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Mile High Veterinary Hospital: Because they're members of the family!

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At Mile High Veterinary Hospital, we understand that preventative health care is the best way to enhance your pet's longevity and vitality. Working to identify risk factors for illness and taking appropriate measures to correct or address these factors is more effective than waiting until an illness develops before taking action. We also realize that each pet is a family member and an individual with unique medical, dental, and nutritional needs.

Comprehensive Physical Exams

The most important component in maintaining your pet's health is the comprehensive physical exam. All pets should have wellness exams at least annually by your veterinarian. Pets age about seven times as fast as we do so older pets should be examined even more often. Examinations are critical to help veterinarians find disease early when best treated. Depending upon the age of your pet, blood tests or other diagnostics may be recommended as part of regular wellness care and disease prevention. During this exam, your veterinarian will check your pet's:

  • Eyes and Ears
  • Teeth and Gums
  • Nose and Throat
  • Heart and Lungs
  • Abdomen
  • Coat and Skin
  • Legs, Paws and Joints
  • Lymph nodes
  • Central nervous system
  • Urogenital System

The information gathered through this exam, combined with your own observations, your pet's medical history and past treatments allow you and your pet's doctor to tailor a medical plan for your pet.
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Consultation

We are here to answer all of your questions regarding your pet's health and well-being. As a result, all physical examinations are accompanied by a consultation with a doctor. We encourage you to share your questions and concerns about your pet's health with our veterinarians. During your pet's wellness examination, we will discuss nutrition, changes in behavior and activity, the presence of new lumps or bumps on the body, and a myriad of other topics crucial to maintaining and improving your pet's health.

We pride ourselves on our skills in diagnostics and treatment, but we can't deliver the best medicine for your pet without help from you. You see your pet daily and know him or her better than anyone. Advising us about changes in your pet's behavior and daily routine will help us make the most accurate diagnosis and offer the most effective treatment plan. Communication is key to offering the best care for your pet. We devote our time and careful consideration to your questions because you and your pet deserve the best veterinary care available.
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Vaccinations

Each time you bring your pet in for a wellness examination, we discuss a vaccination program that is appropriate for your particular pet. Each pet is an individual, so we recommend an immunization program tailored to your pet's lifestyle.

The last few years have brought us new research and new recommendations for vaccinating pets. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital have recently recommended a 3 year vaccination protocol for the core infectious diseases (distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus.) Mile High Veterinary Hospital has adopted these protocols. Although the kitten/puppy vaccination protocols are the same (vaccines at 8, 12, and 16 weeks,) as adults, these vaccines will be effective for 3 years. Vaccinations for giardia, bordetella, and feline leukemia are recommended for at-risk patients more frequently.

We are proud to offer Continuum DAP (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus) vaccine for adult dogs and Continuum HCP (herpes, calici, and panleukopenia) vaccine for adult cats. The Continuum brand is the only brand of vaccine labeled by the FDA to be effective for 3 years.

Learn more about vaccines in our up-coming vaccines page.
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Puppy and Kitten Care

Making the big decision to adopt a puppy or kitten deserves some research. What is the best diet? Which vaccinations are needed? How will you prevent illness? What training programs are indicated? Do you need pet insurance? Should you spay or neuter? What if the new family member develops health problems? Are you prepared to care for a cat with feline leukemia virus or a dog with separation anxiety? Where do you find the answers?

The best all-around source of information for pets and their care is your veterinarian. We will help you narrow your choices to a few breeds, personality types and an age group to fit your life style. We can also help you to organize a supply list - things you will need before the pet enters your household. Consult us about the proper diet for your new pet. Get off to the right start. Make us a member of your pet care team.      
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Senior Care

As your pet ages, nutritional needs and physical abilities change. Subtle changes may begin to occur. Your aging pet may become more susceptible to cancer, kidney disease, heart problems, and hormonal imbalances such as thyroid conditions or diabetes. Dental disease may occur and predispose your pet to several other problems. Arthritic conditions cause pain and poor mobility and change the way your pet is able to interact with the family. Behavior changes and unexpected bad habits such as house soiling can suddenly make your beloved friend a difficult housemate.

The good news is that early detection and treatment can often add years to your pet's life. Certain tests can frequently detect disease before symptoms are even apparent. Advanced radiography, ultrasound, EKG, and Doppler blood pressure measurements are now routinely available for pets. Modern diagnostic lab tests can be run easily and should be considered part of your older pet's routine healthcare.     
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Nutrition Counseling

With so many choices of pet food on the market, it is sometimes hard to know how to make the best choice for your pet. In addition to helping you choose an appropriate diet for your healthy pet; we can advise you on strategies to help your pet maintain a healthy weight, identify and manage food allergies and prescribe specialized foods when necessary.      
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X-Ray and Ultrasound

We have on-site ultrasound and X-ray available. X-rays are used in a variety of cases. They are vital in detecting bone fractures, bladder stones, and for finding and assessing tumors. They can be helpful in locating foreign material such as swallowed objects (balls, coins, safetypins...) They are used to aid in decision making regarding Cesarean Section surgery by allowing the surgeon to actually see the size and number of fetuses present.

An ultrasound examination is an imaging technique that allows internal body structures to be seen by recording echoes of ultrasonic waves. The technique is invaluable for the examination of internal organs and was first used in veterinary medicine for pregnancy diagnosis. However, the technique is also extremely useful in evaluating heart conditions, identifying changes in abdominal organs, and in the diagnosis of cysts and cancers.
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Client Education

Providing accurate information and instruction to help individuals and communities provide better care for their animals is an important part of the services that Mile High Veterinary Hospital provides. Education of disease processes and wellness techniques can have a significant effect on the standards of animal care and welfare throughout a community.
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Surgery

We perform common surgeries such as ovariohysterctomies (spays) and castrations (neuters) and we even offer a pet-population control discount to encourage our clients to have their pets altered. We also perform mass removals, retrieval of foreign bodies, bladder stone surgery, and a host of other procedures. With our spacious surgery suite and carefully designed treatment area, we can focus on recovery and observation, providing your pet with the personalized attention required for a gentle and speedy recovery.

Several steps are taken to provide your pet with a safe and comfortable experience. First, a pre-surgical lab screen is perfomed to determine if there are any potential internal organ abnormalities that may impact how your pet will react to the anesthesia and surgical procedure. Changes in surgical protocol may be made based on these results.

During surgery, your pet's medical team uses technologically advanced anesthetics and pain management that will result in the safest surgery, quickest recovery from anesthesia, and highest level of comfort for your pet. Each surgery uses an individual pack of sterile surgical instruments (including a sterile endotracheal tube). Your veterinarian will be assisted by a trained Certified Veterinary Technician, who will monitor your pet's heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, oxygen levels and the depth of anesthesia throughout the procedure.

Once out of surgery, your pet will be made comfortable in our treatment area where our staff can monitor recovery. After the surgery is completed, your doctor or a nurse will call you with an update on your pet's status. We strive to make the experience of your pet's surgery as stress-free as possible for you and your pet. Please let us know if you have questions at any time.
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Dental Care

Halitosis is no laughing matter, and healthy pets do not have bad breath. As plaque and tartar form on teeth and under gums, bacteria collect and multiply. This creates a state of poor dental hygiene that may result in foul mouth odor and is cause for concern.  Pets with dental infection have higher rates of bladder, kidney, liver, heart and lung disease due to the increased levels of bacteria entering the pet's blood stream from his mouth. Recently we treated a wonderful little chihuahua who had a cough for more than 2 years.  The cough was a result of inflammation of the windpipe and lungs due to chronic dental disease.  After her dental treatment, the cough disappeared within only a few days. 

Proper nutrition is also critical to help maintain sound oral health. Good nutrition, in conjunction with home dental care, can reduce the incidence of many dental problems. Our dedicated staff will show you how to properly care for your pet's teeth, preventing problems before they occur.

When necessary, we may recommend a professional dental cleaning. If a dental prophylaxis is required, our doctor and nurses are here to help.  A proper dental prophy requires general anesthesia so that the mouth can be completely examined (with x rays taken if needed,) teeth can be scaled above and below the gum line and polished afterwards. No dog or cat will tolerate this procedure awake.

Some signs of dental disease are:

  • Bad breath
  • Brown discoloration of the teeth
  • Cracked or worn teeth
  • Variable appetite
  • Drooling or pawing at the mouth
  • Pain when you touch the muzzle
  • Bleeding gums

Any of these signs may indicate a dental problem. Please call us to see how we can help.  Frequently we can offer solutions for at home treatment without perfoming a prophy under general anesthesia.   If a professional cleaning is required, our job doesn't stop after the procedure is completed, Once we restore your pet's oral health we then invest time in training you how to take care of your pet's mouth at home. Our goal is to minimize the number of general anesthetic procedures your pet experiences in his life, while still maintaining his good health. Some of these at-home techniques include regular brushing, utilizing a dental diet, safe chewies, and Oxyfresh--a water supplement which reduces plaque accumulation.   
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Lab Work

Preventative health care and diagnostics for sick patients often requires lab work. Blood, urine, and fecal tests can help diagnose disease and monitor progress. While we use the expert services of a veterinary labratory to process and analyze most of our lab work, we also have the capability to run many lab tests at our facility when the situation warrants.     
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Heartworm Tests & Medication

Heartworm disease is a growing health threat to dogs throughout the United States. Historically, it hasn't been a serious concern in Aurora. However, the influx of dogs from California, Texas, and most recently, Louisiana, has greatly increased the incidence of heartworm disease in our area. Fortunately, heartworm disease is preventable. All dogs should be tested annually for heartworm and placed on a heartworm prevention program.

Dogs over 6 months of age must be tested for heartworm disease prior to starting any preventative medications. Treatment for heartworm positive dogs is an involved, expensive procedure that can be difficult on the health of the animal being treated. Left undiagnosed and untreated, this condition is fatal. Though the disease can often be treated successfully, we strongly recommend that heartworm disease be avoided by following an effective preventative program.      
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