The PAWS Veterinary Center team is highly skilled and experienced in performing a wide variety of pet surgeries using modern techniques, cutting edge equipment and always adhering to the strictest standards of safety and care. You can feel confident that when it comes to surgery, your loved one will be in excellent hands with our team!

Sometimes, hospitalization may be required to treat and monitor certain patients. PAWS Veterinary Center is fully-equipped for both monitoring and hospitalization. When more serious illnesses arise, we’re prepared to care for your companion around the clock. With state-of-the-art equipment and a skilled, compassionate team, you can trust that your loved one is well-cared for with us.

Digital Radiography – PAWS Veterinary Center is equipped with the latest in imaging technology to provide our patients with accurate and speedy diagnosis and treatment for a variety of medical issues. With the advances in digital X-ray technology, we can now manipulate the digital images that we take off a pet’s systems. This has allowed us to detect hairline fractures and orthopedic conditions that were previously not visible. Because the X-rays are digital, we can also almost immediately share the images with specialists who consult with us on difficult cases. Digital X-rays are routinely used to diagnose and examine broken bones, obstructions, arthritis, masses, and tumors.

Ultrasound – Ultrasonography is a type of diagnostic technique that uses ultrasound waves to produce an imaging study. This means that when we perform ultrasonography, we can see internal images of the patient’s body. Ultrasonography is a completely non-invasive, painless way to diagnose and evaluate many common diseases. Ultrasounds also allow us to look at the architecture of internal organs and examine location, size, shape, texture and blood supply.

Endoscopy – Endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that lets us look inside an organ or body cavity for diagnostic purposes. This diagnostic procedure is minimally invasive, meaning there are no large incisions made. We use a long, flexible instrument with a camera on the end to allow our team to look inside the body.

Our patients here at PAWS Veterinary Center enjoy having three doctors on staff offering acupuncture as a treatment modality for various conditions and not just for our rehabilitation patients! This complementary modality is a safe, non-invasive, and successful way to treat pain as well as many other illnesses and conditions such as those listed below. We use Acupuncture as a sole treatment or in conjunction with traditional medicine. This helps us to treat a large variety of illnesses or conditions your pet may have.

Veterinary medical acupuncture is science-based and is the application of very slender, sterile needles to specific points on the body near nerves and vessels leading to improved comfort and function of specific muscles, organs and nerves through neuromodulation and enhancing blood flow.

Acupuncture is an important component of many of our rehabilitation patients’ treatment plans for injuries such as:

• Orthopedic injury including arthritis in joints, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, knee injury, shoulder pain, tendonitis and much more.
• Neurologic disease including neck and/or back pain, unsteady walking, and limb weakness.
• Soft tissue injury including muscular spasm, knots or pain.
• Fecal and/or urinary incontinence.
• Post-operative recovery for pain management (decrease oral medications needed).
• Limb swelling or edema.
• Local pain and anti-inflammation.

We can also target many other disease processes through acupuncture and improve comfort and recovery such as:

• Gastrointestinal disease causing nausea, decreased appetite, diarrhea, and constipation.
• Emotional anxiety/stress.
• Rhinitis/sinusitis.
• Reproductive problems.
• Eye illnesses including glaucoma, dry eye, and others.
• Kidney and/or liver disease.
• Seizures.
• Cancer.
• Auto-immune diseases.

Acupuncture is well tolerated by nearly all patients, and once they realize that they are more relaxed and comfortable afterwards patients begin to get excited to come in for more treatments!

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cell Therapy (SCT)

Why?

Platelet-rich plasma and Stem Cell Therapy are forms of regenerative medicine that aid in tissue healing and are becoming increasingly popular in the veterinary field as a minimally invasive option. There are numerous applications for PRP/SCT and your pet, most notably with orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis, soft tissue injuries such as sprains and strains, and even wound healing. PRP/SCT mediates healing by stimulating and supplying growth factors and other bioactive compounds in the body.

How does it work?

A blood sample is drawn from your pet and using a specialized centrifuge the sample is processed to yield a fluid concentrate of primarily platelets and growth factors while minimizing red and white blood cells that can cause pain and inflammation. The fluid compound is injected directly into joint spaces as well as soft tissue and wounds. Therapy is often performed as a series ranging from 1-3 injections per site with 2 weeks between injections, and approximately 50% of dogs do not require more than one injection for significant improvement. Recent studies have shown combining PRP and stem cells may be beneficial as the stem cells are recruited and activated by PRP.

What’s next?

For the 8-12 weeks following PRP/SCT therapy, a dedicated rehabilitation program is recommended. Our rehabilitation department at PAWS will oversee your pet’s recovery with a certified canine rehabilitation doctor as well as our certified canine rehabilitation technician.

An estimated 59% of cats and 54% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. Good nutrition and weight management are key to your pet’s overall health. These healthy habits are created at a young age for your pet and it’s up to you to help them maintain these habits. Through a good diet and proper exercise, you greatly increase your pet’s chance at a long, healthy life.

A 2014 study found that an estimated 52.7% of US dogs are overweight or obese, and an estimated 57.9% of US cats are overweight or obese. These pets are at risk for joint pain and arthritis as well as other medical conditions such as diabetes.

For pets struggling with losing weight, the Rehabilitation Department at PAWS can create a weight loss program including appropriate nutrition while dieting, underwater treadmill exercise, and a home exercise program to help achieve weight loss goals.

The underwater treadmill is instrumental in facilitating weight loss through cardio while simultaneously alleviating pressure on the joints and spine thus allowing exercise safely and confidently for our companions. Additionally, the dedicated physical therapy staff at PAWS excels at challenging our canine athletes through individualized strengthening and core conditioning programs to help athletes perform at their peak.