Small animal services from Friendship Hospital for Animals including heartworm prevention, senior care, ultrasound, radiology, laboratory services, oncology, cardiology, dental care, nutrition counseling and emergency service

	Wellness Care Services At Friendship, we believe preventive health care is the best way to enhance your pet's longevity and vitality. We also believe that each pet is a family member and an individual with unique medical, dental, and nutritional needs. You can expect a Client Care Technician in every scheduled appointment to assist the doctor and answer any of your questions pertaining to the health and maintenance of your four legged family member. We work hard as a liaison between you and the doctor and are available 24 hours every day via e-mail/pet mail and telephone to answer any of your questions or address any of your concerns. The client care technicians will educate you regarding recommended preventive health products and services. We are more than happy to demonstrate the best ways to take care of your companion animal. Whether you are requesting advice on how to brush your dog or cat’s teeth, nutrition advice, or on how best to medicate your animal, we are always available to help you care for your pet and answer your questions regarding his health. Annual Examinations All pets should be examined at least annually by your veterinarian. Pets age about seven times as fast as we do so older pets should be examined even more often. Examinations are critical to help veterinarians find disease early when best treated. Depending upon the age of your pet, blood tests or other diagnostics may be recommended as part of regular wellness care and disease prevention. Examinations also give you an opportunity to ask questions about your pet’s health. Vaccinations Vaccinating your dog or cat protects him or her against a wide variety of infectious diseases. Your veterinarian will discuss with you a vaccination program that is appropriate for you particular pet. At Friendship, we do not believe that one vaccination program is correct for all pets. We do not believe in over-vaccinating dogs or cats. Mature, healthy pets that are not at excessive risk are generally vaccinated on a three year schedule. Each pet is an individual, however, and needs a vaccination program specific to him/her. Heartworm and Parasite Prevention All dogs in this area should be on an effective heartworm preventive year round. Administration is easier than ever with once-a-month chewable tablets. Cats, too, should be treated for parasites on a regular basis. Heartworm medication recommended at Friendship is also effective in preventing numerous other parasites. Your personal Pet Portal (provide link) can be set up to provide you with monthly reminders to give these medications. Senior Care As your pet grows older we recommend that “wellness visits” become more frequent and that we see your pet at least twice a year (every 6 months) for senior bloodwork and senior care. Bloodwork for seniors may include urinalysis, kidney and liver functions, complete blood cell counts, and thyroid functioning. It is important to have this bloodwork performed as it can uncover systemic abnormalities that a physical examination may not detect. Many older dogs suffer from osteo-arthritis. Safe and effective pain medications can make these dogs comfortable and help live longer, happier lives with your family. Dental Care Both dogs and cats are susceptible to dental disease. Dental disease is not only unpleasant for the pet owner when it results in bad breath, but can cause serious systemic problems in pets as well. Good oral hygiene starts at home with regular brushings and an appropriate diet. The client care technicians will show clients how to properly care for their pet’s teeth. When necessary, we may recommend a professional dental cleaning. This includes the removal of harmful tarter, polishing, and a floride treatment to help prevent decay. Pets must be anesthetized in order to clean their teeth. Puppy and Kitten Plans Friendship provides a package of services specially created to get puppies and kittens off on the right paw. The services include examinations, vaccinations, dewormings and special nutrition consultations – all for one basic discounted fee. Nutrition counseling It has been our experience that certain physical problems with our pets stem from the types of foods they eat. We offer the following Obesity Management Diabetic Management GI Distress Management Allergy Management Organ Insufficiency Management Urinary Tract Management As a member of your family, you want your dog or cat to remain a vital, loving part of your life for as long as possible. Wellness care and our dedicated client care technicians will contribute to maintaining the health of you four legged family member. [back to the top]
	Urgent Care Service Friendship Hospital for Animals will care for any animal presented 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This “Urgent Care Service” is designed to meet pet health needs ranging from routine concerns such as ear infections to life threatening critical emergencies. No appointment is necessary. Upon arrival, all patients are quickly assessed by our highly trained triage staff. This staff has completed in-hospital coursework, on the job training, and passed an exhaustive exam to assure that they can accurately assess your pet. Patients on the Urgent Care Service are seen in the order dictated by the emergency doctors on duty. Their first priority is always critical patients that need the immediate attention of the doctor. More routine or stable cases will then be seen in the order in which they arrive. We appreciate that clients with non-critical patients understand the need of our urgent care staff to treat critical patients first and may, depending upon case load, be required to wait until critically ill patients are stabilized and cared for. The Urgent Care Service is staffed by a dedicated team that is selected for its motivation to intensive patient care. The emergency doctors on duty consist of senior emergency staff selected for their work ethic, compassion, and ability. They have received advanced training and are experienced in emergency medicine. The service is also staffed by veterinary interns who are fully licensed and capable new doctors. They are the best new doctors in the country, and have immediate access to consults with senior staff doctors 24 hours a day. A senior staff surgeon is on call at all times. But above all else, we pride ourselves on the care of our staff. We treat your pets like they are our own and communicate with you as thoroughly as possible, so that you can understand your pet’s status and progress. We strive to keep you involved in the care of your critically ill dog or cat. Our Urgent Care Service offers: 24 hour intensive nursing care 24 hour lab Digital radiography and emergency ultrasound Emergency Surgery services Crystalloid and colloid fluid support Blood and plasma transfusion Continuous ECG, blood pressure, CVP, and blood oxygen and gas monitoring State of the art pain management and thermal support Short term ventilator support Your pet should be seen urgently if he/she is: Having difficulty breathing Is unconscious Has not urinated Is having difficulty walking Has a distended belly Has significant uncontrolled bleeding Is in significant pain For more information about what constitutes and emergency go to the American Animal Hospital site: http://www.healthypet.com/library_view.aspx?id=89 If you have any question about whether or not your pet should be seen, please call us (202-363-7300). If you have any concerns at all, we encourage you to bring your pet in and have us evaluate him. [back to the top]
	Surgery Friendship Hospital is proud of its record of surgical success. As co-Chiefs of Surgery, Dr. Glassman and Dr. Kuehn oversee a team of highly qualified technicians and surgeons who perform a wide range of surgeries. At Friendship Hospital, pain management (see below) is an important part of every surgical intervention. We perform all types of fracture repair and other orthopedic procedures. We offer the most advanced surgical techniques and technology. All patients are carefully screened for safety, and anesthetics are specifically tailored to your pet. Surgical services and facilities include: fully trained veterinary and technical staff, to ensure the safest, most efficient, state-of-the-art procedures for your pet; heated surgery tables for greater comfort; advanced sterilization techniques; continuous ECG and oxygen saturation monitors; 24 hour-intensive care after surgery and full blood testing. A dedicated and fully trained surgical technician continuously monitors patients during anesthesia. Elective surgeries such as spays and neuters are performed with the same care and dedication as more complex surgeries. Senior surgical staff is either at the hospital or on call 24-hours in the event that emergency surgical intervention is required. Surgical Admissions Presurgical bloodwork is required for all anesthetic patients Consent forms must be signed prior to surgery No food after 8PM the night before surgery (water is ok) Arrive at the hospital by 8:30 the morning of surgery Please provide us with accurate contact information for a responsible party available throughout the day At admission, a doctor will discuss with you your pet’s procedure – risks, possible complications, recovery – and answer any of your questions During the day It is generally difficult to give you a specific time for your pet’s surgery Feel free to call during the day to check on your companion’s surgical and recovery status. Your pet will be assigned a technician who can update you regularly. Your veterinarian should call you with a full status report by the end of the day. After Surgery Follow your discharging veterinarian’s instructions Monitor your pets incision for swelling and redness Monitor your pet’s appetite Maintain bandages and administer medications as instructed Return for follow-up as directed [back to the top]
	Internal Medicine Patients at Friendship are fortunate to have a fulltime, on-site veterinary internist. Dr. James McConnell heads up the internal medicine department and assists the staff doctors in evaluating and treating a wide array of serious and challenging pet illnesses. Dr. McConnell has received advanced residency training and has over 18 years of experience using ultrasound and state of the art endoscopic techniques. His special focus is in diagnosing and treating digestive, respiratory, liver, and urinary tract illnesses of cats and dogs. He has also been called upon to use these skills in evaluating cheetahs, orangutans, tigers and the previous elderly Pandas at the National Zoo. Dr. McConnell provides consultations for and accepts referrals from Friendship Hospital veterinarians. He also provides his expertise in evaluating and treating pets referred from over 50 other veterinary hospitals located in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Consultations can be scheduled directly with Dr. McConnell Monday through Friday. If special procedures need to be performed to evaluate or treat your pet, they can usually be scheduled the same day as the consultation. Also, because minimally-invasive diagnostic techniques are used in Dr. McConnell’s evaluations, pets are usually able to return home later the same day. [back to the top]
	Oncology Friendship Hospital for Animals has been proud to offer Oncology Services for pet dogs and cats since 1998. Headed by board-certified oncologist, Dr. Chand Khanna, the Oncology Services offers a wide variety of treatment options for pets with cancer. Dr. Khanna, along with Dr. Tony Rusk (who joined the Oncology Services in 2001) works closely with the staff at Friendship and with local referring veterinarians to provide the best healthcare options for cancer patients. The focus of the Oncology Service is to provide treatment options that meet the specific needs of each client whose pet has been diagnosed with cancer. These options may include conventional chemotherapy, new investigational therapies, and palliative or supportive care. We believe that success in providing options and helping families is best achieved with close communication between the Oncology Service, the primary care veterinarian, and the family. Ultimately, our goal is to preserve, lengthen, and improve quality of life for dogs and cats that are afflicted with cancer. Along with the traditional chemotherapy options, the Oncology Services at Friendship Hospital for Animals offers cutting edge cancer treatments due to an alliance with the Animal Clinical Investigations (formerly Animal Cancer Institute) headed by Drs. Khanna and Rusk. This nation-wide organization helps to identify novel cancer treatments through collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry. The research that stems from these trials contributes to future generations of anti-cancer drugs and further promotes the understanding of the complexity of cancer. [back to the top]
	Pain Management Managing your pet’s pain is one of our highest priorities. Notions that pets don’t feel pain or “need” the discomfort to keep them quiet are fairly universally accepted as outdated and incorrect. It has been shown again and again that pain impairs healing and, more importantly, is inhumane. We place utmost importance on your pet’s comfort and well-being. Allowing an animal to suffer pain is, in our view, unethical. At Friendship Hospital for Animals, we have many strategies for controlling pain. These can include oral medications, injections, constant infusions, nerve blocks, regional analgesia and sustained release pain patches. Many of these methods are included in the cost for routine surgical procedures. All of these methods are considered for every case, every time. Although these methods are, generally, very safe and very beneficial to our patients, some of these medications do carry risks for some patients. Your doctor will weigh these risks when indicated and be sure to discuss them with you. [back to the top]
	Cardiology Dr. Luis Braz-Ruivo, a board-certified veterinary cardiologist, sees referral consultations at Friendship one day a week. He will thoroughly work up a pet's heart disease via a full medical evaluation, radiographs, electrocardiogram, and ultrasonic echocardiography. He brings high tech, hands-on medicine to Friendship. [back to the top]
	Elective Hospitalization Friendship provides specialized boarding services that we call "elective hospitalization." This service is not equivalent to regular boarding. It is reserved for pets with medical conditions that require more intensive supervision than a normal boarding kennel can provide. For example, pets with diabetes, heart disease, epilepsy, senior pet problems, or in need of serious wound care may require elective hospitalization if an owner is going out of town. A veterinary technician assigned specifically to each case and will monitor the pet during his stay. Your pet will also be included in the daily rounds by the staff doctors who will oversee the condition and treatment of the pet and document any changes. In case of any emergency there is always a team of doctors and technicians available to provide hospital care 24 hours every day. [back to the top]
	Diagnostic Services Laboratory Services TechPet Laboratories operates an advanced veterinary clinical laboratory on site at Friendship 24 hours every day. TechPet provides laboratory services for 20 other animal hospitals in the area. 24 hour access to this resource provides Friendship veterinarians with fast accurate results that can mean timely diagnosis of critically ill patients. TechPet provides hematology, blood chemistry analysis, serology, parasitology, and microbiology services. Clinical pathology services are provided by TechPet’s partner, Mountain Veterinary Pathology. Radiology Services - Digital radiographs Radiology or X-rays help our veterinarians evaluate musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular (cardiopulmonary), gastrointestinal, reproductive and urinary systems. Digital imaging permits the veterinarian to see images much more clearly. With digital imaging we have the capability of emailing your pets x-ray or burning the images onto a disc. Ultrasound/Telemedicine This non-invasive, state-of-the-art technology uses sound waves to painlessly examine specific internal organs. This allows us to biopsy intra-abdominal structures without surgery. Pregnancy exams are also available. We have one of the newest, more advanced ultra-sound units available. Endoscopy High-tech fiber optics permits direct visual examination and biopsies of your pet's gastrointestinal system. This allows for more accurate diagnosis and treatment of oral, esophageal, stomach, colon and even upper intestinal tract disease. In some cases, foreign objects can also be removed without the need for surgery. Dr. McConnell provides endoscopic services at Friendship. [back to the top]