Although Flowertown Animal Hospital has been in existence for over fifteen years, I purchased
the practice only two years ago. Prior to purchasing Flowertown, I owned a small animal - equine (horses) practice in southwestern North Carolina for twenty-five years and co-owned
and operated an imaging company with other veterinarians. I bring thirty years of clinical
experience to Flowertown.
Dr. Todd Heldreth, the founder of the practice, developed a family and community-oriented
sense for the practice. Our mission is to continue in that direction, developing closer
relationships with our clientele and their pets. The staff was hand-picked to ensure that our
patients would be treated with the utmost careful compassion and diligence. We are very proud
of this practice and our goals and mission; each of us truly cares to make a difference in
the lives of our patients.
At this stage in my career, I am more excited than ever to practice veterinary medicine. The
technological advances and the better understanding of our pet's diseases make this a very
exciting time to be a veterinarian. After many long years in practice, I have realized that
my role, as the other family doctor, is in bringing excellent health and well-being to my
patients.
So, we spend a lot of time discussing prevention of disease. We advocate wellness testing to
identify disease states in their early development. By identifying early indicators of disease,
we can find solutions to the problem before it becomes a catastrophic issue. We have a
well-equipped in-house laboratory to perform blood tests, with the results available within
minutes. We are ready to examine cells from any lump or bump to advise you whether that
lump is benign, or needs to be removed. Our extensive background in microbiology helps us
identify organisms and helps us choose appropriate medications. We heavily rely on outside
laboratories to perform the more sophisticated testing needed in today's practice of internal
medicine.
We practice a very high level of vigilance for oral disease, knowing that oral disease leads
to other illnesses. Our goal is to help your pet live without oral disease. We have three
levels of dental prophylaxis (cleaning) procedures to fit each patient's grade of disease. We
stress prevention by brushing, dentrifice diets and treats, Xylitol in drinking water.
Our nutritional counseling aids clients in feeding their new puppy or their geriatric old
timer. We take time to advise clients about the foods that they are feeding, making them
aware of what's really in that bag or can. We are not afraid to suggest important changes. In
our quest for bringing better health and wellness, we understand that nutrition plays a very
large role, if not the most important role.
In addition to the laboratory, we have invested our resources so that if illness or injury
strikes, we can find a definitive answer quickly. We are equipped for video endoscopy for
procedures ranging from examination of the ears, throats, upper airways, nasal cavities,
urinary tracts, and lower digestive tracts. We are moving full bore into other minimally
invasive techniques (laparoscopic surgery and arthroscopy). In our imaging suite we are
capable of radiography and ultrasonography. We are capable and experienced in performing the
simplest of surgeries to more complicated ones including orthopedics and soft tissue,
including oncology (cancer surgeries).
Lastly, we are deeply involved in clinical research with molecular biologists, immunologists,
biochemists, physicians, and veterinarians looking for solutions to chronic, oftentimes,
fatal diseases. Our focus is to identify those molecules or drugs that help the patient
without attendant side effects. We have helped develop molecular signals for the treatment of
cancer, respiratory disease, allergies, and chronic kidney disease. A lot of work remains, of
course, but we'll keep looking.
Thank you, for visiting our website. If you are not coming to Flowertown Animal Hospital for
your pet's needs now, we hope to see you soon.
Sincerely,
Jerry L. Dorsam, D.V.M.
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