Wellness Services
Exams
Wellness exams are the key to keeping your pet healthy. Regular check-ups are a way for your veterinarian to get a complete picture of your pet's overall health. Exams can also help spot potential health problems before they become more difficult—and more expensive—to treat. During a check-up, your veterinarian will listen to your pet's heart and lungs, examine his or her eyes, ears and oral cavity and check for any lumps or skin growths, among other procedures. An exam is also an excellent time to discuss with your veterinarian changes in your pet's behavior, nutritional advice and other health issues. Frequent wellness exams are just as important for your pet as they are for you.
Matthews Animal Clinic also offers new puppy exams, which include advice about nutrition and training for your new pup.
Microchipping
Each year, millions of pets go missing and many never return to their homes. Microchipping your pet is a safe, easy way to increase the chances that your best friend will make it back home safely, should she or she become lost. A small microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, is implanted underneath your pet's skin, usually between the shoulder blades. The procedure is similar to that of administering a vaccine and is simple and harmless. Information about your pet, including your name, address and contact information, is entered in a national database. Should your pet become lost, a veterinary hospital or animal shelter can use a specially designed scanner to read the information contained on the microchip and help your pet get home. Ask your veterinarian about microchipping your pet today.
Dental care
Regular dental care does more than just keep your pet's breath fresh and clean. Routine dental cleanings can help stop the build-up of plaque and tartar in your pet's mouth, preventing the spread of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease can lead to more serious health problems, including liver, heart and kidney disease. At Matthews Animal Clinic, we are dedicated to keeping your pet's mouth clean and healthy. We offer extensive dental care for pets, including dental scaling, polishing, tooth extractions and digital dental radiology. During a dental cleaning session, our veterinarians also will discuss with you how to best care for your pet's teeth at home.
Referrals
A good network of local experts is available to us for second opinions. We don't hesitate to call specialists when the health of your pet is at stake. For special procedures, such as intervertebral disc surgery, complicated ophthalmalic cases and radioactive iodine treatments, we will refer our clients to specialists. Dr. Marilyn Stiff, a veterinarian board-certified in internal medicine, frequently comes to the clinic for some ultrasound and allergy testing procedures.
Emergencies
For medical emergencies that happen outside regular hospital hours, we refer emergency cases to the Veterinary Emergency Clinic, located on Matthews Weddington Road, across from the Siskey YMCA. The clinic can be reached at 704-844-6440.