Dentistry
Dental care is vital to the overall health of any pet. Dental disease can lead to health issues with the heart, liver, and kidneys and has the potential to seep into your pet’s bloodstream. In fact, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats over three years of age suffer from some form of dental disease, making it the most common pet health issue among our pet population. We have the resources to do dental scaling, ultrasonic cleaning, and extractions.
Surgery
We are proud to provide Windham, ME and surrounding communities with advanced veterinary surgical procedures. Dr. Kern is one of the few board-certified surgeons in Maine. You can go to ACVS.org to learn more about what it takes to become board-certified. All surgeries are performed right here in the clinic, and we provide our patients with proper care before, during and after all surgeries.
Referral Surgery: Self-referral or primary care veterinarian referral surgery services are provided. Both soft tissue and orthopedic
procedures are performed. Neurosurgery cases are also available on a limited basis.
There are over 600 different types of surgeries available. Please contact the office with any specific surgery questions.
Neutering: Spaying and castration are important and necessary medical procedures that enhance the quality of the human-animal bond. Not only can neutering have positive effects on your pets’ health, it’s also vital to controlling the homeless pet population.
X-rays
At First Choice Animal Care and Surgery Center in Windham, ME, we are proud to be on the cutting edge of medical technology. Radiology is a technique and diagnostic tool that we use to look inside the body in an entirely non-invasive way. X-rays allow us to create images of all the body’s organs.
Microchipping
Every year, thousands and thousands of pets go missing. Not knowing where your pet is or how to bring them back can be a helpless, hopeless feeling. It’s a tragedy that happens all too often. But there is a simple, safe, and effective way to ensure your pet’s safety and retrieval should they ever become lost.
Vaccinations
At First Choice Animal Care and Surgery Center in Windham, ME, we believe that one of the most important aspects of caring for your pet’s health is vaccinating him or her against possible diseases. There are a variety of diseases which affect our pets, and other animals, so proper vaccination is vital to protecting them from
many types of illnesses. Dr. Kern follows the consensus statement of the American Animal Hospital Association and American Veterinary Medical Association on core and non-core vaccinations for dogs and cats.
Primary Care/ Wellness
At First Choice Animal Care and Surgery Center in Windham, ME, we believe that regular checkups and wellness exams are critical to your pets’ well-being. These wellness exams give us a chance to evaluate the overall health of your pet while also giving us a baseline for their unique bodies and tendencies. We usually do your pets wellness exam when vaccines are due. We are required to perform a general examination each year in order to be able to legally prescribe medications.
Nutritional Counseling
Obesity is a common problem among pets, as it can be easy to overfeed your dog or cat that knows how to beg. Being overweight is a serious problem for animals and can cause health issues in the future. With proper diet and exercise, all pets should be able to meet their dietary needs and stay within a healthy weight range.
Behavior Management
Pets with behavioral problems can often pose a frustrating challenge for pet owners. However, through behavioral consultations, we can attempt correct unwanted behaviors and enrich both your life and your pets’ life. To learn more about how behavioral consultations can help your pet, please contact us today at (207) 893-8134.
Parasite Prevention
The idea of your pet being infested with parasites is a disturbing thought, but it’s also a medical issue that can have serious consequences if not properly dealt with or prevented. Parasites pose a variety of health issues for our pets, who can be very susceptible to certain parasites depending on age, region, and other
factors. There are also some parasites that can be spread from pets to people.
Heartworm/Tick-borne Disease Testing
A yearly test for dogs to assess their heartworm status and tick-borne disease exposure is recommended.
Eye Exams
First Choice Animal Care and Surgery Center provides the most advanced intraocular pressure testing available. The vision of certain breeds of dogs prone to developing glaucoma can be preserved by pre-emptively checking the pressure at each wellness visit.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses sound waves to offer a non-invasive, painless, and radiation-free method of imaging your pets’ internal organs. Providing this service is one of the many ways that we show how dedicated we are to providing your pet with the best care possible.
In-House Laboratory Work
First Choice Animal Care and Surgery Center can perform in-house complete blood cell counts, biochemical analysis that includes but is not limited to thyroid testing, kidney function testing, Heartworm, Feline Leukemia, and Feline Immunodeficiency virus infection testing.
Onsite Diagnostics
Our hospital provides a wide variety of in-house diagnostic testing with the most advanced technology available. It is our goal to provide your pet with the highest level of care possible, and our diagnostic tools help us do that.
Dermatology
Skin diseases are very common in dogs and cats and can be frustrating and challenging to diagnose and treat without proper knowledge and tests. They can also make your pet miserable. Dermatology is the study of skin diseases, and we are here to help ensure that your pets’ skin stays healthy throughout its life. We are
knowledgeable and ready to help you walk what may seem like a daunting maze of tests and procedures to get to the bottom of your pets’ skin issues
Reproduction
Progesterone Testing: Same day progesterone testing is available. Results are often ready within 30 minutes of the blood being drawn.
Artificial Insemination (Surgical): There are three types of Artificial Insemination: vaginal, trans-cervical (TCI), and surgical insemination.
First Choice Animal Care only performs surgical inseminations.
C-sections: Cesarean sections are performed on a regular basis. Contact First Choice Animal Care at (207) 893-8134 for more information.
Consultations: Consultations on how to start a breeding program for the novice breeder are available. Please call the office to make an appointment.