Call Village Animal Hospital at 805-497-4900 if you feel your pet needs immediate medical attention. Westlake Village Animal Hospital is a 24 hour animal hospital with highly trained doctors and staff. We are available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

Chocolate can be very toxic to dogs, especially baking chocolate. Although it is rarely fatal, chocolate ingestion can result in serious illness depending on the quantity your pet has eaten. Symptoms can take up to 12 hours to develop; so many times you may think your pet is okay, however, look for symptoms of serious chocolate ingestion, which include: vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, restlessness and/or panting, excessive urination, muscle spasms, abnormal behavior, increased heart rate, and occasionally seizures. It is important that you call Westlake Village Animal Hospital at 805-497-4900.

If your pet is having trouble breathing, this could be a life threatening emergency. It is important that you call Westlake Village Animal Hospital immediately. Having trouble breathing could be a serious symptom of many different health problems aside from choking, possibly heart and lung disease.

If you think your pet has possibly ingested poison, call Westlake Village Animal Hospital immediately. There are many types of household, automotive, and gardening poisons that can seriously injure or even be fatal to your pet. It is important that you inform our veterinarian of the poison your pet could have ingested and if possible, bring the package as well. Depending on the type of poison your pet ingested, the package may help us provide the proper treatment to save their life.

When a pet is limping, they are in pain. There are many causes that can result in your pet limping; such as a recent injury, underlying skeletal or muscle issue, or even pet arthritis. It is important that you call our office to schedule an appointment to have one of our veterinarians examine your pet to find the cause of the limping and help elevate the pain.

When your pet is vomiting and/or having diarrhea, it can be a symptom of a simple or serious medical problem. Please have one of our veterinarians examine your pet immediately to determine the best course of treatment. When your pet is vomiting and/or having diarrhea, they are losing fluids as well as nutrients at a rapid rate and may become dehydrated. It is important to find the underlying cause and treat the problem accordingly.

Seizures are the most frequently seen neurological problem in dogs. Despite the dramatic signs of a seizure, your dog feels no pain, only bewilderment. Please note, that dogs do not swallow their tongues. Do not put your fingers into your pet’s mouth; you will not help your pet and you run a high risk of being bitten. Most importantly, keep your dog from falling and away from large objects or sharp furniture. Most seizures may last less than three minutes. If the seizure lasts for more than five minutes, then it is a serious and life threatening situation. In this case, your pet needs immediate life saving medical attention. After a dog has a seizure episode, you should call Westlake Village Animal Hospital to speak with one of our Veterinarians. Our Veterinarian will ask for a thorough medical history of your pet, It is also important to inform us if there was possible exposure of your pet to any harmful poisons, medications, or illegal drugs; or possible head trauma.

Immediately attempt to stop your pet’s bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound with an adsorbent dressing, such as dry gauze, followed by a layer of bandage material or a clean dry cloth. Then call Westlake Village Animal Hospital to have the wound seen by one of our Veterinarians. The bandage that you apply will protect the wound during transport to Westlake Village Animal Hospital and prevent any further contamination of the injury.

Pets can have all kinds of allergies to their food, fleas, dust, pollen, mold, or even contact with a specific item. Animals will chew, lick and scratch all over, especially on the feet and face. However, diagnosis can sometimes be tricky. The clinical signs and itching caused by grass pollen are the same as those caused by house dust mites and many molds. In other words, your dog may be allergic to several different things with the end result being the same: excessive itching and scratching. In order to determine the exact cause of your dog’s itching, pet allergy tests are available as well as other treatment options at Westlake Village Animal Hospital.

Westlake Village Animal Hospital recommends your dog receive DHPP (otherwise known as Canine Distemper for Upper Respiratory infections and the Parvo virus), They should also have the vaccinations called Bordetella (otherwise known as Kennel Cough), and the Rabies vaccinations. Once your dog has received their initial puppy boosters, the DHPP vaccine is given once a year, Bordetella vaccination is recommended every six months (especially if they are boarding or frequently in a group environment), and Rabies every three years. For cats, we recommend the FVRCP (Feline Distemper for Upper Respiratory diseases), Leukemia, and Rabies vaccinations. Once your cat has received their initial kitten boosters, the FVRPC and Leukemia vaccines are given once per year, and the Rabies once every three years.

The main difference between an anesthetic and a non-anesthetic dental is the use of anesthesia. Why would a veterinarian use one type of pet dental versus the other? Similar to human teeth, there are many different levels, called “Grades” of dental disease. Grade I regarding pet dental disease is classified as a slight amount of tarter and no gum disease. Grade II pet dental disease is classified as a moderate amount of tarter that is now starting to push up against the pet’s gum line. You may start seeing gingivitis, redness and inflammation of your pet’s gums. This is a crucial time to get your pet’s teeth cleaned to avoid permanent dental damage. Grade III pet dental disease is classified as a heavy amount of dental tarter, gingivitis, periodontal disease, pain, and your pet may have loose teeth. There may be permanent dental damage done at Grade III. Grade IV is classified as severe dental tarter, gingivitis, periodontal disease, bone loss, pain, and there will be many loose teeth. Additionally, bacteria from severe dental tarter could be shedding into the blood stream potentially causing damage to vital organs. For Grade II-IV we recommend your pet have an anesthetic dental to have a deep cleaning under the gum line and in pockets between the teeth and gums. Additionally, depending on the Grade your pet might need dental x-rays and extractions.

We recommend non-anesthetic dentals only if your pet has a Grade I dental disease or cannot safely undergo anesthesia due to a medical condition.

IUsually when your pet’s breath smells, it has to do with the hygiene of their teeth. But if your pet has a sudden onset of foul bad breath, it can be a symptom of a much more serious medical issue. To be sure, the best thing is to schedule an appointment with one of our veterinarians to help determine the cause and the best course of action.

Evidence-based veterinary care is utilized in the diagnosis of diseases and illnesses based on scientific facts and observations. Holistic care for animals includes such techniques as Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, and Nutritional Counseling. For the treatment of these diseases and illnesses the Veterinarian can choose either a holistic or evidence-based approach, or a combination of both.

Having our pets eat a good quality and balanced diet is the most important way we can help our pet get and stay healthy. It helps to ensure that they are getting all the vitamins and nutrients for their bodies. The most important decision an owner can make is to invest in a quality diet for their pet. Even if you have invested in a high quality diet there can still be a need to use nutritional supplements.

In some medical cases, a change in the type and/or amount of certain nutrients is needed to manage a specific illness. This is why it is very important to work with one of our veterinarians who will help choose the correct diet and nutritional supplements for your pet. Just like some humans require additional supplements, pets may need supplements to maintain healthy coats, active brain functionality, strong joints, and a healthy digestive system. The most common supplements given to pets are fatty acids and multivitamins. These can aid in reducing shedding and can improve a pet’s coat. Additionally, the antioxidants in multivitamins can help improve cognitive function. Another supplement recommended is probiotics. These can be very helpful with gastrointestinal problems.

Most of our clients are to be present for the examination of their pet, but we understand some clients simply cannot do that. It may be due to medical problems, transportation issues or simply a scheduling conflict. We all recognize the need for your pet to receive the proper medical care, therefore, we provide safe and easy pet transportation service. Simply call our clinic and schedule a pick-up from your home or work. One of our staff members will be happy to pick up your pet in our pet-friendly van (fees may apply). Once the procedures are complete, we will call you to schedule a time to return your pet back to you. You can rest assured that you pet is in our safe and loving hands.

IWestlake Village Animal Hospital is your exotic animal and bird wellness center. We offer complete exams and treatment for birds, rabbits, rodents, ferrets and reptiles. In addition to companion animals, several veterinarians at Westlake Village Animal Hospital specifically treat exotic pets and birds. Dr. Howard Martin, our resident expert brings 29 years of experience to this area of our veterinary practice. Westlake Village Animal Hospital has the experience and knowledge to provide you with the highest level of care you expect.