We are a general practice that excels in a wide range of advanced medical and surgical procedures, collaborating with specialists when necessary.
MPH offers advanced emergency surgery, orthopedic surgery (TPLOs for example), ultrasound and CT imaging, internal medicine, chemotherapy, and dental surgery.
Click on a service below to learn more:
Our Services
Abdominal and Cardiac Ultrasound
We have focused intensely on ultrasound for more than ten years. Ultrasound of the abdomen and chest requires a lot of skill and experience. Integrating ultrasound with our general practice provides a tremendous benefit with managing illness in the abdomen, chest, and heart.
Advanced Medicine and Surgery
Orthopedic surgery represents advanced surgery most notably. At MPH, we have been performing advanced orthopedic surgery for many years. We work and train with specialists and we have acquired the skill, knowledge and experience to excel with many orthopedic surgeries. We have the ability to collaborate with our staff as well as outside orthopedic specialists. The TPLO surgery represents this concept most commonly. The bottom line is that we have been performing orthopedic surgery for many years and we are very experienced with rehabilitation. Orthopedic surgery at MPH includes all rehabilitation appointments at no extra charge.
Soft tissue and abdominal surgery are less glamorous, but equally significant. Collaboration is really key. Camaraderie amongst the staff makes a big difference, but even more, being a general practice allows us to consult with multiple specialists from multiple areas. This diversity is different from a typical specialty practice because we are more connected to multiple specialists with multiple opinions. We can then collaborate the multiple opinions into a more balanced and comprehensive plan.
Advanced medicine works the same way. We have been trained and influenced by multiple specialists and therefore represent a collaboration of multiple medical opinions. We have focused heavily on imaging, especially ultrasound of the abdomen and thorax, including heart disease. Once again, specialization has advanced the level of medicine, but specialized practices have fragmented the care for the overall picture, or the patient. A general practice that has the desire and ability to collaborate and execute both medicine and surgery has a distinct ability to care for the entire patient, your pet.
Advanced Pain Management
We are increasingly using “balanced anesthesia”, which incorporates pain management through multiple mechanisms. Multiple drugs at smaller doses are more effective and safer than a single drug at a big dose. Additionally, local anesthesia (local block) can help reduce the amount general anesthesia needed. MPH is now using a local anesthetic that can last up to three days!
This anesthetic reduces the need for general anesthesia and post-op pain meds. It’s ideal for many surgery sites, and is even helpful in healing naturally occurring wounds. Risks are minimal, but can include irritation or infection at the surgery site. But it also helps reduce the risk of infection, by eliminating pain that may otherwise cause your pet to lick or traumatize an incision.
Critical and Emergency Care
During office hours, our hospital stands ready to provide exceptional emergency care for our valued clients.
Equipped with advanced facilities and expertise, we ensure top-tier diagnostics, treatments, and surgeries for urgent cases. Our seasoned technicians provide dedicated overnight care for hospitalized patients, overseen by our veterinary staff to maintain treatment consistency.
For any emergency needs, we urge clients to always reach out to us first rather than walking in unannounced, ensuring prompt and efficient assistance.
Dentistry
At Mission Pet Hospital, we perform dentistry at an advanced level. This starts with a thorough assessment using X-ray and CATscan (CT). This uncommonly thorough level of imaging helps identify hidden issues like deep infections, early root abscesses, and broken teeth or roots. Disease caught earlier could allow treatments to save a tooth. Better imaging allows for more accurate surgery or extraction.
At MPH, we also prioritize thorough and careful anesthesia. Alongside state-of-the-art equipment, dedicated nurses oversee anesthetic monitoring, ensuring individualized care and vigilant observation throughout the procedure.
We emphasize balanced anesthesia, which combines various pain management methods. Using multiple drugs at lower doses is both more effective and safer than a single high-dose drug. Furthermore, local and regional anesthesia is employed to reduce the requirement for general anesthesia.
We categorize our dental procedures into levels based on complexity. While we aim to predict the category beforehand, the level my change based on the assessment.
Level 1: no extractions
Level 2: few simple non-surgical extractions, and no advancement flap closure
Level 3: few surgical extractions and/or an advancement flap closure
Level 4: multiple surgical extractions or a very advanced and involved surgical extraction, or multiple advancement flap closures
Oncology
For over fifteen years, we've collaborated closely with oncology specialists. As a general practice, we're fortunate to draw insights from a diverse range of experts, spanning the Bay Area and beyond, including national and international veterinarians.
Our chemotherapy protocols are meticulously overseen by Drs. Tony Moore and Angela Frimberger of Veterinary Oncology Consults, esteemed leaders in the oncology field with over two decades of experience.
Preventative Care
Dog Vaccines
Basic vaccination guidelines for puppies include a single rabies vaccine given at 16 weeks of age or later, and 2 or 3 DAP (distemper, adenovirus (aka canine hepatitis), parvovirus) vaccines given at 3-4 week intervals, typically started at 8 or 9 weeks of age. The last DAP vaccine must be given at 12 weeks of age or older.
The rabies and DAP vaccines are known as "core vaccines" as they are recommended for all dogs. They should be administered again after one year, and thereafter, every 3 years for rabies, and every 4 years for DAP.
Additional vaccinations, such as bordetella, leptospirosis, and lyme disease, may also be given. Vaccine recommendations are based on an individual assessment of each dog’s need, based on a conversation between the veterinarian and the owner. Rabies vaccination is required for all dogs by law.
Canine Influenza - The impact of the canine influenza epidemic is substantial and undeniable. Here's the official information provided by the AVMA for reference:
https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/Pages/Canine-Influenza-Backgrounder.aspx
Should your dog experience sudden coughing, please reach out to us by phone. Coughing in dogs can indicate a highly contagious condition. We urge you not to bring your dog directly to Mission Pet H and to avoid exposing it to other dogs.
Cat Vaccines
For cats, core vaccines are the basic distemper shot (FVRCP). Some authorities consider the rabies vaccine to be a core vaccine, but due to the fact that many cats that we see almost never go outside, we often do not give it. However, if you consider the consequences of rabies exposure (which can certainly happen indoors) and the legal consequences of owning a biting animal (what happens to the animal generally is dependent on its vaccine status), it is not hard to see why this vaccine is important. Additional vaccines for cats include feline leukemia virus (FeLV).