Primary Care

Our hospital offers primary care services that cover every pet’s basic needs. These services include spays and neuters, health exams, laboratory and pharmacy services, dental care, and much more! Please click on any of the subheadings listed below to learn more about the primary care services available to your pet.

Available Services
  • Pets can suffer from allergies to elements in the environment around them, as well as certain ingredients in their foods, just like people can ... Read more

  • Anesthesia indicates the use of medication to block sensation, typically resulting in unconsciousness Anesthesia is induced using a variety of medications, both injectable and inhaled ... Read more

  • Dogs and cats don't often get cavities But they do frequently suffer from other types of dental disease Periodontal or gum disease, in fact, is the number one illness found in both dogs and cats... Read more

  • Our hospital offers Dental Radiographs (X-Rays) as part of our extensive Dentistry Services. In the course of dental treatment, specially designed dental radiology equipment allows your veterinarian to view structures that lie below the gum line. The location of tooth root infections, the extent of peridontal bone loss and the identification of bone cysts and tumors can be identified using dental x-rays.... Read more

  • Our hospital offers a variety of Dentistry Services. At your pet's yearly examination it may be determined that they require a dental cleaning. Routine veterinary dentistry involves prophylaxis (teeth cleaning), polishing and a full oral examination.... Read more

  • Our hospital offers thorough Ear Exams as one of our many extensive Dermatology Services. Conditions of the ears can be extremely uncomfortable and even painful. Symptoms like head shaking, scratching and pawing at the ears, rubbing the ears on the floor or furniture, whining, and abnormal odors are common.... Read more

  • In case of emergency call 412-885-2500. We are open 24/7. We provide complete wellness care for all of your pet’s life stages from birth through his/her senior years.... Read more

  • Our staff is here to help you with euthanasia and end of life decisions.

     The decision to euthanize a beloved pet is among the most difficult choices a pet owner ever has to make. Consultation with a veterinarian will help owners determine whether euthanasia is appropriate and when that might occur.... Read more

  • A diagnostic tool is any device or substance used for the analysis or detection of diseases or other medical conditions. From in-house blood work to digital radiography, VCA Castle Shannon has a wide range of full diagnostics to help diagnose your pet.

    One of the most common and useful medical diagnostic procedures is radiography or x-rays.... Read more

  • Our hospital offers many General Surgery Services. General surgery includes a variety of common and elective procedures performed under general anesthesia. Examples of common surgeries include: spay (ovariohysterectomy), neuter (castration), lump removal and biopsy, laceration repair, abscess and wound repair, exploratory surgery, removal of gastrointestinal foreign bodies, enucleation (eye removal), cystotomy (removal of bladder stones), and skin biopsy.... Read more

  • Our hospital offers Geriatric (Senior Wellness) Medicine Services for your older pet. When your pet reaches his or her "golden years" they require special care and your veterinarian will recommend certain screening tests. The tests allow your veterinarian to provide an early diagnosis for some of the common diseases that affect older pets, so they can manage those diseases more effectively.... Read more

  • There are two types of health certificates available: one which approves pets for travel within the continental United States, and another which approves them for international travel.

    Acquiring a health certificate will require you to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Your pet will receive an overall exam during which the doctor will be able to certify that your pet is healthy and safe for travel.... Read more

  • Wellness Exams not only help flag any potential problems with your pet's health, but they are also important in creating an overall medical history for your pet. By meeting regularly with your pet, your veterinarian is able to become better acquainted with his or her personal history, and is able to offer more personalized care.  
    For pets who are 6 years and younger, wellness exams are recommended at least once a year.... Read more

  • Our hospital offers Basic Hospitalization Services. Hospitalization involves admitting your pet into the hospital for monitoring or necessary medical care. Your pet will have their own cage or kennel within the hospital building and will be monitored closely by technicians and veterinarians throughout their stay.... Read more

  • Our hospital offers Endoscopy Services. Endoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic medical procedure that is used to assess the interior surfaces of an organ by inserting a tube into the body. It is an essential diagnostic tool for pets with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.... Read more

  • Our hospital is equipped with an In-House Laboratory that allows our veterinarians to quickly perform diagnostic tests on a variety of body fluids (ear swabs, blood, urine, etc) and other samples (feces, etc) to achieve an accurate and rapid diagnosis. This is especially important in very ill animals and those requiring immediate or emergency treatment.... Read more

  • For your convenience, our hospital has a pharmacy, enabling you to pick up your pet's medications at the time of your visit. While no hospital carries every medication, we keep the most commonly prescribed medications in stock. Our hospital uses trained pharmacy technicians (Dena and Keith) to fill the doctor's prescribed medications orders.... Read more

  • Surgical suites are rooms designated for use during surgery only. These rooms are kept as clean as possible to minimize bacteria and other infectious organisms that would be capable of contaminating a surgical wound.

    Many surgical suites are designed with separate ventilation from the rest of the hospital as this helps maintain cleanliness of the room.... Read more

  • Our hospital offers an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for treating your pet during times of critical need. Our staff and veterinarians will determine if your pet requires the ICU services of a specialty hospital and make appropriate recommendations when necessary. Pets requiring ICU are often very ill and require specialized nursing staff and veterinarians to pull them through a crisis.... Read more

  • Our hospital offers a variety of Internal Medicine Services. Internal Medicine is the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, management and nonsurgical treatment of disease affecting the lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, spleen, intestinal tract, urinary tract, endocrine system and neuromuscular systems. Management of these conditions is typically done with diet, exercise and medications.... Read more

  • This hospital maintains an isolated area to prevent the spread of contagious disease from potentially infectious patients to others in the hospital. Our personnel are trained and isolation procedures are followed to keep patients safe. These procedures include the appropriate use of disinfectants, the proper disposal of infectious materials, and the wearing of disposable gloves, boots, masks and gowns while handling infectious patients.... Read more

  • Our hospital offers oxygen therapy for the treatment of many acute cardiac, respiratory and blood disorders. Oxygen may be provided to patients by a nasal catheter (cannula), oxygen cage, hood or mask. Close veterinary monitoring of these patients is required to maintain oxygen flow, avoid potential complications of oxygen usage and to insure that expected therapeutic goals are being met.... Read more

  • Keeping your pet pain-free is crucial to maintaining his or her quality of life. Our veterinarians use a multi-modal approach to pain management that includes anti-inflammatories, opioid drugs, local anesthetics, general anesthetics, and even epidural anesthesia to effectively combat pain at all levels. Some of our veterinarians even offer alternative options such as acupuncture or chiropractic services for additional pain relief.... Read more

  • Our hospital offers routine radiology services. Radiology is the study and science of x-rays. X-rays are used to help your veterinarian diagnose a problem or a disease in your pet.... Read more

  • In our continuing efforts to offer the highest quality veterinary medicine, we are pleased to provide a wide range of surgical services for our patients. From routine surgical procedures, such as spaying and neutering, to more complex surgeries, we look forward to the opportunity to care for your pet's surgical needs.

    Our staff is highly skilled in performing veterinary surgeries and will make every effort to ensure that your pet receives the very best care.... Read more

  • Our hospital routinely performs spays and neuters, the surgical sterilization of female and male dogs and cats. Spaying involves removal of the uterus and ovaries of female dogs and cats and is called ovariohysterectomy. Neutering involves removal of the testicles of male dogs and cats and is called castration.... Read more

  • There are several problems that may affect your pet's urinary tract, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder crystals or bladder stones, kidney disease, incontinence, and even cancer. Finding a comprehensive solution to those problems, whether that be dietary changes, medications, or surgery, our team of veterinarians are here to help your pet with successful treatment.

    .... Read more