Surgery / Anesthesia
North Pole Veterinary Hospital is equipped with a sterile surgical suite and we have a licensed technician monitoring all surgeries. We use current anesthetics and will choose the right anesthetic protocol for your pet. During surgeries, we monitor your pet’s blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, respirations, oxygen saturation of the blood and capnography.

Surgeries that need special equipment or an advanced skill level will be referred to the Veterinary Surgical Specialists in Anchorage www.vsoak.com.

We are very proactive in pain management. We feel that pets recover more rapidly and more comfortably with proper pain control. We use pre and post operative pain control and send home oral pain packs for most routine surgeries. For more extensive surgeries we provide constant rate IV infusions for constant pain control. Please ask us if you have any questions about your pet’s anesthetic or pain control protocol.

Surgical Policies
The following information is a more in-depth look at our surgical procedures and the care we provide during your pet’s day with us. We do everything we can to make surgery as safe and comfortable as possible for our patients.

The morning of surgery please allow yourself 15 minutes for when you drop off your pet. During this time the front office staff or technician will go over some paperwork with you, give you an estimate and answer any questions that you may have. Each patient is given a full exam by the doctor to be sure there are no obvious clinical abnormalities that would postpone the procedure. A pre-anesthetic blood screen is recommended before the surgical procedure to make sure there are no liver, kidney or blood disorders.

The patient is given a pre-medication to lessen their anxieties and provide pain control. The patient is then given an IV anesthetic so that we are able to intubate them (place a breathing tube down the trachea) and place the patient on gas anesthetic for the procedure. Gas anesthetic is what is used for humans and we use isoflurane which allows us to modify the level of anesthesia quickly if needed.

The patient is then prepped for surgery (the area shaved and scrubbed) and then moved to the surgery suite. Once in surgery their temperature is maintained with warm water blankets and the patient is placed on a heart rate, respiratory rate, ECG, blood pressure and capnography (measures how well your lungs are exchanging oxygen).

Once the procedure is completed the patient is taken to recovery where their temperature is taken and they are kept warm. Most post surgical patients receive an additional injectable pain medication to ensure they are resting comfortably and they are sent home with oral pain medications.

Surgical patients are typically ready to go home after 3:00 pm the day of surgery. However, there are specific procedures that do require overnight post surgical care. If this is the case we will refer you to the After Hours Emergency Clinic for post-op monitoring during the night. Upon discharge, the technician or doctor will review the medications to go home and review incision and post op care.

Diagnostic Imaging

Radiographs are an important diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine. Heart disease, orthopedic/spinal problems, foreign bodies, tumors and stones in the bladder all can be diagnosed with radiographs. North Pole Veterinary Hospital has a newly acquired digital radiography system. The advantages to digital radiology are efficiency, improved image quality and ease of transmitting radiographs to board certified specialists for consultation. We enjoy showing you the radiographs from our new system, and if you have any questions please ask. We can now offer board certified radiologist consultations on any radiograph.

Ultrasound is a diagnostic tool used to non-invasively examine organ systems. Ultrasound can be used to diagnose specific heart diseases, diseases of the liver and spleen as well as confirm early pregnancy and assess fetal health.



Internal Medicine/Laboratory Testing
Many of the same diseases that you know and hear about in humans afflict dogs, such as diabetes, thyroid disease, hormonal disorders, cancers and immune mediated diseases. We have the most current in house laboratory equipment to help us diagnose diseases. We are capable of performing: complete blood counts, chemistry profiles, electrolytes, cortisol and basic thyroid tests, bile acids, coagulation panels, fecal parasite microscopic analysis and urinalysis. We also use multiple out of state diagnostic labs for more specialized tests that we cannot run at the clinic.

We have a board certified internal medicine specialist Dr. Sarah Love that works out of our clinic once a week. We refer patients to her that need advanced ultrasounds, chemotherapy or internal medicine procedures.

Emergency Medicine
We are not routinely on call after hours for your pet’s emergency care. After Hours Emergency Clinic is open most weekday nights and all weekend. If you should have an after hours emergency please call 488-2700 (www.afterhoursvet.org). Occasionally when the emergency clinic is closed we are open for emergencies after hours. Currently we are on call Wednesday nights, so please call the clinic phone (488-2335) and it will prompt you who to call. A veterinarian will call back to assist you. During the daytime, we are equipped to handle all emergencies. We have an oxygen cage, IV fluid pumps and warmers, monitoring equipment and licensed technicians to quickly assist the veterinarian to help your pet. Depending on the emergency, please attempt to call us in advance so we know that you are coming and we can be fully prepared and ready to help you and your pet.

Dentistry

Dental disease is the most common disease we see in companion animals. Dental disease can be visible on the crown of the tooth but most of the disease is under the gum line and not visible to you. Dental disease can cause bad breath, red gums (gingivitis) and changes in eating habits. Dental radiography is the only way to determine the extent of disease below the gum line, such as root abscesses, fractures and bone loss. We have a digital dental radiography unit that takes x-rays efficiently so we can determine the best oral hygiene treatment plan for your pet. Dental disease can be very debilitating and painful and can also contribute to diseases in other organ systems.

Dental procedures consist of a visit with the veterinarian for an examination and oral hygiene assessment and treatment plan. Licensed veterinary technicians perform the dental cleaning by probing and charting the mouth and then cleaning with an ultrasonic scaler and polisher. They also take dental x-rays of the problem areas in the mouth. The veterinarian is responsible for assessing the radiographs and for the surgical extraction of the necessary teeth. We do not perform root canals or advanced dental procedures. If we feel that is the best interest to your pet we will refer you to a specialist in the area.

The veterinarians and technicians will also talk to you after the procedure about a home treatment plan for your pet.


Ophthalmology
Ocular diseases such as conjunctivitis (red eye), keratoconjunctiva sicca (dry eye), corneal ulcers, glaucoma, cataracts and eyelid abnormalities are just a few of the eye problems that we see on a daily basis.

Some common tests that we may perform on your pet’s eyes are a tear production test, fluorescein stain to help detect ulcers and use of a tonopen to check eye pressures. We also perform ocular surgeries such as entropion correction, medial canthoplasty, cherry eye correction (third eyelid prolapse), and eyelid tumor removals.

CERF exams and cataract removal have to be done by a board certified ophthalmology specialist. We now have a specialist that comes to Fairbanks on a quarterly basis so we will refer you for the more advanced procedures.

Dermatology
One of the 10 top reasons dogs and cats visit the veterinarian are skin and ear problems. In Alaska, we are lucky that we do not have fleas, which is one of the main causes of itchy skin in dogs and cats in the lower 48. In Alaska, we can have occasional ectoparasites (mange, lice) that cause itchy skin, but the majority of skin problems are due to allergies, either food or environmental (atopy).

Common diagnostic steps for determining if your dog or cat has allergies are skin scrapings (scraping for parasites), skin cytologies (cytology to see if yeast or bacteria is present on the skin), food elimination trials, serum testing (blood testing) and intradermal skin testing (only performed at the veterinary specialist’s clinic in Anchorage-link). Different medications such as antibiotics, yeast medications, anti-histamines and immunomodulators (steroids and cyclosporine) can help keep your dog/cat comfortable. Allergies are frustrating and they are never cured but we can help you develop a treatment plan for your pet to make them more comfortable and decrease allergy symptoms.

Wellness Examinations

At North Pole Veterinary Hospital, we feel it is very important to perform annual wellness exams on all pets for the following reasons.

1. Pets can’t talk to us. Wellness exams are crucial for detecting ear infections, skin lumps, heart murmurs and dental disease, all things that you may not notice at home.

2. Pets age quickly. Pets age faster than people. Most pets are mature by the age of 2 and are considered seniors by the age of 7. Diseases and health changes can occur in a short period of time so it is important to try to detect these problems before they become life threatening.

3. Pets are good at hiding pain. Many times we do not find end stage diseases in pets before it is too late. Owners routinely say their pet only started acting sick 7 days ago otherwise, they were their same old self. Dogs, and especially cats are adept at masking that they are sick. They do not want to show pain or discomfort (their ancestors in the wild did not show pain as it would have been a sign of weakness). Routine blood screening and wellness exams can help us pick up on diseases so we can prevent and treat problems early in the process.

Vaccinations
Along with your wellness exam we will tailor a vaccine protocol that fits your pet’s lifestyle. We administer core and non core vaccines (see below for more on core and non core vaccines) and may vaccinate your pet annually or every 3 years. The wellness exams help us determine which vaccines are best for your pet and how frequently we should administer them. We may also check for intestinal parasites during the wellness visit.

Under the FAQ page there are more specifics about the diseases that we vaccinate for.

Core Vaccines protect against diseases that are easily transmitted, serious, and potentially dangerous or a public health risk.

• Dogs core vaccines: (DA2PP) distemper, adenovirus type2, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and rabies.
  
• Cats core vaccines: (FVRCP) panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and rabies.

Non-Core vaccines are reserved for pets at specific risk for infection due to exposure or lifestyle. Please let the veterinarian know if your pet will be traveling outside of Alaska, in a puppy class or going to a grooming facility or boarding kennel.

• Dogs: non-core vaccines: bordetella, leptospirosis
  
  The bordetella vaccine helps protect against one of the strains of kennel cough. The first time it is administered it needs to be boostered once in 4 weeks and will provide immunity for one year. It can be given yearly or as needed depending on risk.
  
  Leptospirosis is especially prevalent tin the continental United States. Although there are documented cases of it in Alaska’s wildlife population, it remains fairly uncommon in companion animals in Alaska. The leptospira vaccine is given twice initially 3-4 weeks apart then yearly as needed thereafter.
  
  
• Cats: Non-Core vaccines: leukemia, FIV, FIP
  
  FIV vaccines are not recommended. FIV vaccines produce an antibody that cross reacts with every commercial FIV test. A reliable commercial test is yet to be available that can distinguish between vaccinated and infected cats.
  
  Studies have shown that the FIP vaccine does not provide immunity against the FIP virus. The FIP vaccine is reserved for cats in shelter/cattery situations.

Puppies and Kitten Packages:

Puppies and kittens need a series of vaccines that we offer as a puppy and kitten package. All of the vaccines, exams and deworming are included in one price. Licensed veterinary technicians booster the vaccines after the initial visit.

Your puppy should receive their first wellness exam and DA2PP at 8-10 weeks of age. The DA2PP vaccine includes protection against canine distemper virus, parvovirus, parainfluenza and adenovirus type 1and 2. Puppies under 12 weeks of age should receive this vaccine three times, 4 weeks apart. Puppies 12 weeks or older that have had no previous vaccinations should receive the DA2PP vaccine only twice, 4 weeks apart. Once your puppy reaches 2 years of age the DA2PP vaccine is given every 3 years. It is not ideal for you to take your young puppy to public places until he/she receives at least two sets of vaccines. Use caution when visiting common areas such as dog parks and pet stores as risk of acquiring contagious disease may increase.

The canine rabies vaccination is required in the state of Alaska. This vaccine is given once after 12 weeks of age, boostered after 1 year, then given every three years.

Your kitten may need both core and non core vaccines based on their lifestyle and risk of exposure.

Due to a high rate of infection, the FVRCP vaccine is considered a core vaccine. It is given twice 3-4 weeks apart, starting at 8 weeks. A booster is given after 1 year, then administered every three years thereafter.

Cats that go outside should be vaccinated for feline leukemia (FeLV). Each cat in the household should test negative for FeLV and new members to the house should be tested as well. Susceptibility for the feline leukemia virus is greatest in the first 12 months of life. Cats older then 12 months with a reasonable risk of exposure should be vaccinated as well. The FeLV vaccine is administered twice at 8 an 12 weeks of age. FeLV should be given one year after initial doses then every three years thereafter.

The feline rabies vaccination is required in the state of Alaska. This vaccine is given once after 12 weeks of age, boostered after 1 year, then given every three years.

Health Certificates
We live in an area where there is constant motion and traveling. We provide health certificate services to ease your transition whether you are moving or going on vacation. Please provide us with a current physical address in the state of Alaska and a physical address to the place of destination. We also need proof of a current rabies vaccination.

We will determine if your pet needs to be on flea, tick and heartworm preventative.

International health certificates can be more complicated and most countries have websites that can provide you with a checklist of needed requirements before you travel. We can also help you with any questions you may have about the travel requirements needed for your destination.

End of Life Support and Euthanasia
We are all dedicated pet owners and understand how difficult it is to say goodbye to a member of the family. At this stressful and confusing time we are here to help you prepare and cope with the loss of your friend. We will work closely with you to help you determine when it is time to make this decision. We are in the unique position to provide euthanasia when our animal friends are in distress and we will try to make the process as comfortable as possible for you and your pet.

Financial Options

Pet’s can put a financial strain on an owner’s pocketbook. We want our clients to fully understand their options when it comes to our billing policy, pet insurance and financing options.

Payment is expected at the time services are rendered. We accept, cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard and Care Credit. Any person writing a check must have a valid Alaska identification card present.

Supplemental pet insurance is a great way to keep your pet’s medical costs down. Owner’s pay a monthly premium, file claims and receive reimbursement for servies and medication received. The client is responsible to pay their bill with their veterinarian and then file claims with their insurance agency. The insurance agency processes the claim and issues a reimbursement check to the pet owner based on the insurance plan selected.

Here is the contact information for some of the agencies available (North Pole Veterinary Hospital is not affiliated and does not endorse any particular insurance agency)

VPI Pet Insurance
1-866-VET-PETS
petinsurance.com

Pets Health Care Plan
1 800-807-6724
petshealthplan.com

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
1-866-861-9092

Financing Options

If you are looking to finance services your option would be to apply for “Care Credit”
This is a medical credit card that can only be used at participating doctor’s offices. You can check with your current physicians and dentist to see if they participate with Care Credit and if so you can use this card at their office as well.

Care Credit
Toll Free 1-800-365-8295
www.carecredit.com