Our Services

Pet Wellness

“It is easier to stay healthy than to get healthy…”

Pet health and wellness at Northboros Vet Hospital is at the core of our beliefs that an “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. In terms of pet health this certainly holds true. With todays rising health care costs both for us and our pets prevention is typically a fraction of the cost of treating a disease or problem with your pet. An early diagnosis and treatment of developing problems can increase the likelihood of successful outcomes.

To start preventative healthcare involves a multi-pronged approach that begins with a veterinary evaluation of your pet’s overall health and risks of disease or other health problems. Based on these finding our staff will provide you with recommendations for your pet’s nutrition, dental care, vaccinations and heartworm/flea/tick prevention as well as specific recommendations tailored to your pet’s health and risk factors.

“The American Veterinary Medical Association endorses 2 visits per year.”

For companion animals – one for urinalysis and blood work and one visit for vaccines. This is because our beloved pets age an average of 7 years for each 1 human year. Your pet’s health can change quickly over a one–year period, making it more difficult to prevent, detect and treat conditions early. Ensure your pet’s health and your peace of mind by scheduling him/her for semi–annual visits.

Puppies & Kittens Wellness Programs

“Prevention is the best medicine… “

“Prevention is the best medicine” – this is the philosophy of the doctors and staff at North Boros Veterinary Hospital. We feel that the most important thing we do here is to promote preventative care that begins with your puppy or kitten’s very first visit.

For the first few months, as you bring your puppy or kitten in for his/her initial wellness exam and series of booster shots, you will be visiting us several times. We ask that you bring in any previous health records or certificates for your pet and a stool sample to test for intestinal parasites (especially since humans can potentially develop serious problems if exposed to immature forms of roundworms or hookworms).

Please feel comfortable asking your veterinarian questions – we encourage it! After all, that’s what we’re here for…

Vaccinations

Dog Vaccinations

Prevention	Common Infectious Diseases of Dogs
Rabies Vaccine	Rabies is a viral disease that can affect all warm-blooded mammals including humans. The virus infects cells of the nervous system, producing behavioral abnormalities such as unusual aggression or withdrawal, inability to swallow and convulsions. Once the signs of rabies appear, the disease is always fatal. Vaccines are extremely effective in prevention.
DA2PP Vaccine: Canine Distemper Canine Adenovirus Canine Parvovirus Canine Parainfluenza	Canine Distemper is a contagious and often fatal disease in dogs. Exposure is considered inevitable during a dog’s lifetime, so the distemper vaccine is highly recommended. The disease causes fever, diarrhea, respiratory problems and convulsions. Canine Adenovirus Type 1 & 2 (CAV-1 & CAV-2) CAV-1 causes hepatitis which attacks a wide range of organs and can be fatal. CAV-2 can cause serious respiratory disease. CAV-1 and CAV-2 are closely related, so the CAV-2 vaccine (included in your dog’s 4-in-1 distemper shot) provides dual protection against both diseases. Canine Parvovirus is highly contagious and can be fatal. It can cause severe bloody diarrhea, vomiting and fever. Unvaccinated puppies and young dogs are at greatest risk. Canine Parainfluenza causes a harsh, hacking cough and is another cause of kennel cough. Although infection can seem milder in healthy dogs, it can take on a severe form in puppies and sick dogs.
Leptospirosis	Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease transmitted through infected urine, contaminated water or food – infecting the kidneys and liver, causing fever, anorexia, depression and generalized pain. Can be transmitted to people.
Bordetella Vaccine	Bordetella is one of the causes of the canine upper respiratory disease, tracheobronchitis or “kennel cough.” It is a bacterial infection of the respiratory system of dogs characterized by severe coughing and gagging. It is a very contagious airborne disease. Most cases appear after contact with other dogs in kennels, grooming parlors, dog parks and other places where dogs congregate.
Lyme Vaccine	Lyme disease is caused by the Spirochete Borrelia Burgdorferi that is transmitted by Ixodes ticks. The deer tick is the primary species in the Northeast that transmits the disease. Clinical signs include fever, loss of appetitie, fatigue, arthritis (sudden lameness), carditis (heart), nephritis (kidney) and seizures – many dogs can appear to be asymptomatic. Left untreated, lyme nephritis is generally fatal. A simple in-house test (the 4DX SNAP) can determine if your dog has contracted the disease.

Cat Vaccinations

Prevention

Common Infectious Diseases of Cats

Rabies Vaccine

Rabies is a viral disease that can affect all warm-blooded mammals including humans. The virus infects cells of the nervous system, producing behavioral abnormalities such as unusual aggression or withdrawal, inability to swallow and convulsions. Once the signs of rabies appear, the disease is always fatal. Vaccines are extremely effective in prevention.

FVRCP Vaccine:
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR) Calicivirus Panleukopenia Chlamydia Psittaci

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis is a highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the herpesvirus and characterized by fever, conjunctivitis, nasal and ocular discharges and sneezing.

Calicivirus is a common viral disease in cats characterized by upper respiratory symptoms similar to FVR, pneumonia, sores in the mouth and occasionally arthritis. Kittens and older cats are at the greatest risk.

Panleukopenia also called feline distemper, is extremely contagious and often fatal disease. It causes fever, loss of appetite, severe diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration.

Pneumonitis is caused by the Chlamydia Psittaci bacteria. Signs of disease are similar to those of FVR and FCP and is characterized by conjunctivitis and nasal discharge. Although the disease is less common, it can complicate and increase the severity of FVR or FCP infections.

FeLV (Leukemia) Vaccine

FeLV is responsible for more death in cats than any other infectious disease. The disease suppresses the immune system which leads to other diseases or infections that vary in severity. The cats that survive the initial onset of diseases potentially develop a form of cancer and therefore the disease is called feline leukemia.

Surgery & Dental

Surgery

Our hospital has a well-equipped surgical suite and our veterinarians are trained in the latest techniques should your pet require a surgical procedure. The highly-skilled veterinarians at North Boros Veterinary Hospital are capable of performing a wide range of surgical procedures. Foreign-body removals, growth/tumor removals and other complicated soft-tissue procedures are regularly performed at our hospital.

Dental Care

Dental care is one of the most important preventative health measures you can take and, unfortunately, one of the most overlooked aspects of your pet’s health. Poor oral hygiene often allows bacteria to enter the bloodstream and serve as a source of kidney, liver and heart infections.

All dental procedures are done under general anesthesia. The prophylaxis (cleaning) includes ultrasonic scaling, polishing, flushing with an antiseptic solution and a fluoride treatment.

North Boros Veterinary Hospital offers professional dental services and home dental care products for your pet:

Take Home Dental Kits
Dental Treats
Dental Food
Professional Cleaning & Polishing (procedure requires general anesthesia)

Pet Emergencies

We refer our patients to one of the following 24 hour emergency hospitals:

North

Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center

24/7 | Call Ahead | (412) 366-3400
807 Camp Horne Road | Pittsburgh, PA 15237

VCA Northview

Mon-Sun 8am-8pm | Call Ahead | (412) 364-5353
223 Siebert Road | Pittsburgh, PA 15237

PetVet 365

Safe Haven Vet Hospital Urgent Care

Mon-Fri 8am-6pm | Call Ahead | (724) 591-8393
13085 Perry Highway | Wexford, PA 15090

East

Avets Specialty & Emergency Trauma Center

24/7 | Call Ahead | (412) 373-4200
2674 Monroeville Boulevard | Monroeville, PA 15146

South

VCA Castle Shannon

Mon-Sun 8am-8pm | Call Ahead | (412) 885-2500
3610 Library Road | Pittsburgh, PA 15234

MedVet Pittsburgh

24/7 | Call Ahead | (724) 717-2273
2810 Washington Road | McMurray, PA 15317

Rivers Veterinary Urgent Care

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat 9am-6pm | CLOSED Wed & Sun | Call Ahead | (412) 998-9030
560 McNeilly Road | Pittsburgh, PA 15226

West

VCA MedVet West

Mon-Sun 8am-8pm | Call Ahead | (412) 788-6400
5309 Campbells Run Road | Pittsburgh, PA 15205

Avid FriendChip

Every few seconds, a family pet gets lost

In fact, 1 in 3 pets will go missing sometime in their lives. Most of these pets end up in municipal shelters, animal control facilities and humane societies across the United States. Tragically, most of these pets never make it back home because their owners didn’t microchip them.

The Avid® FriendChip™ is an effective and safe way to identify your pet.

The FriendChip is a tiny microchip that fits through a hypodermic needle and is injected under the skin of your pet where it remains safely for life. This inexpensive procedure can be done anytime and, best of all, protects virtually any pet you love: dogs, cats, horses, birds, reptiles, exotics, even fish!

Microchipping your pet is the most safe and effective solution to permanently identify your pet. Once the procedure is complete and you enroll your pet in the PETtrac Recovery Service, your pet will have a permanent link back to you, the owner, via the PETtrac Recovery Network. This technology greatly improves your pet’s chances of being reunited with you, its owner.

View Avid Friendchip Details

Diets & Supplies

For your convenience and your pet’s health and happiness, our hospital offers:

Heartworm and Flea/Tick Control Products
Prescription Diets
Food and Nutritional Supplements
Grooming Aids / Shampoos
Pet Care and Pet Health Educational Aids