We strive to provide you and your pet with the best care possible at each and every visit. Please see below for a sampling of the quality services we offer.
Puppy and Kitten Exams and Care Counseling
At the Goodison Veterinary Center, we understand that your new puppy or kitten will become an important member of your family. Whether a novice pet owner or a seasoned pro, we want to help you and your pet get the most out of your new relationship with each other. We do this by providing a comprehensive physical examination to screen for congenital abnormalities and to evaluate overall health status. In addition, we will formulate a preventive care schedule tailored to meet your pet's age and specific needs.You may find it helpful to check out our puppy vaccination schedule and kitten vaccination schedule links for general guidelines, though we'll review this with you at your visit. We find it equally important to discuss general care, behavioral concerns, and any specific questions you may have.
We recommend that this visit be scheduled within 7 days of bringing your puppy or kitten home and we look forward to working with you to keep your new pet happy and healthy for many years to come!
New Pet Exams
New pets can be wonderful additions to your family! We recommend that all new pets have a wellness exam within 7 days of obtaining him or her. Please bring any past medical records (if available) to your appointment for our review. If possible, emailing records to us ahead of time is also helpful.
Based on this information and a thorough physical examination, our veterinarians will make a health assessment of your new pet. We will then work with you to create a plan for addressing any medical or surgical concerns and to establish a preventive care schedule tailored to meet his or her specific needs. We will also address any concerns you may have, such as how to integrate your new pet into your family and introduce him or her to other pets. In addition, we are happy to discuss general care information, behavior topics, and more.
Annual Wellness Exams
Annual wellness exams are an essential part of helping your pet stay happy and healthy. One year for a cat is about the equivalent of five human years and one year for a dog is approximately equal to seven human years, so you can imagine how much can change during that time period.
Throughout each life stage, we want to listen to your questions and concerns and work with you to optimize your pet's health.
During wellness exams, we also frequently find and successfully manage disease conditions that can significantly impact the health and quality of life of your pet, such as obesity, dental disease, ear infections, allergies, orthopedic problems, internal disease, and more. In addition, we may be able to identify even more serious problems you might not have reason to suspect such as heart murmurs and even some types of cancers. Finding these problems before signs develop will give your pet a much better chance at a successful outcome which could mean the difference between life and death.
Sick Pet Exams
When your pet is sick or injured you can trust us to provide the care he or she needs. If necessary, we have access to a wide array of in-hospital diagnostics, including blood work, urinalysis, fecal analysis, diagnostic imaging (digital radiographs, dental radiographs, and ultrasound), blood pressure measurement, electrocardiogram (ECG), pulse oximetry, opthalmalogic testing, skin/ear cytologic examination, skin scraping evaluation, fungal culture, fine-needle aspirate and cytology, surgical biopsies, and more. For additional lab work, we partner with premier laboratories such as Antech and the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health so that we can provide you with accurate, reliable results.
Comprehensive Senior Pet Care
Cats are considered seniors at about age ten, while dogs are senior citizens at approximately seven years of age, although there is breed-related variation of this, with larger dogs reaching senior status even earlier. These "oldies but goodies" have special needs that greatly benefit from your extra attention!
For starters, senior pets have specific nutritional requirements and often develop age-related diseases. Taking a proactive approach to senior pet care can help prevent disease or identify problems before complications and major illness arise. This typically results in a more successful outcome and better overall prognosis. Regular physical examinations (every 6 months is ideal) and screening tests to more thoroughly evaluate the health of your pet can significantly extend the quality and duration of his or her life. Your GVC veterinarian is happy to discuss the specific senior care that will benefit your pet.
Exotic Pet Care
We know that love for your pet is not constrained by species! We are therefore pleased to treat a variety of small mammals including ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, gerbils, hedgehogs, and more. These furry friends will receive exceptional care because, like you, we know that they deserve it.
Due to their high degree of species specializations and medical/environmental needs, we typically only perform wing/beak/nail trims for birds and do not often treat reptiles, but would be happy to refer you elsewhere, as needed. Please call us so that we may assist you however possible.
Advanced Dental Care
We are pleased to offer the services of Dr. Molly Angel, a Board Certified Veterinary Dentist TM. Dr. Molly is both a Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College and a Fellow of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry. She practices at Michigan Animal Dental Specialists, adjoining Goodison Veterinary Center, where she provides exemplary care for Goodison Veterinary Center patients and referral patients alike.
Dr. Molly's medical and surgical training in companion animal dentistry encompasses a wide variety of current veterinary dental care approaches. Her knowledge and skill are supported by technology including digital dental radiography and specialized instrumentation allowing for a variety of procedures. She performs routine prophylaxis (comprehensive oral examination, scaling, polishing, and fluoride application), simple and surgical extractions, periodontal therapy, endodontics (such as root canals), orthodontic treatment planning, prosthodontic crown therapy, trauma and jaw fracture management, oral cancer treatment and planning, and other complicated oral surgeries. Dr. Molly welcomes difficult cases and is pleased to provide second opinions, so don't hesitate to seek her advice. Contact Michigan Animal Dental Specialists to schedule an appointment or visit our dental FAQs page to learn more.
Surgery
Our skilled veterinarians perform a variety of surgeries ranging from elective procedures (spays, neuters, declaw procedures, etc.) and growth removals to more extensive procedures such as invasive tumor removals, reproductive surgeries, bladder surgery, splenectomy, stomach and/or intestinal surgery, amputation, and more.
They understand that the thought of surgery can be unsettling to owners even under the best of circumstances and are happy to address concerns and answer questions. In addition, each patient will undergo a comprehensive pre-operative evaluation. Based on this assessment, an individualized care plan will be established to minimize risks associated with anesthesia and surgery. During the procedure, your pet will be continuously monitored by our highly trained surgical team using state-of-the art equipment. We also monitor him or her carefully during the post-operative period, providing preemptive pain control to keep your pet as comfortable as possible. Discharge instructions are provided orally and in writing so that you can continue exemplary care at home, and we always welcome questions.
Please see our surgical FAQs for more information.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy is high-tech health care which is rapidly increasing in popularity because of wide-ranging applications. Here at the Goodison Veterinary Center, we use Class IV laser therapy in a variety of patients to relieve pain, decrease inflammation, improve mobility, and speed wound healing and/or surgical recovery. In some cases it serves as an alternative therapy to medical or surgical interventions, but it also works well in combination with traditional care. Best of all, it's yet another strategy our veterinarians can utilize to keep your pet as comfortable and healthy as possible.
For more information, please review our Laser Therapy FAQs.
Pet Pharmacy
The Goodison Veterinary Center stocks a large supply of commonly used prescription and over-the-counter medications. Each medication we dispense is chosen with the best interest of your pet in mind. Our veterinarians closely consider factors such as efficacy, side effects, and drug interactions. We are also happy to provide prescription drug counseling and tips on how to administer medication, so please don't hesitate to ask if you have questions or concerns.
Nutritional Guidance and Prescription Diets
Nutrition affects every aspect of your pet's health and dietary management can even become a treatment modality to address certain disease conditions, such as food allergy, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney failure, dental disease, arthritis, and more. Our veterinarians have abundant resources within this field and can make routine diet recommendations or provide in depth nutritional counseling, depending on the needs of your pet. We stock Hill's, Royal Canin, and Purina veterinary prescription foods. These can also be ordered through our online store and shipped directly to your home!
Behavioral Counseling
At the Goodison Veterinary Center we strive for healthy and happy pets! We therefore find it important to discuss common behavioral concerns such as mouthing, housetraining, socialization, and obedience work as early as your first puppy or kitten visit. As time goes by and pets age, their behaviors often change. This brings a new host of questions or concerns that we are always available to address. In general, problems are best handled promptly because long-standing issues are much more difficult to resolve. This is especially true of difficult problem behaviors such as feline inappropriate elimination (urinating or defecating outside of the litter box) and separation anxiety. We also find that senior pet problems like Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) respond more notably when treated early on in the course of the disease.
You know your pet better than anyone else, so please don't hesitate to call us if you are suspicious of problems. Signs to watch for include departure from usual behavior, undesirable behaviors (jumping up on people or counters, stealing food, eating bowel movements, etc.), development of fear or aggression, urinating or defecating out of the litter box (cats) or in the house (dogs), excessive vocalizing when left alone, destructive behavior when left alone, confusion or forgetfulness, or anything else you might consider concerning for your pet. After ruling out a medical basis for the problem behavior, our experienced veterinarians will support you through challenging times by establishing a treatment plan and working to help you implement it. In every case, we strive for the best possible outcome - after all, your pet's quality of life is of utmost concern to us and you deserve to enjoy pet ownership!
Home Again Microchipping
We always strive to provide the best for our patients and after due consideration, we've decided to make the switch to Home Again microchips. With many of our clients pursuing international travel and/or relocation, we wanted to be able to offer a microchip that is readable here in the United States and abroad as well. In addition, Home Again is not simply a microchip and microchip database. While it does provide a Pet Recovery Database and access to Lost Pet Specialists, membership in the Home Again service also gives owners access to Rapid Lost Pet Alerts, a 24/7 Pet Emergency Hotline, and Pet Travel Assistance for recovered pets. Their service is unbeatable!
With so much to offer, we do recommend microchipping for those who desire permanent identification for their pet. This can be beneficial in reuniting you with your pet in the unfortunate event that he or she is lost or stolen and can also be used to prove positive ownership if it should ever come into question. Some states even require microchipping of aggressive or dangerous animals. Officials can then keep track of repeated negative incidents associated with a particular pet to better protect the public. Microchipping is a safe and effective way of achieving all of these goals.
The microchip is a tiny metal object about the size of a grain of rice that can be easily implanted under the skin with a needle. Most of the time this can be performed without the need for sedation and with minimal discomfort. The metal in the chip is inert (inactive) and there are no anticipated side effects from chip placement. After the chip is implanted, we'll give you a demonstration of how it works and are happy to answer questions at any time.
Overall, microchipping can be extraordinarily beneficial – it not only provides good peace of mind, but may someday reunite you with your pet or even save his or her life. For details on the Home Again microchip and Home Again membership, please call us or go to www.homeagain.com.
Interstate and International Health Certificates
Veterinarians at the Goodison Veterinary Center are licensed by the state of Michigan and accredited by the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA). This gives them legal authority to complete both interstate and international health certificates. In particular, Dr. Jill Savage has extensive experience in preparing health certificates for international travel and would be pleased to assist you with your travel plans.
As soon as you know you will be traveling with your pet, please call or email us to connect with Diane, who will likely be your contact person here and will help coordinate travel preparations. When reaching out, please provide basic initial information including type of pet, destination, and your date of travel. Based on the above, Diane will request more specific information (including your pet's past medical records) from you via email. Please note that if traveling by air, it is your responsibility to check with your airline and provide us with their requirements. Once information is gathered, we will formulate a travel preparation plan for your pet and review this with you, then schedule your pet's visit(s) to assess his or her health and fitness for travel and to fulfill the specific travel requirements as established by your destination. Knowing that travel preparations often leave owners feeling pressed for time and stressed, our team will strive to make this process as seamless as possible. We also understand that questions may arise as travel approaches, and we will provide you with the information you need so that you feel comfortable and ready for your journey.
Again, we highly advise that you begin travel preparations as soon as plans arise, for some are simple, others quite complex. Travel requirements for many states and international destinations can be found on the USDA's pet travel website. Happy travels!