Our Animal Hospital
We are very proud of our animal hospital and our role in keeping your pets healthy and happy. Many people are surprised to learn we offer many services and maintain a modern operating theater, a complete animal dentistry unit, digital radiography, ultrasound, complete in hospital laboratory as well as access to outside lab and pathology services. In the coming months we invite you to take a virtual tour of our hospital online here at our facilities page. We will be highlighting some of our hospital and staff and some of the equipment and services we utilize everyday.
Outpatient services
The Sardis Animal Hospital offers complete outpatient services for your pet. For every health need, we have the answer. Whether it be an ear problem, upset stomach, fleas or a sore leg, our doctors and staff are trained and dedicated to help you find the answers you seek and get your pet back on the road to recovery.
Annual wellness examinations and vaccinations are performed routinely. Many dogs and cats have minor health issues that can be found on a routine thorough physical examination. When corrected early minor problems will not result in major grief. If more information is needed then in house diagnostics such as laboratory anaylsis of urine, blood and feces can be performed as well as a access to a full range of diagnostic imaging equipment. The majority of health and illness issues when addressed early result in a happy outcome for you and your pet.
Over the counter services and advise on parasite control such fleas and worms is readily available. We carry a full line of prescriptions diets and nutritional aids for animals with specific dietary needs or health conditions that prevent the consumption of regular dog foods.
Records
Medical records are the basis for continuity in health care. Each pet has his own file consisting of medical and surgical history, doctors' notes, laboratory test results, drugs dispensed etc. Computers are used extensively to retrieve files and to generate reminders for vaccinations and other important preventative health care measures. At the Sardis Animal Hospital we have been keeping computerized medical records for 25 years. In June of 2006 we started the conversion to totally computerized (paperless) medical records. With the advent and addition of digital radiography, ultrasonography and electronic lab report filing we have complete access to a patient's entire medical record at our finger tips. Another advantage of computerized records is the ease of record transfer for a specialist referral or from another animal hospital should you wish records transferred to us.
Lab Services
When laboratory testing is required for your pet, we have a well-equipped on-site laboratory, staffed by college trained technologists. Our laboratory is capable of performing most blood chemistries, electrolytes, hematology, urinalysis, bacteriology, heartworm and other parasite testing. We have an ECG available for cardiac evaluation. These facilities allow us to provide rapid on-site diagnostics for emergencies at any time of the day or night.
Access to other veterinary laboratories for numerous special diagnostic tests is also readily available with twice daily courier sample pick up and electronic result reporting.
Surgery
The Sardis Animal Hospital has a dedicated and purpose-built surgical suite. The doctors provide a combined experience of over 75 years in the O.R. and have faced just about every procedure encountered in companion animal practice. Anesthesia and monitoring devices are state of the art and a registered animal health technologist never leaves the patients side from induction of anesthesia to recovery.
The surgical suite is maintained to the rigourous standards so the American Animal Hospital Association which are very similar to the standards you will find in a human O.R. The surgical suite is used only for surgery and animals and personnel are gowned or draped in previously sterilized materials to maintain the cleanest of environments in which to do surgery. This attention to detail results in very low use of post operative antibiotics and very low numbers of post operative complications.
As pet owners ourselves we know the stress and anxiety felt by you when you leave your beloved pet for surgery. We do our utmost to ensure as short a stay as possible and provide the comfort and care your dog or cat deserves.
Dentistry
It was not many years ago that the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) started actively promoting dental procedures for our pets. As veterinarians, we routinely saw the medical consequences of poor dental health, but our initial enthusiasm was met with some skepticism on the part of pet owners. Today, pet owners in Canada rank dental problems among their top pet health concerns!
Pets require regular dental health checkups and cleanings just as we do. Studies reveal that: 60 to 85 percent of all pets presented to veterinarians are found to have problems that need addressing. These problems range form plaque and tartar accumulation to cavities, abscessed and broken teeth. Without proper and routine dental care, pets may develop periodontal disease (gum disease) that may cause them to loose some or all of their teeth. Some bacteria found in the mouth of pets suffering from periodontal disease can be traced to the liver, kidney or heart resulting in complications in these vital organs. Forty percent of cats requiring dental care have painful enamel lesions below the gum line. If early tartar formation is arrested and prevented - and if proper prophylactic teeth cleaning and home care is maintained - your pet will enjoy a healthier and happier life.
Imaging
Recent upgrades to equipment at the Sardis Animal Hospital allows for the acquisition of a digital radiograph (X-ray) machine as well as a state of the art ultrasound machine. The addition of this diagnostic equipment brings high quality imaging to our hospital that previously was only available at specialty practices. The digital imaging integrates well with our medical record system and allows quick and seamless trasfer of images to referral specialists or online consultants if necessary.
Imaging has always been an important tool in our trade. The advent of digital technology allows almost immediate results. Older machines using film and tank development would require as long at 10 to 15 minutes wait between pictures instead of 'seconds'. Digital imaging also allows us to manipulate the image for clarity and eliminates the need for multiple exposures. That saves us and your pet from excess radiation.
The digital radiograph at the left shows multiple puppies in a near term pregnancy
Education
One of the most important commitments to ourselves and to our clients is staying current in veterinary skills and knowledge. Like many professions, veterinary medicine has changed dramatically in recent years. It seems that almost daily we are hearing of a new diagnostic test, or surgical technique that has been developed. We are proud to maintain an extensive library of text books, journals both current and bound as well as memberships to an extensive online database and veterinary resource centers. We regularly attend local, regional and national continuing education conferences and seminars. The advent of the world wide web has literally brought lectures and learning opportunities to our door.
As companion animal medicine evolves into an increasingly specialized field we will continue to stay abreast of new developments and utilize the tools and techniques necessary to keep our patients in their best possible health.
Grounds
The Sardis Animal maintains a large landscaped "backyard" for the sole purpose of having a secure area to exercise pets. The yard is completely fenced and gated with locks. Patients are never left unattended but there is peace of mind knowing that if a collar or leash fails or a frightened pet slips their collar, it cannot run away and is contained in a safe area away from traffic and other hazards.
Another benefit of this secure area is that it allows a place to observe behaviour with other dogs, or to do a thorough lameness or neurological gait analysis. These are things that often can only be done when a dog is allowed to run or trot for distances that are not possible inside a veterinary hospital.
When not in use for clinical exams or exercising patients, our staff enjoys the greenspace on a sunny summer day to read a book, eat lunch or spend time with their own pets (Bringing your dog to work is a definite perk when working at a veterinary hospital).
Isolation
The Sardis Animal Hospital maintains a separate kennel area in our hospital ward for animals with infectious or contagious disease. It is uncommon in most veterinary facilities to dedicate floor space for this purpose but we feel it is necessary for the following reasons:
- It is important for the safety of other pets in the hospital, and in some cases, the safety of the people who work here.
- The Isolation room has full kennel facilities on separate ventilation and drainage/waste disposal.
- In many cases the animals placed in the isolation/quarantine ward are the sickest and benefit from the quiet of their own room.
- Receive one on one attention from doctors and staff while in their hosptal cage.
- All the tools, equipment and medications in this room are dedicated to this room and do not mix with those used for other pets.
- The room is windowed for easy viewing and is located near an entrance door not shared by healthy pets to prevent spread of disease.