VCA Delmarva Animal Hospital

Our Story

At VCA Delmarva Animal Hospital, we help pets live long, healthy and happy lives. We work hard to deliver the best medical care for your pets, as well as the best experience for you, the pet owner.

We are located in Berlin and serve Berlin, Ocean Pines, Ocean City, Bishopville, Selbyville, Salisbury, Pocomoke, Ocean View and Bethany Beach. Our staff's thorough knowledge of the latest procedures and medicines ensures that our patients receive the best in preventive and healing care.

Hometown Care at VCA Delmarva Animal Hospital

At VCA Delmarva Animal Hospital, our goal is to be recognized as the standard of excellence for pet care in our Eastern Shore community, servicing Berlin, Ocean Pines, Ocean City, Bishopville, Selbyville, Salisbury, Pocomoke, Ocean View and Bethany Beach. Our primary missions are for every pet to leave our care looking and feeling better than when they first arrived, and for every client to have all of their questions answered. We will meet these ends through teamwork, communication, quality medicine, continuing education of our doctors and team, heartfelt compassion, unmatched client service, and client education. We offer CareClub Wellness packages, dentistry, digital radiographs, digital dental radiographs, surgery, cold laser therapy, and exotic pet care. We are open Monday-Saturday. Visit our Facebook page and don't forget to LIKE our page!

 

Local Medical Issues

Canine Influenza

Due to the recent outbreak of canine influenza in the Southeast, we have been receiving many questions about canine influenza and the associated vaccines. Fortunately, we have been offering both strains of this vaccine to our patients for years, and most of our at-risk patients are already vaccinated.

Why should you be concerned about canine influenza? This is a virus that spreads quickly, can be carried through the air (via coughing and sneezing), and can be carried on hands, clothes, etc., that have come in contact with infected mucus/droplets. Canine influenza has a very high morbidity rate, meaning that almost every infected dog will become ill. Canine influenza, unlike Bordetella, has a significant mortality rate, meaning that some infected dogs do die from the hemorrhagic pneumonia associated with the disease.

Which dogs should receive the canine influenza vaccine? Our recommendation is the same as for the Bordetella vaccine. Dogs who go to boarding kennels, grooming facilities, dog shows, dog parks, and/or puppy/agility/obedience classes should receive the vaccine because of the fast spread of disease and the possibility of severe illness as a result of becoming infected.

Disadvantages of the vaccine: (1) This vaccine does not offer complete protection from the disease, however it does significantly lessen the severity of illness and significantly decreases the spread of the virus. (2) No vaccine is completely safe, and there is always a risk of reactions with any vaccine. We have administered thousands of doses of the canine influenza vaccine and have observed very few reactions. We consider the influenza vaccine to be as safe as the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine. (3) The vaccine takes over a month to provide full immunity. This is important because if we are unfortunate enough to have an outbreak in our area, it will be difficult to bring previously unvaccinated dogs to a good level of immunity.

For more information about canine influenza, please see the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Seacord, Dr. Reynolds, or Dr. Carlson at VCA Delmarva Animal Hospital. We will be happy to help you decide if the influenza vaccine is appropriate for your dog.

Wildlife Rabies

Wildlife Rabies Cases Seen in Worcester County. Here are a few tips to protect your family and pets.

  • Be sure that all pets are up-to-date on their Rabies vaccinations. All pets, including indoor cats, must be vaccinated against Rabies.
  • Do not allow pets to roam free as they are more likely to encounter a rabid wild animal.
  • Avoid feeding animals outside as this attracts stray and wild animals to your property.
  • Children should learn not to approach unknown animals.
  • Avoid sick animals or those acting in an unusual manner. Report these sightings to the local health department or law enforcement.
  • All pets with wounds should be examined and treated by a veterinarian.

If your pet does have contact with a stray or wild animal, avoid touching him with your bare hands. Report the incident to the Health Department and local law enforcement. Call your veterinarian.

A low-calorie sugar substitute, xylitol, is present in many diet foods, sugar-free gums, some peanut butters, and also has a granulated form for baking. This substance is extremely toxic to dogs, causing low blood sugar and vomiting, and even liver failure at higher doses. A dog may be sickened by eating only a few cookies or pieces of gum which contain xylitol.

Accreditations & Affiliations
American Animal Hospital Association

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) sets the standard for quality veterinary care for companion animals. As an accredited hospital, we voluntarily uphold the Association's high standards in 18 different areas and are routinely evaluated on over 900 different standards of veterinary care. Not all animal hospitals are accredited, and we are proud to be amongst only 12-15% of veterinary hospitals that hold this honor.

Helpful Resources

Pet Insurance may help your pet get the best veterinary care when they're sick or injured. There are many providers that offer plans that covers certain unexpected illnesses or injuries throughout your pet's life. Rest assured knowing your pet can receive the best veterinary care, without worrying about the cost.

Our hospital works with Trupanion and can assist you with your pet insurance claim filing needs. We accept Trupanion payment at checkout. To find out more about Trupanion’s insurance coverage and offerings, call 1-855-591-3100 or visit http://trupanion.com/vca.
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We accept CareCredit, the pet, health and wellness credit card with flexible, budget-friendly financing options that allow you to pay over time for a range of treatments and services—including procedures, medication and more.*

To learn more about CareCredit, or to see if you prequalify, please visit us.

*Subject to credit approval.

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