder (approximately the size of a grain of rice) below the animal’s skin above the shoulder. The implantation process is similar to a routine shot, requiring no anesthetics and causing your pet little to no pain. If your pet ever goes missing and is taken to a vet, animal hospital or shelter, the microchip number can be easily scanned. The data identifying your pet is readily available on both regional and national databases and allows for a quick and safe return home. As the microchip requires no battery or power source, this is a one-time procedure that will last for your pet’s whole life. We can’t imagine any of our patients without this new technology.



The staff at American Pet Hospital would love to talk with you about microchip identification options for your pet! For questions or to schedule an appointment, please call us at (209) 549-8387. Walk-ins are always welcome!

The Importance of Vaccinations

At American Pet Hospital in Modesto, we want pet owners to understand the importance of vaccinations for their beloved pets. If you want your dog or cat to live a long and happy life, you must keep it immunized against the many common diseases that threaten it on a daily basis. A thorough and regular course of immunizations, administered by our experienced Modesto veterinarians, plays a huge role in your animal’s overall wellcare.

Protect Against Common But Deadly Diseases

While dogs and cats require different kinds of vaccines, in some cases they face a common enemy. Rabies, for instance, affects a wide range of mammals, including humans. This deadly virus, usually contracted through a bite from an infected animal, can cause behavioral changes, brain damage, and death. To make things worse, our Modesto veterinarian can often only confirm a diagnosis of rabies through an autopsy of a deceased animal. If you have not kept up a regular routine of rabies shots for your pet, you may also be at risk for contracting Rabies should your dog or cat become infected. Distemper is another easily preventable disease that can also affect both dogs and cats.

Other common diseases our Modesto animal hospital can protect your dog against include leptospirosis, Bordatella coronavirus (the cause of "kennel cough"), adenovirus, hepatitis, Lyme disease, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Cats require protection against feline viral rhinotrachetus, feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia. Our veterinarian can advise you on which vaccines your pet must always have and which others may prove wise for your pet’s particular wellcare needs.

Most of the "core," or essential, vaccines should be given as soon as the puppy or kitten is old enough to receive them. Puppies and kittens typically receive their first set of immunizations at the age of 7 weeks. Rabies shots should begin at the age of 16 weeks. the immunity from vaccines has a limited lifespan, so boosters every 1-3 years are required to keep the immunity going. Cats require protection against feline viral rhinotrachetus, feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia. Feline leukemia – unlike humans, feline leukemia is spread by a virus, and isn’t simply a cancer.

At your wellcare visit to our Modesto veterinary office, our veterinarian will discuss with you your pet’s lifestyle and history. We carry a variety of vaccines to cover different illnesses (and even rattlesnake bites!), but will pick and choose only the ones your pet needs. Instead of pushing every possible vaccine into your pet, we will set a schedule of those vaccines your pet realistically needs to maintain best health.

Canine Reproduction Services

Artificial Insemination

Artificial insemination is commonly performed in dogs as either fresh artificial insemination where the bitch and stud dog are present in the examination room or as chilled semen artificial insemination in which the stud dog’s ejaculate is mixed with a buffering and extending solution and shipped to our clinic for insemination into a bitch.

Artificial insemination facilitates breeding between uncooperative pairs of dogs or dogs separated by long distances. Shipped semen can be an economic benefit when the dogs are located in different states and/or when temperature extremes do not allow for shipping. Chilled semen can be shipped year round. There are a number of shipping containers and many different extenders used in this process.  A test extension should be performed on the ejaculate to ensure that the semen will survive during the collection, extension and shipping process.

We offer vaginal insemination, transcervical insemination using video and endoscopy and surgical insemination. Frozen semen inseminations are most successful when the semen is placed into the uterus during a brief surgical procedure. Chilled semen or fresh semen breeding is performed with semen deposition in the vagina, transcervically or using the surgical procedure.

Transcervical Insemination

Through the use of a Stortz laparoscope, a small catheter is passed through the cervix. Semen can then be directly deposited into the body of the uterus.

Semen Freezing

After a complete semen evaluation, an individual’s sperm can be frozen in pellets and stored in liquid nitrogen. This process involves extending the collected semen in an appropriate media, chilling the semen for four hours via refrigeration, dropping 100 microliters of the extended semen on the dry ice to form pellets and plunging the pellets into liquid nitrogen.

Caesarean Sections in Dogs – Post Operative Care

A caesarean section or c-section is major surgery performed to remove puppies from the uterus. This is most commonly performed as an emergency procedure when there is difficulty with natural birth. Most dogs recover quickly from this procedure; however, if your dog was in labor for several hours before surgery was performed, her recovery will be slower, and she will need extra attention and help with her puppies.

Signs of whelping (delivery of puppies)

• Mammary gland enlargement (turgidity) and milk secretion -1-2 weeks prior to delivery.
• Restlessness, seeking seclusion, anorexia, nesting -12 to 24 hours prior to delivery.
• Rectal temp decreases to less than 99F -8 to 24 hours prior to delivery.

Indications of potential abnormal gestation:

• Gestation longer than 68 days.
• Past history of needing a C-section.
• Bull dog or other brachio-cephalic breeds.

C-section Surgery:

• The patient is shaved prior to anesthesia
• Anesthesia is induced with safe anesthetics to both the mother and her unborn puppies
• A midline incision is made to expose the uterus.
• The puppies are removed from the uterus.
• The uterus, abdominal wall and skin are sutured.
• The sutures on the skin are all internal so that the puppies are not irritated by the knots.

 Risks and Complications of C-sections?

• The overall risk of this surgery is low. The major risks are those of general anesthesia, bleeding (hemorrhage), postoperative infection, and wound breakdown (dehiscence) over the incision.
• Overall complication rate is low, but serious complications can result in anesthetic death of mother or puppies.
• Profound bleeding of the uterus
• Still born pups – this complication most often is due to the C-section not being performed in a timely manner.
• Sub-involution of the uterus – evidenced by bloody vulvar discharge for weeks after surgery.

General Surgery

Our surgery services range from routine spay and neutering services to the more complex clinical surgical procedures, American Pet Hospital always operates with safety in mind. We utilize many of the same safety precautions and measures as human hospitals. We perform most of the pre-surgery blood work in our in-house lab, and are able to make sure your pet is health enough for the procedure.

We will address any pre-surgical abnormalities prior to the surgery, modifying drug selections and sometimes will even postpone or cancel the procedure until our surgical team feels it is deemed safe enough to perform.

In addition to common surgical procedures such as ovariohysterectomy (spay), castration, and declawing of cats, we provide experienced orthopedic, soft tissue, laser and radio surgery. 

Common Procedures

• Spay/neuter
• Dental cleaning and procedures
• Mass removals
• Wound care
• Gastrointestinal and urinary bladder procedures
• Basic ophthalmic and orthopedic procedures

Preparing for your pet’s surgery

Give your pet its normal meal and medication the night before surgery and then withhold all food after 9pm.  Bring your pet to the hospital at your scheduled time to meet with the technician or veterinarian to answer any last minute questions, address any concerns and sign consent forms. Don’t forget any personal items from home to have placed with your pet.  A discharge appointment to go over home care will be scheduled at this time as well.

What happens during surgery

After admission, your pet with be examined by a veterinarian and his medical records reviewed.  An anesthetic protocol is created to ensure a safe and smooth surgery and recovery and your pet is given a sedative to alleviate stress. A breathing tube is placed into the trachea and a general anesthesia is administered while your pet is prepped for surgery. Depending on the type of surgery, your pet may be prepped with a short shave, surgical scrub and hooked up to anesthetic monitors.  Oxygen, heart, respiratory rates, and temperature are all monitored for the duration of surgery.  A blanket warmer is placed with your pet to keep him comfortable.  A technician will monitor your pet during the entire procedure, post surgery and throughout the day.

After care at home

We keep most of our surgery patients overnight and discharge at your scheduled time.  Keep your pet in a quiet, comfortable, dry, stress free location when he gets home.  Dogs with an incision should be leash walked for 5-7 days post surgery.  At the discharge appointment, you will receive specific instructions depending on your pet’s surgical procedure.  

Emergency Care

During regular hospital hours, American Pet Hospital is fully equipped to provide your pet with emergency care, including:

• Emergency stabilization
• Laboratory testing and x-rays
• IV fluid therapy, pain control, infection treatments
• Wound and fracture care
• Treatment for poisonings or seizures
• Referrals to specialty facilities

We understand that a medical emergency can be a frightening experience for you and your family and since our hospital staff members are also pet owners we understand the love you have for your pet. Every patient seen at American Pet Hospital receives the utmost veterinary care and attention from the time he or she comes into the hospital until the time he or she leaves. Our hospital is staffed at all times by skilled doctors and technicians, capable of handling the most complicated and demanding emergencies offering our clients and patients quality patient care and client satisfaction. We stand by our commitment to provide you and your pet with the most advanced veterinary medical diagnostics and treatment in a caring, compassionate atmosphere.

American Pet Hospital offers the best in medical technology to our patients. Our advanced technology gives our doctors and highly trained staff members the necessary tools to provide the best possible care. Oxygen support, blood pressure monitoring, transfusions, ECG, incubators, radiology and fully-equipped surgery suites with complete anesthetic monitoring capabilities are ready for providing the best care and diagnostics for your pet. Our complete in-house laboratory can provide diagnostic laboratory test results in just a few minutes. This allows us to treat your sick or injured pet as quickly as possible. Having an in-house lab also means that our patients can be routinely monitored throughout their stay allowing for immediate treatment adjustments as needed.

The following are some indications and situations when you should seek veterinary emergency care:

• Hit by car
• Unconsciousness
• Physical trauma
• Foaming from mouth
• Unresponsiveness
• Blue, purple or pale gums
• Cat exhibiting open-mouth breathing
• Cat straining to urinate
• Bleeding heavily
• Profuse vomiting or diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• Seizures
• Ingestion of toxins, medications or any suspect substance

Emergency Surgical Procedures We Provide:

• Cesarean section
• Endoscopy: foreign body retrieval
• Enterotomy / Gastrotomy
• Exploratory laparotomy
• Gastric dilatation volvulus (Bloat)
• Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Removal
• Hemoabdomen/Acute Abdomen Treatment
• Intestinal Resection/Anastomosis
• Laceration / Wound repair
• Proptosis / Prolapse Repair
• Pyometra
• Splenectomy

Is This An Emergency?

Many diseases can have similar signs, but vary in severity.

View this page for a list of signs or conditions that would typically be associated with potentially serious conditions.

Call anytime and speak with one of our technicians for advice.

The following list is signs or conditions that would typically be associated with potentially serious conditions.

If you are still unsure as to whether or not you have an emergency case, please do not hesitate to give us a call at (209) 549-8387

Pet Illness Treatment Services

American Pet Hospital’s expertise in treating pet illness is just as comprehensive as our signature preventive care measures. Just like you, every pet’s health experiences a hiccup now and then. Using the best diagnostic technology, we treat a wide variety of pet illnesses, from short-term infections to longer-term conditions.

Acute Illnesses

In this instance, “acute” doesn’t describe severity, but rather how quickly an illness develops and how long it lasts. Acute illnesses are often isolated incidents, usually curable with straightforward treatments. The most common acute illnesses we see are:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Parasite Infections (internal & external)
• Bacterial & Viral Infections
• Ear Infections
• Anal Gland Infections
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Skin Conditions & Allergies
• Upper Respiratory Illness
• Acute Injuries (struck by car, fractures, sprains, strains)
• Intestinal Foreign Objects
• Ingested Toxins (foods, plants, household chemicals, etc.)
• Behavioral Disorders (phobias, aggression)

Our treatment options for acute illnesses include:

• Medications
• Antibiotics
• IV Fluids
• Dietary Changes
• Highest Quality Monitoring Equipment
• Pain Management
• Nutritional Management
• Post-Op Care
• Anti-Depressants
• Regular Follow-Up Calls
• Unlimited Free Office Visits

Veterinary Diagnostic Services

Specialized tests are required for preventative screening or when you sense something is not right with your dog or cat. We utilize a wide range of diagnostic equipment including radiology and an onsite state-of-the art laboratory to help aid us in the diagnosis of many medical conditions.

Radiology

Radiology, or x-ray, is an effective imaging tool used to diagnose a variety of conditions in your dog or cat including orthopedic abnormalities, intestinal obstructions, or organ enlargement, as well as many other vital uses. It is also used for staging heart disease.
Ultrasound. Ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging technique that allows us to look at and recover samples for testing from the organs of the abdomen or chest such as the liver, kidneys, spleen or heart in 3-D. Veterinary ultrasound is a painless, non-invasive and safe tool allowing visualization of tissues not otherwise possible. We utilize the services of a specialist to perform and interpret your pet’s ultrasound examination in our hospital. This allows for your convenience and ensures an accurate and immediate diagnosis for your pet. Ultrasound typically does not require sedation unless internal tissue samples are collected. If a biopsy is required, we are able to safely obtain those samples using the ultrasound as a guide.

Laboratory

Our onsite laboratory allows most screening tests to be completed within a very short period of time. Routine fecal screenings, urinalysis, heartworm tests, complete blood counts, pre-surgical screenings and blood chemistry profiles are among the many tests where results are available very quickly. Reliable independent veterinary laboratories are utilized when deemed appropriate.
Blood Pressure Monitoring. Accurate blood pressure monitoring assists in assessing your pet’s condition during critical life-threatening times, anesthesia and shock, as well as giving us a baseline blood pressure reading in comprehensive physical exams.

ECG Monitoring

We use ECG monitoring during surgery to provide the safest surgical procedures for your pet. Our system monitors blood pressure, respiration, heart activity, oxygen saturation and temperature.

Preventive Dental care for Dogs and Cats

It is important to your pet’s overall health care program to provide regular, professional dental care. Plaque and tartar that build-up on your pet’s teeth can lead to gingivitis. Reddened, bleeding gums, difficulty chewing and bad breath are all signs of gingivitis. Untreated gingivitis can progress to a more advanced form of periodontal disease, a bacterial infection that, if left untreated, can cause the loss of teeth. The same bacteria causing gingivitis and periodontal disease can be carried into the blood stream and cause damage to your pet’s kidneys, heart, liver and other organs. Regular dental cleanings remove plaque and tartar and prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease.

Routine, Preventative Dental Care:

An annual dental exam and professional scaling and polishing is recommended to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Our routine preventative dental care includes complete ultrasonic scaling, root planing and polishing. We place your pet under anesthesia and perform a comprehensive oral examination. We examine individual teeth for mobility, fractures, malocclusion and periodontal disease. We remove plaque and tartar using hand instruments and power scaling equipment. We give your pet’s teeth a thorough ultrasonic cleaning and polishing. After professional cleaning, your pet’s mouth with be healthier and pain free.

American Pet Hospital is capable of providing:

Complete prophylactic ultrasonic scaling, root planning and polishing
Dental x-rays.

1. Minor oral surgery including, but not limited to, tooth extractions, fistula repairs and removal of oral tumors.
2. Comprehensive pain management before, during and after any oral procedure that may produce discomfort.
3. Monitored general anesthesia through our knowledgeable, well-trained technicians with the aid of digital monitoring for the vital signs.
4. All anesthetic patients have a designated technician/nurse assigned to them at all times.
5. Administering local anesthesia to all surgical tooth extractions.
6. Home dental care instructions and product recommendations.
7. A referral network to veterinary dentists and specialists when needed.

At Home Dental Care:

Your pet’s dental care doesn’t end after he or she leaves our clinic. Our staff will show you how to brush your pet’s teeth at home. This is an excellent way to prevent plaque and tartar build-up and promote good oral hygiene. Brushing your pet’s teeth at the same time each day with a pet toothpaste (do not use human toothpaste) and a brushing device (toothbrush, finger brush, gauze on your finger, etc.) is the most effective means of removing plaque from your pet’s teeth. If you have any questions on how to brush your pet’s teeth, please give us a call, or check out our handout “how to brush your pet’s teeth”.

Clinical Signs of oral and dental diseases in dogs and cats

If your pet shows any of the following symptoms, please call us to schedule an appointment as your pet may be suffering from painful dental disease:

1. Bad breath
2. Bleeding from the mouth
3. Drooling or dropping food from the mouth.
4. Loose teeth or teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar
5. Loss of appetite or loss of weight
6. Reddened gums
7. Your pet shies away from you when you touch the mouth area