187 Churchtown Road, Pennsville, NJ, USA
Compassionate Vet Care in South Jersey
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About Pennsville Veterinary Clinic
Experienced Veterinary Team
Dr. Rider, DVM
Veterinarian & Practice Owner
With nearly 50 years of dedicated service to the South Jersey community, Dr. Rider is a cornerstone of veterinary medicine in Salem and Cumberland Counties. His career is defined by a lifelong commitment to the health and well-being of local pets, providing compassionate, high-quality care across generations of families.
Dr. Rider operates a thriving small animal practice with two convenient locations: Pennsville and Bridgeton. Known for his experienced hand and practical approach to pet health, he ensures that essential veterinary services remain accessible to the community he calls home.
His practices specialize in comprehensive wellness and preventative medicine, including:
- Routine Care & Wellness Exams: Tailored health plans for every stage of a pet's life.
- Vaccinations: Essential protection against local threats like rabies and Lyme disease.
- Spay & Neuter Services: Vital procedures to promote long-term health and community pet population control.
- Dental Care: Professional cleanings and oral health assessments to keep pets pain-free.
- Minor Surgery: Skilled surgical interventions handled with the utmost care and safety.
Important information for pet owners
Heartworm disease can be a devastating disease—and it’s also one of the most preventable diseases in pets.
In the humid climate of South Jersey, heartworms represent a silent but severe threat to canine health. Due to the region's proximity to the Atlantic coast and its abundance of marshlands and standing water, mosquito populations—the sole vectors for heartworm larvae—thrive well into the autumn months. Once a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito, the larvae migrate to the heart and pulmonary arteries, where they can grow up to a foot long. If left untreated, these parasites cause progressive inflammation, heart failure, and irreversible lung damage. Because South Jersey's temperate winters often fail to stay cold enough to fully eliminate mosquito activity, local veterinarians emphasize that year-round prevention is non-negotiable, as the cost and physical toll of treating an active infection are far more taxing than a monthly preventative.
Heartworm preventative is available at our office. Call for details
For more information, please visit American Heartworm Society.
photo American Heartworm Society
Lyme Disease
In South Jersey, the dense woodlands, tall grasses and coastal regions serve as a primary habitat for the black-legged tick, the main carrier of Lyme disease. Because the local climate is often mild, these ticks remain active for the majority of the year, posing a constant risk to dogs during routine walks or backyard play. When an infected tick attaches to a dog, it transmits the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which can lead to debilitating symptoms such as lameness, joint swelling, lethargy, and decreased appetite. If left undiagnosed, the infection can progress to more severe complications, including kidney failure, which is often fatal. Given that South Jersey is a high-risk endemic area, veterinarians strongly recommend a combination of regular tick checks, professional preventatives, and vaccination to protect pets from this persistent environmental threat.
Flea and tick prevention and lyme vaccine is available at our office. Please call for details.
Responsible Pet Ownership
Spaying and neutering are vital components of responsible pet ownership that offer significant health and behavioral benefits for dogs and cats. Beyond preventing unplanned litters and reducing the strain on overpopulated animal shelters, these procedures can lead to a longer, healthier life for pets by eliminating or greatly reducing the risk of certain reproductive cancers and life-threatening uterine infections like pyometra. Behaviorally, altered pets are often less prone to roaming in search of a mate, which decreases their chances of being lost or injured in traffic, and they are frequently less likely to exhibit hormone-driven aggression or territorial marking. By choosing to spay or neuter, pet owners contribute to a more manageable animal population and a safer, more stable environment for their companions.
Spay and neuter surgical service available in office. Please call for details.