★ Vaccinations: Annual vaccinations are given by a doctor. There is no exam fee when a pet comes in just for vaccinations. The doctor will discuss recommended vaccines with each client. For new pets/clients, we recommend bringing your pet's most current vaccine information to the appointment. Vaccine reminders are mailed 1 month prior to due date to allow the owners time to fit an appointment into their busy schedules.
★ Preventative Health Care: Each pet is as individual as each owner. Therefore, their
individual needs may vary. Our veterinarians will recommend methods of maintaining
a healthy pet through preventative therapies. We believe in being proactive rather than reactive when it comes to your pet’s health.
★ Acute and Chronic Illness: Doctors are available by appointment 6 days a week for sick animals.
★ Drop Off Appointments: Pets can be dropped off for an examination during regular business hours. If scheduling a set appointment time is difficult for you, we have the solution. Simply leave your pet with us for a few hours. The doctor will examine your pet between scheduled appointments then call you to discuss the problem, diagnosis and/or treatment options and recommendations. There is no extra charge for this service.
★ Surgery: All our offices have a fully equip surgical suite. Routine and emergency surgeries are performed 5 days each week. Routine surgeries include: spay, neuter, declaw, tumor removal, etc. Emergency surgeries include: urinary tract obstruction, bloat, c-section, etc. All surgical patients are admitted between 8:30 - 9:00 am on the day of surgery. To expedite the admission process you can download and complete the consent form in advance.
General Surgery Consent Form
Growth Removal Consent Form
★ Dental Care: Dental cleaning can be scheduled at either office. Ultrasonic equipment is used to remove plaque and tarter from your pet’s teeth then the teeth are polished. Oravet Plaque Prevention Gel ( a barrier sealant) can also be applied. When unhealthy teeth are discovered they are extracted to prevent pain and illness. Unhealthy teeth can lead to periodontal disease, heart disease, kidney disease and liver disease. Regular dental cleaning can help maintain a beautiful smile, fresh breath and a healthy pet. Pets won’t sit back and open wide so mild sedation is used for this procedure. In most veterinary clinics dentals are performed by technicians or other support staff, that is NOT the way it is done here. The DOCTOR always performs all dental procedures. All dental patients are admitted between 8:30 - 9:00 am on the day of the procedure. Food should be withheld the morning of the procedure. To expedite the admission process you can download and complete the consent form in advance. For more information on dental cleaning please view our Dental Health Video. We carry a variety of dental care products for home use.
Dental Consent Form
★ Radiology: All of our offices have in house x-ray equipment. X-Rays are used for diagnosing numerous health problems.
★ Ultrasound: Ultrasound can be used to diagnose many illnesses. Ultrasound can be more beneficial than radiographs because it provides 3D imaging.
★ Telemedicine: Ultrasound images, blood work and x-rays can be emailed to an internal medicine specialist for a consultation. Results are available 24 hours later. This technology gives the added benefit of having a consultation with a Board Certified Specialist only a mouse click away.
★ In House Laboratory: Each of our offices is equip with an in house laboratory. Results are available in 15 minutes or less. Sick animals can be diagnosed and treated during their appointment. Surgical patients can be screened for internal organ ailments prior to anesthesia without having to schedule a separate appointment. Medical monitoring, medical diagnosing and pre surgical screening can be performed with minimal amounts of specimen.
★ Outside Reference Laboratory: Antech Diagnostics will pick up samples daily. Any specialized test can be sent to an outside lab for results, usually within 24 hours, depending on the test.
★ Acupuncture: Dr Dixon was trained in acupuncture. This alternative therapy has been very successful in treating a wide variety of health problems.
★ Microchip: Microchip implantation is available. We use Home Again brand microchips. Microchips are a highly recommended form of permanent, unalterable identification. A chip, the size of a grain of rice, is implanted with a needle under the skin.
★ Allergy Management: Allergy management is a full time job in the Low Country. Animals can have all of the same allergies as people. Just like people, allergies are treated symptomatically but never cured. An animals histamine release is in the skin, the most common areas being the face, feet, groin, underarm and tail. Pets with allergies lick, chew and scratch. Left untreated, most animals experience hair loss and get secondary skin infections. Allergies can be to foods but are most commonly environmental. Some are year round while others are seasonal. Our doctors can keep you pet comfortable with allergy management protocols.
★ Board Certified Surgeon: Dr Chris Hill VMD, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons visits our facilities to perform non routine surgeries. Now your pet can have the very best surgical options right here at home. Until Dr Hill began coming to our clinic, pets would have to travel to Savannah, Charleston or Columbia for these services. For more info on Dr Hill click here.
★ Emergency Service: A doctor is on call to treat emergencies after regular business hours.
★ Pet Products: All locations stock food, treats, supplements, shampoos, flea and tick products and other non prescription items. We stock Science Diet and Eukanuba diets. Other diets can be ordered.
★ Pharmacy: All locations have a complete pharmacy to meet all your pets prescription needs including most brands of Heartworm Prevention, flea control, arthritis medication and more. RX Policy
★ Cremation Services: Losing a pet is never easy. We want our pets treated with the same dignity and respect in death as in life. Good Shepherd Pet Services has provided us such exceptional service for many years. They perform all of our cremation services, including individual cremations.
