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BLOOD

                Why do we recommend pre-anesthetic blood testing?  It is the best level of care we can offer to help assure your pet is healthy enough to risk an anesthetic procedure.  That’s right, anytime a human or animal is anesthetized there are risks associated with even the safest agents (which we use). Remember an anesthetic agent is simply a controlled poison in the body. The blood tests and other clinical laboratory procedures give us a peek at what is happening with the internal organs.  You can’t see this with a physical examination alone.  The following are the blood tests we routinely recommend for screening your pet: 

GENERAL HEALTH SCREEN

A look at the white and red cell counts, the platelets (for clotting) and the hemoglobin (for oxygen).  Also a chemistry screen that looks at the internal organs. 

GERIATRIC HEALTH SCREEN

The same as the General Health Screen plus a screening thyroid check and cholesterol evaluation. 

FELINE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SCREEN

The same as a Geriatric Health Screen plus Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Test. 

FLUID THERAPY

Why fluid therapy?  This is to support your pet during and after surgery to help prevent dehydration, shock and to detoxify the body quicker by eliminating the waste products formed by the anesthetic agents and stress associated with the surgery.  If I.V. fluids are used there is an open vein available if emergency treatments are needed during the procedure. 

ECG (Electro Cardiogram)

Why an Electrocardiogram?  Your pet’s heart functions through a complicated electronic system.  That electronic system can be evaluated in advance of the procedure to help assure there are no obvious abnormalities called arrhythmias that can sometimes create fatal situations during anesthesia. 

VITAMIN THERAPY

Why vitamin therapy?  Vitamin support by I.V., subcutaneous and/or intramuscular injection can help detoxify the body and speed recovery after the surgery is finished.  Vitamins act as antioxidants to protect the body from toxic substances.  They can be helpful in preventing organ failures due to the stress from surgery and anesthesia.  It has been shown in humans that patients who take vitamins prior to surgery and anesthesia recover quicker and heal with fewer complications. 

FECAL EXAMINATION

Why do a fecal exam?  This test helps to identify parasites in the intestinal tract that can be harmful to your pet.  There are specific treatments that can rid your pet of, or at least reduce the number of, organisms present. 

URINALYSIS

Why do a urinalysis?  This test tells us about the urinary tract from the kidneys down.  It also gives us information on other internal organs like the liver and blood.  This information is crucial to an assessment of the internal health of your pet prior to an anesthetic procedure. 

PAIN CONTROL

This is very important in reducing stress in surgical patients during and after a surgical procedure.  This can be can be via drugs injected, oral or by the latest in technology, photon therapy.  This is a form of light therapy that reduces pain after a procedure.  Ask us about information on this exciting technology. 

HERBAL MEDICINE FOR DETOXIFICATION

This is a very healthy way of assisting the body in ridding itself of toxins created by drugs, trauma and the stress of surgery.  This can speed healing; therefore reduce the pain associated with postoperative recovery.  Ask us about this kind of support. 

These are a few of the ways that we continue to show you that truly “your pet’s best health is our concern.”