Dr. Julie Peterson

We provide comprehensive physical exams for dogs and cats at Troy Animal Hospital to assess overall health, detect early signs of diseases like heart murmurs, tumors, or dental disease, and offer personalized preventive care plans. Our exams cover everything from organ health to skin/coat conditions, ensuring your pet receives the best possible care tailored to their age and lifestyle. We take the time to explain findings in detail so you can make informed decisions about their well-being.

We offer specialized wellness packages for puppies and kittens designed to kickstart a lifetime of health. These packages include core vaccinations, parasite prevention, spay/neuter consultations where applicable, and guidance on nutrition and socialization. Our goal is to build strong foundations for their health while educating pet owners on best practices for raising happy, healthy companions. The packages can be customized to fit your pet’s specific needs and breed requirements.

Our senior pet wellness care is tailored to meet the unique needs of aging pets, focusing on preventive measures to ensure their golden years are comfortable and healthy. We offer enhanced exams to monitor for age-related conditions, such as arthritis, dental disease, or organ changes, and provide tailored recommendations for diet, exercise, and supplements. Regular bloodwork, urinalysis, and special screening tests are included to catch potential issues early. We pride ourselves on providing compassionate, proactive care for your senior companion.

We administer all core vaccinations essential for protecting your pet against diseases like rabies, distemper, and parvovirus. Our team follows strict vaccination protocols to ensure immunity is robust while minimizing unnecessary exposures. Vaccines are provided during routine wellness visits and we discuss the benefits and timing of each vaccine to align with your pet’s lifestyle and risk factors. Safety and effectiveness are our top priorities.

Annual heartworm testing is a critical service we provide to ensure your pet remains protected against this life-threatening disease. Prevention is our top priority, and we offer monthly chewable, topical, or injectable heartworm preventatives tailored to your pet’s age, breed, and lifestyle. We also educate pet owners on heartworm symptoms, transmission risks, and the importance of year-round prevention, regardless of local climate.

We provide a variety of flea and tick prevention options to keep your pets—and your home—protected from these pesky parasites. Our solutions include oral medications, topical treatments, and collars, all carefully selected based on your pet’s age, breed, and potential for exposure. Flea and tick prevention is essential year-round, and we’re committed to helping you choose the safest and most effective plan to eliminate these nuisances and prevent diseases like Lyme or Ehrlichia.

We offer permanent microchipping services for pets to provide a crucial layer of security in case they ever become lost. The procedure is quick, painless, and performed during routine visits. Once microchipped, we ensure your pet’s registration information is up-to-date in our system and with the national database. Microchipping, combined with proper ID tags, drastically increases the chances of a safe return if your pet goes missing.

Our in-house laboratory allows us to perform comprehensive bloodwork, including Complete Blood Counts (CBC) and Chemistry Panels, to diagnose illnesses, monitor chronic conditions, and assess pre-surgical health. We prioritize fast results, enabling us to begin treatment or adjustments to care plans promptly. For more specialized testing, we may partner with an external lab, but most routine bloodwork is handled in-house for your convenience. We’ll discuss the findings with you in detail during follow-up visits.

As part of our diagnostic services, we perform urinalysis to evaluate your pet’s urinary health, which can reveal signs of infections, kidney disease, diabetes, or bladder stones. This quick and non-invasive test is often included in routine wellness exams and is especially important for senior pets or those showing symptoms like increased thirst, frequent urination, or straining. We use these results to guide further treatment or preventive care plans.

To ensure a thorough dental assessment, we provide dental X-rays during professional cleanings or dental examinations. These X-rays allow us to detect hidden problems like dental fractures, abscesses, or tooth root issues that are not visible during a standard oral exam. Identifying these issues early is essential for avoiding pain, infection, or more extensive dental procedures later. We explain all findings clearly and recommend appropriate treatment to maintain your pet’s oral health.

When dental issues like severe decay, abscesses, or trauma require intervention, we perform safe and pain-managed tooth extractions. Our team uses anesthesia and local practices to ensure your pet’s comfort and a stress-free experience. Extractions are often necessary to relieve pain, prevent infection, or prepare for more extensive dental rehabilitation. We’ll provide detailed aftercare instructions and discuss ways to support your pet’s dental health moving forward.

In addition to extractions, we perform comprehensive oral surgeries to address complex dental conditions, including jaw fractures, severe periodontal disease requiring gum surgery, or advanced tumor removals. Our oral surgeries are performed with state-of-the-art equipment and under strict sterile conditions to ensure your pet’s safety. We offer detailed consultations before surgery, explaining procedures and recovery expectations, and provide aftercare support to promote healing.

We diagnose and treat periodontal disease using a range of methods, including deep dental cleanings, periodontal pocket treatments, and antibiotic therapy when needed. Periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss and overall health complications, so we take a proactive approach to address it during dental care visits. Our treatments often include follow-up recommendations to maintain gum health and prevent recurrence, such as special dental diets or additional cleanings.

We provide spay and neuter surgeries as part of our commitment to responsible pet ownership and overall health. These routine procedures offer lifelong health benefits, including reduced risks of cancers, infections, and unwanted behaviors. Our spay/neuter services include preoperative health assessments, professional anesthesia care, and a comfortable recovery environment. We’ll guide you through the process and provide post-operative care instructions to ensure a smooth healing period.

We are equipped to handle certain veterinary emergencies during our regular hours, including stabilization for trauma, poisoning, or sudden illness. Our team assesses each situation promptly, providing first aid, IV fluids, or pain management as needed to stabilize your pet before advanced treatment or referral. Safety and calmness are our top priorities during emergencies, and we’ll guide you through the process step by step, including preparing for emergency transfers if necessary.

IV fluid therapy is a cornerstone of our emergency and critical care services. Whether your pet is dehydrated, recovering from surgery, or suffering from an illness like renal failure, IV fluids help restore hydration and normalize electrolyte levels. Our team monitors fluid administration carefully to ensure optimal results and adjusts treatment based on your pet’s response. This service is available during routine visits, surgeries, or emergency situations.

We provide comprehensive pain management for pets experiencing discomfort due to injury, surgery, arthritis, or chronic conditions like dental disease. Our pain management plans include medications, supplements, and lifestyle changes tailored to your pet’s needs. During recovery or chronic care, we monitor your pet’s response closely, adjusting therapy to maximize comfort and quality of life. We’re committed to ensuring pain relief is safe, effective, and closely supervised.

We offer cold laser therapy as a non-invasive, drug-free treatment to promote healing, reduce pain, and alleviate inflammation for a variety of conditions, including arthritis, post-surgical discomfort, and wounds. Laser therapy works by stimulating cellular activity to speed up recovery and reduce swelling. Sessions are quick and entirely painless, making it an excellent option for pets of all ages. We integrate laser therapy with traditional treatments for optimal results.

Our physical therapy program is designed to help pets regain mobility, strength, and function following injuries, surgeries, or for managing chronic conditions like arthritis. Services include personalized exercise plans, hydrotherapy (underwater treadmill), and targeted massage techniques. Our goal is to improve your pet’s quality of life through guided rehabilitation, ensuring they recover safely and effectively under our supervision.

We offer telemedicine consultations for minor medical concerns, prescription refills, or follow-up care, providing a convenient option for pet owners. Through secure video calls, you can discuss your pet’s health with our veterinarians, review lab results, or get medical advice without leaving home. This service complements in-person visits, offering timely support while ensuring your pet receives the best care possible. We strive to make vet care as accessible and stress-free as possible for both you and your pet.