Our general medicine veterinarians are highly
skilled and trained to take special care of your pet from
birth through their senior years. We perform all levels of
service such as preventive medicine, diagnosis of disease,
medical treatments and emergencies. Your general medicine
veterinarian will work as a team with you and our board certified
specialists to provide initial and follow up care 24 hours
a day, seven days a week.
Some of the more common problems our generalists
see include diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, skin conditions,
ear infections, urinary tract infections, allergic reactions,
eye problems, obstetrical problems, cardiac conditions, infectious
diseases such as tracheobronchitis or parvovirus infections
and common orthopedic problems such as arthritis, ruptured
ligaments, and lamenesses.
If you are referred to Oradell Animal Hospital
to see a specialist or come for a second opinion, it is very
important that you bring copies of your pet's medical records
and a history of past and current medications. This will avoid
any unnecessary tests and expenses. We will accept faxed records,
but we encourage you to make sure that they are legible.
General Medicine Services:
Wellness and Preventive Medicine
Your pet's health and well-being is our number
one concern. A wellness examination gives us the chance to
evaluate your pet's overall health and to detect problems
before they turn into serious illnesses. Because most pets
age more quickly than you do, it is essential that your pet's
be examined at least once a year and as your pets get older,
twice yearly. Additional testing may be recommended to diagnose
a health problem.
As part of the wellness examination a complete
physical examination will be performed plus any routine screening
tests that may be indicated.
The early signs of heart disease can often be
recognized during a routine health exam.
Weight loss or gain since your pet's last exam
could indicate the early stages of a metabolic problem such
as diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disease, or obesity.
Your pet's ears will be examined since they
can harbor parasites, bacteria, fungus and foreign materials.
Your pet's eyes are a "window" to the body
and will be examined to determine abnormalities, such as anemia,
glaucoma, cataracts, high blood pressure, jaundice and allergies.
Your pet's oral cavity (gums, teeth, tongue
and palate) will be checked for tartar buildup, dental abnormalities,
fractures, loose teeth, tumors, infections and other problems.
Your pet's reproductive system will be examined
for swellings, discharges, and breast lumps. If your pet has
not been spayed or neutered, our veterinarian will explain
the health benefits of doing so.
Your pet's skin and hair will be examined as
a means of detecting allergies, infections, warts and tumors,
fleas, ticks and other parasites.
Your pet's abdomen will be palpated to detect
abnormalities such as enlarged organs or masses. Other painful
areas may indicate problems with the intestines, kidneys,
liver or other organs.
Your pet's joints, muscles and lymph nodes will
be examined to detect the possible presence of inflammation,
arthritis and tumors.
REMEMBER... DOGS AND CATS CAN AGE MORE THAN
SEVEN TIMES FASTER THAN PEOPLE!!!
Be sure to mention to your veterinarian any
unusual behavior or symptoms your pet may be exhibiting.
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Weight Loss
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Excessive panting
- Excessive scratching
- Change in appetite
- Excessive urination
- Excessive thirst
Disease Prevention
Vaccination against infectious diseases has
tremendous effects on reducing illness in your pet. At Oradell
Animal Hospital, we will create a vaccination program based
on your pet's lifestyle and exposure to disease.
Core vaccines are generally recommended for
all cats and dogs. For cats, core vaccines include panleukopenia,
rabies, calicivirus and herpesvirus. For dogs, core vaccines
include distemper, rabies, parvovirus, adenovirus and bordatella.
Certain vaccines or non-core vaccines are administered
to your pet depending upon exposure, risk and lifestyle. For
cats this includes vaccines that protect against leukemia
virus. For dogs, this includes vaccines that protect against
Lyme Disease and Leptospirosis.
If you are interested in viewing Oradell Animal
Hospital's Vaccination Protocols and Parasite Prevention Protocol,
please click
here.
Senior Wellness: Seniors Deserve
Special Health Care
When your dog or cat reaches eight years of
age (giant breeds five years of age) your pet is entering
the "senior years" of his/her life. While the aging process
is not a disease in and of itself, the physiological changes
that accompany aging may predispose a pet to one or more disease
processes. Older animals are more likely to develop multiple
health problems.
Twice a year health visits
are highly recommended for dogs once they reach eight years
of age. Knowing what changes to expect can help you explain
the health concerns of your senior pet to your veterinarian
which will help the doctor decide on the need for appropriate
testing.
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10 Steps Towards
Senior Health
1. Visit your veterinarian for a senior health
care exam at least every six months to monitor your pet's
health.
2. As your pet approaches senior status, we recommend basic
blood work to serve as a baseline for measuring future changes.
3. Note changes in behavior or appearance and see your veterinarian.
Get problems under control before they become major problems
requiring more extensive treatment.
4. Switch to a high quality senior food that provides enhanced
levels of key nutrients. If you have specific concerns or
your pet has medical issues, nutritional counseling can
be arranged.
5. Ask your veterinarian to check your dog's teeth regularly
and follow his/her recommendations.
6. Provide moderate exercise. This will help with weight
control and keep muscles toned.
7. Talk with your veterinarian if your dog or cat tires
easily or has trouble breathing.
8. Groom your pet at least once each week. Check for lumps,
sores, parasites or discharges from the eyes, ears and nose.
9. Maintain a familiar routine and environment to minimize
stress.
10. If your pet has not been neutered or spayed, have your
veterinarian examine the mammary glands or prostate gland.
If you notice that your pet becomes less active
due to aging and decreased muscle tone, Oradell Animal Hospital
offers physical rehabilitation services. Link here to Physical Rehabilitation.
Dermatology Services
Skin diseases are common problems in dogs and cats.
Some of the most common problems are skin
infections, ear infections, allergies, and external parasites.
We offer a wide array of diagnostic procedures such as skin
scrapings, fungal and bacterial cultures, cytology, biopsy,
and allergy testing (both serum and intradermal). We stock
a wide variety of limited antigen (hypoallergenic) diets for
pets with food allergies. Allergen specific immunotherapy
(allergy shots) is often recommended for pets diagnosed with
non-seasonal allergies.
Pain Management
Our priority is to enhance the well-being of
our patients. It is our goal to recognize, prevent and minimize
both physical and emotional pain and to ensure that your pet
is comfortable after surgical procedures. We will dispense
medication for comfort when your pet is discharged from the
hospital as well.
We have a separate area for our feline friends
offering them a stress- free environment that is quiet and
comfortable.
How can I tell when my pet is in pain? Response
to pain varies among individual patients. Your dog or cat
may still wag their tail or purr during human interaction.
Be aware of the following behaviors/symptons:
- Slight limping
- Trembling
- Shaking
- Licking or chewing at a painful area
- Sitting or lying in an abnormal position; not curled up
looking relaxed or comfortable
- May or may not appear interested in food
- Looks depressed
- Frequent whining
- Eliminates without attempting to move
- Dilated pupils
Microchip Placement To
microchip your pet, simply call to make an appointment. This
is a safe, simple and permanent form of pet identification
designed to quickly identify lost pets and reunite them with
their owners. Similar to administering a routine injection,
within seconds a microchip with a unique identification code
is implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades of
your pet. Once your pet is microchipped, you must fill
out the enrollment form enclosed with the microchip. The
information will then be stored with a service database and
is always available.
If your pet is ever lost, he/she can be scanned
at animal shelters or veterinary clinics to reveal their identification
number.
Doctors in General Medicine (Click
on names)
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Rita Angelo, VMD |
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Dr. Angelo graduated from the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine where she also completed her internship in small animal medicine and surgery. After completion of internship she joined Oradell Animal Hospital as a general practitioner.
Dr. Angelo enjoys general medicine and is a senior staff doctor at our Fort Lee, New Jersey office. She also sees appointments at our hospital in Paramus.
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