Services
Anesthesia I Dentistry I Surgery I Pain Management I Pharmacy I In-House Laboratory I Radiology I Ultrasound I EKG I Microchipping I Emergency Care I House Calls I Euthanasia
-- Anesthesia --
We offer a full range of anesthesia, varying from local to general anesthesia. The extent of anesthesia warranted for any given procedure will be determined by your veterinarian. Our anesthetic protocols are tailored specifically for each individual pet, taking into account age, breed, and current medical conditions. This way we can assure the lowest possible anesthetic risk for your pet. We take great pride in our sparkling anesthetic safety record here at La Costa Animal Hospital. We are able to maintain this record by performing pre-operative blood work, providing IV fluids under anesthesia and using some of the best anesthetic drugs and monitoring equipment available.
-- Dentistry --
As we have stressed for many years, there is no medical procedure that can be more beneficial for the health and longevity of your pet than regular dental cleaning/prophylaxis.
Dental disease (including tartar, plaque, gingivitis, and periodontitis) is a widespread epidemic amongst our pet population. The deleterious effects of this disease are not only destructive on a local level within the mouth, but have extensive systemic effects as well. Organs damaged by this disease include the liver, kidneys and heart. This damage can have devastating consequences not only on the quality, but also the length of your pet’s life. In many cases, once dental disease has reached a certain point, many of its effects are irreversible.
We at La Costa Animal Hospital have extensive knowledge and experience in treating any dental problems that are present, as well as preventing future occurrences of oral disease. We use a special high speed dental cleaning unit that utilizes advanced technology to prevent any microscopic etching of the enamel. In addition, we provide dental radiography (x-rays) to be used if requested and/or indicated. These advancements allow us to make decisions regarding the health of individual teeth and their potential for either extraction or retention.
Included in our standard dental prophylaxis are:
- Pre-anesthetic blood testing
- Intravenous catheter and fluids
- General anesthesia
- Dental scaling
- Dental polishing
- Complete oral evaluation including dental probing and charting
- Fluoride application
- OraVet protective sealant
Oral homecare items are also available including toothbrushes & paste, OraVet sealant, and prescription diet t/d (tartar diet).
-- Surgery --
We offer a complete range of surgical expertise, from the routine spay/neuter to more complicated soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries. Although most procedures are performed in house by Dr. Schatzle and Dr. Landen, we do have a number of veterinary surgeons with whom we work closely, when board certified expertise is warranted. These surgeons are available for consultation and referral, and in many instances are able to perform procedures in our hospital.
-- Pain Management --
Pain relief can come in a number of forms – from anti-inflammatories for an arthritic, aging animal to opiates (such as morphine) for recovery from an invasive surgical procedure. We feel that it is a high priority to assure that no animal is suffering or in pain. Analgesia (pain relief) is taken very seriously at La Costa Animal Hospital, and we will stop at no end to make sure that our patients’ comfort comes first.
-- Pharmacy --
We have a fully stocked in house pharmacy filled with medications for your pet’s every need. From antibiotics to analgesics, they are all at our fingertips. If a unique medication is required for your pet, special orders are commonplace and can in many instances be received by the next business day. We can also have many of your pet’s prescriptions formulated into tasty flavors such as chicken, liver, or tuna, making the process of medicating your pet much easier.
-- In-House Laboratory --
La Costa Animal Hospital offers a full in house laboratory. This allows us to check a number of important lab parameters including complete blood counts (CBC), blood chemistries, electrolytes, urinalyses, and fecal exams among others. These tests are crucial for early detection and diagnosis of disease. In addition, we utilize our in-house laboratory daily to help assess your pet’s risk prior to anesthetic procedures. For more sophisticated tests such as thyroid evaluations and biopsies, we work closely with Idexx Laboratories and their Veterinary Pathologists for quick and accurate results.
-- Radiology --
X-rays are used almost daily at our hospital, allowing the doctors to evaluate everything from the skeletal system to most internal organs including the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys and intestinal tract. We offer in house x-rays that provide excellent diagnostic quality radiographic films within minutes! We also have the capability to perform more sophisticated diagnostics such as IVPs (Intravenous Pyelograms) to evaluate the urinary tract, and barium studies to evaluate the gastrointestinal tract.
-- Ultrasound --
Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging procedure that complements other diagnostics information such as physical exam, bloodwork and x-rays. It allows us to better visualize internal organs in the abdomen and chest. It is completely painless and in most cases can be performed without any sedation. All ultrasounds are performed by a board certified veterinary radiologist who specializes in this imaging technique.
-- EKG --
EKGs, or electrocardiograms, can be a useful diagnostic test when cardiac disease is suspected. Many cardiac conditions can be life threatening emergencies, so early diagnosis is of the utmost importance. To this end, our EKGs are performed with the use of telemedicine. This allows review and interpretation by board certified cardiologists. When warranted, results can be received from the cardiologist within 60 minutes
-- Microchipping --
A microchip is a small electronic device, similar in size to a grain of rice. It is implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades. Each microchip has a unique number which is registered to you, the pet owner. This number, along with your emergency contact information, is added to a national registry. Here at La Costa Animal Hospital, we use Home Again microchips. Most veterinarians and all animal shelters have electronic scanners for reading these implanted microchips. If a lost pet is found and scanned, the registry is called and the owner is contacted, allowing pet and owner to be reunited.
-- Emergency Care --
Emergency services are provided by La Costa Animal Hospital during our normal business hours. Although after hour emergencies may be seen by Dr. Schatzle or Dr. Landen at their discretion, it is most typical for after-hours emergencies to be seen by California Veterinary Specialists in Carlsbad (760-431-2273) or San Marcos (760-734-4433). As a courtesy to our clients (for non-emergencies), Dr. Schatzle or Dr. Landen are often able to be contacted after hours by leaving a message on the hospital voicemail (760-944-1266). Our doctors will make every attempt to call you back whenever possible.
-- House Calls --
As a courtesy to our clients house calls are available on a limited basis, typically with advanced scheduling.
-- Euthanasia --
Euthanasia services, including via house call, are available. We take this responsibility very seriously. Although typically one of the most difficult things to ever have to experience as a pet owner, we work hard to make this time as meaningful and painless as possible. Private cremation services are also available, which allows you to receive your loved one’s ashes back to keep, scatter or bury in a special place.