DIAGNOSTICS AVAILABLE AT SUNBURY ANIMAL HOSPITAL
ALLERGY TESTING
Allergy testing is a procedure used to determine what factors are contributing to a specific allergic response. Allergy testing may be used to confirm a tentative diagnosis of skin disease but more importantly to help identify the offending allergens, usually when a skin condition becomes chronic and does not respond to antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine and topical treatments.
Risks - The allergy test we currently employ is a blood test. The blood is sent to an outside laboratory for testing. This can be done for environmental and/or food allergies. The risk with blood testing is minimal.
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Boarding and Grooming
Give yourself peace of mind and know that your beloved pet is receiving the care they should while you are away. What better place to board your pet than at a veterinary hospital, especially if they are on a regiment of medications. Our doctors and technicians are there to tend to their wellbeing, as well as a wonderful kennel staff that walks your dog outside several times a day and tends to their daily needs. Our facility is equipped with heating and air conditioning, outdoor runs (weather permitting), and a separate room for the kitties and exotic species.
Boarding Cost Per Day:
Cats $9.50
Dogs:
Up to 20 lbs---$10.50
21-50 lbs-------$12.00
51 + lbs--------$13.00
Boarding Drop-off and pick-up times:
Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Sundays and Holidays 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Grooming:
We offer grooming Monday-Friday for both dogs and cats and early morning drop off.
Our groomers are trained to perform basic examination of your pet while they are being groomed. In doing this basic examination our groomers can alert our veterinarian at the first signs of a problem. Nail triming is included with clips, but is a separate charge when you pet is getting just a bath. Anal glands are not included with grooming, but can be done per owners request at an additonal fee. Ear cleaning is included whn you bring your pet in for a bath.
Are you tired of all the hair your pet has been leaving behind? Ask about our de-shedding program. The de-shedding bath helps to minimize the amount of hair your pet sheds by loosening the undercoat. Using a specially made comb, our groomers can remove the loose hair and make your faithful companion feel like a new dog or cat.
Drop off time for grooming is 8:00 am. Please call us for an appointment and pricing, between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm, and ask for the grooming department.
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BIOPSY
Biopsy is the process of removing tissue for diagnostic examination. Biopsies are used when a more detailed diagnosis is required, for example, when a mass is removed and it is deemed necessary to decide if the mass is cancerous or not. Biopsies are also used to find underlying conditions such as chronic skin disorders.
Risks - The risk is based on the type of biopsy required. At the least, biopsies require sedation and local anesthesia. Depending on the location, size and duration of the problem, many biopsies require more extensive surgical intervention and general anesthesia. All of the inherent risks of anesthesia and surgery apply. Once obtained, the tissue samples are sent to an outside laboratory for a pathologist to review.
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BLOOD TESTING
Blood testing is the analysis of blood and blood products including serum and plasma.
Blood testing is used to identify certain underlying conditions, such as diabetes, systemic infections, metabolic disorders, and to determine the function of many major organs. Blood testing is routinely performed to diagnose Lyme, Heartworm, Feline Leukemia and FIV infection as well as monitor response to hormone or Phenobarbital therapy, or monitor liver and kidney function when certain long-term medications are required. The risks associated with blood testing are minimal. Most testing is available at the Sunbury Animal Hospital , however, some tests, such as Phenobarbital or KBr levels are sent out.
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ECG
ECG stands for electrocardiogram, which is a non-invasive technique to monitor cardiac function. Probes are placed on various parts of the body which record electric impulses that pass through the body. These recordings allow the clinician to interpret certain conditions of the heart. The ECG is a useful tool in evaluating heart disease associated with arrhythmias. ECG is also used during surgery here at Sunbury Animal Hospital to monitor the patient's pain, stress and anesthetic depth.
Some other important indications for performing an ECG are:
- Monitoring heart rate (tachycardia, bradycardia, and arrhythmias)
- Difficulty breathing (dyspnea) or cyanosis (lack of oxygen)
- Fainting or seizures
- Enlarged heart profile as seen with a radiograph (x-ray)
- Preoperatively in animals at increased risk for surgery
- Evaluating the effect of cardiac drugs
- Various metabolic diseases that change electrolyte balances.
- Minor risk involvement. Available at Sunbury Animal Hospital .
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ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
This is an ultrasound of the heart and is a diagnostic tool used to evaluate heart disease and response to treatments. It is used to diagnose heart disease and to aid in choosing the appropriate medications for specific conditions. It is recommended for all dogs with evidence of heart disease and in those breeds known to be at higher risk of developing heart disease such as Dobermans, Cocker Spaniels, Great Danes, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Maine Coon cats to name a few.
There is minimal risk to the patient, general anesthesia is not needed.
Testing is available at the Sunbury Animal Hospital . Some patients may require referral for color doppler studies or further work-up by a cardiologist.
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ENDOSCOPY
An endoscope is a long semi-flexible tube which contains fiber optics and light instruments used for the examination of the respiratory and gastro-intestinal system.
The tube is placed either down the throat, into the esophagus or into the trachea. Some tubes are designed to be used rectally. The endoscope can be used to find foreign bodies, tumors, ulcers, irritations, etc. which can not be seen with radiographs and do not initially warrant surgical intervention.This procedure requires general anesthesia and has the same risks of all anesthesia. Recommendations would be to use reasonable caution and have a thorough examination prior to the procedure and also bloodwork and other laboratory diagnostics as deemed necessary. Endoscopy is available at Sunbury Animal Hospital .
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EXPLORATORY SURGERY
Sometimes it is necessary to surgically explore certain areas of the body, in order to rule out disease problems, cancers, and certain metabolic abnormalities. It is used when other methods of diagnosis can not give specific answers to ongoing problems.
This is a procedure that requires general anesthesia, and has all of the inherent risks involved with general anesthesia. One of the misconceptions with this procedure is that the surgery will give a diagnosis. This is not always true. A number of exploratory surgeries yield no significant findings, this in itself is useful in that it has ruled out certain conditions which could not be determined otherwise. Surgeries are routinely performed at the Sunbury Animal Hospital . Some surgeries due to nature, location or risk may be referred to a specialist.
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MICROBIOLOGY
This procedure is used to grow bacterial and fungal organisms for identification and to determine which antibiotics would be most effective in treatment. A sample of blood, discharges, ear debris, urine or milk is obtained and spread on special growth media, incubated for 24 hours and then evaluated under a microscope.
Milk cultures are performed at Sunbury Animal Hospital to aid in treatment and identification of bacterial pathogens.
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RADIOLOGY
Radiology (also called x-ray) is a non-invasive procedure used to examine interior structures of the body. This is accomplished by passing x-rays through the body and recording this passage on a screen (x-ray film). The patient is placed on a specialized table and positioned so that the x-rays will pass through the area under question.
Radiographs are taken for various reasons including, but not limited to: fractured bones, foreign bodies, suspected tumors, lung disease, heart disease, bladder and kidney stones.
Radiation is highly monitored, by special badges and also machinery is monitored and calibrated by specialists. The risk to the patient is minimal, however, sometimes it is necessary to use sedation or anesthesia, depending on the reason for the radiograph. General anesthesia is required for OFA x-rays.
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ULTRASOUND
Focused sound waves at very high frequencies are passed through the body for the purpose of determining the location, size and type of tissues in question.
The patient is placed on a table, the area of interest is shaved and a special gel is applied. An ultrasound probe is placed on the area and images are transferred to a computer screen. Ultrasound is used as an aid identifying tumors, diagnosing pregnancy, monitoring kidney and liver disease, and is routinely used to identify small bladders for the purpose of collecting urine by cystocentesis.
Risks to the patient are minimal, neither general anesthesia nor sedation are required and not recommended. Ultrasound is available at Sunbury Animal Hospital by appointment.
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