717-733-2155
Located in Ephrata, PA

Conestoga Animal Hospital 

Services

Conestoga Animal Hospital is a general practice with services that include internal medicine, wellness and preventative care, dental services, diagnostic services, surgical procedures, radiology, behavioral consultations and nutritional counseling. Our services extend from routine check-ups to on-site surgical care. Our goal is to provide the best available medical care to our beloved patients and superior service to our family of pet owners.

Wellness & Preventative Care

At Conestoga Animal Hospital, we recommend yearly visits. Yearly visits allow us to thoroughly examine your pet, listen to their heart, look in their eyes/ears, feel their kidneys, intestines and bladder. All things that require US to be up close and personal with THEM! Seeing your pet every year allows us to address any potential health conditions through early detection. It also gives us a chance to find out what you expect from us so that we can tailor a health strategy that is right for you and your pet.

Besides yearly visits, we also offer the following to maintain your pets’ health and prevent health problems in the future:

  • Spay/Neuter
  • Vaccinations
  • Dentistry
  • Laboratory services (bloodwork)
  • Fecal Examinations
  • Parasite Prevention

We believe that regular exams and preventative care are the cornerstones to your pet’s good health.

Medicine

Our Doctors have the knowledge and skill set to work up, diagnose, and manage medical conditions. We educate our clients first, then work with them to create a treatment plan that is customized to fit their specific needs and abilities.

Surgery

Surgical and dental procedures are performed routinely Monday through Friday. In addition to spays and neuters our doctors are skilled in a variety of soft tissue and orthopedic procedures.

Dentistry

Healthy teeth and gums are a vital part of your pet’s overall health, well-being and longevity. Good oral care can give a pet a renewed level of energy and enthusiasm and can add years to a pets life. We encourage prevention and treatment for dental conditions such as plaque, tartar, gingivitis and fractured teeth.

Want a healthy dog or cat? You can’t ignore their mouths! Did you know that most pets over the age of 3 already have periodontal disease? First, bacteria causes plaque to stick to their teeth. The plaque then hardens and turns into calculus or tartar. As plaque and tartar continue to build up, their gums become compromised and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) develops. As this process continues unchecked, gums recede causing exposure of tooth roots. Gum recession and tooth root exposure may allow bacteria to cause a tooth root abscess or enter the blood stream and cause systemic disease like endocarditis (infection of the inner lining of the heart chamber and valves). Dental procedures need to be done to remove the tartar that is already present so owners can start with a clean “slate”.

Now the good news! It is preventable. Brushing your pet’s teeth is still the best way to prevent periodontal disease and extend the intervals between dental procedures. Other ways to help their teeth/gums to stay healthy are Oravet chews (Boehringer Ingleheim) or other veterinary approved bones/chew toys. Always supervise your pet when chewing on bones/toys. Healthy teeth and gums are big part of your pets’ well-being.

Pharmacy

We are equipped with a pharmacy that is stocked with an array of medications. Our doctors are able to dispense necessary medications without delaying your pets’ treatment. We now have an online store (see tab at top of page) conestogaah.vetsfirstchoice.com which carries a plethora of items allowing us to concentrate our clinic inventory on the products we use the most and keeping your costs down.

Digital Radiology (Xrays)

Digital Radiology provides higher quality images allowing our doctors to visualize bone structure, organs, and soft tissue with better clarity. Radiology is an excellent noninvasive and relatively inexpensive way to get additional information about our patients’ health.

PennHIP *Certified

This is a radiographic technique developed by the University of Pennsylvania to estimate the risk of hip dysplasia. PennHip is comprised of a series of 3 radiographs that are evaluated by calculating laxity measurements of the hip joints by certified radiologists. Hips are given a percentage rating. The higher the percentage, the “better” the hips are. This procedure can be done as early as 4 months of age. To find out more about PennHip go to https://info.antechimagingservices.com/pennhip

OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)

We submit radiographs to the foundation primarily for evaluation of hip/elbow dysplasia. Generally, 1 ventral-dorsal view is required to include pelvis (hips) and stifles (knees). This radiograph is then graded (excellent, good, fair, poor, etc) by a veterinarian. Dogs need to be at least 2 years of age to accurately use this method to evaluate hips for dysplasia. Since OFA was founded in 1966, it has expanded to include other genetic diseases. To learn more about OFA visit www.ofa.org

Laboratory Services

We use a national state of the art veterinary reference laboratory for most of our testing. Our in-house testing equipment provides additional flexibility to meet our patients’ needs. We have the capability of running blood and urine samples on critical and hospitalized patients as well as routine tests during office hours. Besides bloodwork and urinalyses, we also offer ear/skin cytology, fecal evaluation and fungal testing.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy uses light directed at damaged tissue to promote healing. This tool is a great non-surgical, non-medical, non-invasive approach to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation and increase circulation to wounds. A few common uses for laser therapy are arthritis/hip dysplasia, cervical/lumbar pain, lick granulomas, wounds, and post op incisions.

Microchipping

Microchipping is a convenient effective way of identifying a pet if they become separated from their owner. Humane Leagues, police, and veterinary offices all have microchip scanners to detect if a microchip is present. If a microchip is present, the owner information can be accessed by calling the company. This only works if the microchip is REGISTERED with the company!!!

Did you know you can use your microchip as a Lifetime Dog License?!
Dogs are required by law to have a license. Clients can either purchase a license at the beginning of every year or they can conveniently use their dog’s microchip number. Every microchip number is unique, so it can safely be used as a lifetime license. Your veterinarian needs to either implant a microchip or scan your pet’s microchip before signing paperwork. The paperwork gets mailed to the courthouse along with the payment for the lifetime license. For more information on lifetime licenses visit: https://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/2691/Lifetime-Dog-License

Euthanasia/Pet Loss

When do I know it’s time? Am I making the right choice? These questions maybe some of the hardest ones to answer when trying to decide what the most humane option for your beloved friend and family member may be. Our staff is here to help our clients through that difficult decision-making process. We try to make the experience as peaceful and non-stressful as possible. We currently do not offer at-home euthanasia. If you feel this is the only option for your pet, please call the office for recommendations.

We work closely with Allied Veterinary Cremation in Manheim. They provide both communal and private cremations. We are fortunate to have such a professional and caring company to work with. To learn more about Allied Veterinary Cremation, you can visit their website at https://alliedvc.com/.