Dr. Michael McElveen, D.V.M. is a highly skilled local medical professional; he graduated Louisiana Tech and headed straight for Vet School at L.S.U. After graduating he began his work caring for and treating our beloved pets in the greater Baton Rouge area, this is his life’s passion and something he has been doing now for over twenty years.

The Baton Rouge Animal Hospital that Dr. McElveen owns and personally operates is a full service primary care facility; it is one of the most popular, respected and trusted facilities in the area. Over the years Dr. Mike has treated thousands of canine and feline patients and has seen and diagnosed virtually every sickness and ailment known to affect dogs and cats, which are his specialty. He has also performed numerous surgeries saving pets lives and allowing them to have more time with the families that love them.

All of Dr. Mike’s clients love and trust him with their pets because they know he will always put the animal’s best interest first, he will always thoroughly explain to his clients their pets diagnoses, condition and offer the very best treatment options. Dr. Mike has cared for and treated some very serious cases over the years some involving cancer as well as other very serious conditions. His office is also a full service pet pharmacy where they can dispense most medicines that your pet will need; he has treated pets with chemotherapy and other radical forms of treatment and with great success.

Dr. Mike as most of his friends call him provides all the regular services that you might find at most veterinarian practices but with a few very important additions. In the evening Dr. Mike becomes an emergency room doctor and his office becomes “The Baton Rouge Pet Emergency Hospital”. Doctor Ron Ponthieux is a friend and partner in the emergency hospital. Together they provide the community and their fellow veterinarian colleagues with an invaluable and most necessary service, if not for them I don’t know what most of us would do with our pets in an emergency situation. Most of the local veterinarians in town trust their patients to Dr. Mike and Dr. Ron when their offices are closed and most even have their phones transferred over to The Baton Rouge Pet Emergency Hospital during off hours.

The emergency hospital is fully and totally equipped with all the necessary equipment to treat almost if not all types of emergencies and they even have a state of the art operating room where he can perform most any kind of emergency or everyday surgery.

The Baton Rouge Animal hospital offers a tremendous number of very important and necessary services, along with all types of testing and diagnostics, x-rays, blood work, dental care, the very highest quality pet foods, heartworm and other medicines, boarding, bathing, dipping, full body clips, heartworm treatments and a full pet hotel with private rooms. Dr.Mike told me laughingly that they even tried to put TV’s in the rooms but the pets kept chewing the cords.

If you or someone you know needs a great Veterinarian Dr. Michael R. McElveen is available to help you.

Unfortunately, accidents do happen. When a Medical emergency befalls our furry friends, pet parents may find it difficult to make rational decisions, especially if something occurs during the middle of the night. That’s why it’s crucial to have an emergency plan in place—before you need it. Check to see if your primary care vet has partners who might answer an emergency call or if you are not already a patient of Baton Rouge Animal Hospital then make a point to stop by and familiarize yourself with the route and facilities. After all you would never not know where the nearest hospital is that cares for humans.

Talk to your veterinarian about an emergency protocol. It’s also a smart idea to keep the name, number and address of your local emergency clinic tacked to the refrigerator or stored in your cell phone for easy access. Your veterinarian will rely on your awareness of small changes in your pet's behavior or habits. As the pet owner you must communicate your pet's health care needs to your veterinarian.

What Are Some Signs That My Dog Needs Emergency Care?

• Pale gums
• Rapid breathing
• Weak or rapid pulse
• Change in body temperature
• Difficulty standing
• Apparent paralysis
• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures
• Excessive bleeding

Emergency Services:
As a 24-Hour facility, Baton Rouge Animal Hospital is always available for urgent or emergency care. Our trained staff is actually on duty in the hospital at all times, veterinarians are “on-call.” Even if you have another regular veterinarian, they will be happy to provide care through the night, and help coordinate a transfer back to your own veterinarian in the morning.

Laboratory Services:
With a complete line of sophisticated in-house laboratory equipment, Baton Rouge Animal Hospital is able to perform a wide variety of diagnostic tests including hematology, serum chemistry, urinalysis and parasite testing.

Anesthesia and Surgery:
Their modern, sterile surgical suite is equipped with sophisticated patient monitoring equipment- including pulse oximetry, EKG, and blood pressure monitors – to provide your pet with the safest environment for anesthetic and surgical procedures.

Radiology Services:
Baton Rouge Animal Hospital is able to take and process high quality diagnostic radiographs (x-rays) here at the hospital –in some cases, while you wait.

Dentistry: Did you know one of the contributing causes of organ failure in pets is dental disease? Bad breath is only the beginning of problems the mouth can hold for your pet. Gingivitis, periodontal disease, loose or broken teeth can be painful for your pet and greatly threaten their general health. Baton Rouge Animal Hospital is fully equipped to care for all of these problems. Schedule a dental checkup today! One of the most commonly overlooked or a neglected area by pet owners is the mouth. Teeth that are broken, loosened by periodontal disease, infected or decayed can cause significant pain and suffering. It is recommended that a thorough dental examination on a regular basis is done for all pets that are middle age or older. Dr. Mike provides dental services that include teeth cleaning, periodontal assessment, dental X-rays, tooth extractions and minor oral surgery.

Pharmacy:
Baton Rouge Animal Hospital carries a complete inventory of veterinary prescription medications to meet the needs of your pet. We also carry a full line of prescription diets used to help manage certain medical conditions.

Pet Hotel:
Baton Rouge Animal Hospital provides boarding for dogs and cats in climate-controlled indoor individual rooms. All guests receive personal attention from our caring staff around-the-clock and our veterinarians are immediately available. Your pet will never be placed in the same room as another pet unless you request that yours be kept together.

This advice isn’t intended to replace regular visits to your veterinarian—just to offer some practical ways to ensure that your pet remains in the best possible health throughout his or her life.

Spay or Neuter:
Talk about preventive medicine! Removing the ovaries and uterus of a female dog or cat—otherwise known as spaying—helps prevent breast cancer and pyometra, or infection of the uterus, and stops the animal from going into heat. (Female cats, by the way, can go into heat every 3 weeks!) And ASPCA experts believe that many aggressive behavior problems can be avoided by neutering a male, or removing the testicles, by the age of six months. The surgery also prevents testicular cancer, prostate disease and hernias.
Vaccinate:
When your pet was born, he received protection from many diseases from antibodies passed in his mother’s milk. These antibodies dissipated by the time he was about three months old, leaving his immune system vulnerable. That’s where you come in. The ASPCA recommends that cats receive a three-in-one vaccine that protects against feline calicivirus, rhinotracheitis and panleukopenia, as well as a rabies vaccination. Ask Dr Mike if vaccinations for feline leukemia, chlamydia, feline infectious peritonitis and ringworm are recommended for your kitty. Dogs should receive a five-in-one vaccine against several infectious diseases, including distemper, leptospirosis and parvovirus, as well as a rabies vaccination. Ask Dr. Mike if vaccinations for kennel cough and Lyme disease are recommended for your dog.
See Your Vet:
You go to the doctor regularly—and so should your pet. Annual checkups give your veterinarian the chance to notice any developing illness and take care of it right away. Dr. Mike will want to know about your pet’s behavior, eating and exercise habits, and will check her temperature, pulse and respiratory rate. He will also inspect her gums and teeth, heart and lungs, and assess the health of her internal organs. If it’s been a year or more since your pet has seen a vet, make that appointment today!
Fight Fleas:
But do it safely, please! These little pests can cause big problems for your pets, including skin disease, anemia, scratching, allergies and tapeworms. There are many products available to help you control the fleas on your pet and in your home, but it’s of utmost importance that whatever you use is approved for use on your pet’s species. In other words, don’t use products for dogs on your cat, and vice versa. Cats especially are extremely sensitive to insecticides, and many pets die annually from improper use of flea control products. Ask Dr. Mike for a recommendation, and don’t forget—when fighting fleas, you’ll need to treat ALL the pets in the household, not just those who are obviously infested.
Prevent Heartworm:
It’s difficult to treat and sometimes fatal, but heartworm infection is easily prevented. Your dog should be given a blood test for heartworm every year in the early spring, and your veterinarian may prescribe a preventive tablet to be given once a month throughout mosquito season. (Some vets may recommend the medication year-round.) Although dogs are natural hosts for heartworm, cats can also contract this disease, transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Talk to Dr. Mike if you think your kitty is at risk.
Get Moving:
Not only will daily exercise keep your pet physically fit and mentally healthy, it helps channel aggressive and destructive behavior. Regular activity also burns up calories and increases muscle mass and cardiovascular strength. When it comes to canines, individual exercise needs vary based on breed, sex, age and level of health, but a couple of walks around the block every day is probably not enough—especially if your pooch is an adolescent or a member of the sporting, herding, hound or terrier breeds. And if your cat has fallen into bad exercise habits (i.e. sure, she can run—to her food dish!), you will have to engage her in supervised fun and games. Always start slow, though, and limit beginning sessions to five minutes or so.
Battle the Bulge:
Not enough exercise and too much food will cause any animal to gain weight—especially pets, who rely on you to regulate nutrition and activity levels. Excess flesh can cause health problems, including arthritis and liver and heart disease. Overweight pets face increased risk during surgery, and really fat cats can get a form of diabetes. What’s the best way to tip the scales in your pet’s favor? Gradually decrease her food intake while increasing her activity level. You can switch to a reduced calorie food or make a cutback in the portion size of her regular food. We recommend a gradual reduction of 10 to 25 percent for cats, and 25 to 33 percent for dogs—but it’s always a good idea to check with Dr. Mike first. He may even have a special food for you to try.

Assuring your pet's daily well-being requires regular care and close attention to any hint of ill health.

A pet offers us unconditional love and affection and in turn we think that just by providing them with meals on time, grooming and a regular bout of exercise, we are offering them a great life. However, not many pet owners plan a budget for their pet each month. Often we do not prepare a rough estimate about the kind of pet expenses that we bear and can be caught un-prepared.

A medical emergency can be stressful enough and completely take the pet owner by surprise, so put aside an emergency pet care fund and be prepared.

Prevention is truly the best medicine—even when it comes to your pet. It's much riskier (not to mention expensive!) to treat illnesses than to protect against them.

What our sick pets can’t say in words, they’ll demonstrate through physical symptoms and behavior changes.

The American Veterinary Medical Association therefore suggests that you consult your veterinarian if your pet shows any of the following signs:

How Do I Make The Decision?
Your relationship with your pet is special, and you are responsible for its care and welfare. Eventually, many owners are faced with making life or death decisions for their pets. Such a decision may become necessary for the welfare of the animal and for you and your family. A decision concerning euthanasia may be one of the most difficult decisions you will ever make regarding your pet. Your decision is a personal one, but it need not be a solitary one. Dr. Mike, your family and friends can assist and support you. Consider not only what is best for your pet, but also what is best for you and your family. Quality of life is important for pets and people alike.

How Will I Know When It's Time?
If your pet can no longer do with you and your family the things he or she once enjoyed, if your pet cannot respond to you in the usual ways, or if there is more pain than pleasure in his or her life, you may need to consider euthanasia. Likewise, if your pet is terminally ill or critically injured, or if the financial or emotional cost of treatment is beyond your means, euthanasia may be a valid option.

Dr. Mike understands attachment to pets, and can examine and evaluate your pet's condition, estimate your pet's chances for recovery, and discuss potential disabilities and long-term problems. He can explain the medical options and possible outcomes. Because your veterinarian cannot make the euthanasia decision for you, it is important that you fully understand your pet's condition. If there is any part of the diagnosis or the implications for your pet's future that you don't understand, ask to have it explained again. Rarely will the situation require an immediate decision. Usually, you will have time to review the facts before making your decision.

As you make your decision, you may wish to discuss the care of the remains of your pet's body with Dr. Mike. You have several options, and he can provide information about burial, cremation, or other alternatives available.