Medical Services

We know the issue of pain management is of great concern to pet owners today. As in human medicine, we have a variety of medications available to manage your pet’s pain both before and after surgery and in the event of trauma. We would be pleased to discuss the options available to you and your pet under any of the above circumstances.

Oral health is a big deal! Just like us, pets require preventative dental care to maintain a healthy mouth and healthy body. Can you imagine if you never brushed your teeth, and how your mouth would feel? For many pets, this is a painful reality, and dental disease is a common issue. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have dental disease by the age of 3. Dental (or periodontal) disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in pets.

Common signs of dental disease include:

• Tartar build-up on the teeth (this appears yellow or brown is colour)
• Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
• Bad breath
• Excessive drooling
• Changes in eating or chewing habits
• Pawing at the face
• Loose teeth
• Depression

Oral health is linked to the entire body; Bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and cause serious infections in organs if left untreated. As part of your pet’s annual health exam our veterinarians always assess your pet’s oral health. There are a variety of options available for preventing dental disease, and we are here to help you find the best method for your pet. From dental chews, treats and toys, to water additives and regular brushing routines we have your pets mouth covered!

Dentistry Services

At Breadner Veterinary Services we have a private dental suite. We care about your pet’s oral health and strive to assist you in maintaining it. We offer a full service dentistry experience. Radiographs are completed with a new dental x-ray machine that is canine and feline specific.

Our dentistry suite is equipped with our dental cart that has a high speed drill, ultrasonic scaler and polisher. This cart along with a variety of instruments, assists us in cleaning, polishing and extracting teeth when necessary. Animals require a general anesthetic to safely clean, polish and extract teeth. Oral health problems lie where we can’t see, under the gum line. Animals feel no pain or discomfort during the cleaning or extraction process with the aid of local blocks and injectable medications.

We strive to provide excellent oral health for your pet. Breadner Vet Services offers a complimentary Dental Exam with our Animal Health Technicians. Call today to book for your pet!

Laboratory

We are able to perform a number of in-hospital laboratory tests as well as utilize different diagnostic labs across the country. There are a great range of lab services we offer from: urinalysis, histopathology, cultures to routine blood work-ups. Laboratory testing is a vital part of diagnosing and monitoring varying disease processes as well as ruling out any diseases.

Radiology (X-rays)

Radiology is an important diagnostic tool used here at Breadner Veterinary Services. It allows the Veterinarians to examine the size and placement of the heart, the lung lobes, abdominal organs as well as the bones and vertebrae of the body. Using radiology we are also able to perform contrast studies. Contrast studies are most useful when locating a foreign body in the intestines, but are also used to determine the size and position of the esophagus, as well as bladder abnormalities. X-rays are not only an important diagnostic tool for dogs and cats but also for the different exotic animals and pocket pets we see.

A flea problem on your pet means a flea problem in your home. Understanding the flea life cycle and methods for its control can be a daunting task. We will gladly assist you in this process. We can provide you with safe, effective flea prevention and if necessary, flea treatment. See the flea article in the Pet Health Library of our site.

Skin problems are common in dogs and cats and can be caused by hormonal disorders, allergies, infections, or parasites such as fleas and mites. These issues can be particularly difficult to treat and should be addressed promptly.

We can often diagnose a skin problem by simply examining your pet. Some dermatologic diseases or conditions do require additional diagnostic procedures to ensure a correct diagnosis. Depending on your pet’s symptoms and the results of our physical exam, we may run blood work or perform a urinalysis, skin scraping, or biopsies.

Contact us if you notice your dog or cat scratching excessively or if he or she develops any bare patches, scabs, scaling, redness, inflammation, lumps, or bumps.

Although heart problems are found more often in older pets, these conditions can affect pets at any age. Heart disease is usually a life-threatening condition, but early diagnosis and appropriate therapy can extend your pet’s life. If caught soon enough, some forms of heart disease can be cured.

Heart disease can lead to congestive heart failure (CHF), which occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood effectively. If an animal is suffering from CHF, fluid usually accumulates in and around the lungs and sometimes in the abdomen. Congenital heart disease (animals born with a heart problem), valvular heart disease (abnormalities of the heart valves), arrhythmias (rhythm disturbances), and heartworm disease can all lead to CHF.

Call us if your pet starts breathing rapidly or coughing, loses his or her appetite, tires easily, seems weak, or has trouble exercising. We can discover many heart problems during a physical exam. Additional tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), radiographs (x-rays), and ultrasounds, are usually needed to accurately identify the cause of the heart disease or failure.

The Tono-Pen is an electronic tonometer which measures the intraocular pressure of the eye. Intraocular pressure increases when animals have Glaucoma or can increase when there has been trauma to the head. Certain dog breeds are predisposed to Glaucoma, so if Glaucoma is diagnosed early, there is less of a chance of retinal and optical disc damage. Here at Breadner Veterinary Services, we utilize this fast and efficient tool to screen predisposed breeds for glaucoma, monitor patients with existing glaucoma, and test trauma cases. We accept referrals from other veterinary offices if your pet needs ongoing Tono-Pen readings.

Identifying endocrine problems as early as possible is important in dogs and cats. These serious, potentially life-threatening conditions are much more manageable when caught early, allowing us to begin proper treatment.

The endocrine system is made up of a group of tissues (mostly glands) that release hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones regulate metabolism, growth, development, and reproduction and are dispersed to different areas of the body, depending on the hormone’s function. When a hormonal balance is disturbed (by a tumor or autoimmune disease, for instance), an endocrine disorder can develop. “Hyper” refers to an excess of hormone, and “hypo” refers to a deficiency in a hormone. Treatment varies depending on the disease.

There are several common endocrine disorders found in dogs and cats:

• Diabetes mellitus is caused by a deficiency in or resistance to the hormone insulin.
• Hypothyroidism, which is often diagnosed in dogs, indicates that the animal has low levels of thyroid hormone.
• Hyperthyroidism, which frequently affects cats, indicates that the animal has high levels of thyroid hormones.
• Addison’s disease (hypoadrenocorticism) and Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism) can also affect both species, although Cushing’s disease is rare in cats.

Contact us if your pet begins panting excessively, develops any skin issues (such as hair loss or dull coat), or shows any changes in behavior, energy levels, appetite, weight, water consumption, or urination.

To ensure a proper diagnosis, we often need to examine your pet. We begin a medical assessment by looking at your pet’s eyes, ears, and skin and checking his or her cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, and skeletal systems for any abnormalities. We will perform blood and/or urine tests as necessary to check your pet’s kidneys, liver, pancreas, and endocrine system, including the thyroid and adrenal glands. Based on your pet’s condition, we may recommend further diagnostic tests, such as radiography (x-rays), endoscopy (internal scoping), ultrasound, or biopsy.

If you’re concerned that something may be wrong with your pet, please call us to schedule a medical assessment. Depending on the symptoms, we may ask you to bring in your pet right away.