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Compassionate, Friendly Staff
Providing Exceptional Pet Healthcare

Ensuring Happy & Healthy Pets

in Putnam County since 1980

We know how important your four-legged companions are to you, and we’re here to make sure you have access to quality, affordable healthcare. Dr. Shawn Sette and his amazing team of compassionate and friendly veterinarians and technicians have been serving pet owners in our wonderful Hurricane, WV community for nearly 30 years.

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Services & Treatments

Allergy & Skin Disorder Treatments

While we often think about how people can be allergic to cats and dogs, it’s also true that our four-legged companions may have allergies of their own. One of the most common causes of red, itchy, and irritated skin in pets is allergies. This may be an environmental allergen, such as dust or pollen, an allergy to flea saliva, or a problem with the ingredients in their food. We can help control the uncomfortable symptoms through accurate diagnosis of an allergy and treatments that minimize the effects. For food allergies, we also offer nutritional counseling to help you find the diet that works best for your pet.

 

Other Causes of Itchy Skin in Pets

  • Atopy
  • Food allergy
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Contact Dermatitis
  • Seborrhea
  • Flea infestation
  • Lice, mites or other parasites
  • Pyoderma
  • Viral or fungal infections

Behavior & Nutritional Counseling

Behavior

It’s very common for pet owners to struggle with problematic behaviors in their pet, but we’re here to help! One of the first steps with a behavioral issue is to rule out a potential medical cause. Illnesses can sometimes show up as a stressed-out or anxious pet, making them more prone to destructive behaviors. After medical conditions are ruled out, we use scientifically tested approaches and holistic care to help change troublesome behaviors and improve pets’ and their owners’ quality of life. With humane training methods and techniques, it’s possible to save animals’ lives and enhance their relationship with their owners.

Nutrition

We know just how important a healthy and balanced diet is for your furry family member. With all the options out there, it can be difficult to figure out what’s right for YOUR pet. We can offer advice on both the type and amount of food for your pet to make sure they stay healthy. For animals with chronic health conditions, diet is often essential in their treatment plan. We work closely with several high-quality pet food companies with scientifically proven results.

Spay & Neuter

Getting your pet spayed or neutered is important for preventing animal overpopulation here in Putnam County and for your pet’s health. We offer affordable spay and neuter procedures for cats and dogs to prevent unexpected litters and ensure a longer, happier life for your pet. Hurricane Animal Hospital’s team of dedicated veterinarians and staff are committed to providing compassionate, state-of-the-art surgical care in a safe environment so that you can worry less. All procedures performed under anesthesia are carefully monitored by our experienced veterinary team. Pain control is also a critical component to a healthy recovery, and we will provide every patient with appropriate pain medication for their procedure. If you have any questions about when to schedule your pet’s spay or neuter procedure, please feel free to give us a call.

 

Benefits of Spaying & Neutering

  • Reduces the risk of breast cancer in females
  • Reduces the risk of prostate problems in males
  • Eliminates uterine or testicular cancers or infections
  • May reduce roaming and aggression
  • Eliminates the heat cycle in females

Pet Surgery & Orthopedics

Aside from a standard spay or neuter procedure, most pet owners hope their pets can go through life without ever needing another surgery. But when accidents and illnesses do happen, we’re here to help with safe options for surgical interventions. The team here at Hurricane Animal Hospital is dedicated to providing safe, effective surgeries to help your pet through medical emergencies.

Common Pet Surgeries

  • Spay & neuter
  • Bladder stone removals
  • Wound treatments & laceration repair
  • Lateral ear resections
  • Repairs of cruciate ligaments
  • Caesarean sections
  • Urinary tract obstructions
  • Mass removal & biopsy
  • Gastrointestinal surgery to remove a foreign object
  • Bone fracture repair
  • Medical patella luxation repairs
  • Stenotic nares repair

Anesthesia

If your pet is going to be placed under anesthesia (such as with a soft tissue or orthopedic surgery) we may talk to you about running a few blood tests to ensure their overall health before the procedure. You can also review our suggestions for preparing your pet for anesthesia.

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Veterinarian in Hurricane, WV | Hurricane Animal Hospital
Animal Hospital in Hurricane, WV | Hurricane Animal Hospital

Cancer Care & Chemotherapy

Cancer will touch 1 in 4 of our beloved pets. Cancer accounts for half the deaths in pets over 10 years. At Hurricane Animal Hospital, we no longer view cancer as the end of quality living. The most effective treatment of any disease is early diagnosis, and that’s just as true for cancer as any other condition. We recommend annual blood screening to monitor organ function for all pets starting at seven years of age. These early detection screenings are our first line of defense against most diseases in pets. We also perform complete examinations on our patients every visit and want to see them AT LEAST once a year for this exam until age seven and then every six months. Cancer can affect any area of the body and any body system. In dogs and cats, cancers are most common in the skin, lymph nodes, gastrointestinal tract, blood, and/or bone.

Concerning Signs

  • Any new lump or bump or swelling
  • Difficulty going to the bathroom
  • Weight loss
  • Foul breath or drooling
  • Any change in an existing lump or bump
  • Bloody urine
  • Limping or change in gait
  • Lethargy or weakness

Our comprehensive cancer care focuses on quality of life. Our patient-specific protocols include methods to ensure any treatments we implement do not compromise your pet’s desire to eat, play, love, and live. LIVING with cancer is our focus, rather than concerning ourselves with just treating cancer.

We are with you every step! Our veterinarians work with veterinary oncologists, and together we develop the best plan of attack against cancer. We formulate plans that consider prognosis, convenience, comfort, and concurrent medical issues your pet may have. We monitor your pet’s progress and any side effects of the treatment and address all of your concerns. We understand the emotional impact of cancer, and we are committed to helping you navigate the options for your pet.

End-of-Life Care

One of the most difficult parts of being a pet owner is having to say goodbye to your beloved companion. We know these difficulties all too well and feel it is important that the timing of your decision for end-of-life be appropriate for every individual client and their pet. We offer hospice care treatments for critical pets near the end as well as a loving environment for euthanasia when the time has come. In-home euthanasia is also available. If you’re unsure about whether it’s time to consider euthanasia, one of our veterinarians can perform a quality-of-life exam to give you an idea of whether they’re in pain and the likely progression of any diseases or conditions they may have. You don’t have to go through this difficult time alone. Our compassionate team is here to help provide support and advice when you need it most.

Vaccines & Wellness Care

We’re here to help make sure your pet is staying healthy & happy over the years. For most adult cats and dogs, that includes an annual wellness exam and boosters for vaccines. Kittens, puppies and senior pets generally need to come in to see us a little more often to get everything they need. Each pet’s preventive care needs will depend on a combination of their lifestyle, breed, and age.

 

Wellness & Preventive Care

  • Wellness Exams
  • Dental Health Checks
  • ​Heartworm & Flea Prevention
  • Early Detection of Disease Testing
  • ​Microchipping with HomeAgain
  • Vaccinations
  • Senior Pet Exams
  • Genetic Health Analysis
  • Behavior & ​Nutritional Counseling

Pet Dental Care

Just like in people, our pets can experience dental health problems. From sore gums and gingivitis to toothaches and advanced periodontal disease, poor dental health can pose a serious risk to your pet’s overall health. Good dental health starts with an exam and regular dental cleanings here at the hospital. We can talk to you about how to take care of your pet’s teeth at home to avoid the buildup of plaque and tartar, too. Keep in mind that untreated periodontal disease may allow harmful bacteria to enter the bloodstream, causing damage to internal organs. It can also cause painful tooth decay and tooth loss.

 

What Are the Signs of Gingivitis & Periodontal Disease?

  • Bad breath
  • Drooling or difficulty chewing and eating
  • Vomiting
  • Swollen, red, receding, or bleeding gums
  • Discoloration of the teeth
  • Loose teeth
For more information about our veterinary services please contact us at 304-757-2287 today!
Hurricane Animal Hospital

2120 Mount Vernon Road

Hurricane, WV 25526

Hospital Hours*

Monday | 7:30 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.

Tuesday | 7:30 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.

Wednesday | 7:30 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.

Thursday | 7:30 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.

Friday | 7:30 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.

Saturday | Closed

Sunday | Closed

*Hours are subject to change due to emergencies, uncontrolled circumstance, or training meetings, Please call to confirm.

What Should I Bring to My Pet’s First Appointment?

Bring any previous medical records, current medications (in the bottles), and a fresh stool sample (that has been collected within the last 12 hours). We also ask that you arrive with your pet on a leash or in a carrier for the safety and protection of your pet, as well as others.

If at all possible, please send your pet’s medical records to us in advance by email or fax.

When Should I Arrive for My Pet’s Appointment?

Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. This will allow us time to get your pet checked in, complete any necessary paperwork, and get vital signs and patient history. Due to scheduling restrictions, if you are late for your pet’s appointment, we will need to reschedule or admit your pet. Missed appointments do incur a fee.

Are You Accepting New Clients and Patients?

Yes, we are! However, please know that we are currently scheduling new pet appointments 3-4 weeks in advance.

Why Do You Require a Deposit to Book a New Client/Patient Appointment?

We do require all new clients to pay a deposit at the time of scheduling their pet’s appointment. As long as you show up on time, your deposit will go toward the exam fee!

What are Your Cancellation and Rescheduling Policies?

We require 24-hour notice for rescheduling or cancellations. This will give us adequate time to schedule another pet that needs to be seen.

Missed appointments incur a fee and will result in the loss of any deposits. A new deposit will be required to book future appointments.

What Payment Options Do You Offer?

We accept cash, checks, and debit or credit card. We also offer financing options through Care Credit and ScratchPay to those who qualify. You can apply at www.carecredit.com or
www.scratchpay.com

To keep the costs of our services as low as possible, and to focus on our patients needs and customer service, we do not offer billing. Services must be paid for in full at the time they are provided.

What Should I Expect at My Pet’s Wellness Visit?

During your pet’s wellness exam, a technician will obtain vital signs and patient history, and your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical examination. They will also discuss recommended vaccinations, as well as routine testing, which may include bloodwork, fecal or urine testing. Your veterinarian will prescribe flea, tick, heartworm, and intestinal parasite preventatives, as well as recommend any needed dental work or other follow-up care. The specific recommendations can vary depending on the pet’s age, or any known medical conditions.

Do You Really Need to Examine My Pet Yearly?

Definitely! The purpose of the annual exam is to detect any medical problems that may be developing. Early detection and treatment of diseases like arthritis, kidney disease, thyroid disease, etc. will give your pet the best chance for a positive outcome and a longer, happier, healthier life! For this same reason, we recommend that all pets 7 years or older are examined every 6 months instead of every year. Annual exams are also required for us to prescribe medications and prescription foods.

Why Does My Dog Need a Yearly Heartworm Test?

Even if your dog is on heartworm preventative, there is always the possibility that he or she may not have swallowed a dose, a dose may have been missed, or, in very rare cases, the heartworm prevention may not have been 100% effective in your dog. Additionally, our heartworm test also checks for three tick-borne diseases (Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma).

Do You Offer Scheduled Appointments?

Yes, we feel strongly that this allows us to better serve you and your pet by minimizing the time you spend at our office, especially for routine care appointments. Please be advised that while we schedule sick care appointments, it is possible that we may ask you to leave your pet with us if he/she needs diagnostic services or therapeutic procedures. Please let a reception team member know of any signs of illness or medical/behavioral concerns that your pet needs addressed in addition to wellness/routine care so that we can appropriately schedule your appointment with the doctor.

Do You See Walk-Ins and Emergencies?

We do not offer walk-in appointments. However, we do offer urgent care services and ask that you call our office as soon as possible for us to determine how we can help you in getting your pet seen. It is possible that we will ask you to bring your pet in and leave them with us (for the day or potentially overnight), so that we can examine them, and develop a treatment plan. Urgent care fees do apply.

We do see emergency patients during the day, and these cases are attended to first. Therefore, if your pet is in stable condition, you will be asked to wait in our lobby. If you feel you’re your pet requires emergent attention, please contact our office immediately to determine the best course of action. Emergency care fees do apply.

Patients needing emergency services at the end of the day will be referred directly to the ER for more prompt assessment and stabilization. If your pet requires emergent attention after hours, please contact the Tri-State Animal ER (Ceredo, WV) or the Kanawha Valley Veterinary Emergency Hospital (South Charleston, WV).

Can My Pet See the Same Veterinarian Each Visit?

We make every effort to keep your pet with the same vet for every visit. However, there may be times when a specific veterinarian is unavailable for your pet’s visit such as scheduling conflicts, emergency situations, and vacation schedules.

How Do I Refill My Pet’s Medications? Do You Have an Online Pharmacy?

If you prefer to fill your pet’s medication here at the hospital, we ask that you give us at least a 24-hour notice that a refill is needed, and we will call you as soon as the medication is filled and ready for pickup.

We also have an online pharmacy (VetSource) which can be accessed through our website. If you prefer to refill your pet’s medications through VetSource, we recommend that you place your refill order 10-14 days prior to running out of medication to allow for processing and shipping times. You will find that our online pharmacy is priced competitively with other online pharmacies and when you buy from VetSource, you get the same quality and guarantees for medications just like you would if you purchased them directly from the hospital.

Why Does My Pet Need to Be Leashed or In a Carrier?

For the safety and protection of all clients, patients, and veterinary team members, we require all pets to be on a leash or in a carrier at all times while they are at the hospital. This starts the moment you exit the vehicle, as they are waiting in our reception area, and while traveling to/from the examination rooms. Your veterinarian or veterinary technician will let you know when it is OK to let your pet off leash or out of their carrier.

There are often a lot of noises, new animals, and people in our hospital at any given time. Even the best trained pet can become uneasy or overly excited while here. We want you and your pet to have as pleasant an experience as possible every time you visit our facility, so we ask all clients to respect this policy.

If you have a hard time controlling your pet in the lobby, please let us know. You are welcome to wait with your pet in the car, or we can try to take your pet immediately to an examination room when you arrive. We are happy to work with you to make your visit as smooth and convenient as possible.

Feel free to leave your pet in your vehicle and walk (or call) inside to let us know if you need a leash or carrier for your visit. We are happy to help you keep your pet safe!

What is Pre-Anesthetic Bloodwork? Is it really necessary and important?

Preoperative bloodwork provides our veterinarians with an overview of your pet’s internal health before placing him/her under anesthesia. This allows us to evaluate for evidence of anemia, dehydration, infections, liver/kidney disease, electrolyte disorders, etc. All of these things can greatly impact your pet’s ability to process the anesthesia properly. So yes, pre-anesthetic bloodwork is very important, and while it is elective for some procedures, there are other procedures or conditions that may require us to perform bloodwork prior to anesthesia.

What Do You Do to Help Ensure Patient Safety During Anesthesia and Surgery?

Our veterinary team takes every precaution so that your pet can receive the highest quality care. We always recommend (and sometimes require) pre-anesthetic bloodwork to evaluate internal health before anesthesia. Your pet will receive a physical examination prior to anesthesia, and we will check pre-anesthetic vital signs for any abnormalities.

Your pet will receive an IV catheter, so we can easily administer anesthetic medications, and in the rare event of an emergency, this will allow us to rapidly administer emergency medications. They will be intubated to secure your pet’s airway and allow us to maintain your pet on low levels of gas anesthesia as well as provide oxygen. During surgery, a veterinary technician will continually monitor your pet’s condition with state-of-the-art monitoring equipment.

All patients are given the appropriate pain medications while in our care and are sent home with pain medications as well. This allows us to ensure your pet is as comfortable as possible, for a smooth surgical procedure, and a comfortable recovery as well.

Can You Diagnose and Treat My Pet Over the Phone?

No. A physical exam is critical for the vet to gather information needed to diagnose your pet. Sometimes the exam alone is not enough, and your pet may need tests, such as bloodwork, urinalysis, or X-rays.

Can I Be With My Pet for Testing?

No. Please understand, that in order for us to provide the safest environment for you, your pet, and our staff testing and sometimes exams need to be performed in regulated areas of the hospital, where we have the appropriate equipment, space, and safety measures in place.

You Examined My Pet and They Aren’t Better. What Can I Do?

Please call us right away. Sometimes we may need to try more than one treatment approach or medication to find the correct solution or best treatment for your pet. Please let us know if something we recommended or prescribed is not helping, we want to work with you to find the right treatment for your pet.

My Pet Needs to Stay for Testing. How Will I Know When I Can Pick Them Up?

After we’ve completed testing, a member of our team will contact you to provide an update and set up a time for you to pick up your pet. If we have the results, we will review them with you when you pick up your pet. If we have to send samples to an outside lab for results, we will call you to discuss the results after the veterinarian has had time to review the results & make a treatment plan.

Can I Visit My Surgical or Hospitalized Pet?

We don’t typically recommend visiting your hospitalized since it can over-stimulate your pet and disrupt their recovery. Our hospital sometimes will make exceptions to this policy if your pet is going to be hospitalized following surgery or for treatment for a few days. Visitation hours vary and are scheduled with the nursing staff.

My Pet is Hospitalized. What Should I Expect?

If your pet is going to stay overnight, a member of their healthcare team will contact you that evening before close of business to provide an update on your pet. Additionally, we do have a technician here overnight until 2 am to monitor your pet and perform any overnight treatments needed.

The next day following hospitalization you should expect to receive an update from our office by 11:00 am, regarding any overnight changes and ongoing medical care needed. A member of our veterinary team will discuss any recommendations for further testing, treatments, and/or they will schedule a discharge appointment. Discharge appointments are necessary to review medication directions and to prepare you for the recovery process including rehabilitation instructions, exercise restrictions, etc.