Our knowledgeable staff and facilities allow us to deal with a variety of medical conditions your pet may experience. We hope we do not have to see you or your pet for an emergency but if we do, we are equipped to handle the situation. In some cases, your pet may require further diagnostic tests.
Radiology (X-rays)
Radiology (X-rays) is routinely used to provide valuable information about a pet’s bones, gastrointestinal tract (stomach, intestines, colon), respiratory tract (lungs), heart, and genitourinary system (bladder, prostate). It can be used alone or in conjunction with other diagnostic tools to provide a list of possible causes for a pets condition, identify the exact cause of a problem or rule out possible problems.
When a pet is being radiographed, an X-ray beam passes through its body and hits a piece of radiographic film. Images on the film appear as various shades of grey and reflect the anatomy of the animal. Bones, which absorb more X-rays, appear as light grey structures. Soft tissues, such as the lungs, absorb fewer X-rays and appear as dark grey structures. Interpretation of radiographs requires great skill on the part of the vet.
Dentistry
Dental disease is a frequently diagnosed health problem in pets. Common signs of dental disease include tartar build up, red and swollen gums, bad breath, changes in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face and generalised depression. A vet should evaluate your pet’s dental health at least once a year. We recommend this because bacteria and food debris accumulates around a pet’s teeth and, if left unchecked, will lead to deterioration of the soft tissue and bone surrounding the teeth. This decay results in irreversible periodontal disease and even tooth loss.
There are other reasons why you should pay close attention to your pet’s dental health. Dental disease can affect other organs in the body: bacteria in the mouth can get into the blood stream and may cause serious kidney infections, liver disease, lung disease, and heart valve disease. Dental disease can also indicate that another disease process is occurring elsewhere in a pet’s body. A thorough physical exam combined with appropriate laboratory work can determine if this is the case.
Dermatology
Dermatology refers to the study of the skin. Skin disease is a frequently observed problem in dogs and cats. Diagnosing a skin problem in your pet may simply require an examination by a vet; however, most skin diseases or problems require additional steps to accurately obtain a diagnosis.
Additional diagnostic procedures may include blood work, urinalysis, skin scraping, biopsies, etc.
The cause of skin problems range from hormonal disorders to the common flea. You should book an appointment for your animal if you notice any excessive itchy behaviour, loss of hair and/or the presence of scabs or scale on the skin.
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is the study of hormones and there are several common endocrine disorders found in dogs and cats. Hypothyroidism is often diagnosed in dogs. Hypothyroidism indicates that the animal has low levels of circulating thyroid hormone. The opposite is true for cats. They are frequently diagnosed with high levels of circulating thyroid hormones. Additional endocrine problems include Cushing’s Disease and Addison’s Disease. There are many signs observable in pets with endocrine disease. These signs include (but are not limited to) the following: abnormal energy levels, abnormal behaviour, abnormal drinking, urinating and eating behaviour, excessive panting, skin disorders, and weight gain or loss.
