Compassionate veterinary care for the pets of Davidson and Wilmington, NC, and beyond.
When every second counts, we’ll be there. We utilize the latest technology and diagnostic equipment to make sure that we can find what’s wrong with your pet when it’s not obvious to the naked eye. Our knowledgeable staff and modern facilities are equipped to handle a wide variety of medical conditions, including emergencies. Because we can perform many diagnostic procedures in-house, we can often give you immediate answers and start treating your pet faster. In some cases, your pet may require hospitalization and further diagnostic tests. During those periods, we’ll be there to answer any and all questions you may have.
We are experienced in many aspects of internal medicine and surgery for not only dogs and cats, but also a variety of exotic pet species, including but not limited to birds, small mammals, ferrets, reptiles, and wildlife. Our services and expertise include nutrition and wellness, gastroenterology, neurology, dermatology and allergies, cardiology, oncology and cancer, orthopedics, pain and mobility, dentistry, and ophthalmology. We pride ourselves in working hard to find solutions for your pet, and with the breadth of experience of our network of doctors, we can usually take care of you directly in one of our offices. If we feel like you would be best served outside of our network, we can refer you to our favorite and most trusted specialists in the area.
We are known for our integration of innovative alternatives, like acupuncture, rehab, chiropractic, herbal medicine, ozone, and IV vitamin C therapy, but what our clients find makes us unique is that we truly listen. We want to help you achieve your goals for your pet, whether it is to find another innovative option, help you improve quality of life for you and your pet, or support you in providing the longest possible life for your beloved best buddy. We are here to help you achieve the best possible results within your goals and your budget.
Learn more about our integrative veterinary services.
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WHOLE WELLNESS | ADVANCED SURGERY| PAIN MANAGEMENT | DENTISTRY | SENIOR CARE | DERMATOLOGY | CHEMOTHERAPY AND CANCER TREATMENT | EXOTIC PET MEDICINE | ORTHOPEDICS AND MOBILITY | CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH | ENDOCRINOLOGY | OPHTHALMOLOGY | BEHAVIORAL COUNSELING | RADIOLOGY | ULTRASONOGRAPHY | CT SCAN | ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE | ACUPUNCTURE | REHABILITATION | VASECETOMIES | MICROCHIPPING | SPECIALIST REFERRALS |
Whole Wellness
Every visit your pet has to the vet should be an opportunity for a full wellness check. We are believers in annual exams and labwork for all pets as a way to detect and address problems early, and semi-annual exams and cancer screening for senior patients. We are careful and thoughtful about preventive care strategies including vaccines and parasite preventions, taking risk, age and condition into mind. Nutrition is a large focus for our wellness strategies, and we aim to help you meet your goals with quality, time and budget. We are here to help you maximize the lifespan and the quality of life of your beloved pet. It’s our favorite thing to do!
Advanced Surgeries
While we are most known for our alternatives, many people don’t know that we do a lot of surgery! We believe in taking care of our patients from start to finish, and at some point in your pet’s life, this may include surgery. This can be an elective procedure like a spay or neuter or an emergency surgery, like a foreign object injested, a tumor or a knee injury. Whatever life throws at you, we want to be the ones to take care of you whenever possible. Because many of our doctors have extensive experience in surgery, we can generally take care of you most of the time in-house and for a lot less expense than you would find in a specialty hospital. Examples of surgeries we generally can do in-house that may not be usually done in a general practice would be splenectomies, cytotomies, amputations, complicated mass removals, vasectomies, lateral suture, TPLO, and eye surgeries like indolent ulcers, entropian/ectropian, and conjunctival flaps. Unfortunately, sometimes these surgeries in other hospitals and communities can cost upwards of $5000-10,000, which is cost prohibitive to many people. Our prices tend to be about one third of those prices, making them affordable for more people.
If an expensive procedure has been recommended for your pet, and this feels cost prohibitive, our doctors are able to consult with you by phone and decide of travelling to us might be a good option for you and your pet.
PET PAIN MANAGEMENT
No one wants to see their pet in pain, which is why we dedicate a lot of our practice to minimizing pain in our patients. We are educated in the latest methods of pain control, but also understand our clients want as few side effects as possible. That’s why we maximize the use of natural supplements and invest in advanced treatments like laser, acupuncture, spinal manipulation or chiropractic, rehabilitation or physical therapy, PRP, massage, and prolotherapy. We are dedicated to helping your pet thrive mentally and physically.
VETERINARY DENTISTRY
Yes, we are responsible for your pet’s full wellness, including their teeth and dental health. Every Whole Pet practice has annual dental health screening including in your pet’s annual examination, as well as dental radiology to improve long term dental care. Advanced procedures are available in some of our practices, including herbal strategies for improved dental health in Davidson, dental bonding and exotics pet dentistry in Mountain Island and South Charlotte. We feel that dental health is an important part of your pet’s overall health, and we are here to help address any issues that may come up.
SENIOR PET CARE
We love our seniors! And we know you do too. We have an incredible number of senior and geriatric patients in our practices, and we know it’s critical to take extra special care of them. Phasing out vaccines and maximizing nutrition becomes important as our pets age. Early detection through annual labwork and blood pressure screening as well as cancer risk assessment become powerful tools for wellness and longevity the older our patients become. Let us help you take the best care of your older pet. You are as young as you feel!
VETERINARY DERMATOLOGY
Unfortunately in North Carolina, we all face high levels of pollen almost year-round. We see this manifest in our pets sometimes with runny eyes and noses, but more typically with itchy skin, skin and ear infections. There are many ways to treat allergies, including antihistamines, antibiotics and antifungals, sometimes steroids and newer treatments like Apoquel and Cytopoint injections. However, if these treatments are needed frequently, it can be terribly expensive and frustrating. Where we may approach these problems differently is by working to find the root of the problem. This requires a deeper probe into the health of the patient, as well as more advanced testing like skin cultures or allergy testing. Can we avoid things your pet is allergic to like food ingredients or storage mites? Is there evidence of poor gut health or weak immune system? How do we improve the overall health of your pet to prevent the need for expensive treatments long term? We even find some pets need detoxification of their skin to eliminate itch, and we use an herbal strategy to improve this. We often also use herbs to improve skin health or a weakened immune system.
Our doctors have various levels of experience with dermatology and integrative therapies. See our list of providers to find one right for you.
CHEMOTHERAPY AND CANCER TREATMENT
Like us, animals such as dogs, cats, ferrets, and rabbits can get cancer. Fortunately, however, some forms of cancer are curable. In addition, recent advancements in cancer treatment can dramatically extend the lives of many of our pets. Treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery may be used to stop the spread of cancer and remove or destroy cancer cells and tumors.As an integrative group, we often combine traditional treatments like surgery with herbal treatments to target cancer cells. We also have tools to detect cancer risk early, and herbal tools to improve overall health and prevent cancer from manifesting or worsening. At times, we can deliver chemotherapy treatments in our locations, and we work with local oncologists when needed for more advanced chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Because we are well versed in different therapies, we can give valuable advice to pet owners struggling with hard-to-make decisions regarding their pet’s cancer. Warning: we tend to be optimists, so be prepared in many instances to have hope again. We can say for certain that you will leave your time with us feeling like you were well educated and were given options that allowed you to treat your pet in accordance with your values and your budget. The other thing we can say with confidence is that we know how to prevent cancer.
Our cancer rate for our patients is extremely low in the patients we care for regularly. Most of the cancer we treat comes from outside our practice. We attribute this to our focus on nutrition, early detection, and judicious use of drugs and chemicals.
Exotic Pet Medicine and Surgery
Small mammals and reptiles can become ill and rapidly decline in less than 24 hours. Therefore, if your pet seems sick, it should receive prompt medical attention. When you first adopt your exotic pet, our veterinarian should perform a thorough exam to assess its health and to discuss husbandry requirements. Also, annual physical exams are as crucial in non-traditional pets as they are in dogs and cats. If you have an exotic pet, you know their care is considered highly specialized, and few vets are educated and experienced with their care. Whole Pet is proud to offer medical and surgical services to many exotic pet species including but not limited to birds, reptiles, some wildlife, and small mammals like rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and ferrets. If your exotic pet needs wellness care or is sick or injured, inquire with your local Whole Pet office to see which office would best serve your needs based on your pet’s species and needs.
ORTHOPEDICS AND MOBILITY
As an integrative hospital, mobility is a large focus of our patient load. That’s because not only do we offer orthopedic surgeries and alternatives like PRP and prolotherapy, but we are up to speed on the latest pharmaceutical treatments as well as a variety of herbal supplements. For us, it starts with a really thorough physical exam to see what area and what tissue is affected, and then developing a treatment strategy with maximum impact for you and your pet. Treatments we often integrate are therapeutic laser, acupuncture, spinal manipulation or chiropractic, massage, and rehabilitation. We also use underwater treadmill and can fit dogs for wheelchairs when needed. We have all of the tools to get your best friend feeling and moving well again!
Cardiovascular Health
What can be more important than the little heart beating inside your pet’s little body? The cardiovascular system is a vital part of your pet’s life, and we have many tools to help diagnose and treat heart conditions in pets. The most common sign of heart disease in most pets is a heart murmur, often detected in a yearly wellness exam, although it is also possible for a pet owner to see a troublesome sign at home. These symptoms might include fainting, a chronic or acute cough, reluctance to walk or exercise, needing to catch breath using stairs, or general lethargy or decreased appetite. The best first tools for evaluating a possible heart condition are examination and blood pressure, often followed by x-rays, bloodwork, and/or EKG, but sometimes your pet may need advanced diagnostics. The most common advanced diagnostic is an echocardiogram, an ultrasound of the heart. Typically this would be performed by a Cardiology Specialist, but for patients who can’t wait for this or for clients who can’t afford it, we offer Echocardiograms in our Davidson office. The second most common advanced diagnostic is a Holter monitor, which is an EKG that your pet wears for 24-hours to record the electrical impulses of the heart. The purpose is to detect arrhythmias.
This diagnostic is available in all Whole Pet locations. As an integrative practice, we often rely on life-saving heart medications but also add in a variety of supplements to improve quality of life and aim for the longest life expectancy possible for our patients.
ENDOCRINOLOGY (HORMONES)
Hormones are tiny chemicals moving throughout our bodies that greatly impact our health. Common disorders of hormones we regularly treat include hyperthyroidism in cats, hypothyroidism in dogs, Cushings Syndrome and Addisons Disease, although there are some other more rare conditions we treat as well. Occasionally, these conditions are treated surgically, but more often they are managed with medication. What makes Whole Pet different from most hospitals is our ability to use herbal medications, which tend to be very effective for Endocrine disorders. If this is something you desire for your pet, we are happy to set you up with one of our providers who is knowledgeable in herbal medicine for pets.
VETERINARY OPHTHALMOLOGY
While there are eye specialists for animals, as a general practice, we do see and manage quite a few eye conditions for pets. Some of the conditions we diagnose and treat in our offices include but are not limited to glaucoma, dry eye, eye ulcers, nonhealing and indolent ulcers, chronic infections, entropian, ectropian, conjunctival flaps and grafts, chronic herpes infections, cataract management and prevention, and enucleation. Cataract surgery is referred out to animal ophthalmologists, as are some refractory glaucoma cases.
ANIMAL BEHAVIORAL COUNSELING
We believe in strengthening the human-animal bond, and that starts with communication. If there are problems with your pet, we want to help. We have invested many hours of extra training in pet behavior and are very comfortable helping improve pet behavior, including anxiety, aggression, litter box problems, and basic manners. When appropriate, we can direct you to the right trainer for your needs. We also have a wide variety of natural supplements to help with anxiety and dementia in pets. A happy pet makes for a happy home, and we want to try to make our patients and their people as happy and healthy as possible.
RADIOLOGY (X-RAYS)
Known commonly as x-rays, every Whole Pet Veterinary Hospital is equipped with Digital Radiology, a tool used for evaluating the inside of an animal. Most of the time, x-rays can be taken with careful restraint and no sedation needed. Every care is taken to maximize the comfort and safety of your pet. Your provider can interpret the images immediately, or in rare instances send the images to a specialist for interpretation. Other advanced imaging in our offices includes Dental Radiology, Ultrasound, Echocardiography, and CT Scan.
VETERINARY ULTRASOUND
We have special training and several years of experience in both abdominal and cardiac ultrasound for dogs and cats. Ultrasonography, or ultrasound, is a diagnostic imaging technique similar to radiography (X-rays) and is often used in conjunction with radiography and other diagnostics. It allows us to visualize certain organs very thoroughly, including the heart, kidneys, liver, gallbladder, bladder, spleen, and intestines. We use the ultrasound to screen and monitor treatments for congenital and acquired cardiac diseases, including heart murmurs, feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, canine dilated cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure. While X-ray allows us to see bones and the outlines of organs, ultrasound allows us to actually see the inside of the organs. We can actually see the movements of the heart or the intestines to gather valuable information needed for proper treatment. We can diagnose abnormalities like tumors, conditions like bladder stones and inflammatory bowel disease, and gall bladder stasis. For heart conditions, we can screen for conditions like DCM in dogs and HCM in cats. We can even use the ultrasound to guide us in non-invasive biopsies and life-saving relief of fluid in the chest (thoracocentesis) or around the heart (pericardiocentesis). Ultrasound is a service often reserved for specialty hospitals but is available in every Whole Pet location.
CT SCAN
Computerized Tomography or CT is an advanced form of imaging that is designed to allow us to look deeper at a problem, to further diagnose and analyze tumors and injuries to be able to develop a more detailed treatment strategy. This modality is only offered in our Mountain Island location. If CT has been recommended for your pet, you can schedule directly with us or have your veterinarian submit a referral.
ALTERNATIVE VETERINARY MEDICINE
This is what we are known for – mixing traditional medicine and surgery with alternatives. The most common alternatives in our practices are herbal medicine and acupuncture, but many of our providers are also versed in things like ozone, IV vitamin C therapy, fecal transplants, chiropractic, prolotherapy, PRP, and immunotherapy. Alternatives are how we fix things others can’t, discover things others haven’t, and generally get longer lasting and better results. The other benefit? We know how to raise your pets the holistic way, for maximum quality and lifespan with low incidence of cancer and chronic disease. In a nutshell, it makes us in love with what we do.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR PETS
Acupuncture is a technique that includes inserting very fine needles into the skin at specific spots along meridians. We use it most commonly for pain relief and dysfunction like paralysis, but it can also be used for digestive disorders like ileus, IBD, constipation, inappetence and megacolon, kidney and liver disease, as well as seizures and behavior problems. You wouldn’t think animals would like having little needles in them, but surprisingly most of them really enjoy it, we think because of the pain and tension relief it provides them. In the rare instance an animal does not enjoy having acupuncture, we can use acupressure or a technique using a laser in acupuncture points.
REHABILITATION
Rehabilitation for pets is like physical therapy for people. It is used to regain strength and function, recover completely from orthopedic surgeries, improve comfort for older pets, and maximize mobility for sporting and working dogs. We utilize several modalities specifically tailored to your pet’s needs, including but not limited to exercise, stretching, massage, laser, and treadmill. When beneficial, our Rehab providers can recommend Acupuncture or Spinal Manipulation with one of our other providers. Whether you are looking to improve the quality of life for your animal or improve the performance of your canine athlete, we are here to help you meet your goals.
Vasectomies / Alternative Spay Neuter
As pet parents become increasingly educated about new strategies for improving the longevity for their pets, more and more are wondering what options they have for sterilizing their pets without negatively affecting their health. With over 20,000 patients in our database, all treated holistically, we have a unique perspective on what is required to really avoid painful and expensive orthopedic problems and also extend your pet’s life. We have a unique perspective on early spay and neuter, as well as strategies for balancing hormones in dogs spayed or neutered at a young age, and also alternative procedures for spay and neuter. Vasectomies are offered in our Davidson location. See our blog for more information.
PET MICROCHIPPING
According to PetFinder, over 10 million pets go missing every year, and one in three pets will go missing at some point in their life. Imagine if your dog or cat got lost. You’d want to give him or her the best chance of getting home. With microchipping, you can. We can microchip your pet while under anesthesia for a procedure like spay or neuter, but we can also do it while your pet is awake. The microchip is designed to be injected quickly and without lasting pain. Worried about side effects? No need to worry. We have never seen a reaction from a microchip.
VETERINARY SPECIALIST REFERRALS
Our experienced team of veterinarians and veterinary technicians provide many services at our clinic, ranging from routine to advanced procedures. Although we handle most of your pet’s medical and surgical needs in-house, we occasionally refer patients to veterinary specialists or specialty clinics when advanced training or equipment is beneficial. If referral is the best choice for your pet, we will be happy to make recommendations for your pet based on who we would trust with our own pets.