Because our focus is on identifying the exact cause of your pet’s abnormal symptoms, Dr. Young keeps up with the latest in medical care and recommendations in regards to cardiology, endocrinology, dermatology, gastroenterology, and urology. He attends several times as much continuing education as required every year keeping up with the latest changes in medicine and treatments as well as works closely with veterinary specialists around the southeast to provide even more advanced care when needed.

If pet surgery is required, you can be certain that your pet will receive the utmost care from our staff. Our surgeon is experienced in a wide range of surgical procedures including many types of soft tissue pet surgery (hepatic, biliary, renal, splenic, adrenal, gastric, intestinal, urinary, reproductive, dermal, oral/pharyngeal, airway, ocular, otic, neoplastic, wound reconstruction). As well as an array of orthopedic procedures such as fracture plating, pinning, wiring, external fixation, cruciate repair, medial patellar luxation repair, ligament/tendon repair, osteotomies, surgical joint reductions, etc.

More details about pet surgery including soft tissue/orthopedic surgery and stifle surgery can be found here.

Ultrasound is a diagnostic tool used to look inside different organ systems of the body for changes in architecture associated with pathological disease. Dr. Young uses the most up to date machine and software to diagnose many diseases that would otherwise be missed or misdiagnosed. He does all the imaging himself and is able to track and manage many liver, kidney, adrenal, pancreatic, intestinal, bladder, reproductive and vascular diseases which would otherwise be not be possible. We keep very detailed pictures along with patient notes throughout our patient’s lives to both provide quantity and quality of life for as long as possible. We would love to talk with you about any questions you may have in this area.

We offer laparoscopic procedures as a noninvasive way of treating abdominal surgical disorders including laparoscopic artificial insemination. Dr. Young also utilizes rigid endoscopy to biopsy or remove things from hard to reach places in the body. As well as arthroscopy to diagnose and treat different orthopedic joint disorders.

In recent years, veterinarians have made great progress in understanding how dogs and cats feel pain and the best ways to manage that pain. Many dogs and cats will instinctively hide their pain as a survival mechanism, which, in the past, lead to incorrect assumptions about the ability of them to feel pain. Because we now understand more about how they feel pain, we now know how to recognize and manage it. With obvious injuries or after surgical procedures, we can reasonably assume that they will experience pain. Although the signs may be subtle, careful observation will often reveal signs of pain in most dogs and cats. Most dogs and cats experiencing pain will change their behavior patterns. Pain is something that no pet should experience needlessly. By closely observing your pet for subtle signs of pain and by working with us, your pet can enjoy a long, pain-free life!

Whenever your four legged family member requires anesthesia or sedation, we understand the apprehension you feel. That’s why we use only the safest available gas anesthetics, like isoflurane. Also, because our clinic focuses mainly on the health of dogs and cats, we’re aware of some of the special needs certain breeds require for surgery. We have a state-of-the-art electronic monitor that allows us to continually monitor blood pressure, EKG, heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse oximetry, and body temperature throughout the procedure. In addition the veterinarian and the veterinary assistant continually monitor your dog or cat during the procedure and the post-op recovery phase.

Dental disease is the most common disease in dogs and cats. Over 68% of all pets over the age of three have some form of periodontal or dental disease. Most pets might have bad breath, bleeding and swollen gums, discolored, missing or loose teeth. There is substantial scientific evidence that bacteria from tartar are absorbed into the blood stream and deposited in various organs. Heart and kidney disease are often the result. Second, tartar builds up along the gum line. As the tartar enlarges, it pushes the gums away from the roots of the teeth. Eventually, the teeth will loosen and fall out. To prevent this from occurring we offer complete state-of-the-art ultrasonic teeth scaling, followed by full polishing, and performed while your dog or cat is under anesthesia. Our dental services are performed with the same high-quality dental equipment (high-speed drills, ultrasonic scalers, and polishers) found in most human dentist offices. It cannot be emphasized enough that regular professional cleaning is important to maintaining your pet’s health. Upon completion of the teeth and gum cleaning, we will provide you with home dental care instructions to help your pet preserve a healthy smile! You may schedule a dental appointment for your dog by simply calling us.

Our modern, on-site digital X-ray equipment provides high quality radiographs to aid in the diagnosis of many disorders. With digital processing, all films may be taken, developed, and read all within several minutes. Radiographs are extremely helpful in the diagnosis of many canine and feline diseases.

An electrocardiogram is a diagnostic procedure used to monitor the electrical conduction of the heart. We provide this service on-site as well as consultations with cardiology specialists.

As soon as you get your puppy or kitten home, it is important to have us evaluate the health of your new family member. In fact, we recommend that breeders give you at least 72 hours for you to bring your new pet in to see us in order to ensure a healthy animal. A thorough examination is necessary to detect any possible congenital defects or early signs of disease. A series of vaccinations will be determined for your new pet. We recommend a series of four puppy vaccines, and three kitten vaccines, starting at 6-8 weeks, and continuing through 9-10 weeks, 12-14 weeks and 16 weeks. These are administered to prevent potentially fatal infectious diseases. Internal and external parasite examinations are performed to detect and treat parasite infestations. We will also begin puppies on heartworm prevention upon their third vaccine visit. Prophylactic de-worming of all puppies and kittens is performed as recommended by the CDC in order to prevent potential zoonotic parasite transmissions. Advice is given regarding care of your new pet including feeding, exercise, house training and more.

We will provide guidance on your pets nutritional needs and identify an appropriate diet based on their overall health, life stage, activity level, and environment. We also provide the special foods necessary for the pets which have certain conditions or diseases. Our trained staff is available to help you choose the right diet for your pet to keep him or her happy, healthy and active.
Also nearly one-third (33%) of all adults in the United States are obese. Unfortunately, this same number now applies to our pets. Obesity leads to several diseases both in pets and people. Type II diabetes, heart disease and arthritis are the most common weight-related disorders. Diet and weight reduction are the key to ensuring that your pet lives as long and healthy a life as possible. We have several diets that are especially made for pets that are obese. Please ask our staff for more information.

We offer professional grooming to our clients through our accredited groomer. She has many years of experience and can trim any breed to any style desired. Please feel free to schedule an appointment by calling us, or stopping by to talk with her. See our grooming page under special services for more information.

Read more about our Grooming services here.

Wellness visits
At Guntersville Animal Hospital we believe the most important part of your annual visit is the exam our veterinarian will perform on your pet. It’s easy to forget that one year for your pet is equivalent to approximately seven human years. Our veterinarian is trained to feel, listen, and look for things that may go unnoticed by owners. Laboratory tests for internal parasites and heartworms will also be checked. We will advise you on diet, exercise, and lifestyle through all stages of your pets life.

Annual Health Screening
This important test is a screening profile to determine organ function (i.e. liver, kidneys), and a complete blood count to look for infection or anemia. If your dog or cat is over seven years of age we will also perform a more advanced study of organ function, including a thyroid screening. Please call our office to schedule your pet’s annual health screening today.

Vaccinations
We recommend Rabies, Distemper/Parvo/Corona/Lepto, and Kennel Cough vaccines for all indoor and outdoor dogs. We recommend Rabies, Distemper, and Kennel Cough vaccines for all indoor cats but in addition to these we add Leukemia and FIP vaccines for our outdoor felines. We highly recommend that all new feline additions added to your household are Leukemia/AIDS tested before bringing them home to your other pets.