Speciality Services
Specialized Equipment
The use of high quality equipment is imperative in ensuring patient care.
Many of the diagnostic machines used in our practice are those same pieces
of equipment found in your local hospital or human medicine specialist. This
equipment allows us to achieve the optimum diagnostic database for your pet.
An example of this equipment includes EKLIN radiology unit, Karl Storz Endoscopy,
Viasys EMG unit and Phillips Ultrasound. The quality of this equipment surpasses
that offered by comparable veterinary equipment.
EKLIN radiology has revolutionized our approach to radiography.
The detail of the images is unsurpassed to hard copy films. The ease at which
the images are obtained and the ability to manipulate the images has changed
how many of the cases are managed. The images are also reviewed by a board
certified radiologist via the Internet, which allows for complete medical review
of the images. Further therapeutic suggestions are also made based on their
interpretation. Another feature of digital radiology is t he ease in supplying
owners and referring veterinarians copies of the images. This can be done by
CD or through email.
Some owners may be reluctant to treat some surgical conditions for fear that
they must have “open” surgery. The use of the Karl Storz endoscope
equipment allows us to perform many procedures or diagnostics through minimally
invasive means.
Diagnostic endoscopies include bronchoscopy, gastroscopy, endoscopy, cystoscopy
and colonoscopy. These procedures can obtain fluid or tissue samples without
incisions and with minimal pain to the patient. Some of the conditions that
can be diagnosed with these procedures include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD),
transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, bleeding ulcers and chronic bronchitis
or asthma.
More advanced scoping procedure utilized for surgical correction include arthroscopy
of the joints (elbow, stifle or hock) for OCD lesions, transabdominal cystoscopy
for stone removal, laparoscopic gastropexy in large breed dogs to prevent GDV
(Bloat) and thoracotomy to correct pericardial problems.
A newer procedure preformed primarily in University setting is treatment of
female dogs with urinary incontinence. Through the use of cystoscopy (scoping
the urethra and bladder) a collagen implant is help to alleviate this condition
that could only be corrected through medications.
The VIASYS Electrodiagnostic machine is a top of the line unit found in many
human neurology practices. Electrophysiologic evaluation is important in the
diagnostic workup for animals with peripheral nerve, muscle and neuromuscular
junction disease. The use of this machine can aid in the diagnosis of diseases
such as brachial plexus injury, diabetic neuropathy, Cushing’s myopathy, myotonia
congenita, myasthenia gravis and botulism.
The electrodiagnostic machine is
also utilized to perform auditory studies (BAER testing) to evaluate for congenital
and aquired hearing loss.
The
Philips Ultrasound Unit (model type) is one of a handful of units found in
private veterinary practice, The quality of the study offered as well as the
precision of the unit has enhanced the practice of ultrasonagraphy at our facility.
The
unit is sensitive enough to be able to correctly diagnose Porto systemic shunts
that could only be found through surgery. Also, the ability to diagnose and
treat parathyroid tumors has altered the way in which these cases are managed.
This unit is unsurpassed as far as quality and precision in the ultrasound
field.
Advanced cross-sectional imaging is performed with a
GE 1.5 Tesla MRI unit
and a GE helical Discovery PET/CT scanner. Cross-sectional imaging provides
a detailed method to evaluate the brain, spinal cord, lungs, abdomen, bones
and joints. These superior imaging modalities are non-invasive, not painful
to the patient and allow for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
