Medical Services

Internal Medicine

We can perform most medical procedures necessary for the care of your pet. We can check for the following endocrine diseases Diabetes, Cushing’s Disease , Addison’s Disease, Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism, and many others. We’re highly experienced in diagnosing diseases of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, and stomach.

Our clinic offers an intensive care facility that includes the use of IV pumps, heat sources to prevent hypothermia patient care and monitoring. Intravenous fluid therapy, nutritional support, internal parasite control, and wound management are performed regularly.

We also offer nail trims, wing trims, and beak trims for birds.

We strongly recommend regular physical examinations. This exam includes a thorough physical, nutritional consultation, and disease screening and laboratory testing if necessary.

Ophthalmology

Your pet can develop glaucoma. This is a condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eye increases to a point where the optic nerve is damaged, causing loss of vision and blindness. Glaucoma is relatively common in animals and can develop as your pet ages – this is known as chronic glaucoma – or as the result of an injury or illness – which is known as acute glaucoma.

In many cases glaucoma can progress quite rapidly, especially when it is the result of injury or underlying illness. This can be considered an emergency situation.

Glaucoma symptoms are:

Redness in the eye
Tearing or discharge
Eye sensitivity to light
Pain
The eye may look cloudy
Bulging eyeball

A routine glaucoma exam is not only an effective screening measure for chronic and acute glaucoma, but can also help set a baseline measurement for your pet. Setting a baseline measurement is important because normal Intraocular Pressure (IOP) can vary between species, breeds and even individual pets.

We use an instrument called a TONOPEN to measure the fluid pressure inside your pet’s eyes. It is a noninvasive procedure and should not cause your pet any pain or discomfort. We will apply a mild anesthetic eye-drop to ensure your pet is comfortable during the exam.

The examination is quick and once done, we will explain your pet’s measurement, what it tells us about the health of your pet’s eyes, and provide any treatment options if necessary.

Other eye conditions that may be recognized include

Dry eye which causes chronic corneal damage, thick discharge from the eyes, and secondary infections. Many breeds can be predisposed with this condition.

Entropion or Ectropion- a rolling inward or outward of the edges of the eyelids causing trauma to the cornea.

Eyelid masses- treated early, these masses can possibly be cured and not lead to disfigurement of the eyelid.

Corneal trauma and ulcerations

Inflammation in the eye (uveitis) which can signal a severe underlying medical condition.

Dermatology and Allergies

If left untreated, skin and allergy-related conditions can fester and become serious health concerns for your pet.

It is important to be able to identify the first signs and symptoms of allergies and dermatological conditions.

These include:

Inflamed ears
Hotspots, especially those that recur
Scratching or rubbing the eyes or mouth area
Flaking
Lesions on the skin
Hair loss
Red itchy bumps on the skin
Asthma-like wheezing or respiratory issues

All of these can indicate a serious dermatological condition or allergic reaction to allergens such as fleas, pollen, dust and various foods. If you notice any of these issues it is important that you bring your pet in for an evaluation because if left untreated they can become severe medical concerns.

We will take the time to explain your pet’s condition, how to prevent future occurrences, and the proper method of home treatment.

Radiographs

[X-rays] are extremely helpful for examining and monitoring many medical and surgical conditions, including your pet’s bones, lungs, heart, abdomen, oral cavity and other areas of the body. An X-ray can spot a fractured bone, detect tumors, help with the diagnosis of changes in the lungs due to heartworm disease, or locate an obstruction or foreign body in your pet’s intestine or stomach.

When used in conjunction with other diagnostic procedures, X-rays can help make diagnosing a problem more rapid. This allows for a quicker treatment of your pets condition.

We use latest X-ray technologies and we are up-to-date on the latest radiographic procedures. Our high-detail X-rays can be read by our veterinarians or can be sent for consult with the veterinary radiologist interpretation.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a pain-free, non-invasive technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce a real-time moving image of your pet’s internal organs. Considered more detailed than X-rays, ultrasound gives us (and you) a good look at what is happening inside your pet’s body. The procedure is utterly without side effects.

It is particularly useful in viewing your pet’s abdominal organs including the spleen, kidneys, liver, and gallbladder. Ultrasound can also be used to evaluate heart functions, bladder scans, and other areas such as the thyroid glands, testicles, and mammary glands.

Ultrasound also works in conjunction with other diagnostic tools and procedures. If an X-ray shows a lesion on your pet, an ultrasound can determine the origin of the lesion and whether it has spread elsewhere in your pet’s body. Using the ultrasound image as a guide, surgical biopsies can be obtained without major surgery and your pet can often go home the same day. Ultrasounds are typically not stressful for your pet and take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to perform.

We are also able to seek out timely consultations with specialists when necessary.

Other Diagnostic Equipment and Techniques

Tonopen to measure pressure in the eyes

Blood pressure monitor – to assess for high blood pressure (hypertension)

ECG/ pulse oximetry

Diagnostic Laboratory

We know that the anxiety you experience when waiting for your pet’s diagnosis is often more unpleasant than the diagnosis itself. Diagnosing emergent internal health issues (as well as providing high quality preventive care) requires the ability to perform a wide range of laboratory tests. We have the capability of performing following tests in house :

Fungal cultures

Blood chemistry

Complete Blood Count

Thyroid Testing

Complete Urinalysis

Parvovirus snap test

Heartworm testing

FeLV/FIV/HW snap testing for felines

Fecal analysis

Skin slide analysis for dermatitis

Ear swab cytology

Fluid analysis and cytology

Pancreatic testing (CPL)

We also use our lab to properly evaluate your pet case prior to the administration of anesthesia. This will help us avoid any unnecessary complications or reactions.

Quick and accurate results are two of the best services we can provide to you.

Pharmacy

In numerous acute or chronic conditions, medication is required to cure or alleviate symptoms. Timely and convenient access to these medications is an important aspect of caring for your pet. For these reasons, we maintain a comprehensive pharmacy.

You’ll receive the correct medication at the correct dosage. Each medication we prescribe becomes part of your pet’s medical record, which reduces the chance for errors and enhances our ability to monitor its use and the outcome for your pet.

We carry an extensive inventory of veterinary pharmaceutical items, supplies, and medications, and are now able to provide many custom compounded pharmaceuticals such as flavored liquids. If needed many medications are available as chewable treats and transdermal gels. These special preparations are particularly useful for pets who are difficult to medicate.

Refills are easy too, simply give us a call we will have them ready for you in a timely manner. Purchasing the medications your pet needs from Healing Care Animal Hospital ensures the manufacturers guarantee and support.