Dr. Cervelli is passionate about dental disease and oral health and has pursued additional training in these areas. Feel free to contact us about any questions regarding our pet dentistry services in Breckenridge: 970.453.0821
Vaccination
Keep your pup happy and healthy by staying up-to-date on vaccinations, maintaining a healthy weight and giving them plenty of exercise and love.
Veterinary Ophthalmology
My dogs are really important to me and that means to me that finding the “right” veterinary care is about a lot more than just who is close, who is open or who is cheapest. Here are a few of the reasons I have chosen Breckenridge Animal Clinic and Dr. Caroline Cervelli to take care of our dogs. 1] Skill. At some level, this is paramount, because I want my girls with me and comfortable for as long as possible. I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Cervelli and the BAC team because we have been through some tricky issues and I have always gotten good advice with a complete and open discussion of alternative treatment options. For example, when Missy developed cataracts, this was an issue that required selecting a specialist which Dr Cervelli was really helpful with. She also stayed aware of the treatment [surgery] and follow up which gave me a lot of confidence in what we were doing. 2] Caring. The whole staff at BAC really truly cares about the best outcome for my pets. My dogs have a real ability to discern who is their friend and who is just faking it, and they love going to the vet at BAC because everyone from the front desk staff through the technicians and Dr. Cervelli have their complete trust. Going to the vet is an outing, not a chore. 3] Communication. My dogs are in their senior years now, and that means more frequent visits to the vet with some new and sometimes scary issues. When Abby started having seizures, I was very worried about what might be next. But Dr. Cervelli carefully explained the possible causes, what we should do to find the root cause, and what the course of treatment would be. And today, Abby is doing great and I am confident that we have a real partnership in getting her all the best days we can. I am truly grateful.
Nutritional Counseling
The most common worms that affect cats are roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm. Worms are a common cause of ill health in pets and can cause signs such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and in severe cases even death.
Comprehensive Examination
Whether you’ve recently moved, adopted a new pet, or are unhappy with your current vet’s quality of care, finding a health care provider that offers a broad range of professional veterinary services, including annual check-ups, vaccinations and routine examinations, can help put your mind at ease.
Dogs. The dog is a natural host for heartworms, which means that heartworms that live inside the dog mature into adults, mate and produce offspring. If untreated, their numbers can increase, and dogs have been known to harbor several hundred worms in their bodies. Heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs and arteries, and can affect the dog’s health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone. For this reason, heartworm prevention for dogs is by far the best option, and treatment—when needed—should be administered as early in the course of the disease as possible. Learn more about heartworm medicine for dogs.
Behavioral Disorder Treatment
Pain Management
Dr. McNeilly grew up in Western NY where she resided until completion of her undergraduate degree. At that time she packed up and moved West for an adventure. She moved to Colorado in 2003 spending one year in Boulder before moving to Summit county to better pursue her love for skiing. After several years of skiing, hiking, biking and rafting it was time to continue her education. Dr. McNeilly graduated from Colorado State University as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. During this time she also obtained her license in small animal veterinary acupuncture. Following graduation she completed a rotating small animal internship at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital. Dr. McNeilly then practiced for three years in Summit County and spent the last four years at a large private practice in Golden, CO. Working at Breckenridge Animal Clinic has provided the perfect opportunity to ditch the commute and get back to serving her community. Dr. McNeilly has also provided veterinary services for the Summit County Animal Shelter for the past four years, and will continue to do so. She is passionate about ensuring the best quality of life for her patients, whether that is preventative care, pain management or palliative end of life care. In her free time she will most likely be found outdoors, if at all possible, skiing, whether on the hill, in the backcountry or touring with her dogs! She also enjoys biking, hiking or just hanging out with her dogs, horses and wonderful husband!
Vomiting Treatment
Diarrhea Treatment
Upper Respiratory Illness Treatment
Like dogs, cats can be infected with heartworms. There are differences, however, in the nature of the disease and how it is diagnosed and managed. Because a cat is not an ideal host for heartworms, some infections resolve on their own, although these infections can leave cats with respiratory system damage. Heartworms in the circulatory system also affect the cat’s immune system and cause symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing. Heartworms in cats may even migrate to other parts of the body, such as the brain, eye and spinal cord. Severe complications such as blood clots in the lungs and lung inflammation can result when the adult worms die in the cat’s body.
Colorado Rocky Mountain wildlife is a beautiful part of our mountain environment and a big reason why we love living here. However, wildlife encounters with dogs and cats can become dangerous very quickly. Here we outline some of the common wildlife our pets may encounter in our high alpine environment of Colorado and what to do if your pet encounters one these creatures. Remember, wild animals carry diseases (Rabies, Leptospirosis) that can affect dogs and cats, and even people. Never feed wild animals!
Animals age faster than humans. Cats and dogs are considered “seniors” at age 7. This is a great time to start annual lab work (if not earlier) to detect things like liver and kidney disease, hypo or hyperthyroidism, and other changes so we can intervene with treatment earlier to prolong the life of your pet and prolong the amount of quality time you have together.
Knee Problems Treatment
Heart Disease Treatment
To maintain your cat’s health and wellbeing he/she must have a balanced diet. The most reliable and convenient way to provide a balanced diet is to feed a high quality prepared cat food. We stock several varieties of premium quality cat foods at our hospital. Cats often prefer to eat several small meals per day but will do equally well if fed one meal at the same time each day. Milk is unnecessary and can cause diarrhea in those that are lactose intolerant. Clean water must be available at all times. See our page on grain free diet related heart disease, as this affects cats too!
Kidney Disease Treatment
At the BAC we place a special emphasis on animal oral hygiene because we’ve see just how very important it can be for the health of your pet. 80% of pets have dental disease and untreated dental disease can lead to problems like heart, liver and kidney disease.
Periodontal Disease Treatment
Some dogs are prone to periodontal disease, a pocket of infection between the tooth and the gum. This painful condition can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body. Veterinarians can clean the teeth as a regular part of your dog’s health program.
Dr. Hastain has been performing canine TPLO surgery since 2005 and has extensive experience in the canine orthopedic speciality field. He can complete TTA surgery on canines and frequently performs repairs on canine elbow and hip displaysia, advanced fracture repair with plating and external fixation and medial patellar luxation. Dr. Cervelli also has an interest in orthopedic surgery and is training with Dr. Hastain to learn from his years of experience.
The Breckenridge Animal Clinic is focused on preventative care. More than anything, we believe that a successful animal care program begins with prevention and we try to educate our clients on the best ways to prevent disease and illness before it happens. This keeps pets happier and saves our clients money in the long run. Should you require advanced procedures such as ACL repair, digital radiographs (x-rays) or dental surgeries, we are equipped with the state-of-the-art technology and facilities to handle any of these advanced procedures.
Veterinary Surgery
Puppies and kittens are curious by nature and can get themselves into trouble. A kitten can swallow a string, or a puppy can swallow part of a toy. Both can results in abdominal surgery to remove the foreign material. Pet insurance can make expensive, life saving surgery be within your budget!
Spaying and Neutering
We strongly recommend spaying or neutering all cats, male and female, between 5 and 6 months of age. As well as reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies, this also prevent pets from roaming, fighting, spraying and night prowling. Spaying and neutering also reduces cancer in cats.
Your dog should see the veterinarian for a full check-up, vaccines and a heartworm blood test every year, and immediately if she/he is sick or injured.
X-Ray
Monitor your cat. Heartworm-positive cats may experience spontaneous clearing of heartworms, but the damage they cause may be permanent. If your cat is not showing signs of respiratory distress, but worms have been detected in the lungs, chest X-rays every 6 to 12 months may be recommended. If mild symptoms are noted, small doses of prednisolone may be administered to help reduce inflammation.
Dental Radiology
We also have a dedicated dentistry room which allows us to offer expanded dentistry services, as well as a top-line digital dental X-ray machine. We utilize the safest available anesthetics to provide an extra margin of safety, especially for our older or high-risk patients.
Microchipping
6 years later, one day when I was driving home from work, I checked my voice mail and it was someone from HomeAgain saying “We think we found your lost pet”, “I WAS LIKE OMG!!!! It’s CEEEEEDAR!!!” I pulled the car over and started crying SO HARD. I was balling my eyes out because I knew he had been found. I never believed in microchips and never got another pet chipped. Well, little did I know they do work. SIX YEARS later, Cedar and I were reunited.
At the Breckenridge Animal Clinic, we are focused on preventative care and encourage regular annual exams (senior pet bi-annual exams) to help catch any health issues before they become serious problems. We offer a wide range of veterinary services to keep your companions feeling their best.