Sick patient care

Emergency care

What happens during a sick patient exam?

During a sick patient exam, your pet will be examined by one of our vets, who will be discussing with you their history. Depending on the type and severity of the problem, you might be recommended additional tests such as blood tests, x-rays and ultrasounds, among others.

Once the diagnosis is made, the vet will provide treatment to get your pet back on his paws as quickly as possible. If needed, further recommendations or therapy will be provided in order to avoid the reoccurrence of the issue.

The options and costs will always be discussed with you prior to any test or treatment, and we will always make sure that you feel comfortable and fully aware of the plan.

A pet experiencing an emergency will always take priority. We will always try to offer same-day appointments and to see your pet as soon as possible as a matter of emergency. We appreciate your collaboration if you might need to wait for one of our vets to be free.

If the emergency happens outside opening hours, our out of hours provider is:

Sick patient care

Diagnostic tests

Most Common blood tests

Blood tests are the key to picking up early-stage diseases or ensuring that your pet's therapy is working well and at the correct dosage. This becomes even more important in elderly patients.

Complete Blood Count: A Complete Blood Count can detect infections, anaemia, dehydration, blood disorders and the immune system response.

Biochemistry: Blood Chemistries show if any enzymes, electrolytes, minerals and hormone levels are too low or too high, often indicating a problem in the way organs are functioning. Bloodwork is also essential to determine whether your pet is healthy enough and ready to undergo anaesthesia.

Thyroid function: measurement is a valuable screening test for diagnosing hypothyroidism in dogs. It is also an economical way of following therapeutic levels of the administered medication once a condition of Hypothyroidism or Hyperthyroidism has been made.

Phenobarbital: Phenobarbital is an anti-epileptic drug and, like other anti-epileptic drugs, it is usually taken every day (sometimes several times a day) for your pet's lifetime. Phenobarbital can potentially accumulate in the body and reach a toxic level. The level of this drug should be regularly checked via a blood test.

An Ultrasound scan is a non-invasive exam which allows the vet to evaluate internal body organs, their shape and structure. It can detect the presence of abnormal fluids, tumours, organ trauma, or organ malfunction. An ultrasound scan does not generally require general anaesthesia or sedation, making it a safe and quick test to identify these severe medical conditions, help determine the next steps, and give your pet a better chance.

X-rays

X-Ray (or radiography) is a diagnostic procedure which allows detection of pathology of the skeletal system as well as for detecting some disease processes in soft tissue. Your pet may or may not require sedation for an x-ray; this depends on the area being x-rayed, and whether your pet is able to lay still.

Common example are:

Chest X-ray: can be used to identify heart or lung diseases

Abdominal X-ray: are often used to diagnose intestinal obstruction or bladder stones among other diseases.

Orthopaedic: This is an invaluable tool in orthopaedic diseases, for their diagnosis or to ensure that adequate treatment has been provided and it has proven successful.

Dental radiography: is commonly used in the diagnoses of common oral problems, such as cavities, fractures, incomplete dental root removal.

Contrast X-rays: this is a specific type of x-ray where a contrast agent is used to highlight specific structure such as blood vessels, gastro-intestinal tract, urinary system, extradural space; a very important tool to diagnose or rule out a wide range of diseases.

The radiologist or surgeon then compares the image obtained to normal anatomical images to determine whether there is any damage or blockage of the vessel.

Emergency care

What happens during a sick patient exam?

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During a sick patient exam, your pet will be examined by one of our vets, who will be discussing with you their history. Depending on the type and severity of the problem, you might be recommended additional tests such as blood tests, x-rays and ultrasounds, among others.

Once the diagnosis is made, the vet will provide treatment to get your pet back on his paws as quickly as possible. If needed, further recommendations or therapy will be provided in order to avoid the reoccurrence of the issue.

The options and costs will always be discussed with you prior to any test or treatment, and we will always make sure that you feel comfortable and fully aware of the plan.

A pet experiencing an emergency will always take priority. We will always try to offer same-day appointments and to see your pet as soon as possible as a matter of emergency. We appreciate your collaboration if you might need to wait for one of our vets to be free.

If the emergency happens outside opening hours, our out of hours provider is:

Sick patient care