Veterinary Services in Tucson, AZ

Comprehensive Physical Examinations: At Acacia Animal Hospital, we believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To this end, we provide a comprehensive medical examination with each wellness care visit to properly evaluate your pet’s total health needs. Keeping in mind that your companion’s life span is shorter than ours, and their health can change significantly over a 12-month period, we tailor an examination schedule for each individual based on age and general health.

Senior Pet Care and Geriatric Pet Evaluations: In recent years, great strides have been made in recognizing the special needs and requirements of our “senior citizen” dogs and cats. Our veterinarians are well equipped with the knowledge and diagnostic tools to identify age-related problems and formulate realistic strategies to allow your pet to live a longer and healthier life. Dogs and cats seven years and older are entering that senior life stage, and their health profiles will be rapidly changing. During this phase of life, we provide twice yearly examinations, special diagnostic profiles, senior-specific nutritional recommendations and nutriceutical supplements to enhance your best friend’s golden years.

Pet sick exams at Acacia Animal Hospital in Tucson, AZ can help to identify and diagnose health problems in your pet. Oftentimes, pets can appear to be healthy on the outside but may be harboring an illness on the inside. Pet sick exams can help to catch these problems early before they become more serious. During a pet sick exam, our team of experienced veterinarians will complete a comprehensive physical examination of your pet. We will also take a detailed history from you, including information on your pet’s diet, exercise habits, and any recent changes in behavior. Based on this information, we may recommend additional testing or diagnostic procedures. Pet sick exams are an important part of keeping your pet healthy and we are here to help you every step of the way.

Proper dental care is as important for your pet as it is for you. In addition to preventing bad breath and periodontal disease, it can also prevent infection from spreading through the blood stream to your pet’s liver, kidneys, and heart. We perform oral examinations during every wellness care visit as part of our preventative medicine protocols. Recommendations for dental scaling and polishing, oral surgery including fracture repairs and root canals, digital dental radiology, tooth extractions and modifications, and many other dental procedures, will be made on an individual basis. Dr. Laudonio and the trained technicians of Acacia Animal Hospital pay special attention to dental care, which is often a forgotten component of your companion’s overall health. Oral care at home is an important piece of the puzzle for every pet, and to assist you with that, we explain and demonstrate different ways to prevent dental disease and reduce the need for frequent teeth cleaning. Home dental care products such as the line of Virbac’s CET dental chews, oral rinses and oral additives, as well as Hill’s t/d dental diet and a selection of toothpaste and toothbrush kits for your furry friend are always available and highly recommended.

Digital Dental Radiology

To enhance our ability to evaluate your pet’s dental needs, we offer digital dental x-rays on site. Our top of the line mobile dental radiology unit is similar to the one you would find in your own dentist’s office. It allows us to see more clearly the common dental issues that are hidden beneath the surface of the gums and are otherwise difficult or even impossible to diagnose. Your veterinarian will recommend the use of dental x-rays on a case by case basis.

Dr. Laudonio has a special interest in orthopedic surgery and fracture repair. With over ten years of hands-on experience, and many hours of continuing education focused in this area, Dr. Laudonio is well prepared to care for these difficult cases. In fact, we regularly receive referrals from many local veterinarians when they are faced with challenging injuries that Dr. Laudonio and the staff of Acacia Animal Hospital are uniquely equipped to handle.

Some of the most common procedures performed are stifle (knee) surgeries including ACL, MCL, and luxating patella repair. We offer TPLO, TTA, and extra-capsular surgical options. We also perform all manner of fracture repair with options such as I.M. pins, bone-plating, and external fixation, as well as hip, shoulder, cartilage and elbow surgeries.

Along with surgical intervention, we offer a wide range of medical and pain control approaches, including laser therapy and nutraceutical supplementation, to resolve orthopedic issues and optimize joint and muscle health.

General Surgery

Our hospital is well-equipped to perform most minor and major surgical procedures from spay and neuter operations to more complicated emergency, dental, and soft tissue surgeries.

Prior to surgery, each patient receives a thorough physical examination to identify any existing medical conditions that might endanger your pet’s health. Because not all problems can be detected on examination, we also strongly encourage pre-anesthetic blood testing. These tests not only give us a more complete picture of your pet’s health, but allow us to tailor an anesthetic protocol that is specific for your pet.

We offer a wide variety of anesthetic options specifically designed to meet your pet’s individual needs. We use state-of-the-art anesthetic machines offering isoflorane anesthesia, and place an IV catheter for fluid therapy and support during each procedure. We also utilize electronic pulse oximetry, blood pressure monitoring and EKG, as well as hands-on monitoring by trained technicians on all anesthetized patients to ensure a smooth anesthetic procedure.

Pain management is an important part of our pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative anesthetic and medical approach. All surgical patients including those undergoing routine procedures such as ovariohysterectomy or castrations (spay or neuter) receive pain control medications. We urge you to discuss operative pain management options with our staff.

We treat each patient as if they were one of our own pets, and take safety and efficiency to heart. You are encouraged to ask questions, and tour our facility to become more familiar with the high standard of care we have to offer here at Acacia!

Pets come in many shapes and sizes and we love them all! Dr. Laudonio and the veterinarians at Acacia Animal Hospital have experience with a wide range of species, and, along with our technicians, they are skilled at handling the special needs of exotic pets. From full-service examinations, preventative care, surgrery and hospitalization needs; to trimming nails, beaks, feathers and teeths, as well as providing exotic boarding services, we have your unique pets covered.

We Happily Care For:

• Ferrets
• Pet Fish
• Sugar Gliders
• Hamsters & Gerbils
• Rabbits
• Guinea Pigs
• Pet Rats & Mice
• Birds of All Species
• Pet Chickens, Ducks & Turkeys
• Toads & Frogs
• Turtles & Tortoises
• Snakes
• Lizards
• Goats
• Pigs
• Pet Monkeys
• And many more!

Exotic Services Include:

• Comprehensive Examinations
• Preventative & Wellness Care
• Vaccinations
• Diagnostic Bloodwork
• Pharmaceuticals
• Digital X-Rays
• Spays & Neuters
• Surgery
• Dentistry
• Wound Care
• Nail, Beak, Feather and Teeth Trimming
• Hospitalization
• Dietary Needs
• Boarding
• Care and Housing
• And much more!

Ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging tool, often employed in addition to or following readiographs (x-rays), that is primarily used to acquire enhanced images of the thoracic and abdominal cavities. Ultrasound is an excellent non-invasive method for imaging the presence of fetus in a pregnant patient, to look for abnormalities in major organs, and to monitor ongoing disease processes.

Amongst its many functions, we can employ this state-of-the-art technique in diagnosing kidney disease, cancers and heart ailments. We regularly recommend ultrasound services for maintaining the health of our geriatric patients.

Complete Pharmacy Services
To aid in the support of your pet’s needs, we have a fully stocked pharmacy on the premesis. Almost any medication our doctors prescribe can be conveniently obtained before you leave our office. The doctors are also happy to provide a written prescription for fulmillment at an outside pharmacy in cases where this is necessary. We also carry a broad line of supplements and nutraceuticals which are often paired with other medications to provide your pet with the most comprehensive treatment plan available. Convenient refills are just a phone call away.

Online Pharmacy
For your added convenience, we also offer an online pharmacy. Home delivery is a quick and easy way to have your medications sent straight to your home. Unlike many of the online pharmacies out there, all of our medications are fulfilled straight from a trusted veterinary distributor, which allows us to guarantee that they are formulated and stored correctly. This means you get exactly what you are prescribed: medications that are safe and effective.

For pets on a long-term medication regimen, our online pharmacy offers an auto-ship option so that refills arrive at your doorstep automatically on the schedule you request.

Click here to view our online pharmacy, and don’t hesitate to call our office with any questions.

A microchip is a tiny electronic device, about the size and shape of a grain of rice. It is implanted beneath a pet’s skin between the shoulder blades, and stays there for the pet’s entire life. This procedure is as easy and as painless as a vaccination.

Each microchip has a unique number. This number, along with information about the owner and pet, are added to a national pet registry. Most veterinarians and animal shelters have electronic scanners for detecting and reading these implanted microchips. If a lost pet is found, and the microchip is scanned, the registry is called and the owner is contacted.

Vaccinations and Preventative Medicine: As part of a well-developed preventative medicine protocol, we recommend an individual vaccination schedule based on each companion animal’s age, degree of exposure to disease and general health profile. We offer only the highest quality immunization products, and stress healthful preventative measures such as heartworm screening, flea and tick prevention, and nutriceutical supplements to optimize your pet’s health. As opposed to the open market, you can rest assured that any product you receive from us will be handled and dispensed according to the highest medical standards, so the quality and efficacy is guaranteed. We do not endorse a one-size-fits-all approach to regular medical care, and pride ourselves on developing a relationship with each pet and client, allowing us to create a customized wellness plan.

Puppy and Kitten Examinations and Vaccinations: Puppies and kittens should receive a complete physical examination and their first set of vaccinations at six to eight weeks of age. Additional exams and vaccinations are given every three to four weeks until they are twelve to sixteen weeks old, or until the appropriate series of immunizations are complete as recommended by our veterinarians. Thereafter, a regular booster immunization schedule will be discussed and implementated per your pet’s individual needs. During your pet’s examinations you will also receive behavioral advice, nutrition counseling, and recommendations on disease prevention. This advice can go a long way toward preventing problems in your pet’s adult life.

Online Pharmacy
For your added convenience, we also offer an online pharmacy. Home delivery is a quick and easy way to have your medications sent straight to your home. Unlike many of the online pharmacies out there, all of our medications are fulfilled straight from a trusted veterinary distributor, which allows us to guarantee that they are formulated and stored correctly. This means you get exactly what you are prescribed: medications that are safe and effective.

For pets on a long-term medication regimen, our online pharmacy offers an auto-ship option so that refills arrive at your doorstep automatically on the schedule you request.

Click here to view our online pharmacy, and don’t hesitate to call our office with any questions.