Behavioral Counseling
Behavioral issues are a common reason for pet owners to surrender a pet to a shelter. Most often, these issues can be addressed and corrected or modified. With the high number of pets in shelters, those with behavioral issues are much less likely to find new homes than pets who have been well-socialized and trained.
Even with the right training and lots of attention and love, your dog or cat can develop bad habits or unwanted behaviors. Please don’t make the mistake of believing you and your family must live with these problems or worse, consider giving up your pet.
Most behavioral problems can be modified with assistance from a qualified trainer or behaviorist. At Sequoyah Animal Hospital we work with a certified trainer who offers one-on-one training and group sessions. We also offer behavior counseling for many of your pet’s problems, including aggression, age changes and fear.
Bad behavior can be caused by a variety of factors. It could be environmental, such as a schedule change or introduction of a new baby or pet; learned, as a result of unintentional positive reinforcement; or genetic. Furthermore, any painful disease or condition, or degenerative changes associated with aging, can cause or contribute to behavior problems. Addressing any underlying medical problems or providing pain relief, along with behavior modification techniques, can be effective in resolving some of these problems.
Our assessment begins with your pet’s clinical history and a thorough medical examination. Before beginning behavior therapy, any diagnosed medical problems will be treated. If our veterinary team cannot help with your pet’s behavior problem, we can refer you to a board-certified animal behavior specialist.
Microchipping
A lost pet is a pet owner’s worst nightmare. The situation is frightening and often comes with devastating consequences. Studies have shown that of the 10 million pets who go missing each year, 90% of those found would not have been returned to their owners without some form of permanent pet identification.
This is why the team at Sequoyah Animal Hospital considers microchip pet IDs a fundamental way to protect your pet and an important part of responsible pet ownership. We use the AKC Reunite microchip system. This safe, reliable, and permanent pet identification takes less than 10 seconds to implant and can save you and your pet days, weeks, or more of fear and anguish.
A microchip registers your pet with a unique identification number, which is filed in a database with your contact information. You can update your contact information any time online or with a quick phone call, and it is important to remember to do so whenever your information changes. If your pet is lost, the microchip can be scanned by animal control officers, at shelters, and at veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and in many foreign countries.
AKC Reunite will immediately send you text messages and emails, as well as begin contacting all of the phone numbers on your pet’s record to reunite you as quickly as possible once found. The makers of AKC Reunite believe pets should have two forms of identification at all times, a microchip and a collar or pet ID tag to ensure you and your pet are reunited as quickly as possible.
In-House Pharmacy
Our commitment to your pet’s health is reflected in our fully stocked in-house pharmacy. When it comes to prescription medications, accurate dosage and administration is of the utmost importance. As your pet’s prescribing veterinarian, you can trust that when you fill prescriptions at our pharmacy your pet will receive the right medication, at the right dose, in the right form as quickly as possible. We will also provide you with detailed instructions on the medication’s use, discuss any side effects or interactions and even administer the first dose for you if possible.
You can feel confident all the medications we dispense were obtained from safe, reliable sources and have been stored under the right conditions.
At our veterinary pharmacy, we maintain a comprehensive inventory of pharmaceuticals, vitamins, shampoos, flea and tick control products and heartworm preventatives to meet your pet’s needs. We also carry Hill’s as well as special request prescription pet food.
Refills are easy too – simply give us a call or send us a refill request via Pet Portal.
Pet Portal
Pet Portal is a private website that gives you secure online access to your pet’s health information. We provide this service free of charge to all clients with active email addresses.
With Pet Portal, you can:
- Manage your pet’s health care
- Make online updates to your pet’s information
- Schedule appointments
- View your pet’s medication schedule
- Request refills
- Learn about your pet’s health and wellness stages
How to get a Pet Portal
Simply call or visit our hospital and provide us with your email address. You will then receive a password via email. You can also click here.
Pet Portal security
Your Pet Portal resides on a secure server protected by a fire wall. Your personal information cannot be accessed by other Pet Portal users.
Your Pet Portal is created each time you sign in. When you are not signed in, your Pet Portal does not exist. Consequently, it is impossible for someone to find and view your account on the Internet. Only you can see your pet’s information.
Do I need a separate Pet Portal for each pet?
No. Your Pet Portal contains health information for each pet with an active file in your account with us. However, to have an active account, your pet must have visited our hospital.
How to view your Pet Portal
You may view your Pet Portal by visiting the Pet Portal website and logging in with your email address and password.
Health Certificates for Travel
We provide Interstate and International health certificates for travel with your four-legged friend. We ask that you investigate your destination’s requirements prior to your appointment. Many countries require Rabies titer testing and microchipping. We are able to provide these services for your pet.
Because each destination country has different requirements for your pet’s entry, you are responsible for supplying the list of requirements that must be met for traveling; we can only accommodate the guidelines you provide. To help streamline the process, please fill out our online health certificate questionnaire form prior to your appointment to ensure all necessary information is captured.
Sequoyah Animal Hospital cannot assume responsibility for ensuring all the requirements are met for your situation and cannot be held responsible for quarantine, denial of entry, or costs incurred due to unfulfilled requirements for your pet.
You can find a list of pet-friendly hotels at www.petswelcome.com.
Treatment Referrals
In cases where more advanced or specialized care is necessary, we may refer you to a veterinary specialist. We collaborate closely with specialists in orthopedic, dermatological, internal medicine, and emergency care. Additionally, when more advanced diagnostics or treatment options are needed, such as MRIs, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other specialized services, we ensure your pet receives the appropriate referral.
Your veterinarian will guide you through the referral process to make sure your pet gets the care it requires.
End-of-Life Services
The team at Sequoyah Animal Hospital understands the passing of a beloved pet is similar to – if not the same as – losing a member of your non-furry family. To help ease the burden of saying goodbye and the confusion of knowing what to do after a pet has died, we offer cremation services to our clients through Pet Haven Cemetery and Crematorium. To learn more about their services, click here.