Preventative WellnessDr. Russell believes preventative care is appropriate for all of our furry friends. We will vaccinate your pet based on their environment and lifestyle so there is not a "set" vaccine protocol. The Veterinary community has done a good job of staving off several diseases that we vaccinate against which allows us to spread out some of our vaccinations to three years. In the best interest of your pet we like to see them twice a year. We follow the guidelines set forth by the Human Center for Disease Control when it comes to doing a fecal (check for intestinal parasite) every 6 months as well as a Comprehensive Physical Exam and in some cases blood work to check for any smoldering diseases that we can treat before they become a problem. We test for heartworms yearly and encourage you to give your pet heartworm preventative monthly throughout the year.
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Dentistry A healthy mouth is an important part of your pet's overall well-being. Studies have shown that 85% of adult pets have periodontal disease. We take Dental Care very seriously. We offer state of the art Dentistry including Full mouth Dental Radiographs, Ultrasonic-scaling as well as Sub-Gingival hand scaling. We also have a high speed drill which makes extractions easier and complete. When you look at your dog or cat's teeth you only see 1/4 of the tooth, the rest is under the gum line which is why the Radiographs and Sub-Gingival hand scaling is so important. With the Radiographs, we see the entire tooth and the bone surrounding the it. This can save you another anesthetic procedure if we see some bone loss around a tooth and can extract it before your pet is uncomfortable and showing symptoms. The Radiographs can also identify root resorption, root abscess, oral tumors and jaw fractures. If extractions are neccessary, your pet will receive a nerve block just as you would at your Dentist's office. After the procedure we will send you home with some reading material and some preventative dental care products. There are several products that help with preventative care and we want you to choose which one fits you and your pets needs and one they enjoy. If your pet had extractions or it was a complicated procedure we will likely see them 2 weeks post dental. At this time we can take a look at the teeth and gums and check any sutures that are left. We want to discuss the different preventative care at that time and which one fits into your and your pets daily routine.
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Laser SurgeryWe are one of the few clinics in the area to offer a Surgical Laser for our Procedures. The laser offers many benefits to your pet. The highly concentrated beam of the laser can be precisely controlled. It removes or cuts only a thin layer of tissue at a time, leaving the surrounding areas unaffected resulting in minimal amounts of tissue damage. Other benefits of the laser are that it seals nerve endings as it cuts resulting in less pain post-operatively, less bleeding as it seals small blood vessels and does not crush, tear, or bruise tissue because there is no physical contact. There is a reduced risk of infection as it sterilizes while removing diseased tissue, killing bacteria that can cause infection. Most importantly...our patients heal quickly and there is less post-operative discomfort.
AMCWTP strongly recommends sterilizing (spay or neuter) your pet for these reasons: 1. It reduces the risk of serious diseases such as infection and certain types of cancer associated with intact males and females. 2. It helps reduce behavioral problems such as aggression, inappropriate urination and roaming. 3. It reduces the number of countless unwanted animals in our local and national shelters and communities. |
Digital RadiographsRadiographs are one of the most important diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine. X-rays are useful for examining your pet's bones, lungs, heart, abdomen, oral cavity and other areas of the body. They are also extremely helpful for diagnosing and monitoring many medical and surgical conditions. An x-ray can detect a fractured bone, tumor, or heart problem and can locate an obstruction or foreign body in your pet's stomach or intestine.
Because we believe that pets deserve the best possible care, we have invested in a state-of-the-art, high-quality digital veterinary x-ray machine. With digital radiographs, the we are able to diagnose a very wide range of medical conditions with more speed and accuracy than compared to x-rays taken with a standard x-ray machine. We can quickly take highly detailed x-rays, manipulate them to gain a better view of your pet's bones and internal organs, and then display them on a computer for you to see. The Advantages of Digital Radiology
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Therapeutic Laser TreatmentWe are one of the few Animal Hospitals that offer Therapeutic Laser treatments.The K*Laser, or "photobiomodulation", is the use of specific wavelengths of light (red and near-infraread) to create therapeutic effects. These effects can reduce joint pain, muscle sprains, puncture wounds, post-traumatic injuries, neck and back pain, hip dysplasia, chronic wounds, post-operative pain and many other troublesome problems. We take pain management very seriously and are limited to what we are able to give cats. The laser has proven to our best resource for relieving pain in cats. The Laser has been widely utilized in Europe in humans by Physical Therapists as far back as the 1970's and in 2002 was FDA approved in humans in the United States. It has also been used in competitive horses, Thoroughbreds, Event Horses, Endurance and most show horses and now approved for companion animals. We have been impressed at the outcome with our patients and have been successful with long term progress.
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UltrasoundAnimal Medical Clinic @ West Town Place offers ultrasound services, including ultrasonography of the abdomen and limited cardiac screenings. Some diagnoses of certain dog and cat health conditions need the use of a veterinary ultrasound machine, as it allows visualization of organs in three dimensions. Veterinary ultrasound is a painless, non-invasive and safe tool allowing visualization of tissues not otherwise possible. It produces an image through high frequency sound waves aimed at a certain area of the body. As the sound waves travel into the body they return images of the internal organs. Since ultrasounds return results in real time, the veterinarian can see how the organs are moving and how blood is flowing through the dog or cat at the time of the procedure.
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AIS PennHIPThe PennHIP method is a proven way to assess, measure and interpret hip joint laxity. It consists of three separate radiographs: the distraction view, the compression view and the hip-extended view. The distraction view and compression view are used to obtain accurate and precise measurements of joint laxity and congruity. The hip-extended view is used to obtain supplementary information regarding the existence of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip joint. (The hip-extended view is the conventional radiographic view used to evaluate the integrity of the canine hip joint.) The PennHIP technique is more accurate than the current standard, and it has been shown to be a better predictor for the onset of OA.
The radiographs pictured here are of the same dog, yet the hip joint laxties in each view look very different. Notice that the hips in the distraction view appear to be much looser than they do in the hip-extended view. The obvious contrast in joint laxity between the distraction and hip-extended views demonstrates the fundamental difference between the two radiographs. The looser the joint on the distraction view, the greater is the chance that the hip will develop OA. The hip-extended view tends to mask true hip joint laxity because the joint capsule is wound up into a tightened orientation when the hips are extended. This explains why measurable joint laxity on the distraction view is always greater than the measurable laxity from the hip-extended view. In fact, distraction laxity is up to 11 times greater depending on the breed of dog under study. |
LaboratoryWe offer a well-equipped, in-house diagnostic laboratory including hematology, serum chemistries, cytology (cell studies), bacteriology and parasitology.
We encourage preventative blood work for patients from 1-6 years old that includes: Heartworm, Intestinal Parasites and Intestinel problems, Diabetes, Early stage Kidney and Liver Disease, Infection or Inflammation, Anemia or Leukemia. Patients 7 years and older are tested for Decreased Kidney Function, Urinary Disorder, Liver Disease, Intestinal Parasites and Disorders, Liver and Pancreatic Inflammation, Jaundice, Parathyroid Disorder, Adrenal Disease, Muscle Injury, Diabetes, Hypothyroidism in Dogs and Hyperthyroidism in Cats, Inflammation, Anemia or Leukemia. Most of these tests can be run in-house, although in some cases we use a IDEXX Veterinary Laboratory for more complicated Diagnostics , Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Cultures as well as Biopsy results. They offer Board Certified Veterinarians that specialize in Pathology and provide us with diagnosis and treatment options. Our in-house Lab results can be done usually within an hour, sending the bloodwork out to the Lab usually about 24 hours. Biopsy results and cultures can take 5-7 work days. |
Laser Ear CroppingEar Cropping is the surgical removal of part of the ear. Ear Cropping puppies to meet breed standards is a cosmetic procedure.
This operation is performed under general anesthesia when the puppy is 8-12 weeks of age. The puppy must have a pre-surgical examination with the veterinarian prior to the surgical appointment. Also the puppy must be current on vaccinations prior to surgery. The ear cropping procedure is done via laser surgery. The laser can replace the scalpel and provide less pain, less bleeding, and less swelling for the patient. Although laser procedures reduce the trauma to your pet, a primary concern is whether your pet will experience pain during and after surgery. Pain medications are given at the time of surgery and all puppies are sent home on medication. |
NutritionNutrition is considered a vital component of your pet's medical care, when paired with yearly checkups, vaccinations, and routine bloodwork, a feeding plan creates a well balanced medical plan for your dog or cat.
Dr. Russell recommend feeding a high quality pet food that has been life-staged to meet your growing, adult, or senior pet's nutrition needs. We recommend Hills Science Diet as commmercial pet foods that provide balanced nutrition and a variety of flavors to choose from. |
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