Medical & Surgical Services
A pet cannot have the best quality of life if they are experiencing oral pain or discomfort, and because dogs and cats do not keep their own mouths clean, it is incumbent upon us as their caretakers to be certain they have healthy, comfortable mouths. This is done primarily through preventive (semi-annual to annual examination, daily brushing, appropriate diet, etc.) and maintenance care (thorough, professional cleaning under general anesthesia, polishing and Oravet® application).
At times, antibiotic therapy and oral surgery are necessary to ensure dental and oral health. We are trained and ready to provide these services for our patients in need. We employ digital dental radiography and cutting-edge dental equipment to definitively diagnose an oral problem and minimize the time at anesthesia it takes to address the problem.
Many sick animals have an illness that can be treated with relative ease. Others have underlying diseases or a condition that requires a more aggressive approach to diagnosis and treatment. These diseases include, but are not limited to Chronic Kidney Disease, Pancreatitis, Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Heart Failure, Diabetes, Cushing's Disease, Addison's Disease, Immune Mediated diseases, and various degrees of liver disease, to name a few. Our team of doctors have experience with working up and diagnosing these and other diseases, and work collaboratively together to provide the best and most current treatments for our patients.
Blood Testing - A wide range of laboratory blood tests are performed at our clinic on a daily basis. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) counts red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets; a Serum Chemistry Profile evaluates liver enzymes, kidney values, electrolytes, glucose and proteins; and we have the ability to measure thyroid hormone levels and blood clotting times. We also perform many rapid diagnositic tests for diseases such as heartworm disease and tick-borne diseases for dogs, and Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus testing for cats in-house. Having these tools at our fingertips allows us to gather very useful information in a timely manner for your pet.
Obtaining prompt answers and results led us to expand our laboratory and add more advanced tests recently brought to market.
Urinalysis - This process is now automated, and we can get quick and thorough answers to give insight into various diseases of the urinary system.
Urine culture - Determining whether or not an animal has a genuine urinary tract infection or some other form of urinary disease provides us with the ability to meet specific needs, and avoid throwing medications at a suspected problem or set of symptoms. We pursue this in-house for timely results.
Fecal - Some of the most cutting edge technology is currently being employed in this area. Artificial Intelligence detects intestinal parasites. Further, the same piece of equipment also facilitates diagnostic tests in other areas, from blood smears to histopathology.
Tonomotry - Glaucoma and Uveitis are diseases that diminish quality of life for dogs and cats just like humans, and if your pet is showing any symptoms of eye disease, we have the tests and tools to determine the underlying cause.
ECG - This non-invasive tool allows us to examine the electrical activity of the heart. Electrocardiograms diagnose arrhythmias and aid in the diagnosis of other heart diseases.
Endoscopy - The use of an endoscope, a long, flexible, narrow tube with a camera at the end, allows us to look inside the body in a relatively non-invasive manner. We use a digital video endoscope, which projects the image on a high-definition monitor. Most commonly, endoscopy is used to inspect the throat, esophagus and stomach for obstructions, but it has other uses, as well. Biopsies can be obtained through an endoscope in the event that a gastrointestinal disease is suspected. The colon can also be visualized and biopsies can be obtained in the event of lower intestinal tract disease.
Radiography - Using X-rays, non-visible light rays, specific areas of the body are imaged. Radiographs are useful in examining bones, the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity. More in-depth radiographic procedures, such as barium studies and cystograms, can also performed. Dentistry is another area where radiography is utilized. Our relationship with VetRad, a group of board certified radiologists, gives us rapid feedback in our radiographic studies.
See our X-Rays and Ultrasounds Photo Set on Flickr
Ultrasound - A non-invasive and painless way examine your pet’s internal organs, we use ultrasound in conjunction with radiographs to gain insight into what's going on structurally within the body, particularly the heart and abdominal organs. Dr. Allie, in particular, is gifted with an ultrasound probe in his hand.
Surgery Services - While Dr. Jenn does not operate, the rest of our doctor team have nearly fifty combined years of surgical experience , ranging from spay/neuter to orthopedic surgery to soft-tissue surgery. Specifically Dr. Gates and Dr. Springer learned many of the more complicated procedures from the previous generation of veterinary general practitioners, and they've became very proficient. All surgery patients are examined and appropriately screened prior to surgery, and are thoroughly monitored during their surgical procedure. Further, all surgical procedures are performed at the clinic in well appointed surgical suites.
See our Surgery Photo Set on Flickr
Anesthesia - Any surgical procedure starts with appropriate and effective anesthesia and pain management. The best anesthetics with a wide margin of safety are used, and each patient is monitored throughout their entire anesthetic event by observing an electrocardiogram, pulse oximeter, body temperature and respiratory rate.
Laser - Laser surgery is an alternative to traditional surgery that has it's place as it reduces operative pain and bleeding and it reduces post-operative pain and swelling. Laser surgery is particularly beneficial for a declaw procedure. While cats declawed with a scalpel blade experience bleeding and at least several days of post-operative swelling and pain, cats declawed with a laser are walking comfortably within 24 hours. We don't have an agenda, and we're not out to change anybody's mind on the topic; we are interested in providing a good service for those clients who seek it, and a high-quality alternative to some of the lesser available options.
As life nears the end for our pets, the most loving decision we can make for our friends is to make sure they pass away without suffering. Good-byes are difficult. We at the Cuyahoga Falls Veterinary Clinic have experienced euthanasia with our own pets over the years. We will treat you and your pet with the dignity that you each deserve, and we will make the memorial arrangements necessary for you to have peace-of-mind.
We do not want our patients to be in pain... at all.
A comfortable pet heals faster and experiences less stress. We use a broad spectrum of safe, effective treatments for pain both for in-clinic use, such as post-operative pain, and for home use, as with chronic pain or arthritis.
