Dr. Stephanie Butler graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science. In 2000 she received a doctorate from MS State University. Dr. Butler received a Masters of Science Degree in Epidemiology in 2006 from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She became a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine in 2012. Her veterinary career began as a resident at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. A Veterinarian at Southwest National Primate Research Center from 2003-2007 A Veterinarian from 2008-2009 at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and attending Veterinarian at the University of Nebraska from 2009-2011. Before owning Animal Care Hospital, she was a veterinarian at Pampered Paws Animal hospital in Oxford
Our dental suite is equipped with state of the art equipment including an ultrasonic scaler, Dentalaire mobile dental unit with high and low speed handpieces, and an intra-oral radiograph machine. Not only can we clean your pets teeth, we can perform any advanced dental procedure your pet may require.
Vaccination
A dog can be your best friend. It is important to bring your new puppy, as well as your older dog, to the hospital for annual vaccinations and health check- ups. Vaccinations are important because they will prevent many diseases. Preventing disease costs much less than treating the affects of a disease, and keeps your dog healthier and happier. Without a proper vaccination program, many dogs can contract a serious or even fatal disease. Vaccinations help prevent these diseases by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies that help fight viruses and bacteria. The protection provided by a vaccine gradually declines after a pet is vaccinated, so it is important to obtain annual booster vaccinations for your pet. Nursing animals receive antibodies from their mother's colostrum (milk produced in the first 24-36 hours after the puppies are born) that aid in protection from disease during the first weeks of its life. However, these same antibodies can also decrease the effectiveness of a vaccine if a puppy is vaccinated to early. During the first few weeks of life, maternal antibodies gradually decrease, this is why we give a series of vaccinations from 6-20 weeks of age to stimulate the puppys' immune system to create its own antibodies against the pathogenic virus or bacteria. Puppies should be weaned and in good health before a vaccination program is started.
Nutritional Counseling
Canine Influenza Virus: Canine Influenza Virus (or CIV) is a respiratory disease among canines that is highly contagious. Symptoms of CIV include coughing, sneezing, mild fever, nasal discharge, and decreased appetite. The virus is spread through the air, direct contact and on contaminated surfaces. This vaccination will not prevent the disease however it can reduce the symptoms. If you have any questions about this vaccine or the virus, please speak with Dr. Butler and staff at Animal Care Hospital.
Comprehensive Examination
Animal Care Hospital offers a wellness program for each stage of life of your pet. Each pet is evaluated during an annual exam. After your pet’s exam, Dr. Stubbs will make recommendations for prevention, diet, and diagnostic work-ups if needed. Wellness is the key to your pet’s health and happiness.
We test cats at Animal Care Hospital using the IDEXX combination feline leukemia/FIV/Feline Heartworm snap test.
Behavioral Disorder Treatment
Feline Panleukopenia: Also called feline distemper, panleukopenia is a virus that can affect many parts of a cat's body, causing fever, appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, weakness, tremors, and incoordination. Death can occur within a week. Vaccinations for panleukopenia should be started at 6-8 weeks of age, and given every 3-4 weeks until 16-18 weeks old, then yearly thereafter.
Pain Management
Whether it is chronic pain or pain as a result of a surgical or medical procedure, it is one of our greatest concerns here at Animal Care Hospital. Our goal is to help our patients be as pain free and comfortable as possible. We have many methods of monitoring and controlling pain. Through a medical diagnosis and a thorough understanding of your pet’s lifestyle and specific medical needs, this will help us design a pain management plan for your pet.
Vomiting Treatment
Diarrhea Treatment
Skin Condition and Allergy Treatment
Animals are prone to hundreds of skin disorders and there are lots of pets who suffer from allergies. At Animal Care Hospital, We recommend allergy testing and immunotherapy to give your pets relief from the discomfort of constantly itching. We strive to help improve the quality of your pet’s life by offering caring and courteous dermatology care.
Upper Respiratory Illness Treatment
Hepatitis: This disease is spread primarily through infected urine by a virus (Adenovirus Type 2). The virus can attack organs throughout the body causing fever, eye damage, liver damage, diarrhea, respiratory problems and changes in the blood. Initial vaccination should be given at 6 weeks of age, boostered every 3-4 weeks until 16-20 weeks of age, then annually thereafter.
Leptospirosis: This bacteria can affect dogs of all ages, damaging liver, kidneys, and other major organs. Raccoons are a major source of spreading leptosporosis. Dogs infected can shed the bacteria for months after it has been sick. Other dogs and even humans can pick up the bacteria from the infected dog's urine so use gloves when handling urine and wash hands thoroughly afterward. Initial vaccination should be given at 6 weeks of age, boostered every 3-4 weeks until 16-20 weeks of age, then annually thereafter.
Parvovirus Infection Treatment
Parvo and Corona Virus: Parvovirus and coronavirus are the two main causes of viral diarrhea in dogs, especially puppies. It is very easily spread through vomitus and diarrhea, and can be fatal, especially in young puppies. Since Parvo Virus is so highly contagious, and can live in the environment for years, we recommend not walking you new puppy in ANY public area until after it has been fully vaccinated. Initial vaccination is given at 6 weeks of age, boostered every 3-4 weeks to 16-20 weeks of age, then annually. Some breeds of dogs (especially Rottweillers) are more susceptible than others, and may need more initial boosters.
Feline Retro Virus Treatment
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: Also known as "feline AIDS" for many years, this disease has no immunological link to human aids. However, just as in the human HIV infections or feline leukemia infections, there are no cures once a cat has become FIV positive.
Geriatrics: Older pets are prone to developing age related diseases. They can experience heart disease, arthritis, liver and kidney disease, endocrine diseases (hypothyroidism and cushings disease) and weight problems. It is particularly important that older dogs receive an annual geriatric exam in conjunction with their annual vaccinations.
Heart Disease Treatment
Surgical suites are equipped with oxygen and isoflurane gas anesthetic machines, EKG machine, pulse oximetry, respiratory monitors, heating pads, and IV fluid administration sets. Every effort is made to make your pets surgical experience as safe as possible.
Kidney Disease Treatment
At Animal Care Hospital, we recommend yearly check-ups and vaccinations for your pets. Pets that have ongoing medical problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, cushings disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, or any other disease should be seen on a more frequent basis (we recommend at least every 6 months). Pets on certain long term medications (pain, chemo drugs, phenobarbitol, thryoid, antifungals and certain antibiotics) require regular blood work to check liver and kidney enzyme levels.
Periodontal Disease Treatment
Oral Disease: Periodontal disease is the most common disease in small animals with 65-85% of cats and dogs developing the problem by the time they are 3 years old. Unfortunately, dogs and cats do not brush their teeth daily, as humans do, which allows plaque to build up and form tartar on the teeth. Some individuals "crack off" the tartar from the teeth and advise owners the teeth are clean but this could not be further from the truth. The fact is it is not the tartar that is above the gum line that causes the problem, it is the tartar that cannot be "cracked off" BELOW the gum line that causes the loss supporting bone, gum tissue and the periodontal ligament. We recommend having your pets teeth professionally cleaned annually to keep them healthy.
Cancer Treatment
Just as in human medicine, the overall safety of any procedure is based on the type of treatment your pet needs. For example, a spay or neuter for a young animal is generally safer than a cancer treatment for a senior animal. Regardless of the type of your pet’s medical needs Animal Care Hospital takes the greatest possible care of your furry family member! Our hospital has the latest technology including digital x-rays, blood work diagnostics, anesthesia, and monitoring before, during and after your pet’s medical event. We also recommend the latest in pain control for the comfort of your pet after any surgical procedure. Contact us today to learn more on how we can take care of your pet’s surgical needs.
Animal Care Hospital is a full-service veterinary hospital, located in Long Beach, Mississippi. The professional and courteous staff seeks to provide the best possible medical, surgical and dental care for our highly valued clients and patients. Dental care clinic for pets also operates within Animal Care Hospital to provide advanced dentistry procedures such as endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics, and oral surgery.
Veterinary Surgery
We are committed to providing the best possible medical care for your loving pets. Our hospital is equipped to provide in-house diagnostics to enable us to diagnose and treat your pets' condition quickly and effectively. An outside laboratory is available for those pets requiring advanced testing and evaluation. If we cannot treat your pet at our facility we will gladly refer you to a specialist for advanced treatment such as oncology, orthopedic surgery, endoscopy and ultrasonography.
Declawing
Spaying and Neutering
Spaying and/or Neutering: Spaying or neutering your pet early (prior to first heat cycle or marking territory) will prevent them from developing some types of cancer and from contracting certain diseases. It will also prevent the hassle of the heat cycles. Dogs usually have two heat cycles per year but cats (being induced ovulators) will have a heat cycle every 21 days. Spaying and neutering also lowers the excess population of cats and dogs.
We have a well-equipped in-house laboratory here at Animal Care Hospital. Attaining fast, accurate results is essential for early diagnosis and when time is imperative for a treatment plan for your beloved pet. Our in-house laboratory is equipped with a Lasercyte CBC machine, Abaxis chemistry analyzer, refractometer, glucometer, Tono-pen applanation tonometer, gram stains, Diff-Quik and other stains, centrifuges, and autoclave. We also utilize Antech Diagnostics and Heska Corp (outside veterinary laboratories). An early diagnosis means your pet will feel better sooner. This will also save you time, possibly a shorter stay in the hospital for your pet and will make it more economical for you.
X-Ray
Animal Care Hospital of Long Beach is proud to announce the addition of DuoView Digital Radiographic System - the only Dual Resolution digital x-ray detector in the world. The right detector for a large dog is usually the wrong detector for a kitten and a pocket pet. With DuoView we have both detectors in one unit.
Microchipping
Pets bring us joy, keep us company, and give us comfort. Sadly, millions of pets go missing each year. Some make it back home, but unfortunately, many do not. Animal Care Hospital provides an affordable and effective way to help your pet get back home if your pet becomes lost or missing. The microchip implantation is a safe, simple and permanent form of pet identification to immediately identify lost pets and quickly reunite them with their owners. The microchip, which is not much larger than a grain of rice, is injected under your pet’s skin over the shoulder area. It contains a barcode that when scanned, it supplies information on the lost pet. Please ask our knowledgeable staff about this program.
Senior pets require special medical attention. We recommend senior profiles (complete blood count, blood chemistry analysis, urinalysis, thyroid function, EKG and radiographs) for all our aged pets. If we "catch" problems early we will be able to help your beloved pet live a longer, healthier, happier life.