Veterinary Services

We’re there when your pet needs us most.

APPOINTMENTFORMS

Thank you for making us a part of your family!

Now with new ownership, Blue Diamond Animal Hospital provides southwest Las Vegas pet owners with comprehensive, compassionate veterinary care, along with a dog and cat boarding facility. Our multi-doctor practice provides care for cats, dogs, and some pocket pets.

Exams & Consultations

We know that by diagnosing a problem early, we can often save the pet pain and suffering and reduce long-term treatment expenses later. The doctors and staff at Blue Diamond Animal Hospital take pride in the compassionate, high-quality care that we provide for your pet.

What exactly does a physical exam include? Some things you can’t see, feel, touch, or hear without special tests and equipment, but many times, you can gain a lot of information about your pet through simple observation. In a physical exam, your veterinarian looks for anything abnormal. Every pet is a little bit different, just like every human is different. Once your veterinarian does the general physical exam, any areas of concern will be given more attention.

The most important part of your pet’s visit to our hospital is a comprehensive physical examination. During the wellness exam, our doctors spend time checking your pet’s major systems, including heart, ears, eyes, lungs, skin, and teeth, for evidence of problems or signs of discomfort. Part of the assessment will include your pet’s breed, age, lifestyle, and health status to determine the appropriate vaccine schedule for your pet. Based on the wellness exam findings, the doctor will create an individualized preventive care plan for your pet that may include parasite control, heartworm prevention, routine dental cleanings, and nutrition recommendations.

Did you know that dogs and cats age seven times faster on average than people do and that significant health changes can occur in a short amount of time?

Plus, the risks of cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, heart disease, metabolic problems, and other serious conditions increase with age. These are the reasons why we recommend wellness exams for all pets twice a year.

Dentistry

Dental care for pets is a critical part of your pet’s well-being, but it is a commonly overlooked component of pet health care. In fact, 85% of dogs and 70% of cats over three years of age have dental disease.

Dental disease is more than just bad breath. It can cause infections that pass through the bloodstream and affect the lungs, kidneys, liver, and heart.

Blue Diamond Animal Hospital has veterinarians that have specialized training in dentistry. They perform routine cleanings, and with the help of dental X-rays, they can determine how healthy your pet’s teeth and gums are.

Just like you, pets need routine dental care, both at home and with professional cleanings.

Below is an outline of the steps involved with professional cleaning.

  • Pre-dental exam: Every patient is examined by our veterinarians performing the dental cleaning the morning of the procedure. They also listen to the heart and lungs, check the pulse, and takes the patient’s temperature. These things help ensure your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia.
  • Pre-anesthetic blood work: Patients undergoing anesthesia are required to have pre-anesthetic blood work performed. These tests show the doctor how the kidneys and liver are functioning, since these organs are responsible for processing the anesthesia your pet receives.
  • IV catheter and fluids: During your pet’s teeth cleaning, we will place an intravenous (IV) catheter and administer fluids. This will help your pet maintain normal blood pressure while anesthetized.
  • Teeth scaling and polishing: There are several steps involved in the scaling and polishing process. Scaling is the process in which plaque and tartar are removed from the teeth. An ultrasonic scaler uses vibration to do this. Once the teeth appear to be free of plaque and tartar, a disclosing solution is applied to the teeth to show if any areas were missed. After all the plaque and tartar are removed, a periodontal probe is used to check each tooth for pockets. A pocket is formed when the gum tissue has become unattached to the tooth. Pockets can collect food and bacteria and lead to an abscess. After all teeth have been checked for pockets, the teeth are polished using a high-speed polisher. Next, fluoride is applied to each tooth. In animals, fluoride has been shown to aid in plaque prevention.
  • OraVet: The last step of your pet’s teeth cleaning is the application of OraVet. This is a short-acting tooth sealant that forms a protective barrier against plaque buildup.
  • Dental radiographs (X-rays): Just like your own dentist, we take full-mouth digital dental radiographs so we can see what is going on below the gumline in your pet’s mouth.
Ultrasound

An ultrasound is a non-invasive procedure used to evaluate the internal organs in dogs and other animals. Ultrasound examinations can be used to examine the abdominal organs, heart, eyes, and reproductive organs. Abdominal ultrasound helps in the evaluation of abdominal organs, including the liver, spleen, stomach, intestines, kidneys, bladder, uterus, and prostate gland. This test can be extremely useful for detecting changes in the shape, size, tissue density, internal structure, and position of organs. The exam also can identify most abdominal masses or tumors, abdominal fluid, and abnormal lymph nodes.

Health Certificates

Health certificates for pets are required for travel within the United States (regardless of crossing state lines by car or by plane), as well as for international travel.

Whether for domestic or international travel, we will be happy to help you with your pet’s health certificate. Like visas, however, we need several weeks to process the paperwork.

There are certain countries that require unusual procedures. We will determine the proper requirements and find out exactly what is needed to ensure a happy trip for both you and your pet.

Make sure to let us know when booking the appointment if you are planning domestic or international travel so we make sure that you are scheduled for an appointment with the right staff veterinarian for your needs.

**Only veterinarians approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) can issue an international health certificate. Blue Diamond Animal Hospital currently has veterinarians on staff that are approved to issue certificates for international travel.**

Helpful Resources

USDA: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel

Hospice & Euthanasia

The decision to euthanize your pet will be one of the most emotionally difficult and stressful decisions you will ever make regarding your pet’s care. When your pet’s death is inevitable, euthanasia may provide a compassionate end to your pet’s suffering and preserve his or her dignity at the end of life. Our doctors and staff acknowledge the graveness of this situation and will be available to help your pet family during this difficult time. We are able to make cremation arrangements and take care of needed expenses ahead of time so your pet family is able to spend your time together without any interruptions. Please contact us at (702) 944-8440 to make arrangements.

Nutritional Counseling

Our doctors and staff are dedicated to ensuring that your pet leads a happy and healthy lifestyle. Proper nutrition is a common concern for many of the patients we evaluate. During an exam, your pet’s body condition score is evaluated. Obesity is a serious disease that can lead to complications that can jeopardize your pet’s overall health and wellness. In some circumstances, our veterinarians may recommend potential diagnostic testing to rule out any underlying problems. Personalized weight management programs may include special therapeutic diets and exercise plans. We carry food and treats that are tailored to accommodate your pet’s medical and dietary needs. When scheduling your next appointment, please mention you would like to discuss your pet’s nutritional needs.

Vaccinations

We believe that one of the most important aspects of caring for your pet’s health is vaccinating them against potential diseases. Vaccinations offer protection against major viral and bacterial diseases that cats and dogs may be exposed to, most of which are preventable. Traveling with pets, interacting at dog parks, boarding pets, and even the occasional backyard gathering all pose potential risks for your pets. It is our goal to provide the highest level of care for your pet, and vaccinations are an integral part of your pet’s overall health. Pets at any age are susceptible to disease but are particularly vulnerable at their younger life stages.

While rabies is a legal requirement, there are numerous diseases that can negatively impact the health of your pet. In fact, there are areas within our city that make it a requirement to license your pet. Pet licensing helps prevent the spreading of rabies (which is 100% fatal for humans if not treated properly), promotes responsible pet ownership, and reduces the tragedies associated with lost pets and pet overpopulation.

Following a proper vaccination schedule will help to ensure that you are doing your part to keep your pet healthy and free from any potential risks. Additionally, we recommend that all cats and dogs be placed on monthly parasite prevention and be tested bi-annually for parasites.

For more information regarding licensing, please contact us at (702) 944-8440, or you can learn more at lasvegasnevada.gov and search pet licenses.

Puppy & Kitten Wellness

Give your puppy or kitten the right start in life!

At Blue Diamond Animal Hospital, each pet’s first year of care is customized based on their specific needs. Just like human children, puppies and kittens require additional physical exams and vaccine boosters to ensure that they get the absolute best start in life. 

Below are our recommendations for your puppy’s or kitten’s first year.

Physical exams: Your puppy’s or kitten’s lifetime of wellness starts with its first comprehensive physical exam. Puppies and kittens should have three to four exams between the ages of eight to 16 weeks. These visits are important because they give our veterinarians an opportunity to assess your pet’s overall health and to administer vaccines.

Vaccinations: Due to their immature immune systems, puppies and kittens must receive a series of properly staged vaccines. Since every puppy and kitten is unique, we tailor our vaccination recommendations based on their lifestyle and/or breed and according to the suggested guidelines.

Diagnostic testing: We recommend that puppies are tested for heartworm at six months of age, if not done previously, and that kittens are tested for feline leukemia and feline AIDS at their first visit, if not done previously. We will also go over parasite prevention with you.

Additional recommendations: Your veterinarian will also discuss and recommend other services, such as spaying and neutering or microchipping, that can lead to a longer and healthier life for your dog or cat. Our doctors will go over your pet’s nutritional plan and go over insurance recommendations. Feel free to bring a list of topics that you would like to discuss with us, too.

Microchipping

The HomeAgain microchip is a unique 10-digit code that cannot be altered and will last for the life of your pet. The microchip itself is as small as a grain of rice, and it is injected under the loose skin between the shoulder blades. The process takes only a few seconds, and your pet will not react any more than it would to a vaccine. 

The HomeAgain Recovery Service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year to facilitate the recovery of lost pets. While collars with identification tags are strongly recommended for cats and dogs, they can be lost or removed, leaving the lost pet with no means of being able to verify or contact their owner.

It is important to register your pet’s microchip and keep your contact information current if you move or change phone numbers.

Digital Radiology

Blue Diamond Animal Hospital offers dental and full-body digital X-rays to better diagnose and treat sick or injured pets. Digital radiography provides X-ray images without the use of conventional film. This allows for the highest-quality images while providing the lowest possible exposure of radiation to your pet.

Surgery

Here at Blue Diamond Animal Hospital, we take immense pride in our highly skilled ability to perform veterinary surgeries when your pet needs it most. Our experienced team of doctors and staff make it their number one priority to focus on pain management, patient safety, and employing the most current surgical practices to ensure your pet receives the best veterinary care around.

We ask that all patients check in Monday through Friday between 7 am and 9 am and Saturday between 8 am and 9 am on the morning of the scheduled surgery, and please allow for at least 15 minutes to meet with a veterinarian. The owner or authorized agent dropping off an animal for surgery must be at least 18 years old. It is important that no food or water be given after midnight the night before. Vaccines are required to be current for all patients having surgery.

We also advise pre-operative lab work to test kidney and liver functions (the main organs that metabolize anesthesia), complete blood counts, and blood glucose levels. Our patients are closely monitored throughout surgery using EKG/pulse oximeters. Fluids and pain medications are administered through an IV catheter. Pain management will be used for all procedures that cause some degree of pain or discomfort.

Your doctor and hospital staff will be working with you before, during, and after surgery to address any questions or concerns you may have about the procedure, anesthesia, or post-operative care. We will make sure you are equipped with all the knowledge you need to make sure your pet makes a full recovery.

Boarding

We offer a more intimate approach to pet day and overnight boarding. Cat condos, dog runs, and cages are located inside our hospital with climate-controlled rooms and staff available 24/7. We provide food, water, and bedding for your pet family while they stay with us. Should you opt to bring items from home, contact us at (702) 944-8440 so we can discuss what to bring.

Emergency

Emergencies can happen at any time and any day. Our doctors and staff at Blue Diamond Animal Hospital know how important it is to get emergency treatment for your cat or dog. Should your pet experience an emergency, please call our animal hospital at (702) 944-8440 and head right over. We will assess the severity of the situation upon arrival, and if necessary, we will see your pet immediately. 

On-Site Pharmacy

Blue Diamond Animal Hospital is always looking to make your experience with us convenient and efficient. We offer an on-site pharmacy that can fill your prescriptions during your visit, and you can request food and medications using our PetDesk App. Having an on-site pharmacy helps us ensure we have the most effective and veterinary-specific pharmaceuticals to immediately start treatments for your pets. It also makes it easily accessible for our patients to get their prescriptions filled in a convenient amount of time. If you need a prescription faxed to your pet’s pharmacy, we can help you. If you need a written script, please let our doctors know.