Our veterinary specialists, all of whom are board-certified, work together to collaborate and advise each other through a systemic approach to pet care. The specialty team includes certified practitioners in the following areas:

Acupuncture

This Eastern medicine technique has many applications to contemporary veterinary medicine. It can be extremely effective in relieving emotional and physical suffering in pets. WRVS has a certified veterinary acupuncturist on staff. Treatments include an assessment, physical exam and medical history review. Along with the acupuncture treatment, instruction is provided in basic exercises and pet massage, optimal nutrition, herbs, supplements and additional medical management as needed. Acupuncture is applicable in cases of arthritis, chronic pain, lameness or awkward gait, disc disease, seizures, chronic sinusitis, chronic constipation or diarrhea, bladder infections, hip dysplasia, cancer pain, tendonitis and muscle strains and sprains.

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Animal Rehabilitation

Animal rehabilitation, a form of physical therapy, has been used extensively for many years. It has been proven to work in human medicine but continues to gain momentum in veterinary medicine, including small animal and equine practices. Over the last decade, the use of rehabilitation in veterinary medicine has grown by applying the same techniques from human medicine. The techniques have been adapted for animals, including dogs and cats, and plans of care are sometimes based on evidence-based studies in people.

The goal of a rehabilitation program is to develop, maintain and restore ideal physical function and fitness while relieving pain. Rehabilitation may be incorporated into your pet’s treatment to help reduce weight, aid your pet in regaining mobility after surgery or to improve mobility and/or reduce pain due to various diseases, such as osteoarthritis. Some techniques may be performed in our facility, such as aquatic therapy, but many can be taught to you for completing in the comfort of your home.

Our facility incorporates a variety of methods for pet rehabilitation and a care plan may include:

· Cryo, or cold, therapy

· Passive range of motion exercises and stretching

· Active exercises, such as cavaletti rails, “dancing”, sit-to-stand and pole weaving

· Using stairs and steps

· Leash walking

· Treadmills (ground and underwater)

· Massage

· Heat therapy

· Aquatic therapy

· Therapeutic ultrasound

· Electrical stimulation

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Cardiology

Cardiologists are specialists in diseases of the heart, lungs and circulatory system for small and large animals. Our board-certified specialists at WRVS will evaluate your pet for heart and lung conditions and treat as necessary with our state-of-the-art equipment and diagnostic tools. As with people, we use electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and Doppler ultrasound to detect concerns and apply our specialized training for determining a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Signs of cardiac concerns include:

· Difficulty breathing

· Lack of interest in exercise or play

· Fainting

· Swelling of the legs

· Bloated belly

· Persistent cough

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Dermatology

Conditions affecting the skin are a common problem with pets but that doesn’t mean they should be taken lightly. Sometimes skin conditions signal a deeper rooted problem, such as fungal, bacterial, viral or immune-mediated diseases, nutritional problems or systemic conditions, such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism. Fleas, ticks and other parasites also cause skin irritations that, left untreated, can lead to intense pain and discomfort for pets. Our team of dermatology specialists also focus on pets that have skin cancer, chronic or recurrent ear infections, such as yeast infections, and diseases of the foot and footpads.

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Internal Medicine

Our board-certified internists are trained to diagnose and treat diseases of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, hepatic, pancreatic, urogenital, endocrine, cardiac, neurologic and hematologic systems.

Specialized diagnostic procedures include:

· Bronchoscopy

· Rhinoscopy

· Laryngoscopy

· Gastrointestinal endoscopy

· Laparoscopy

· Thoracoscopy

· Cystoscopy

· Bone marrow aspirates

· Joint and spinal taps

· Chest and abdominal ultrasound

· Ultrasound guided biopsies

· Blood gas and blood pressure monitoring

· Echo and electrocardiographyAdvanced therapeutic modalities include:

· Enteral nutritional support

· Total parenteral nutritional support

· PEG tube placement

· Chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer

· Respiratory and ventilatory therapy

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Oncology

A medical oncologist specializes in the most current methods to diagnosis and treat cancer while striving to preserve an excellent quality of life for the patient. The diagnostic process involves tests to identify the type of cancer as well as “staging” to determine whether or not the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Some of the diagnostic techniques that we use in the process may use include digital radiography, ultrasound, CT and MRI scans, tissue biopsies and cytologic examinations. The specific tests chosen will have the goal of gaining the maximal amount of information in the least invasive manner.

At WRAH, we will work with you, the pet owner, to make informed decisions every step of the way. This is during the initial diagnostic phase and also when it is time to make treatment choices that are appropriate for you and your pet. Treatment options may include one or more of the following; surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy. Each treatment recommendation is carefully tailored to the specific diagnosis and the individual patient so as to gain maximum benefit while maintaining comfort for your pet.

It is important to know that even in cases where the prognosis for a particular disease may not be favorable, palliative treatment options can be discussed which may help improve patient comfort and quality of life.

Some common signs of cancer in pets are:

· Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow

· Non-healing sores

· Weight loss despite adequate food intake

Common cancers diagnosed in dogs and cats include:

· Lymphoma

· Osteosarcoma

· Mast cell tumor

· Mammary tumors

· Bladder tumors

· Melanoma

· Hemangiosarcoma

· Soft tissue sarcomas

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Radiology

Diagnosis of many dog and cat medical problems may be augmented by using advanced imaging technology. WRVS has a team of full time board-certified veterinary radiologists that enable us to expertly use conventional and digital radiography as well as expand into the areas of ultrasound and CT scanning. Examples of specialized radiology techniques used to aid in the diagnosis of your pet's problem include:

· myelography

· cystography

· arthrography

· excretory urography

· intestinal barium studies

· chest & abdominal ultrasound

· echocardiography

· Helical Spiral CT scanner

Our radiologists use our on-site Helical Spiral CT scanner to evaluate entire body cavities as well as smaller specific areas including the brain, nose, ears, spine and individual joints. Digital radiography allows us to send digital images to referring veterinarians for easy reference and collaboration. We also have access to an off-site magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) center for advanced diagnostic capabilities.

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Respiratory

As with people, respiratory problems have become more common in pets. These types of conditions affect the nose, throat, trachea and/or lungs and may be combined with diseases that affect the heart and circulatory system. Causes of respiratory problems can be environmental, obesity, infections, parasites, cancer or trauma. Some common conditions associated with respiratory problems include:

· heartworms

· asthma

· obesity

· lower or upper respiratory infection

· obstruction of the windpipe due to swallowing an object

· allergies

· kennel cough

· canine distemper

· bronchitis

If your pet is experiencing any of the following signs, bring your pet in for an examination.

· trouble breathing, even with mild exertion

· excessive or prolonged sneezing, wheezing, coughing or gagging

· short of breath and it is mosquito season

· panting excessively

· weight gain

· nose is dry, crusty or bleeding

· pet’s tongue or gums are blue or pale

· discharge from the nose, mouth or eyes lasting longer than two days

· rapid breathing

· shallow breaths

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Surgery

WRVS features an experienced and dedicated surgical team; from the board-certified surgeons to the certified technicians and surgical assistants. Working in state-of-the-art surgical facilities, we address most conditions requiring surgical care, including:

· General orthopedics, such as tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO),
  total hip replacement, fracture repair, and sports medicine

· General soft tissue surgery such as abdominal, thoracic, cardiovascular, reproductive and urinary procedures

· Oncologic surgery, including removal of tumors

· Plastic, reconstructive surgery and advanced wound care

· General neurologic surgery, including spine fractures and disc ruptures

Whenever possible, minimally invasive techniques such as arthroscopic joint surgery and laparoscopic procedures are used. The WRVS team is recognized nationally in the realm of orthopedic surgery for its treatment of animal pediatric injuries and growth deformities through distraction osteogenesis and the use of circular (Ilizarov) fixation devices.

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