According to ancient Chinese medical philosophy, disease is the result of an imbalance or blockage of energy in the body. Acupuncture is believed to balance this energy and release the blockage, thereby assisting the body to heal disease.

Acupuncture can also be useful as an adjunct to Western therapy.

• Arthritis or vertebral disc problems
  
• Skin problems
  
• Respiratory problems
  
• Gastrointestinal problems
  
• Selected reproductive problems
  
• Nervous system problems
  

Our Self-Contained Surgical Unit
Our sterile surgical suite is designed to minimize post –surgical complications and maximize patient comfort, whether your pet is scheduled for spaying or neutering, or a more specialized surgery, such as orthopedic repair, abdominal exploratory or foreign body removal. Trained personnel monitor blood pressure (Doppler), oxygenation of the blood (pulse oximetry), heart rate (EKG), and respiratory rate.

• Spay or neuter surgery
• Declawing
• Laceration and abscess repair
• Tumor removal
• Orthopedic (bone) surgery
• Abdominal surgery
• Ear/eye surgeries
• Oral/periodontal surgery
  

Behavioral Services and Training
Behavior problems can not only cause stress for you and your pet, but also, if unchecked, can lead to major medical problems and a shorter life for your pet. Some of our behavior services include:

• Behavioral counseling and treatment for problems including housebreaking, barking, anxiety, aggressiveness (biting, scratching, etc), depression, etc.
• Housebreaking and basic obedience training

Dental Hygiene Services
Oral health increases your pet's wellbeing, adds to longevity, and makes your pet more pleasant to be around. Our dental services include:

• Oral/dental examinations
• Dental cleaning, polishing and fluoride treatments
• Dental x-rays
• Extractions

Laboratory/Diagnostic
Our in-house laboratory and state of the art radiology equipment allow us to quickly and thoroughly evaluate your pet's health, even in critical cases where time is of the essence. Our facilities include:

• Fully equipped laboratory
• Full x-ray department
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Blood pressure monitor

Diet
Proper nutrition is vital to maintain optimal organ function and improve quality of life. Quality diets provide protein, vitamins and minerals in the correct proportions and digestibility to meet the special needs of patients. Each species we see has different dietary requirements, as well as changing dietary needs throughout your pet's life.

Our Self-Contained Surgical Unit
Our sterile surgical suite is designed to minimize post-surgical complications and maximize patient comfort, whether your pet is scheduled for spaying or neutering, or a more specialized surgery, such as orthopedic repair, abdominal exploratory or foreign body removal. Trained personnel monitor blood pressure (Doppler), oxygenation of the blood (pulse oximetry), heart rate (EKG), and respiratory rate.

• Spay or neuter surgery
• Declawing
• Ear/eye surgeries

When dogs reach the age of 8 and cats reach the age of 10 years old, we at Great Falls Animal Hospital consider them to be aging pets. Are you noticing your pet having difficulty on the stairs? Has your pet stopped greeting you at the door or taking longer to get there? Is your pet "forgetting" housetraining? Perhaps you're noticing that your pet is gaining weight, has poor skin and coat condition or is sleeping more than usual. While these things may just seem like normal "old age" to you, the fact is that any or all of these signs might be an indication that your older pet has a medicalproblem that needs attention.

In the past, we often accepted a declining quality of life for our aging pets or for ourselves, for that matter, as a fact of life beyond our control. Thanks to advances in disease detection and treatment, that is no longer necessary!

With appropriate veterinary care and nutrition, your pet's senior years can be a healthy and happy time. And you are the key to making this happen. You know your pet better than anyone does, so it's up to you to report any changes you see to our veterinary staff. Remember; your pet ages 5 to 7 years for every one of yours. This suggests that health problems in your pet can progress 5 to 7 times faster and, therefore, more frequent checkups are necessary. By working together, we can prevent or treat many problems that could rob your pet of its quality of life.

By sharing life and love with you, your pet has given you a priceless gift. Now that your pet is aging, you have an opportunity to give something in return: the special love and care that can make the "golden" years happy and healthy.  We encourage you to make a Healthy Aging Wellness appointment soon to discuss how we can make these the best years of your life together.

Healthy Aging Questionnaire: PDF | Word

Holistic care is sometimes called alternative medicine or complementary medicine. The approach tends to be more natural than the standard "Western" approach, and stresses maintaining wellness rather than treating disease. It encompasses many different modalities which can be used alone or in combination with Western medicine. Most holistic approaches attempt to balance or strengthen a central "life force" or energy. The holistic approaches offered at Great Falls Animal Hospital include:

• Acupuncture
• Nutrition
• Homeopathy
• Herbal medicine - both Chinese and Western
• Flower remedies

Discuss your pet's holistic needs with Dr. A. Garrood. If we cannot provide the modality your pet needs, we probably can suggest where you might find it.

Great Falls Animal Hospital offers grooming services Monday through Friday. Your pet can be left with us as early as 7:00 a.m. and picked up as late as 8:00 p.m.

To ensure your pet's safety, we require all pets to be vaccinated prior to being admitted for grooming. Because this grooming service is a part of our veterinary hospital, you can rest assured that, should any medical emergency arise while your pet is with us, he or she will have immediate access to professional veterinary staff.

Every grooming includes a bath and nail trim. If your pet has a problem with his ears or anal glands, you can request that a veterinarian treat them while your pet is here.

We also provide the following services:

• Medicated baths
• Nail trimming
• Dematting
• Dips

Unfortunately, you may be faced with an emergency situation at some point in your pet's life.
For Emergencies Call: Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 703-759-2330 and Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact the Great Falls Animal Hospital Immediately if You Notice Any of the Following:

IN GENERAL --- Any problem that persists longer than 24 hours Any problem that worsens over several hours Any systemic problems such as lethargy, loss of appetite, weakness and fever Body temperature less than 100°F or greater than 104°F Any indication that more than one body system (GI, urinary, neurological) is affected Acute pain Extreme lethargy GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS --- Frequent bouts of vomiting or diarrhea resulting in loss of large volumes of fluid Inability to drink or keep water down Blood or black material (digested blood) in the vomit or stool More than three to four episodes of vomiting or diarrhea in a puppy or in a dog older than 8 years Vomiting following suspected ingestion of foreign material (toys, garbage, rocks, etc) Suspected poisoning Suspected bloat

BLEEDING --- Bleeding from nose, mouth or anus Bleeding accompanied by bruising of the skin, especially on the abdomen Bleeding that cannot be stopped by applying pressure If blood loss is excessive Weakness, difficulty breathing, or reluctance to move after a bleeding episode LAMENESS --- Obvious fracture of a limb Nonweight-bearing lameness persisting for more than 12 hours Swollen, painful joints or a gait that appears as if "walking on eggshells" Paralysis of one or more limbs Lameness that initially improves but does not resolve in 24-48 hours OTHER EMERGENCIES --- Trauma Venomous snakebite Seizures lasting longer than 5 minutes or three or more seizures in 15 minutes

SIGN	WHAT TO DO
Vomiting or diarrhea (once or twice)	Remove all food. Give pet only water or ice cubes for hydration. Call the veterinarian if persists.
Vomiting or diarrhea (more than once or twice)	Check for signs of dehydration such as sticky mucous membranes and dull eyes. Call the veterinarian.
Suspected bloat (large breeds)	Call the veterinarian for immediate visit.
Bleeding from nose or paw pad (not excessive)	Apply pressure to stop bleeding.
Uncontrolled bleeding	Call veterinarian for immediate visit.
Lameness	Call veterinarian if not resolved in 24 hours
Suspected broken bone	Call veterinarian for immediate visit.
Trauma: auto accident, dog bite, falls	Call veterinarian for immediate visit.
Choking	Call veterinarian immediately.

After-hours: Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Vienna 703-281-5121
The LifeCentre in Leesburg 703-777-5755
SouthPaws Criticare in Fairfax 703-752-9100
Exotic Patients: call Alexandria Animal Hospital 703-751-2022

We have gone digital! In 2007 we purchased digital systems for dental and body x-rays. Modern radiograph machines use technology that allows fewer x-rays to be directed into the patient, producing a high quality radiograph which is safer for our patients and our staff. Radiographs assist our veterinarians with diagnosing abnormalities in the skeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, reproductive and urinary systems. With digital x-ray we can take and interpret images more rapidly and accurately. If you would like copies of your pet’s films we can give you a copy on CD, or email them directly to you, or transmit them to specialists when required.

Twice yearly for life . . . Prescription for a lifetime of health. Pets age faster than people. By the age of two, most pets have already reached adulthood. By seven, many pets are entering their senior years. Because dogs and cats age so rapidly, major health changes can occur in a short amount of time. Annual exams may not catch serious illness early enough. Because of the advances in medicine, pets are living longer than ever. This does increase the likelihood that they will experience a potentially serious illness during their lifetime. Twice yearly wellness exams provide an opportunity to discuss nutrition, pet behavior and other concerns with your veterinarian. Twice yearly physical exams help your pet live a longer, healthier and happier life.

Dogs and cats are at risk of exposure to various infectious diseases, some of which are life threatening. Others such as rabies also pose a public health risk. Vaccination to prevent common infectious diseases supports the first goal of medicine: disease prevention. Prevention of infectious disease is more beneficial to your pet than treating disease once it occurs. In general, viral infections cannot be treated, but symptoms may be managed by medication. Preventive vaccination is one of the most reliable and cost effective methods of health care available to a pet owner.

Rabies is a viral disease that can affect all warm-blooded mammals, including dogs, cats, wildlife and humans. The virus infects cells of the nervous system, producing in coordination and behavioral abnormalities such as unusual aggression or withdraws. Rabies is usually transmitted by bite wounds, often from infected wildlife, which represent the largest reservoir of the disease in the United States. Virginia requires all pets over the age of 12 weeks to be vaccinated against rabies. These rabies vaccinations need to be updated on a regular basis.

Some of the other disease we vaccinate both cats and dogs for, are airborne diseases. Your pet does not have to come into contact with another animal to become infected. For this reason we recommend routine vaccination. Our veterinarians will make the appropriate recommendations for frequency of vaccination for your pet.