Hours:
Monday - Friday
7am to 6pm
Saturday
8am to 1pm
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* Climate Controlled Boarding Facilities
* Complete Grooming Services
Our new website is still under construction, please be patient.
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Hickory Plaza Veterinary Clinic, LLC
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5710 Hickory Plaza
Nashville, TN. 37211
Phone: 615-833-3945
Fax: 615-331-6669
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A common list of "Services" we offer
Allergy Consults & Management
Allergies in Dogs and Cats
Itching, scratching, even burping – they’re just some of the symptoms of pet allergies. Just like humans, cats and dogs can suffer from allergies too, like foods, dust, soaps and pollen, but did you know the single most common cause of allergies in pets is fleas? There are a number of tests that can help diagnose what’s bugging your pet, and although there is no cure for pet allergies, there are a number of helpful allergy treatments for both dogs and cats.
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Anesthesia & Pre-Anesthesia Panels
The more information we have the safer the surgery and anesthesia will be for your pet.
While pre-anesthetic blood testing is important, routine diagnostic tests for Heartworm, Feline Leukemia, Feline Aids and Fecal testing (stool evaluation) for internal parasites are also necessary to help eliminate anesthetic risks. Any one of these conditions could lead to problems while under anesthesia.
So the next time your pet is scheduled for a procedure that requires anesthesia, please strongly consider the benefits of diagnostic blood panels. It could really make a difference!
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Arthritis Consults & Management
Arthritis doesn’t discriminate. It affects not only people of all ages, including children, but also strikes our furry friends, too. If you’re a dog-owner, you make sure your buddy takes his heartworm medicine, eats well, looks bright-eyed and playful, and greets you as only a doggy can when you come home. You notice changes in mood and activity, so if your pet isn’t feeling his best you may suspect a cold or stomach virus but it could be arthritis. In fact, arthritis affects one in every five adult dogs in the U.S. and is one of the most common sources of chronic pain that veterinarians treat.
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Baths
There are always different reasons to bathe a dog; perhaps you have a dog that loves rolling around in the mud, or you have to get rid of some parasite on his coat etc. Whatever the reason, it's important to learn how to do this. Make sure to consult with your veterinarian about a special shampoo that goes according to the need of your breed, and make sure to rinse the dog off really well after bathing as not rinsing well can cause irritation to a dog's skin. Follow these steps to bathe your dog:
Have all the things your will be needing to bathe your dog at hand (towel, shampoo, brush, anti slip mat etc)
Place your dog inside that bathtub, (or bucket), and hold on to his collar during bath time to keep hold of him so that he does not try to get away. Dogs do not like getting water in their ears (and it is dangerous because it can cause infection), so to avoid this from happening you should put some cotton balls in your dog's ears. Use warm water and pour it over his coat.
While you are holding on to your dog's collar, use the other hand to shampoo and massage the dog's coat contrary the direction of his hair. Doing this will remove all the unwanted hair and dead skin. Don't shampoo the dog's head though. If your dog seems uneasy about taking a bath, talk to him and calm him down.
After you have finished shampooing your dog's coat, start shampooing your dog's head with both hands. Massage the dog's head softly. You will not need to hold on to his collar when doing this. Make sure though, to be very careful not to get any soap or shampoo in your dog's eyes (or mouth) as it can cause a bad irritation.
Rinse and dry your dog's head well before rinsing the rest of the dog's body off. It's most likely that he will shake his head if it is wet and by doing this you will avoid getting soaked. Be very careful while rinsing the area around your dog's eyes. And make sure to always encourage your dog while you are bathing him.
Rinse the rest of the dog's body with fresh warm water. And make sure to rinse the dog off really well; do not stop rinsing until you can no longer see any suds. Rub downward on your dog's coat to eliminate all the excess water.
When you have finished getting most of the water off your dog, dry him with a towel and wrap him in another clean towel. Take the cotton balls out of his ears and very carefully dry the insides. Remember also to dry underneath the dog's collar.
Rub your dog with the towel to dry him, or if your dog has healthy skin you could also use a hair dryer. Make sure though to always use the hair dryer at the lowest setting, not hot! If your dog is uncomfortable with the sound, try to comfort him. But if your dog has a skin problem don't use a hair dryer as it can aggravate it.
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Boarding
Dogs and cats are welcome to board with us overnight. Whether your plans require a week, a month or just a few days, our highly trained staff will make your loved one(s) feel right at home in our facility.
Dogs must be up to date on their vaccinations – DAPP, Bordatella within the past 6 months & Rabies. Proof of vaccinations is required prior to boarding with us. Animals without proof of vaccinations will not be admitted.
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Diabetes Consults & Management
Diabetes (medical name is diabetes mellitus) is a disease caused by deficiency of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin is needed to move sugar (glucose) and other nutrients into the body's cells to supply energy. A lack of insulin can cause increased urination, drinking, and eating, as well as weight loss. Without proper treatment, diabetes can lead to severe illness and even death.
Diabetes occurs in both dogs and cats. Obese and older animals are more likely to develop this disease. Veterinarians diagnose diabetes by finding abnormally high levels of glucose in an animal's blood and urine. Most animals with diabetes require treatment with insulin injections to decrease and stabilize blood glucose levels, as well as feeding management.
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Dietary Consults & Management
In the wild, animals will naturally eat what they need and no more. The task of searching for food and other basic necessities involves lots of exercise, so wild animals remain naturally fit and healthy. The food available to them in their natural habitat is perfectly designed to meet their needs in an environment that has not been tampered with.
Domestic animals are provided with food which they do not have to hunt for and that is not always suited for their bodies. This means they often do not exercise as they should. Hunting also prevents boredom, and bored domestic animals may eat more than they need to keep themselves amused.
Selective breeding programs have often further affected the ability of our pets to properly process the food that we give them. In addition, certain breeds are known to be more prone to putting on weight than others.
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Euthanasia & Cremation Services
If your pet can no longer experience the things it once enjoyed, cannot respond to you in its usual ways, or appears to be experiencing more pain than pleasure, you may need to consider euthanasia. Likewise, if your pet is terminally ill or critically injured, or if the financial or emotional cost of treatment is beyond your means, euthanasia may be a valid option.
Your veterinarian understands human attachment to pets, and can examine and evaluate your pet's condition, estimate its chances for recovery, and discuss its potential disabilities and long-term problems. He or she can explain medical and surgical options and possible outcomes. Because your veterinarian cannot make the euthanasia decision for you, it is important that you fully understand your pet's condition. If there is any part of the diagnosis or the implications for your pet's future that you don't understand, ask to have it explained again. Rarely will the situation require an immediate decision and usually you will have some time to review the facts before making one.
Once the decision for euthanasia has been made, you may wish to discuss the care of the remains of your pet's body with your veterinarian and your family. Your veterinarian can provide information about burial, cremation, and other alternatives.
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General Dentistry
Your veterinarian can suggest steps that may include brushing your pet's teeth. One of the most convenient and effective ways to combat oral disease is feeding specially formulated foods proven effective in combating plaque and tartar buildup. The Seal of Acceptance from the Veterinary Oral Health Council appears on products that meet defined standards for plaque and tartar control in dogs and cats. For further information on the VOHC or their product standards visit,
www.vohc.org
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Vaccinations & Immunization
New puppy vaccinations are required by Tennessee law and Hickory Plaza Veterinary Clinic provides vaccination services year round, however, it is important that your new puppy receives a complete examination prior to his/her vaccinations. A complete array of puppy and adult vaccination packages are available at our clinic. We provide vaccines at competitive rates and will assure you of the highest level of care for your other family member.
Annual vaccinations are one of the most important preventive measures you can take for the health of your pet. Our doctors will custom tailor an immunization program for your pet’s needs. Please call 615-833-3945 to schedule an appointment for your new puppy or family pet's vaccines.
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Laboratory Services
We have capabilities of running many of the diagnostic tests that we recommend at our facility. We primarily use one outside Laboratory for our referral testing: Andex Laboratories.
Cytology:
We do cytological evaluations as needed in house where we look for yeast infections, bacterial infections, and note cell types that are present using special stains. We could recommend further referral lab testing based on these results or they may be conclusive enough to offer the best course of action.
Diagnostic Bloodwork:
When we are recommending geriatric screening, or for testing that does
not require same-day results, we will send blood samples to our referral laboratory. If your pet is sick or we are planning to perform a procedure on the same day, we have the ability to run diagnostic tests such as electrolytes, blood chemistries, and omplete blood counts at our facility. We can have these results usally within 1 hour.
We use specially designed test kits to check for Lyme, Heartworm, and Ehrlichia diseases in dogs and Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) in cats.
We do cytological evaluations as needed in house where we look for yeast infections, bacterial infections, and note cell types that are present using special stains. We could recommend further referral lab testing based on these results or they may be conclusive enough to offer the best course of action.
Feces:
We recommend annual fecal flotations to check for intestinal parasites. We can complete this test in house, usually during your appointment. Fecal testing is an important element in keeping both your pet and your family healthy as many parasites could be passed to humans.
Urine:
At our facility we can evaluate your pet's urine for important health clues by checking with a chemistry strip, the concentration of the urine, and spinning the urine sample to examine the sediment to count the types of cells present in the sample.
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General Surgery
Advanced surgical procedures such as joint replacement (total hip, knee and elbow replacement), fracture repair, ACL treatment, oncologic (cancer) surgery, herniated disc treatment, complicated gastrointestinal or urogenital procedures, kidney transplant, skin grafts, complicated wound management, minimally invasive procedures (arthroscopy, laparoscopy, thoracoscopy), etc. are performed by Board Certified Veterinary Surgeons (visit www.acvs.org for more information on this topic). Most general practice veterinarians perform routine surgery neuters (spay and castration), minor mass excisions, etc., some also perform additional procedures.
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Hospitalization
If your pet needs to be hospitalized, you can rest assured our team will provide the individual medical attention your pet deserves. Your pet's comfort and recovery will be a top priority with our experienced doctors and staff. Our hospitalized patient care services include:
* Inpatient evaluations, examinations and diagnostics
* IV fluid therapy
* Oxygen therapy
* Doctor supervised nursing care
* Emergency and critical care
* Nebulization therapy
* Special feeding and nutrition
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Microchip Implanting & Scanning
A microchip implant is an identifying integrated circuit placed under the skin of a cat, dog, horse, or other animal. The chips are about the size of a large grain of rice and are based on a passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology.
The use of externally attached microchip devices such as RFID enabled ear tags (piercings rather than implants) is another, related method commonly used for identifying farm and ranch animals other than horses. In some cases the external microchips may be readable on the same scanner as the implanted style.
Microchips have been particularly useful in the return of lost pets. They can also assist where the ownership of an animal is in dispute.
Animal shelters and animal control centers benefit using microchip identification products by more quickly and efficiently returning pets to their owners. When a pet can be quickly matched to its owner, the shelter avoids the expense of housing, feeding, providing medical care, and outplacing or euthanizing the pet. Microchipping is becoming increasingly standard at shelters: many require all outplaced animals to receive a microchip, and provide the service as part of the adoption package. Animal control officers are trained and equipped to scan animals.
In addition to shelters and veterinarians, microchips are used by kennels, breeders, brokers, trainers, registries, rescue groups, humane societies, clinics, farms, stables, animal clubs and associations, researchers and pet stores.
Our facility provides both microchipping implanting and scanning.
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Pet Obesity Consults & Management
Obesity in dogs and cats is one of the most common problems seen by veterinarians today. Overweight companion animals are at a higher risk for a number of health problems including diabetes, joint stiffness and arthritis, non-allergenic skin disorders, lower urinary tract issues, fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis) and shortened life span. For these reasons, if you are letting your pet become overweight with excessive food or treats, you may be killing your companion with "kindness."
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Parasite Control
Parasite control (or deworming) is an important way to safeguard not only your pet’s health, but also that of you and your children. Parasites can affect your pet’s ability to absorb nutrients, damage the lining of its intestinal tract, and cause your pet to become very ill.
Infected pets may show no symptoms, so regular health exams with a fecal check are important. Symptoms of infection may include: change in appetite, coughing, diarrhea, weight loss, and a rough or dry coat.
An annual fecal check is recommended and can be done as part of your pet’s annual health exam. Preventative medication is available; talk with your veterinarian about whether this medication is appropriate for your pet. To prevent (re)infection, it’s best to keep your pet away from other pets’ waste and dispose of your pet’s own waste quickly.
Have your veterinarian treat your cat or dog regularly for worms, and wash your hands after playing with your pet. As with any health concern involving your pet, be sure to consult with your veterinarian if you think your pet may be infected with parasites.
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Radiology Services
Radiology (X-ray) Services at Hickory Plaza Veterinary Clinic continue to provide a blend of the latest technology and exceptional, patient-focused care. We provide all the traditional X-ray services.
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Specialist Referrals
Most of our veterinary work is done with the Veterinary Hospital but occasionally our vets may recommend that you go to see a Specialist.
With the more unusual cases, we may recommend that you see one of these specialists. They only consult by referral from a veterinary surgeon. They will then report back to us on their findings and how we can together help your pet.
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