Screening Tests

Arthritis/Degenerative Joint Disease

As pets age, a significant number will develop degenerative joint changes (e.g. arthritis) that will result in stiffness when rising, lameness, difficulty climbing stairs, and a general decrease in exercise tolerance.  If you see these symptoms in your pet you should consider an appointment with our veterinarians both for an evaluation of your pet, and to discuss radiographs (x-rays) to diagnose or rule out degenerative joint disease.

Our hospital has an automatic x-ray film processor, and we can typically produce two standard views or positions in approximately thirty minutes.  Some difficult views of a pet that is a little squirmy may require a degree of sedation or anesthesia in order to obtain a high quality image.  This obviously depends on the pet and the position of image desired.

If you have any questions regarding having x-rays taken of your pet, please contact us.

In-House Laboratory Services

We offer in-house laboratory services to ensure rapid and accurate diagnosis of your pet's medical condition. These capabilities include:

     Lasercyte CBC (complete blood count) analyser to evaluate red and white blood cells for signs of anemia and infection.

     Vettest analyser for testing liver, kidney, and pancreatic functions, as well as looking for signs of endocrine disease and certain forms of cancer.

     Urine analysis for signs of infection and metabolic disease.

     Test kits for heartworm disease and feline leukemia (FIV).

     Additional devices for checking thyroid function and electrolyte levels.

Our laboratory can also perform other tests on an out-patient basis for diagnosis of skin and eye disorders.

Nutritional Counseling

Puppies & Kittens

All veterinary food lines also have diets for general maintenance use on an ongoing basis for animals of all ages.  These are diets you can trust as being thoroughly tested to provide your pet with optimal nutrition.  These diets address weight reduction and weight maintenance, promotion of dental health, promotion of urinary tract health, as well as diets specifically designed for geriatric pets.  Please call and ask any of our staff to provide you with information about which diet would be appropriate for your pet.

Pharmacy

Our in-house pharmacy is well stocked and contains numerous medications that allow us to immunize and treat your pet.

We carry many medications that are exclusively for veterinary use.  They have been tested and licensed for use in animals, and in many cases have been formulated specifically for them.  This means smaller pills and doses for smaller pets, and, in some cases, special liquid or powder for ease of administration.

Having the pharmacy at our disposal allows us to provide you with medications appropriate to the treatment of your pet at the time of diagnosis.