We understand that the decision to declaw a cat is a significant one, requiring careful consideration and responsible veterinary care. Our declawing service is offered only after a thorough health check with one of our experienced veterinarians, ensuring the well-being of your feline companion.

Our Process: Prior to the procedure, our dedicated team assesses the health, age, and weight of your cat. During a consultation, potential risks associated with the surgery and the behavioral changes post-operation are discussed. We prioritize transparency and aim to educate pet owners about the implications of declawing.

Medical Measures: To minimize discomfort, your pet will receive full local blocks on the paws while under anesthesia. Additionally, our veterinarians administer pre and post-operative pain medications to ensure your cat’s well-being throughout the entire process.

Cutting-Edge Technology: We utilize a CO cutting laser for the surgical amputation of the final digit, commonly known as the “knuckle,” in the cat’s feet. This advanced technology causes minimal bleeding and potentially reduces pain, emphasizing our commitment to providing the highest standard of care for your beloved pet.

Cons of Declawing: While we offer declawing as a service, it’s crucial to acknowledge the potential drawbacks associated with the procedure. Risks include infection, anesthesia-related complications, long-term painful complications, and behavioral changes. It’s essential for pet owners to make an informed decision based on the well-being of their cats.

Cats’ Natural Behavior: Understanding the natural behavior of cats is paramount in making informed decisions. Cats scratch for various reasons, including maintaining their claws, marking territory, and stretching. We encourage cat owners to explore alternatives and consider the well-being of their pets.

Pros and Alternatives: While there may be perceived benefits to cat declawing, such as preventing destructive scratching, our clinic promotes safe alternatives. These include regular nail trimming, the use of nail caps, providing appealing scratching surfaces, and effective training. Our goal is to foster positive interactions between pet owners and their cats, ensuring a harmonious relationship without resorting to surgical interventions.

Conclusion: We prioritize the health and well-being of your feline companions. Our responsible approach to cat declawing involves a comprehensive assessment, advanced medical measures, and a commitment to educating pet owners about alternatives. We encourage open discussions with our veterinarians to make informed decisions that prioritize the welfare of your beloved cat.

To learn more about cat behaviors another great resource available is https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats

To provide you with the highest-quality veterinary care for your pet, Centennial Animal Hospital has invested in a state-of-the-art digital X-ray machine and digital dental X-ray machine as well. The investment in digital X-ray technology reflects our commitment to offering you and your pet the best, most comprehensive healthcare available.

If you feel you have an emergency with your pet, please call us immediately. We can help while you make your way to our clinic, or there may be times when we advise you to go directly to the 24-hour emergency room if it is in the best interest of your pet.

Centennial Animal Hospital does not have staff on premises after hours, and we do not offer after-hour emergency care. Should you have an after-hours emergency, please visit Animal ER Care located at 5520 N Nevada Ave #150, Colorado Springs, CO 80918. They are open 24/7, and their phone number is 719-260-7141.

At Centennial Animal Hospital, we’re committed to giving every patient the customized, comprehensive care they deserve. Our goal is to spare you and your pets from preventable pain and suffering while enriching your lives with many healthy, happy years together. Preventative care is essential to this mission, and it’s not limited to wellness exams and vaccinations. We also offer products and treatments that prevent parasites from infecting your pets.

Because every patient is unique (and we treat them as such), we can’t predict exactly what products your pets will need until we meet them. Parasite exposure risks depend on species, breed, age, exercise habits, geography, and a variety of other factors. However, we think it’s important for every pet owner to understand the following basics of pet parasite prevention.

Our Colorado Springs veterinary hospital is equipped to prevent and treat parasite infestations, but prevention is always better and more effective. We carry a variety of parasite prevention products at our hospital, including prescription and non-prescription products, oral and topical application methods, and preventatives for internal and external parasites.

Here are the most common external parasites for dogs and cats:

• Fleas
• Ear Mites
• Mange Mites
• Ticks

Other parasites actually infest the intestinal system or other major organs. When pets have external parasite infestations, they may accidentally ingest eggs or larvae, causing infestations within their bodies. These internal parasites include:

• Heartworm
• Hookworm
• Roundworm
• Tapeworm
• Coccidia
• Giardia

If your pet already has parasites, they may be suffering in ways you don’t notice yet. If you suspect your dog or cat already has worms, it’s important to seek treatment right away. Symptoms of worms in dogs include coughing, vomiting, appetite loss, weight loss, and low energy levels. Cats don’t always exhibit the same symptoms, but cats may have worms in their stool, and kittens with hookworms may have bloody stool, diarrhea, weakness, and stomach pain.

We also treat flea infestations, ear mites, mange, and other external parasites. Ask your Colorado Springs vet about shampoos and ointments if your pet has external irritation or you’re struggling to eliminate pests from your home.

No pet owner wants to see their dog or cat suffer because parasites have taken over their body. Protect your pets from fleas, ticks, worms, and other parasites by making sure they receive consistent doses of preventative products. Each Colorado Springs veterinarian at our hospital offers customized parasite prevention for their patients.

Talk to your veterinarian about parasite prevention today. They will consider your pet’s age, health, and lifestyle before recommending the products they need to minimize risks and avoid painful, debilitating infestations later. We encourage you to act quickly to protect your new pets, then keep up with a lifelong schedule of regular parasite prevention.

There are many conditions an animal can be diagnosed with, which require a prescription diet. These can include but are not limited to: 

• Food allergies
• Diabetes
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Kidney & Liver Disease
• Lower Urinary Tract Disease 
• Obesity 

We carry a wide variety of these prescription diets from Hill’s, Purina, and Royal Canin. If we do not carry the specific one you’re looking for or happen to be out of stock of a prescription diet, we are happy to special order it in for you with a few days’ notice.

At Centennial Animal Hospital, our team is dedicated to providing your pets, of any age, with exceptional care and attention. It’s always our goal to ensure your pet has the longest lifespan possible through preventative medicine and routine checkups. As your pet gets a bit older, though, his or her needs change. When they do, you’ll want to come into our Colorado Springs animal hospital for the care your pet needs. Senior pet care should come from specialists. We’re that team for you.

What care do senior pets need?

In Colorado Springs, senior pet care is available for any need your pet has at Centennial Animal Hospital. If you come in to speak to our veterinarian, you’ll get a customized care plan for your pet. As your animal gets a bit older, it becomes more important than ever that you take steps to prevent illness/injury and get care sooner if your pet becomes ill. We can help you with that. Our Colorado Spring senior pet care services are extensive and include:

Senior Pet Wellness Exams

Please bring in your pet for the senior pet wellness exam he or she needs. We recommend coming in at least twice a year. This allows our team to look for any age-related concerns, including organ dysfunction, cataracts, cancer, and chronic joint problems. These are typical of many pets as they age.

Senior Pet Dentistry

Your pet’s teeth are critical to their well-being but are often overlooked. As your animal gets older, the risk of developing periodontal disease increases significantly. This is often the underlying cause behind infections and tooth loss. Our care can help ensure your pet’s gums remain healthy and clear of plaque. We’ll even teach you how to care for your pet’s health at home.

Chronic Disease Management

If your pet does develop ailments, we can help provide a wide range of supportive services. This includes medications, pain management, and treatment options. We use the very best technology and resources available to meet your pet’s ongoing needs. We can help with cancer, organ failure, and much more.

Nutritional Counseling

Your pet’s nutritional needs change as they get older. We will work with you to customize a diet that meets his or her specific needs, ensuring the very best ability to control risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. We’ll work closely with you to address any specific concerns.

Additional Services

We offer everything from physical exam screenings for a variety of ailments to pain management and parasite prevention. We can also help with concerns related to your pet’s orthopedic needs. No matter what is happening or what risk factors your pet has, we’re here to support you and your pet throughout his or her life.

Surgical lasers have become a very important part of veterinary medicine. We are proud to be one of the few veterinary hospitals in the area to provide the many advantages of laser technology to our patients. Now your pet can benefit from the same properties of laser surgery that human patients have experienced for over 20 years, including less pain, swelling, and discomfort after surgery and the ability to resume normal activities sooner.

We understand the decision to allow your beloved companion to undergo surgery is never easy. We are experienced in small animal surgery, including both routine procedures such as spays, neuters, declaws, dental care/extractions, and growth removals, as well as more extensive soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries. Our surgical suite is equipped with Isofluorane anesthesia, pulse oximetry, EKG, blood pressure monitoring, a water circulating heating unit, electrocautery, and a CO2 laser.

An experienced veterinary technician monitors any pet undergoing anesthesia. These technicians are trained in veterinary anesthesia as well as other diagnostic, surgery, and dentistry-related skills. They remain with the patient during pre-op, surgery, and recovery, monitoring vital signs and anesthesia. They can also help with administering any needed medications. Every surgical patient has a multi-modal pain control protocol tailored to their needs.

Did you know that your pet can be obese or underweight, and these weight issues can be dangerous to the pet’s health? Here at Centennial Animal Hospital, we offer weight management and nutrition services in Colorado Springs, CO. If you have a dog or cat and are concerned about their weight and nutritional intake, we want to help you with professional veterinary care.

“BEG” Boutique Companies, Exotic Ingredients or Grain-Free Diets & Heart Disease

FDA Investigation:
In an ongoing investigation conducted by the FDA, a correlation between grain-free dog foods and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has been found. The study began in November 2018, with an update in February 2019, and the latest update in June 2019. The latest update contained a list of pet food brands that patients in the study consumed.

Key Points:

• This study noted a correlation between diet and DCM, not causation
• More than 90% of DCM cases reported were eating grain-free food
• 93% of all reported diets contained peas and/or lentils
• No correlation was found regarding protein source
• General cardiac reports submitted to the FDA that did not have the diagnosis of DCM were not included in the study
• Brands listed in the latest update were associated with ten or more cases of DCM and may represent a more widely distributed product
• Ingredients were more significant than brand, and the FDA urges pet owners to work with their veterinarian to find the right food

What To Do:
If your pet is showing signs of early heart disease, including weakness, shortness of breath, coughing, exercise intolerance, or severe lethargy, please give us a call to schedule a comprehensive physical examination with the doctor.

Pet Obesity

One of the most common weight management issues we treat at our animal hospital in Colorado Springs is being overweight or obese. When a pet is overfed, fed a diet high in fat, or is suffering from a lack of activity or exercise, the animal’s weight can creep up. All too often, pet owners find this to be a characteristic of their pet and not a health problem.

Unfortunately, pets that are overweight or obese can have just as many health issues as an overweight human. Health issues include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypothyroidism. Obese dogs, in particular, lose mobility, increase the risk of knee and hip issues, increase their risk of cancers, and have a decreased lifespan.

Underweight Pets and Weight Loss

On the other end of the weight management spectrum is weight loss. For pets that lose weight while suffering from lethargy, diarrhea, redness, or hair loss, this combination is a sign of a chronic disease. A chronic disease could be stomach ulcers, diabetes, infected teeth, heart disease, tumors, or neurological disorders. In other words, if your pet is losing weight unexplainably, then it is likely a symptom of a serious health condition.

Improved Pet Nutrition

Treating obesity or weight loss in pets begins with a proper diagnosis and veterinary care. We can help your pet achieve optimal weight through pet nutrition. This typically involves doing a blood screen panel to check for signs of nutritional deficiencies and kidney, bladder, or other organ failures. Our veterinary clinic includes an on-site lab and digital diagnostic imaging to process any medical testing for expedient results.

From there, we can provide your pet with a more healthy diet plan and food source, such as supplements for a pet’s food. If your pet is suffering from a chronic disease, our veterinarians near Colorado Springs are fully equipped to provide treatment. Whether your pet needs surgery, dental care, or pet boarding, we are available to assist you and your pet.