Pet Health

Nutrition Education

Just as in humans, some animals have special nutritional needs. Certain diseases/conditions may benefit from specialized diets including but not limited to: diabetes, digestive health support, joint disease, kidney disease, urinary tract disease, and even allergies. These specialized therapeutic diets contain just the right amount of special ingredients such as fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins to cater to your cat or dog's individualized condition. Speak with your veterinarian to determine which diet is best for your pet.

For each life stage of your dog or cat, Purina and Royal Canin prepare just the right amount of nutrition. Nutritional requirements are different for each stage in your Puppy/Kitten, Adult, or Mature Adult's life and these foods have been specially formulated to compliment these stages. There are also special diets for non-medical issues including sensitive skin, sensitive stomach, and light diet. They also come in a variety of dry and canned food, as well as different flavors.

Obesity in animals can have devastating side effects like arthritis and joint problems, cardiovascular disease, and even liver disease. But we do have a solution for our overweight friends, Purina Veterinary Diet's OM (Overweight Management) is specially designed for weight loss and maintenance. Purina also offers a customizable weight loss program that may benefit your pet. Call the office to schedule a consultation with your veterinarian to start an individualized plan to get your pet back on track for a healthy, happier life.

Anesthesia

A local anesthetic causes a loss of sensation to a 'local' area. Small surgical or diagnostic procedures may only require a local anesthetic to perform. A biopsy is a common diagnostic procedure where local anesthetic can be used to control pain. A biopsy involves surgical removal of a small portion of tissue.

Tranquilization or sedation is used to calm an animal under various conditions. The animal remains awake or may 'sleep' but is easily aroused when stimulated. Pet owners frequently request sedation for their animals during travel, thunderstorms, fireworks, etc. Sedation and tranquilization are not without risk and each animal should be assessed prior to dispensing these medicines.

A general anesthetic results in a loss of consciousness in the animal and a loss of sensation throughout the body. Most general anesthetic procedures involve several steps beginning with the administration of a sedative. An intravenous injection of an anesthetic renders the animal unconscious while a breathing tube is placed into the animal's trachea. A gas anesthetic is delivered in combination with oxygen to the animal via the breathing tube to maintain the state of unconsciousness.

Although general anesthetics are significantly safer than they have been in the past, there is still the remote chance of an anesthetic accident. There are many ways to reduce the risk associated with anesthesia including a thorough physical examination and blood work prior to anesthesia. It's our job to ensure that your pet can properly process and then eliminate the anesthetic he or she is given. Before we perform any procedure requiring anesthesia, we run tests to confirm that your pet's organs are functioning properly and to reveal any hidden health conditions that could put your pet at risk. Anesthetic monitoring equipment and protocol can also contribute to a safer anesthesia.

During general anesthesia, our patients are monitored closely by a veterinary technician for heart rate, respiratory rate, capillary refill time and blood pressure. A change in blood pressure is an early indicator that a pet may be running into trouble. Monitoring blood pressure allows us to intervene earlier and prevent any anesthetic risk to your pet.

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