Brentwood Animal Hospital

At Brentwood Animal Hospital, we understand a pet emergency can be stressful and scary. Our Pensacola veterinarian team has years of experience helping cats, dogs, and other animals during urgent medical crises.

We can treat urgent medical emergencies at our facility or refer pet owners to other clinics for continued care or after-hours attention.

A few of the most common emergencies we see include:

• Pregnancy and whelping complications
• Bloat
• Heatstroke 
• Electrocution and burns
• Blunt trauma including broken bones and head injury (e.g., hit by a car, fall from heights, physical abuse)
• Bites, lacerations, and wounds
• Dehydration 
• Addison's crisis
• Allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock
• Near-drowning
• Foreign body obstruction and choking
• Accidental poisoning (e.g., with toxic food, rat poison, household chemicals, etc.)
• Caval syndrome (heartworm-related acute cardiovascular failure) 
• Cystitis

Signs Your Pet May Be Suffering an Emergency

Call your local vet immediately if you witness any of the following:

• Known major trauma (you may also see or infer that your pet ate something toxic)
• Respiratory distress
• Obvious wounds, broken bones, or bleeding
• Seizures and collapse
• Struggling to urinate or defecate
• Restless and anxious behavior
• Increased vocalization
• Sudden swelling, especially in the belly
• Weakness, lethargy, disorientation, and uncoordinated movements
• Vomiting or diarrhea lasting longer than 24 hours (or if there is blood present)

Give us a call at 850-332-1955 if you think your pet requires emergency care. We're also happy to direct you to other nearby emergency animal clinics outside regular business hours.

You likely know how important it is for you to eat healthily. As such, you may take the time to eat healthy foods and watch what you consume. Unfortunately, when it comes to your pets, you may not realize just how important nutrition is to them. It is equally as important to ensure that your pets are eating healthy and getting the nutrition they need. Here at Brentwood Animal Hospital, we offer pet nutritional counseling to ensure your pet is getting the nutrition they need. Here is more about this service. 

How Your Pet's Nutrition Can Affect Their Life

The foods you feed your pet can have an effect on their overall health and lifespan. Feeding them the wrong foods or too much food can cause them to be obese. This can lead to joint problems and can shorten their lives. Some pets have food allergies. This can cause them rashes or itching. It is also extremely important to ensure that your pet is getting the nutrition they need as they are growing to help them develop and thrive. 

Why Every Life Stage Has Different Nutritional Needs

It is important to meet with a pet nutritional counselor to help you determine your pet's nutritional needs. Different breeds of dogs have different nutritional needs. On top of this, your dog has different needs based on the various life stages they are at their activity level. The same is true for cats. The needs for a kitten differ from the needs of a senior cat. Many people simply turn to the Internet to determine what their pet's nutritional needs are, but this may not be the best option. 

Why Turn to a Veterinarian for Your Pet's Nutritional Needs

We can sit down with you to determine what your pet's lifestyle and activity levels are, what breed your pet is, and his or her life. Based on this information, we can recommend food to you that best meets your pet's nutritional needs.

You want your pet to live a full, healthy, and long life and so do we. Call us today at (850) 434-2646 to schedule a pet nutritional counseling appointment for your pet today. 

You may have never given your pet’s teeth a second thought, and you have probably never brushed your cat or dog's teeth. However, good dental health is essential for pets just as it is for humans.

Keeping your pet’s teeth and gums in good shape can not only extend their life but can also help them be happier and more active. At Brentwood Animal Hospital, our veterinary staff is committed to educating pet owners about the importance of good pet dental health. To that end, our veterinarian offers a full array of dental services for your cat or dog, including dental x-rays and teeth cleaning. We'll also show you the warning signs to look for to spot a dental problem early.

Why You Should Take Pet Dental Health Seriously

Of course, every pet owner wants their pet to live as long as possible. Good dental health not only helps you have more time with your pet but also offers several other benefits.

1. Good dental health allows your pet to keep his or her teeth longer. Tooth decay in pets weakens their teeth, just as it does in humans, and can cause their teeth to chip or fall out. This can be painful for your pet and can make eating difficult.

2. Good dental health helps your pet's breath to smell sweeter. “Doggie breath” is not inevitable. Bad breath in dogs and cats is often an indication of dental disease. A dog or cat with good dental health shouldn't have foul-smelling breath. 

3. Good dental health helps your pet avoid pain. Gums that are infected and teeth with cavities can be quite painful for your pet, just like they are for you. Plus, pets are good at hiding their pain. It is best to keep their mouth healthy rather than wait for a dental emergency.

4. Good dental health helps your pet live longer. The best reason of all for keeping your pet's mouth healthy is to give them the best chance possible of living a long, healthy, and active life. Infections that begin in the mouth can eventually travel throughout the body, compromising your pet’s overall health. Some of these infections can even be fatal.

Our professional and compassionate animal care team is looking forward to helping you promote your pet’s good dental health. To learn more about how to keep your pet's teeth and gums healthy or to make an appointment, contact us at 850-332-1955.

Keep your pet happy and healthy with the help of the compassionate and experienced veterinary team at Brentwood Animal Hospital. Our veterinarian offers wellness services and pet wellness exams to new and existing patients.

For more than 40 years, The Brentwood Animal Hospital team has been dedicated to providing high-quality pet wellness care to pet of Pensacola and surrounding areas. Dr. Burnett is well-versed in all wellness services and takes the time to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your pet’s health.

Pet wellness services include:

• Pet dental
• Core and non-core vaccinations
• Regular wellness exams
• Flea and tick prevention
• Spay & neuter

Why Are Pet Wellness Exams Important?

Pet wellness exams are crucial in detecting health problems in a pet. Catching a disease or problem early on can often make for better success rates when it comes to treatment with less associated expense for owners and less stress and discomfort for pets.

Vaccinations

We recommend that every pet patient we have come in for regular wellness exams, beginning at about six weeks of age, and these exams will always include the correct vaccinations for your pet's age and environment. Pet vaccines come in two basic types, non-core and core. The core vaccinations are those that every pet needs, like rabies and distemper. Non-core, on the other hand, is only given to pets that need them, depending on where they live and their lifestyle.

Puppy, Kitten, & Senior Care

Puppies and kittens require special care, especially when compared to full-grown adult pet. For starters, we recommend a comprehensive wellness exam for all puppies and kittens as part of their first visit with us. This is important even if your pet had recent veterinary care at the shelter before you adopted him or her. It's important because this first exam allows us to not only establish a relationship with you and your new pet, but to have a baseline for future appointment in terms of your pet's health and wellness.

Very young pets obviously have specific needs. So do seniors. Since their needs change more quickly, senior pets need to go to the veterinarian more often. More frequent visits help us determine if your pet is having any symptoms of diseases that often affect senior pets. Some of these diseases include diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, liver disease, and cancer. Your pet might also have increased amounts of pain and changes in behavior as they age.

We can discuss the preventative measures you can take to keep your senior pet healthy, including getting the proper nutrition and the right amount of exercise.

Do you want to know more about wellness services and pet wellness exams available at our animal hospital? Call us at 850-332-1955 to learn about specific wellness services and schedule a pet wellness exam or initial visit.

Laser therapy is a non-invasive, safe, and effective approach to pain management and wound healing.

Our veterinary practice uses laser therapy for pets to help with:

• Immunoregulation
• Releasing painful trigger points
• Traumatic wound healing
• Surgical wound healing
• Reducing the formation of scar tissue
• Improving nerve regeneration and function
• Hastening the healing of infections
• Increasing the metabolism in specific tissues

How Does Laser Therapy Work?

Therapeutic laser therapy is a low-level cold light set at specific frequencies to induce a physiological change at the cellular level. Though researchers are unsure exactly why these combinations to cold light frequencies work, it is believed they provide a “jump-start” to cells that need healing and other processes in the body.

What Should I Expect During My Pet’s Laser Therapy?

During a typical treatment, your pet lies on a padded bed or blanket. Owners are often asked to position themselves by their pet’s head while they and Dr. Burnett chat throughout the treatment. During laser therapy procedure, both you and your pet must wear protective goggles.

How Many Laser Therapy Treatments Will My Pet Need?

The number of therapy sessions needed depends on several factors, but Dr. Burnett typically treats her patients two or three times a week for up to three weeks. If your pet should have a very acute and painful condition such as a ruptured anal gland, your pet may require daily treatments for three to five days.

Are There any Risks to Using Laser Therapy for Pets?

A therapeutic laser should not be used in certain cases.  A laser should not be used near the site of a tumor or the uterus of a pet that is pregnant. However, in most cases, laser therapy is 100% risk-free when applied properly by a qualified professional.

If you are looking for the best in laser therapy for your pet, we can help. Call (850) 434-2646 to learn more or to schedule an appointment. 

Even the healthiest animals may have need of some form of surgical intervention, whether it's to repair an acute injury or help prevent future health problems from occurring. Fortunately, the right mix of expertise, experience, skill, and compassionate care can produce the best possible results. That's what we offer here at Brentwood Animal Hospital, your trusted choice for high-quality per surgery in Pensacola.

Why Pets Need Surgery

Pet surgery isn't always a response to a grave, life-or-death situation. Some forms of surgery focus on relieving a source of chronic pain or a nagging functional problem, while others are entirely preventative in nature. At the other end of the spectrum, emergency surgery can indeed serve as a lifesaver in a variety of upsetting situations. We can address this entire range of needs through different types of surgery, including:

• Spay and neuter surgery to eliminate the risk of reproductive cancers (and, of course, prevent pregnancy)
• Dental surgery to treat oral cancer or extract a diseased tooth
• Orthopedic surgery to restore function to an injured joint, or to relieve degenerative joint pain
• Internal and external tumor removal surgery
• Emergency surgery to remove internal obstructions, seal arteries, repair damaged bones/organs, or facilitate birth

From Pre-Op Evaluation to Anesthesia and Post-Op Care

Dr. Burnett doesn't just perform surgery on your pet – he also guides you and your furry friend safely through the entire process of this form of care. Your pet will receive preliminary evaluations to ascertain whether he's fit for the procedure and what type of anesthesia should be used. We will generally advise owners not to feed their pets after their usual dinnertime the night before surgery; this helps prevent the pet from regurgitating while under anesthesia. The anesthesia itself is selected, administered, and monitored with the utmost attention to detail. It ensures that your pet will remain perfectly still and calm so we can do our best work.

Your pet will continue to benefit from our expertise after he comes home from surgery. In addition to providing you with helpful prescriptions for painkillers and antibiotics, we will also make sure you know how to help your pet recuperate successfully and how to recognize potential post-op complications that might call for follow-up treatment.

Don't be afraid or hesitant to schedule the surgical care that might make all the difference in your pet's health, comfort, and wellness. Call our Brentwood Animal Hospital at 850-332-1955 to schedule a consultation with our Pensacola veterinarian.

Whatever kind of treatment best suits your pet's needs, we can provide it!

This year, many households are going to welcome a new cat or dog into their lives. If you are bringing home a new pet, you will want to get your pet microchipped. Here is everything you need to know about microchipping. 

What is Microchipping?

Microchipping involves inserting a tiny electronic chip into your pet. This chip is generally about the size of a grain of rice. If your pet is lost or goes missing, and someone finds the pet, a vet, animal rescue group or animal shelter will scan your pet for a chip. If a chip is located, it will tell the scanner your pet's name, approximate age and provide them with your name and contact information. 

Why Is It Important to Have Your Pet Microchipped?

Every day, hundreds of pets get lost. Your dog may dig a hole and escape under your fence, your fence may topple over in a storm, or your cat may run out the door and not come home. Microchipping is one of the best methods for reuniting you with your pet. If someone locates your pet, they can take your pet to have your pet scanned for a chip. If your pet has a chip, you will be contacted, letting you know where your pet is and where to pick him or her up. Ultimately, if you want to increase the odds of being reunited with your pet if he or she gets lost, a microchip is your best option. 

How Are Microchips Put in and Are They Safe?

When a vet is putting a microchip in your pet, they inject the small chip into your pet using a hypodermic needle. This is the same type of needle that is used when your pet gets all of his or her injections, such as rabies shots. As such, this method is extremely safe, non-invasive, and not painful for your pet. Microchips themselves are safe and harmless. 

Pet yet to be chipped? Call us at (850) 434-2646 to schedule your appointment today. 

At Brentwood Animal Hospital, we focus on everything from routine preventative care for dogs and cats to more specialized offerings, such as orthopedic surgery and nutritional counseling. Our comprehensive suite of services is aimed at treating a wide array of conditions in pets and their underlying causes, including:

• Flea and tick infestations and resulting illness
• Asthma
• Ear infections
• Heatstroke
• Dehydration
• Arthritis
• Vomiting & diarrhea
• Ingestion of toxic substances
• Stroke
• Shock
• Cancerous tumors
• Cardiac issues
• Eye infections

If you suspect your pet might be suffering from any of the above or you have any concerns about his or her health, give us a call at (850) 434-2646 today. We are here to help!

If there's something wrong with your pet, or if your pet is pregnant, sometimes she needs more than just a wellness exam. At Brentwood Animal Hospital, have the latest in diagnostic equipment, including a digital ultrasound that will help your vet diagnose your pet's problems.

What Is Digital Ultrasound?

Digital ultrasound is a type of ultrasound technology that uses sound waves to look inside living bodies. This is a harmless, painless, and non-invasive procedure. Our veterinarian will use the digital ultrasound to send sound waves into your pet that will bounce off different organs and structures inside, and digitally display an image of your pet’s internal tissues.

What Is Digital Ultrasound Used for?

Digital ultrasound is used to detect puppies or kittens in a pregnant dog or cat. You can actually see the fetuses in real time on the display, and even count how many kittens or puppies your pet may be carrying. Ultrasound is also used for locating tumors or abnormalities in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Your veterinarian can also use the ultrasound to see inside your pet's intestines and stomach to look for obstructions or other problems. Lastly, ultrasound can be used to look at your pet's joints to see if there is arthritis or maybe a tear in ligaments.

Onsite Laboratory

We also have a fully operational onsite diagnostic laboratory. We perform most of our own routine laboratory tests – including blood work, urinalysis, and fecal anaylsis to save you time and money.

• Blood Work.  In most of our routine pet exams, blood will be drawn for a CBC – Complete Blood Count. This diagnostic testing tool will help us to detect conditions such as anemia, hydration level, immune response, possible infections, illness, and more. The CBC tests can help our team discover specific diseases such as leukemia and certain types of cancer. Another very important blood test for dogs is the heartworm test. Heartworm is very serious and can be fatal if not treated. Other blood tests can be performed to check an animal’s kidney function, liver health, and pancreatic health.
• Urinalysis. Urinalysis tests in pets are usually part of a routine veterinarian wellness visit. They’re commonly used to check for health of the urinary system and kidneys as well as metabolic diseases.
• Fecal Analyses. When bringing your pet to a routine wellness exam, your veterinarian will usually request a stool sample for fecal analysis. Fecal testing is done in a laboratory to detect the presence of hookworms, roundworms, whipworms. and liver flukes. If you are asked to bring a stool sample with you to a veterinarian visit, be sure to ask about the timing of the collection. Fresher samples are typically the best and provide more accurate testing results.

Call us at 850-332-1955 if you have questions or to learn more about our diagnostic suite.

Despite the layer of fur on top of it, your pet's skin is susceptible to issues that dermatology can address. In fact, the skin can tell much about your pet's underlying health — you just need to know how to read the signs. But you don't need to try to do this alone. Dr. Todd R. Burnett at Brentwood Animal Hospital can help by diagnosing your pet and offering treatment. Some of the common conditions to look out for are listed below.

Skin Irritation and Rash

The first sign of skin irritation or rash is likely going to be a change in your pet's behavior, where they are constantly scratching, licking, or biting at their skin. Upon closer inspection, you might see redness or inflammation. There may be scaly patches or flaking on their skin, often accompanies by scabs or bald spots.

More severe issues will present with advanced swelling, lumps, or even pus. This is why it's important to see Dr. Burnett when the symptoms first showed up. But even if you did not have a chance to take your pet to the vet at first sign of illness, don't give up. A visit to your vet will involve a careful examination as well as a review of medical history to rule out conditions until the source of the irritation, rash, or other skin affliction is identified.

Hair Loss

Hair loss in pets is a symptom of illness and therefore can betray any number of problems, including parasites, nutritional issues, hormonal issues, reactions to medicine, or even anxiety. Again, treatment will depend directly on what is causing the hair loss.

Localized hair loss may be a sign of mange, where there is an overgrowth of the parasite in a particular spot. Hair loss is one of the first signs, but then skin crusting, scabbing, and even discharge can form.

Allergies

Pets can develop allergies and show a lot of the same symptoms as in humans: itchy skin, watery eyes, inflammation, and sneezing. The most common allergy in pets is flea dermatitis, triggered by flea bits. Specifically, it is triggered by proteins in flea saliva to which the afflicted pet is hypersensitive. it is unknown why allergies develop, but treatment can involve minimizing exposure to the triggering influence, antihistamine treatment, and anti-inflammatory medications as needed.

When skin allergies become chronic, they may become a condition called atopic dermatitis, with excessive itching around all of the pet’s extremities.

Don't dismiss seemingly minor skin irritation.  The earlier we start treating any health condition, the better your pet's outcome will be. Contact us here at 850-332-1955 today!

Whether you’re leaving your pet for an extended time or just for the day, it’s important to find high-quality pet boarding for your furry friend. Brentwood Animal Hospital is proud to provide exceptional pet boarding and doggie daycare.

Our facility is equipped with spacious kennels for overnight and day boarding for your dog or cat. When you drop off your furry friend with us, you can rest assured that they are in good hands.

Dog Boarding

We provide bedding, food, and bowls at no extra charge. Clients are also welcomed to bring their own bedding, food, bowls, etc.

Our other boarding perks include:

• Dogs are let out in individual yard spaces 3 times a day
• We have a separate cat room for a less stressful atmosphere
• We can administer medications
• We can provide medical services at time of stay for an additional charge
• Bathing for an additional charge

Dogs should be up to date on their DHLP vaccine, rabies vaccine, bordetella vaccine, and fecal test. Cats should be up to date on their FVRCP vaccine, Rabies vaccine, and a dewormer. These vaccines and treatments can be administered at time of stay. We book up quickly, so make your reservation today!

Cat Boarding

Complete with perches, lots of windows, and cozy places to curl up, our multi-level cat condos are a hit with our feline guests! Our boarding staff will also make sure your cat gets plenty of attention, stimulation, and socialization while you’re away.

Cats are required to be current on core vaccinations, and our condos book up quickly, so get your reservations in early!

Special Needs Pets

We always welcome pets with special medical, physical or emotional challenges. Our staff is trained to accommodate and address those needs, and you will have peace of mind knowing that your pet will be under the watchful eye of our veterinarians while you are away. We also have a hospitalization ward where your pet will be closely monitored by our veterinary technicians should any medical emergency arise.

Pricing

For overnight stays the prices are broken down by weight:

• 1-30 lbs: $17.50 with 2 capstar/advantus chews $6.85 each
• 31-60 lbs: $19.50 with 2 capstar/advantus chews $ 9.45 each
• 61-100 lbs: $21.50 with 2 capstar/advantus chews $ 9.45 each
• Over 100 lbs: $22.50 with 2 capstar/advantus chews $ 9.45 each

For day boarding, regardless of size for dog or cat the cost is $12.50.

Drop off and pick up times are the same as our regular hospital hours:

• Monday – Friday: 7:30am – 5:30pm
• Saturday: 8:00am – 12:00pm 
• Sunday: Closed

For more information or to book a stay for your pet, call us at 850-332-1955