Welcome to Sackville Animal Hospital

Services Available

With the exception of all the routine spays, neuters, annual vaccinations and wellness examinations we do, here is a list of the majority of other services offered at Sackville Animal Hospital. Feel free to browse around and learn more about what we do.
If there is anything you are interested in that you do not see listed here, please give us a call and we'll see how we can better accomodate you.

Blood Chemistry
Blood chemistry profiles evaluate the function of vital organ systems of the body. Specific organs can be evaluated including the liver, kidneys, and pancreas to ensure proper function or diagnose deviation from normal function.

Your pet's electrolyte balance is also evaluated to ensure proper balance of sodium, potassium, and chloride. An imbalance of these can be dangerous and even life threatening. Electrolyte analysis is important in cases of vomiting, diarrhea, and heart symptoms.

Hematology
A complete blood cell count, (CBC), provides detailed information about red and white blood cells as well as platelets.

The total white blood cell count along with individual leukocyte counts, can help to identify underlying stress, inflammation, an inability to combat infection, blood bourne parasites, and potentially leukemia.

Low platelet counts can indicate a potential bleeding problem. Surgical procedures may be delayed in the event that anemia, inflammation, or low platelets are detected due to the fact that these may lead to surgical complications.

Endoscopy
Endoscopy encompasses a number of procedures in which different internal bodily structures such as the stomach or intestinal tract are evaluated through the use of a fiber optic scope and camera. Typical areas of study via endoscopy include the esophagus and stomach, trachea, intestinal tract, colon, etc.

Using the endoscope gives us the ability to collect small samples of tissue from the areas being studied to be sent off for evaluation. All biopsies from our procedures are sent for histopathological evaluation by Histovet, one of the premier diagnostic services in Canada. Fortunately, the scope can also often times be used to retrieve foreign bodies as well, (you know,... those socks, rocks, toys, bags, etc. that your dog swallowed).

Endoscopic services are offered at Sackville Animal Hospital to our clients as well as clients of other hospitals on a referral basis. Our practicioners have advanced certificate training in endoscopic procedures from the University of Guelph and University of Georgia. Digital documentation is provided with every case for the client or referring veterinary hospital in the form of a CD Rom which can be viewed on any computer.

Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy involves the use of a small camera inserted into the abdomen of an animal in order to preform surgery without the need for a large invasive incision. A number of procedures can be preformed in this manner. Some of these procedures include spays, neuters, (in which the animal has one or more retained testicles), gastropexy, (the surgical fixation of the stomach wall to the interior abdomen in order to avoid gastric bloating), hernia repair and collection of biopsy samples for diagnosis of a range of disease processes.

Complete Urinalysis
Complete urinalysis is a diagnostic test that assesses the physical and chemical composition of urine. Abnormal results usually indicate a disorder affecting the kidneys and / or urinary system. A urinalysis can also provide clues about problems in other organ systems, or may indicate the presence of metabolic disease such as diabetes.

Urinalysis is essential for a complete assesment of the kidneys and urinary system, and should be included in any thorough evaluation of your pet's health status.

ECG (Electrocardiogram)
Heart murmurs are often detected in older animals during routine physical examinations even without thier showing cardiovascular symptoms .

With the additional help of an ECG reading, arrhythmias and heart enlargement can also be detected before they become physically problematic.

In felines hyperthyroidism can also cause cardiac enlargement.

All feline patients at Sackville Animal Hospital over the age of 7 are given a Vet Biolog ECG as part of their annual physical wellness examination.

ERD (Early Renal Detection)
The Early Renal Detection, (ERD), screen urine test allows us to detect kidney problems much sooner than routine blood chemistries. In blood chemistry analysis abnormal values are not detected until upwards of 75% of normal function has been lost.

The ERD allows us to detect problems at an earlier stage so that we are able to intervene before the disease has become too advanced, increasing success rates of treatments.

You can request that the test be preformed with any routine urinalysis or bring in a sample to have it run seperately.

Behavioural Counseling
Different stages of our pet's development present us with differing behavioural and training challenges. Whether it's house-training your new puppy, litter training your new kitten or solving house soiling or destructive tendencies, etc., we can help. Here at Sackville Animal Hospital our expert staff can help you navigate through the rough times with a large variety of informational resources at our fingertips.

Aging in pets has the potential to cause cognitive changes in the brain. Older pets sometimes seem confused or disoriented, sleep more and may lose house-training skills.

Radial Shockwave Therapy
Sackville Animal Hospital is now offering Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, (ESWT), as an additional option for animals suffering from arthritis, hip and elbow dysplasia, tendonitis, non-healing fractures, and other boney and ligamentous conditions.

High energy soundwaves are transmitted to the affected areas where they trigger an immune response to help the body heal itself. Natural anti-inflammatory mediators are also released which decrease the pain experienced by the animal. Improvement in quality of life and decreased pain levels are reported in over 85% of animals treated with ESWT.

For many pet owners surgery is not an option due to financial constraints or their pet's physical condition or age. We all hate to see our animals suffer, and we often watch our patients condition continue to deteriorate despite the great range of pain and anti-inflammatory medications we offer.

ESWT presents us with the opportunity to offer an additional and / or alternative means of treatment to assit in the alleviation of these painful conditions in our patients.

Osteoarthritis / Pain Management
Arthritis is a complex condition involving inflammation of one or more joints. There are many contributing factors and causes of arthritis in pets. In general, the degree of arthritic damage is directly related to the age of the animal.

Treatment for the disease varies depending on the cause.

Analgesics, (pain medications), such as NSAIDs, (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), are the most common treatments for osteoarthritis. Blood tests must be preformed prior to administering these medications to ensure they are safe for your animal and then periodically to ensure safety for continued use.

Alternative treatments such as dietary changes and Radial Shockwave Therapy are now available to compliment pain medications and ideally allow their gradual reduction.

Dental Health
Dental disease is common in older animals. Tartar build-up results in periodontal disease which irritates the gums, pushes the gums away from the roots of teeth and can harbour bacteria. Bacteria not only affects the teeth but can gain access to the blood stream through capillary blood vessels in the mouth and be carried to other organs in the body such as the kidneys, liver and heart causing detrimental effects.

Recent advances in veterinary medicine have proven that good dental care is perhaps the single most important thing that you can do to add years and quality to your pet's life.

Most pets require a dental cleaning every 1 to 3 years. This procedure requires an anesthetic that will be tailored to address your pets individual needs. there are also excellent diets and other products that can help to prevent plaque and tartar accumulation.

Radiographs
Radiographs are a simple, non-invasive procedure.

They can help to diagnose not only fractured bones but an array of other ailments as well including but not limited to osteoarthritis, masses in the chest or abdomen, and abnormalities in the heart or other organs.

Most animals can tolerate radiographic positioning without the use of sedatives, in certain cases they may however be necessary.

Ultrasonography
Ultrasonography is offered on-site on a limited basis at Sackville Animal Hospital.

Organs and soft tissue can be evaluated with great detail, this technology can also be utilized in the collection of biopsy samples for external laboratory analysis.

Basic evaluation of specific organs can be preformed right here at the hospital.

Eye Exams
Changes in vision and ocular anatomy can begain as early as 7 to 8 years of age. You may notice a greyish appearance to the lens. These changes may be normal with age but can also be due to disease elsewhere in the body.

There are a wide variety of ailments that can affect the eyes. These can range from a simple discharge producing infection to more serious complications such as corneal ulcers, conjunctivitis, glaucoma, etc.

The 'tonometer', (the device shown on the right), is an instrument used to measure the pressure inside the eye.

Blood Pressure Monitoring
Blood pressure monitoring becomes an important tool in cases of animals with kidney disease and heart disease, (as well as hyperthyroidism in felines). Hypertension is generally a secondary condition to these problems and is in itself a serious disease. If not attended to and corrected it can cause damage to the eyes and to the brain.

The underlying disease process causing the hypertension must be addressed and corrected in order to avoid serious complications and before serious damages are incurred.

Thyroid Testing
The thyroid gland is sort of like the body's 'thermostat' in that it regulates the metabolic rate of the entire body. Thyroid disease is more common in geriatric animals.

In felines the most common thyroid related disease is 'hyperthyroidism' which develops when excessive amounts of thyroid hormone are produced. This deviation from normal function results in a marked increase of the metabolic rate and puts a strain on the heart and other organs. Typical signs of hyperthyroidism in the cat include unexplained weight loss, increased appetite, restlessness, increased drinking / urination, or vomiting and / or diarrhea.

The most common thyroid disorder in canines is 'hypothyroidism' is which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Your dog's thyroid should be tested if he / she exhibits unexplained weight gain, lack of energy, recurring skin or ear infections, hair loss on the body or tail, or if high cholesterol is detected in the blood.

Nutritional Counseling
Nutritional counseling is an important part of what we do here at Sackville Animal Hospital.

The nutritional needs of our pets vary greatly at different stages of thier lives. The nutritioal requirements of young animals differ vastly from those of senior pets or those with specific ailments.

Older animals tend to gain weight more easily due to decreased exercise and other factors. This increase in weight can lead to a number of detremental issues including but not exclusive to diabetes as well as joint, heart, and lung problems in both the dog and cat.

Our competent and friendly staff will be able to recommend a diet suited to your pets individual needs.