NSVH is solid GOLD: A Gold Status Certified Cat Friendly Practice!
NSVH is one of few practices in the country to achieve this elite status from the American Association of Feline Practitioners! Our dedicated feline exam room and staff training in low stress handling are just a few ways that we stand apart.
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Services
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Read the NSVH Blog
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“My Breeder Said”
There are three words that every veterinarian dreads: “My breeder said…” Fortunately, a good majority of owners these days rescue their new dog from a shelter or foster group. Certain clients are very loyal to specific breeds, and will elect to buy a new puppy from a breeder. There are some really good breeders out […]
“Vaccine Reaction”? Probably Not.
Vaccinations are a scientific miracle. The number of human (and animal) lives saved by vaccinations cannot be overestimated. Once-common diseases such as canine distemper and feline panleukopenia have been virtually eliminated in vaccinated pets (I’ve only seen a handful of pets with these diseases, as opposed to some of my more seasoned colleagues, who used […]
2, 4, 6, 8, How Many Puppies Can You Appreciate?
Your puppy, Fiona, is really cute. She came from a nice pet store on the thoroughfare and is a special new breed called a “MixiMuttiPoo”. You would like to have more, just like her. And maybe it would be nice for the kids to witness the miracle of birth. So maybe you will breed Fiona, […]
Our Team
About Us
Newtown Square Veterinary Hospital is a progressive, privately owned, boutique-style, full service animal hospital created by Dr. Heather DiGiacomo, VMD. Dr. DiGiacomo has over a decade of experience in small animal medicine and surgery.
About NSVH
Your Pets
We welcome pets of all shapes and sizes: dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, ferrets and more! NSVH has been certified as a “Cat Friendly Practice” and a “Fear Free” practice. We embrace fear-free handling techniques to ensure your pet enjoys visiting with us.
Your Pets
Services
NSVH is a full-service animal hospital, providing comprehensive wellness, medical and surgical care for small animals. We feature the most modern diagnostic and surgical equipment. We provide the highest standard of care for our patients.
NSVH Services
My VetStore Online
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Shop Our Online StoreLet’s Be Social
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Header about the Vitusvet app
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Download the app
Wellness and Preventative Care
Dr. DiGiacomo and our veterinarians firmly believe that prevention is the best medicine. Diseases are most easily treated when they are diagnosed early. Routine wellness exams and annual lab screenings are the single best investments you can make in your pet’s longevity. At NSVH, all well visits are scheduled for 30 minutes with our doctors, providing ample time to discuss nutrition, parasite prevention, vaccinations and weight management, among other things. We strongly advocate for annual bloodwork, and offer a variety of comprehensive wellness profiles suited to your pet’s life stage.
Medical Care
NSVH is a full-service animal hospital, with all of the necessary diagnostic equipment and medical therapies to diagnose and treat our sick patients. We have the most modern digital radiography equipment, an ultrasound as well as a comprehensive on-site laboratory, allowing us to make accurate and prompt diagnoses for sick pets. In some instances, critically ill patients may be referred to a local speciality and emergency facility. We have cultivated a network of specialists in the area, to whom your pet can be referred in the event that specialty or emergency care is required. NSVH will happily collaborate with specialists to ensure seamless care for our patients.
Soft Tissue Surgery
Our doctors have extensive experience in soft tissue surgeries such as spays, neuters, mass removals and bladder surgery. NSVH has a modern surgical suite with the most up-to-date surgical and anesthetic equipment. All surgical and anesthetic cases at NSVH have a technician dedicated to anesthetic monitoring before, during and after your pet’s procedure, ensuring your pet’s vital signs and comfort are closely observed.
Advanced Dental Care
NSVH provides comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment (COHAT) plans for all patients requiring dental care. We have a state of the art digital dental x-ray unit that allows us to diagnose and treat oral disease at the earliest possible state, before your pet may experience oral pain or infection. Dr. DiGiacomo has undergone specialized training with the International Veterinary Dentistry Institute in oral nerve blocks and advanced techniques for surgical extraction of diseased teeth. All dental cases under anesthesia have a technician dedicated to anesthetic monitoring before, during and after your pet’s procedure.
Find out more about keeping your pet’s teeth perfect!
Pediatric Medicine and Surgery
NSVH loves puppies and kittens! We are excited to welcome your new family member, and will guide you through the process of ensuring your new pet has the necessary behavior training, vaccinations, nutrition counseling and parasite prevention plan to keep them happy and healthy. Our veterinarians will also create a customized vaccination schedule, tailored to the lifestyle of your pet. Find out more by reading our new puppy guide.
Pain Management
Dr. DiGiacomo is a member of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management and is a strong advocate for multi-modal pain management in patients with chronically painful disease conditions such as arthritis. NSVH will customize a pain management plan for your pet, utilizing a variety of therapies including natural supplements, physical rehabilitation and prescription pain medications.
End of Life Care
NSVH is devoted to helping owners navigate the difficult decisions surrounding end of life care for terminally ill and geriatric pets. It is our mission to ensure that none of our patients experience undue pain or suffering in their final days.
Fear Free Principles
Drs. DiGiacomo, Harwood, So and Germano are officially certified as Elite Fear Free Certified Practitioners, having completed numerous hours of training in fear free handling techniques. All of our support staff have undergone the Fear Free training as well. Many of our patients are stressed and anxious about coming to the veterinarian, and this may lead to pets not receiving the medical care they need in a timely fashion. NSVH has fully embraced the Fear Free movement, and our entire staff is has undergone training in stress-free, gentle handling techniques for our patients. Several of our veterinary technicians are also Fear Free Certified Professionals.
Fear Free certification has provided us with a number of techniques to keep your pet’s visits to NSVH as stress-free as possible. We have a number of highly tasty food treats to keep our patients occupied during examinations, vaccinations and blood draws.
Our exam rooms are equipped with species-specific pheromones, scientifically proven to have a calming effect on stressed dogs and cats. Our technicians, customer service representatives and doctors have undergone hours of training in gentle, calm handling techniques that minimize stress.
If these techniques are not enough to reduce your pet’s anxiety about the vet, our veterinarians can recommend natural supplements and/or prescription medications to help! To learn more about pre-visit pharmaceuticals and their intended effects, please click here.
Our Fear Free Practice mission closely aligns with our Cat-Friendly Practice mission. NSVH has separate waiting, hospitalization and exam rooms that are designated solely for our feline friends. This helps keep our kitty patients calm and fear free! For more on what Fear Free means, please visit: www.fearfreepets.com. See the Fear Free dog trainers that NSVH works with.
NSVH is a progressive, family owned, boutique-style, full service veterinary hospital created by Dr. Heather DiGiacomo, VMD, a lifelong Main Line resident where her family has lived locally for decades. It has been Dr. D’s longstanding dream to be a small business owner; NSVH is a realization of that dream!
Training
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Puppy Classes
Remember: Boredom = Trouble. Your new puppy is eager and ready to learn! Destructive and nipping behavior can stem from lack of stimulation and lack of exercise. Talk to us if you need a referral for a qualified trainer.
Potty Training
Tips and Tricks!
Always take your puppy out after they:
- Wake up (nap or bedtime)
- 30 minutes after meals or drinking
- During playtime/exercise
Choose Your Command
Pick a command and stick with it. Consistency is key. Tell your pup to go:
- “Potty”
- “To the bathroom”
- “Do your business”
- “Park time”
View Our Facilities
Take a tour of NSVH
Your Pup’s Health
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Vaccinations
DHPP Parvo: Given every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age
Distemper: No specific cure, can cause a variety of signs in young puppies including seizures.
Hepatitis: Very contagious, spreads quickly, cough and lethargy noted.
Para-influenza: Similar to hepatitis.
Parvovirus: Most prevalent in un-vaccinated puppies. No specific cure, treatment includes hospitalization and empiric care.
Rabies Vaccine: Given between 12 and 16 Weeks of age. Rabies vaccinations are REQUIRED BY LAW
Elective Vaccines
Leptospirosis: Bacterial infection spread by wildlife, common in this area
Lyme: Infection spread by ticks, prevalent in surrounding areas
Bordetella: Required by most boarding and grooming places. Recommended for dogs interacting with other dogs on a regular basis.
Flea and Tick Prevention
Flea and tick preventives should be given year round to maintain full protection. Fleas and ticks survive all seasons in the Philadelphia area.
Heartworm and Intestinal Parasitic Prevention
Heartworm and intestinal parasite prevention should be started as early as possible and given once a month, year round. Heartworm is a mosquito-borne parasite that lives in the heart and bloodstream. Intestinal parasites are transmitted by fecal-oral contact.
Annual heartworm tests are required to purchase preventative. Annual fecal examination is recommended at time of yearly wellness exams.
Ask us for specific recommendations for preventives for your puppy. Please come see us for a monthly weight check as your puppy grows so we are sure they are getting the appropriate sized preventives.
Spaying and Neutering
It is recommended that all puppies be spayed and neutered at the age of 6 months. Prior to scheduling, we will perform pre-anesthetic blood work to help minimize any complications.
Please contact us with any additional questions!
Dental Care
Dental disease is the most common disease diagnosed in dogs. Brushing your dog’s teeth frequently is the most effective way to prevent problems. Using dental chew toys and treats can help if used often and your dog spends time chewing on them. Avoid hard bones which can break teeth. The more home care you provide, the less often your dog will need professional dental cleanings!
Contact Us
Call or Text
Fax
610-646-7449
Address
8 Saint Albans Avenue
Newtown Square, PA 19073
Hours
Mon: 8am – 5pm
Tue: 8am – 7pm
Wed: 8am – 5pm
Thu: 8am – 7pm
Fri: 8am – 5pm
New to NSVH?
Join our family by calling us today 484-427-7598 or get started by filling out the form below.
What our clients are saying
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) pioneered the CFP program to provide a framework for creating a positive practice environment for cats, including medical care that supports the cat’s unique needs and knowledgeable staff members who understand feline-friendly handling. At NSVH, our specially trained veterinary staff incorporates cat-friendly features into the physical environment of the practice including special waiting rooms and waiting accommodations, feline-sensitive examination rooms and ward facilities, and equipment appropriate specifically for cats.
Our staff members also approach cat care in a different manner. The staff learns how to understand the needs of the cat such as how to interpret a cat’s facial expression and body language. Furthermore, the staff is well-trained in alternate techniques to calm an anxious cat and ensure that exams and procedures do not escalate anxiety. Dr. DiGiacomo emphasizes: “We can proudly say that from the minute they walk through the door, our patients and clients will be part of a welcoming, comfortable experience that will ultimately lead to the improved health of our feline patients.”
Read more about NSVH’s philosophy as a Fear Free Practice.
New to NSVH?
Join our family by calling us today 484-427-7598 or get started by filling out the form below.
New Patient FormHow to Bring Your Cat to the Vet in 3 Easy Steps
In the average week, we see easily three to four times more dogs than cats for appointments, despite the fact that cats outnumber dogs in the United States. Why is this the case? A recent study determined that the number of feline visits to veterinarians decreased 14% from 2001 to 2011 despite an increase in […]
Fear Free and Feline Friendly
Dr. D here! In building my dream practice, I had a few very specific goals for Newtown Square Veterinary Hospital. One was to create a personalized, progressive hospital with a family-friendly feel and state of the art medicine. Second was to provide our patients with a calm, welcoming and stress-free environment. Third was to design […]
City of Puppy Love?
I’m a lifelong Philadelphia area resident, and a passionate advocate for our wonderful city. The restaurants, the history, the beautiful architecture: Philadelphia has a lot to offer. One area where we seem to fall short is dog friendliness. I often hear from clients how difficult it is to find a dog-friendly apartment. There are a […]
Cutting Edge Laser Therapy Now at NSVH!
We are excited to share that NSVH is now offering therapeutic laser therapy for our patients! Our Companion laser is a pain-free, side-effect free, noninvasive method to treat a variety of painful and uncomfortable conditions. Arthritis, injuries, wounds, chronic skin infections, cystitis, ear infections and UTI’s are just a few of the diseases that may […]
Introducing Groundbreaking New Arthritis Treatments for Dogs and Cats!
The entire NSVH team is over the moon and excited to announce that NSVH is finally carrying Librela in our clinic! Librela is a groundbreaking new treatment for dogs with osteoarthritis (OA). Librela is a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets a key driver of OA pain. Librela provides long-term pain control with once monthly injections. […]
Sometimes Pups Need to Muzzle Up!
Understandably, we see a number of canine patients who are anxious and fearful of their visits to Newtown Square Veterinary Hospital. Our staff fully embraces the Fear Free initiative, doing our best to ensure a calm, welcoming and nonthreatening environment for our patients. Our doctors advocate for the use of calming medications, both in the […]
Just Say No to Food Fights!
This week, I had similar conversations with several clients about their “picky” dogs. Most dog owners have the opposite experience: their Fido will eat anything, anywhere, anytime (including trash, inanimate objects like socks and grossly unappealing items like deer feces.) This is true for most dogs; we have domesticated dogs in virtually every way, but […]
Fear Free is the Only Way to Be!
Pet owners can all agree that Fear Free is the only way to be! NSVH has embraced the Fear Free philosophy, and we are seeing such a difference in our patients. Low stress handling techniques, high value/ tasty food treats and calming pheromones markedly reduce our patients’ fear, anxiety and stress. We see so many […]
“Vaccine Reaction”? Probably Not.
Vaccinations are a scientific miracle. The number of human (and animal) lives saved by vaccinations cannot be overestimated. Once-common diseases such as canine distemper and feline panleukopenia have been virtually eliminated in vaccinated pets (I’ve only seen a handful of pets with these diseases, as opposed to some of my more seasoned colleagues, who used […]
Land Shark
We all have expectations of what our newly adopted puppies will be like: cuddly, cute, sweet, funny, and playful. What most of us don’t expect: a puppy piranha! So many clients show me their “war wounds” when bringing new puppies for wellness care to Newtown Square Veterinary Hospital. Puppy teeth are sharp teeth! They can […]
Happy Cat Month
My friends at the CATalyst Council have designated September as Happy Cat Month, and for good reason. Despite the fact that there are significantly more pet cats than dogs in America (75 million cats vs. 69 million dogs), dogs come to the vet more than twice as often as cats. Many cats go to the vet […]
If you can fry an egg on the sidewalk…
…you shouldn’t walk your dog on that same sidewalk! During the last week of school, I walked my dog Pepita to the bus stop to meet my son’s school bus. Pepita kept holding her feet up, doing an awkward dance that I didn’t recognize. It was a warm, pleasant 80 degree day, and when I […]
Pets Are the Best Medicine
I can only imagine how much hospitalized kiddos must miss their fluffy friends. Many studies have shown the health benefits of owning pets (pets are known to lower blood pressure, reduce the incidence of allergies and asthma and increase longevity). It makes good sense that some children’s hospitals are now allowing pets to visit their […]
Kitty Can Love the Vet!
I saw this photo on Facebook recently: Hysterical right? It’s funny because it’s true. I wish I could help Diane (and her kitty) learn that there’s a better way to take a cat to the vet. I may not be able to help Diane, but I can help you: http://newtownsquarevet.com/bring-your-cat-to-the-vet-in-3-easy-steps/
Every Season is Pumpkin Season!
It may be time for lazy beach days and summer BBQ’s, but many of us in veterinary medicine have pumpkin on the brain. Once available only in autumn, canned pumpkin is now available year-round in grocery stores. Why is pumpkin so important to veterinarians? Pumpkin is widely used as a source of dietary fiber for […]
