Our staff at Pocoshock Animal Hospital is filled with passionate animal lovers who are here to help you and your pet! They are highly trained and dedicated to making sure that your pets receive the care and compassion they deserve every time they walk in the door!
We offer the following services to keep your pets healthy:
- Advanced Digital X-rays
- Dental Care
- Geriatric Care
- Hospice and Euthanasia
- In-House Laboratory
- Onsite Diagnostics
- Microchipping
- Nutritional Counseling
- Parasite Prevention
- Pain Management
- Pharmacy
- Preventative Care
- Puppy and Kitten Care
- Spay and Neuter
- Vaccinations
- Wellness Exams
- Surgery
- Laser Therapy
Advanced Digital X-rays
At Pocoshock Animal Hospital in North Chesterfield, VA , we are proud to be on the cutting edge of medical technology. Most every veterinary hospital has the capability to take x-rays of your pet. It is a diagnostic tool that is required to have a full-service veterinary facility in Virginia. X-ray technology is a very useful tool in the diagnosis of many disease conditions, from broken bones to cancer. At veterinary colleges and in referral centers there is usually a Board Certified Radiologist on staff (much like in human hospitals) who read/evaluate the x-rays taken of the patient. Most general veterinary practitioners are very skilled at reading radiographs but there are times we need to get second opinions from a specialist.
Dental Care
Does your pet have bad breath? We can help! Pets need dental care too! Oral hygiene is extremely important to the overall health of your pet and care needs to be provided to keep the mouth healthy. Oral hygiene starts at home with regular brushing, proper chew toys, and special treats for keeping gums and teeth healthy. However, significant tartar and plaque build up on teeth after the first couple of years and can cause significant disease by three to four years of age if proper care is not maintained. We offer a wide range of dental therapeutics at Pocoshock Animal Hospital and have the capability to provide your pet with dental services such as periodontal therapy, oral surgery, routine cleaning and root planing, polishing, fluoride treatment, and some endodontics.
Research has demonstrated that severe tartar, gingivitis, and periodontal disease can predispose your pet to kidney disease, liver dysfunction, and heart disease, all of which can lead to life-compromising conditions. Therefore, just like you need to care for your own teeth and gums, you also need to care for your pet’s teeth and gums.
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 (804) 745-3276 to learn more about caring for your senior pet.
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.
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.
In-House Laboratory
In-house lab: Pocoshock Animal Hospital maintains an in-house laboratory capable of giving you same day results on:
- Complete blood counts
- Blood chemistry profiles
- Heartworm tests for dogs and cats
- Urinalysis
- Fecal analysis for intestinal parasites
- Electrocardiogram through Cardiopet
- Impression cytology
- Feline immunodeficiency virus testing
- Feline leukemia virus testing
- Parvo virus testing
Outside Lab: We also utilize outside commercial labs for anything that we don’t perform in-house such as:
- Bacterial culture and sensitivity
- Histopathology & Cytology
- More Comprehensive blood & urine analysis
- Allergy testing
- Thyroid and Cortisol tests
- Other assays not available to us in-house
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.
Microchipping
At Pocoshock Animal 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.
Nutritional Counseling
Pocoshock Animal Hospital offers nutritional counseling for pet owners of North Chesterfield, VA 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 Pocoshock Animal 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.
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.
Pharmacy
Our in-house pharmacy is stocked with drugs that are approved for animal use. We carry the best quality and most efficacious animal drugs available for your pet. Most of our products are by prescription only and are only available through the veterinary market. Our state laws require that there is a valid client-patient-doctor relationship established prior to dispensing any legend drug. What that means in general terms is that the veterinarian caring for your pet has seen and examined your pet in the past twelve months and feels comfortable prescribing a given medication to his/her patient. We also carry a number of excellent over-the-counter products for your convenience. These products do not necessarily require a physical exam to dispense. They include certain nutritional supplements, shampoos, nutraceuticals, and flea preventatives. Just about anything else can be obtained from our Home Delivery Pharmacy, VetsFirstChoice, for your convenience. See other page about our Home Delivery Pharmacy.
POCOSHOCK HOME DELIVERY PHARMACY
The Pocoshock Home Delivery Pharmacy by VetCentric is an extension of our in-house pharmacy and has the same requirements and restrictions as our In-House Pharmacy described above.
We offer this trusted service for your convenience and for our patients’ health and safety. Not only does VetCentric have access to our patients medical history, but they stock thousands of products, from special diets, flea & tick preventatives, heartworm preventatives, antibiotics, and pain relievers to compounded drugs with special flavoring.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that all online pharmacies are created equal. Many of these other pharmacies get their products through unethical means, including overseas, where FDA regulations are not followed. You may not be getting the product you think you are getting. VetCentric, our home delivery pharmacy, buys their stock directly from the manfacturers, just as we do for our in-house supplies. This ensures the safety, efficacy and quality of the products you buy for your pets. Most manufacturers do not stand behind the products when they are purchased through other online venues. Next time you think you may be saving a few dollars, please consider the true cost of your pet’s health and make an informed decision.
We also offer Vetri-Science products delivered directly to your home. Just click on the Vetri-Science link located on the left side of every page. It will take you directly to the site so you can place your order.
Preventative Care
We believe the best way to promote overall health is through preventative care. Regular checkups allow us to establish a baseline in your pets’ health and make us aware of any changes that may indicate future problems.
We highly recommend bringing your pet in for regular exams. Often health problems that go undetected can become more severe issues when left untreated, so checkups are important even when your pet appears healthy.
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 Pocoshock Animal 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.
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.
Vaccinations
At Pocoshock Animal Hospital in North Chesterfield, VA , we believe that one of the most important aspects of caring for your pet’s health is vaccinating him or her against possible diseases. There are a variety of diseases which affect our pets, and other animals, so proper vaccination is vital to protecting them from many types of illnesses.
It is important to consult with us about the unique risks of living in our region. We will be happy to discuss the benefits of protecting your pet with vaccinations, as well as, provide you with information on the required vaccinations for your pet.
Wellness Exams
At Pocoshock Animal Hospital in North Chesterfield, VA , 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!
Surgery
The veterinarians at Pocoshock Animal Hospital offer a wide variety of general surgical procedures. In addition to many elective procedures such as spays and neuters, we also offer a variety of oral and soft tissue procedures. Dr. Larsen has spent a significant amount of their continuing education time developing and expanding their surgical skills and will perform those procedures that they have the skills to perform. However, when we feel that a given procedure requires a referral to a specialist we will assist you in making that referral request.
Laser Therapy
Pocoshock Animal Hospital is pleased to be one of the first in the Richmond metropolitan area to offer Laser technology to its patients. It has been a very rewarding alternative which has been met with much added satisfaction in the treatment of various surgical cases.
Why use laser?
Less pain – the laser seals nerve endings as it “cuts”, so your pet may require less anesthesia during the operation, reducing the risk of complications. Postoperative pain is also reduced. Less bleeding – small blood vessels (capillaries) are sealed during laser surgery. Less swelling – laser does not crush, tear, or bruise tissue because there is no physical contact with tissues.
What does it mean to your pet?
Reduced risk of infection: The laser seals lymphatics, thereby reducing the risk or spread of infection. The laser sterilizes while it removes diseased tissues, killing bacteria that cause infection.
Precision: The laser allows us to remove unhealthy tissue without affecting or removing surrounding healthy tissue.
Quick return to normal activities: Healing is rapid and there is less postoperative discomfort.
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