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Physical
Examination
A physical examination
appointment consists of; recording the current weight
of your pet and the assessment of body condition, skin
and hair coat, abdomen, ears, eyes, urinary system,
rectum, nose and throat, lymph nodes, mouth, teeth and
gums, legs, paws and spine, heart and lungs as well as
the nervous system. A
discussion of your pet's recent physical, behavioural
and nutritional history reveals further insight. Evaluations and
recommendations are provided in written form for your
personal records.
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Preventive
Vaccination
Pets having been
assessed and determined to be in good health may
receive vaccination for potential contagious
disease. The vaccine required may vary depending
upon your pet's history, age and exposure.
Veterinary
Care - Life Stages
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Dental
Care
There are many factors
that affect the condition of your pet's teeth. We
can assist with individual patient dental care using
tools such as diet recommendation, oral care products,
teeth brushing demonstration and routine cleaning.
Should your pet
require a dental procedure involving anesthetic, a level
of treatment will be recommended based on
your pet's needs. Dental radiographs can be
performed at the time of the procedure.
See our Pet
Dental Care page for more.
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Medicine
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Comprehensive
medical services for general internal medicine
as well as dermatology, ophthalmology, oncology,
gastroenterology, urology and cardiology.
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Ultrasound
and Electrocardiogram: New leading-edge
ultrasound technology (Aloka Pro Sound SSD-3500 SV) is
conducted in-house for comprehensive cardiac and
abdominal studies.
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Diagnostic
cardiogram and blood pressure measurement
allowing, in combination with the ultrasound, complete
cardiology examination and testing.
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Holter
monitor available for monitoring the cardiac
rhythm over a 24 hour period.
The
Holter monitor, named after its creator Dr. Norman
Holter MD, records 24 hours of continuous heart
rhythm (EKG or ECG) and heart rate (HR), while the
dog goes about its normal daily activity in a home
environment. The Holter is found
to be a far superior test when compared to the
5-minute EKG, simply because of its 24-hour
recording time. Alba
Medical Holter Overview
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Complete
digital radiograph services.
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Our
laboratory capabilities include blood
chemistry, blood cell, urine, stool and cytology
analysis. We also have access to a variety of
external laboratories covering a broad spectrum of
diagnostic services.
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Fully
stocked pharmacy. Most medications are
on-hand and many are available to order via a
compounding pharmacy.
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Board-Certified
specialists are available for consultations and
services through our practice.
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Orthopedic
surgery: Dr. Trevor Bebchuk Great Plains
Veterinary Surgery
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Dentistry:
Dr. Colleen O'Morrow Northern Lights Animal
Dental Services
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Ophthalmology:
Dr. Bruce Grahn
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Dermatology:
Dr. Anthony Yu
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Behaviour:
Dr. Gary Landsberg
Board-Certified
Veterinary Referrals page
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Surgery
- A full range of
soft-tissue and orthopedic surgery.
- Spay and neuter in
dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits and rodents.
- The most up-to-date
and safest anesthetic agents, equipment, protocols and
monitoring.
Unless
otherwise instructed, owners are advised that pets must be
fasted prior to anesthesia. This means they should
not be fed meals/snacks after 8:00 pm the evening prior to
the procedure and water should be removed early (6:30 am)
on the morning of the procedure. A small morsel for
medication administration is acceptable if necessary.
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On
the morning of the procedure please give all
regular/current medications as directed unless
otherwise instructed.
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If
regular or recently prescribed medication is required
during the hospitalization period, please bring these
at the time of admission.
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If
a special diet is required during hospitalization,
please bring a small portion at the time of admission.
An estimate
will be provided for the recommended services but may be
subject to change in cases which may require additional
care.
On the day
of the scheduled procedure your pet will be admitted to
our hospital between 7:00 and 8:30 am. A blood
sample* will be collected for immediate analysis
(unless performed at an earlier date) and an intravenous
catheter* will be placed in your pet's foreleg to
administer fluid support while he or she is anesthetized.
The surgeon will then perform the necessary procedure
while your pet is monitored by our veterinary technicians.
Once the
procedure is complete, your pet then recovers from
anesthesia in a warm, comfortable area under constant
observation. Post-treatment care instructions
concerning your pet's individual needs will be provided.
Some will require an Elizabethan collar to prevent licking
or chewing the incision as well as prescription
medications including pain relief.
Patients are
released from our hospital when they are completely
recovered and able to physically and cognitively function
in a normal manner. Each pet responds differently to
the anesthetic process and hospitalization time may vary.
Most pets will be hospitalized until late afternoon or
early evening unless a longer period is deemed necessary.
Dog spays are hospitalized overnight for adequate recovery
time.
The need for
follow up visits is determined on a case-by-case basis as
it is dependent upon the treatment applied and your pet's
response.
*If
applicable. See
Preanesthetic
& Surgical Considerations
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Grooming
Birchwood Grooming has
been in operation since 1997. Cindy is a
Certified Groomer with many professional years
grooming all breeds of dogs and cats. Please see
our grooming
page for additional details.
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Special
Services
- Pet health insurance
plans
- Behaviour counseling
- Diet and nutrition
counseling
- House calls by prior
arrangement
 Services for northern
residents For
regions where veterinary service is difficult (or
impossible) to access we offer the following:
- Free email
consultations
- Prescription and
some vaccines by mail or through local pharmacy
for registered patients (Federal prescription
drug laws require that a valid
veterinarian-patient relationship be established).
- Transport to and
from Winnipeg airport can be arranged through a
local pet
transportation service with prior
arrangement.
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