Best Pet Medical Services in Vancouver

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:

• Yellow or brown buildup (tartar) on the teeth
• Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
• Bad breath
• Excessive drooling
• Changes in eating habits
• Pawing at the face
• Loose teeth
• Depression

Here at Beach Avenue Animal Hospital, we highly recommend keeping a close eye on your pets dental health, even if your pet doesn’t have these symptoms. A dental check up is recommended once a year. This frequent check up means we can help keep your pets breath as fresh as possible, and potentially prevent expensive oral surgery.

We also offer a regular ‘scale and polish’. This does require sedating your pet, as unfortunately, they are not good when it comes to sitting still in the dentist chair. The scale and polish will remove all tartar build up on the teeth, and help prevent tooth decay. Prevention is always better than cure!

Schedule your pet’s dental exam today! We can also recommend foods and treats that will help combat plaque and tartar buildup.

X-rays are a routine way to help identify the cause of a problem, rule out possible problems, and provide possible causes. X-rays can be used during emergencies or in a wellness exam to diagnose potential problems before they become serious.

X-rays provide information about:

• bones
• gastrointestinal tract (stomach, intestines, colon)
• respiratory tract (lungs)
• heart
• genitourinary system (bladder, prostate)

Interpretation of radiographs requires great skill on the part of the veterinarian.

We offer digital radiology (x-rays that are captured digitally rather than on film). This technology allows us to provide you with a quicker diagnosis for your pet. Plus, it uses less radiation than traditional x-rays.

Like any x-ray, your pet needs to be completely still while an x-ray is taken. In some cases, we may need to sedate your pet or use short-acting general anesthesia.

If you have any questions about what to expect during your pet’s procedure, please don’t hesitate to ask.

It is important to understand the risks that fleas, ticks and worms can cause your pet. We can help you understand the importance of making sure your pet is protected at all times from any of these parasites. We can provide you with safe and effective treatment for puppies, dogs, cats and kittens.

We work with brands that can only be purchased with a prescription. So you know you are getting the best protection. If you visit us once a year for your pet’s annual check-up, you can visit us whenever you like to purchase this medication. Feel free to bring in your furry friend to say ‘hi’ too!

Skin problems are common in dogs and cats. They can be caused by:

• Hormonal disorders
• Allergies
• Infections
• Parasites such as fleas and mites.

These issues should be addressed promptly.

At Beach Avenue Animal Hospital we diagnose a skin problem through a medical assessment. Some dermatologic diseases or conditions do require additional diagnostic procedures to ensure a correct diagnosis. 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.

This procedure allows a veterinarian to see inside a pet’s body and, when necessary, take biopsies without having to perform surgery. Endoscopy is commonly used to examine the inside of the:

• Ears
• Nose
• Esophagus
• Colon
• Bladder
• Stomach
• and other internal organs

Endoscopy can also be used to assist with minimally invasive surgeries and is valuable in retrieving swallowed items.

To perform this procedure, the veterinarian inserts a long tube with a camera at one end (endoscope) into the area to be examined. Incisions are sometimes required. It is worth noting that the incisions used for endoscopic procedures are smaller than those used in traditional surgery. This means a much less painful and quicker recovery for your pet.

Endoscopy does require that your pet be placed under anesthesia.

If you have any questions about our endoscopy service, please don’t hesitate to ask.

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 can extend your pet’s life. Did you know that 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.

It is highly important that we detect and treat glaucoma and problems relating to pressure in the eye as soon as possible. The quicker the treatment, the less vision your pet is likely to lose. We can test your pets eye for excess pressure using a tonometer. This is not painful and does not require sedation.

Glaucoma can cause permanent vision loss if not treated immediately (within hours to days). If your pet suffers an eye injury this test should also be performed.

Some breeds are more prone to developing glaucoma, so make sure you discuss this with your vet clinic and arrange regular measurements of eye pressure to prevent any irreversible problems.

Call us if you notice any of the following problems in either or both of your pet’s eyes:

• dilated (enlarged) pupils
• clouding of the cornea (the normally clear outer layer of the eye)
• red or bloodshot eyes
• one eye protruding or appearing larger than the other
• squinting
• tearing

Because glaucoma is painful, your pet may rub or paw at the eyes or rub their head against the objects more than normal.

Ultrasonography (also called ultrasound or sonography) is a noninvasive procedure that uses sound waves to examine the inside of the body. It can be used to evaluate the:

• Heart
• Kidneys
• Liver
• Gallbladder and bladder

Alongside detecting

• Fluid
• Cysts
• Tumors
• Abscesses
• Pregnancy

We may use this ultrasonography alongside radiography (x-rays) and other diagnostic methods to ensure a proper diagnosis.

The transducer emits ultrasonic sound waves, which are directed into the body toward the structures to be examined. The waves create echoes of varying degrees depending on the density of the tissue and amount of fluid present. Those waves create detailed images of the structures, which are shown on a monitor and recorded for evaluation.

Ultrasound does not involve radiation, and doesn’t typically require pets to be sedated. The hair in the area usually needs to be shaved so we can obtain a clear result.

It is important to identifying endocrine problems as early as possible. These serious and potentially life-threatening conditions are more manageable when caught early on.

The endocrine system is a group of tissues (mostly glands) that release hormones into the bloodstream. Hormones regulate:

• Metabolism
• Growth
• Development
• Reproduction

They are dispersed to different areas of the body, depending on the hormone’s function. When a hormonal balance is disturbed, an endocrine disorder can develop.

“Hyper” refers to an excess of hormone, and “hypo” refers to a deficiency in a hormone.

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 behaviour, energy levels, appetite, weight, water consumption, or urination.