Our staff at Westside 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:
- Preventative Care
- Dental Care
- Surgery
- Advanced Digital X-rays
- Spay and Neuter
- Vaccinations
- Wellness Exams
- Parasite Prevention
- Ultrasound
- Pain Management
- Emergency and Urgent Care
- Dermatology
- Puppy and Kitten Care
- Orthopedic and Soft Tissue Surgery
- Endoscopy
- Cardiology (Heart)
- Tonometry
- Endocrinology (Hormones)
- Medicated Baths
- Health Certificates
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.
Dental Care
Dental care is vital to the overall health of any pet. Dental disease can lead to health issues with the heart, liver, and kidneys and has the potential to seep into your pet’s bloodstream. In fact, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats over three years of age suffer from some form of dental disease, making it the most common pet health issue among our pet population.
Surgery
We are pleased to offer our clients the highest quality veterinary care. We want nothing but the best for our clients, especially during surgery. It is our goal to make sure that our surgical team is prepared to offer our clients the latest medical procedures. We look forward to learning about the newest medical advances in surgery and actively partake in continued surgical education.
Advanced Digital X-rays
At Westside Animal Hospital in Santa Cruz, CA , we are proud to be on the cutting edge of medical technology. Radiology is a technique and diagnostic tool that we use to look inside the body in an entirely non-invasive way. X-rays allow us to create images of all the body’s organs.
In other words, the use of radiology gives us a view of the internal organs in your pets’ body that we otherwise could not see. It is a valuable diagnostic tool that helps veterinarians detect and prevent illness.
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 Westside Animal Hospital in Santa Cruz, CA , 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 Westside Animal Hospital in Santa Cruz, CA , 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!
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 Westside 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.
Ultrasound
Ultrasounding is a quick and painless procedure. It uses sound waves to allow us to see inside your pets, without using the harmful radiation produced when we take x-rays.
We are pleased to be able to offer ultrasounds, along with all of our other diagnostic tools, to help your sick pets start to feel better soon. The quicker we can find the problem, the sooner your pets will be back to their normal selves.
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.
Emergency and Urgent Care
Our staff is dedicated and well trained to handle emergencies of all types. If you’re experiencing an emergency, please call us immediately. Our team of professionals will be able to determine the best course of action for your pet.
We are not an emergency hospital and see scheduled appointments only. If you are a current client with us please call us to determine the best course of action for your pet.
Dermatology
Your pets’ skin is the largest organ of the body. Allergies, parasites, infections, autoimmune diseases and cancers can all affect your pet’s skin.
We offer specific diagnostic tests like allergy testing, fungal testing, cultures and biopsies, along with the most cutting edge treatments to ensure the health of your pets’ skin.
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 Westside 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.
Orthopedic and Soft Tissue Surgery
We are proud to offer orthopedic surgical procedures for injuries and conditions to soft tissue areas of your pet’s body. We utilize state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging to enhance our capabilities for soft tissue surgery, ensuring that your pet has access to the highest standard of veterinary medicine.
Our surgical team is highly trained and experienced in soft tissue orthopedic procedures; we promise that your pet is in good hands. We will be sure to communicate with you throughout the process and will do everything we can to make your pet’s surgery as stress-free as possible.
Please call us at (831) 427-2239 today to learn more or to request your pets appointment!
Endoscopy
Endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure that utilizes a flexible tool called an endoscope. The endoscope is a highly specialized tool that allows veterinarians to see inside your pet’s body in a minimally invasive way.
Endoscopy allows veterinarians to provide better and earlier diagnosis, making it a valuable tool to modern veterinary medicine.
Endoscopic procedures are used in a variety of different ways for a number of ailments. If you would like to learn more about how endoscopy can benefit your pet please don’t hesitate to contact us today at (831) 427-2239.
Cardiology
Your pets’ heart is a muscle that has to work all day, every day. There are many diseases and abnormalities that can cause the heart to not pump as well as it should, which means that heart diseases can affect your pet all day, every day, dramatically affecting your pet’s quality of life. We offer screening tests for heart murmurs, congenital abnormalities, and cardiac diseases that show up later in life, as well as specific cardiac tests such as echocardiograms and electrocardiograms.
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart, which allows your pets’ veterinarian to measure how thick the heart’s muscular walls are, how well the heart contracts, and how well the valves are working. Your pets’ veterinarian can also prescribe the appropriate medications after a successful diagnosis, to keep your pets’ heart as healthy as possible. Some symptoms of diseases of the heart may include exercise intolerance, lethargy, collapse, and difficulty breathing. It is important for your pet to see a veterinarian if your pet has any of these symptoms.
Tonometry
Tonometry measures intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eyeball) and can test for glaucoma and uveitis. Increased pressure within the eye itself can be extremely painful for your pet and constitutes a medical emergency to prevent rupturing of the eyeball.
Tonometry is an easy way to check for increased intraocular pressure and can be used without sedation because pets tolerate it very well. A numbing drop is placed into each eye before the test, and a specialized instrument is lightly touched to the cornea of the eye to measure the pressure. This is just one of the ways we care for your pet’s eyes. Additional tests may include Schirmer Tear Test to test for dry eye, or Fluorescein Staining to check your pet’s eyes for ulcers or scratches.
Endocrinology
Whether your pet has been diagnosed with an endocrine disorder, or has symptoms you are concerned about, we can help.
Although your pets’ veterinarian may begin by recommending routine blood work, we also offer an array of specific and precise tests to determine if your pet is suffering from an endocrine disease such as Diabetes, Cushing’s Disease, Addison’s Disease, Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, and more.
Talk to your veterinarian today if your pet has any of the following symptoms: increased thirst or urination, increased appetite, decreased energy, or hair loss that could be signs of an endocrine disorder.
Medicated Baths
Here at Westside Animal Hospital, we are proud to offer medicated baths for our patients. There are many times when your pets may need to have a medicated bath. We offer baths for fleas and ticks, and also Lym dip to get rid of ringworm.
Our most common medicated baths are for dry and itchy skin. We use a soothing shampoo and a leave-in conditioner to help patients that are having skin problems. Often, we will need to repeat these baths several times until we get the problem under control, and we would be glad to do it for you!
We know that bathing your pets is not usually pleasant. Whether you don’t have the tub for it or you simply don’t have the time or interest, we are here to help your pets heal.
Don’t hesitate to contact us today at (831) 427-2239 if your pets need medicated baths.
Health Certificates
If you are traveling with your pet, you may be required to have a Health Certificate. Each state has different rules and regulations, so be sure to consult with us in advance of your trip. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.