Health Maintenance Services

Internal Medicine

To best protect your pet's health and overall well-being, the skilled staff of Veterinary Medical Center offers a broad range of veterinary services. While our focus is on disease prevention and wellness care, you can also rely on our skilled and compassionate medical team when your pet is sick. To that end, an important part of our practice is the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of diseases that can affect your pet's internal organs and body systems.

Our skilled veterinarians, supported by advanced diagnostic technology, have considerable expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of complex internal medicine cases such as kidney, heart, respiratory, immune-mediated and endocrine diseases.

Allergies and Skin Problems
in Dogs and Cats

Allergies are quite common in dogs of all breeds and backgrounds. They're typically due to fleas, but can also be the result of food or an inhaled allergen like dust or pollen. Most allergies appear after the pet is six months of age, with the majority of affected dogs over age two. The most common symptom associated with allergies is either localized or generalized itching of the skin. Other symptoms include respiratory distress (coughing, sneezing, and wheezing) or digestive problems causing vomiting, flatulence or diarrhea.

Flea allergy is the most common allergy in cats. A normal cat experiences only minor skin irritation at the site of the bite. The flea-allergic cat, on the other hand, has a severe, itch-producing reaction when the flea's saliva is deposited in the skin. Just one bite from a flea can cause such intense itching that the cat may severely scratch or chew itself, leading to hair loss and open sores or scabs on the skin. The area most commonly involved is over the rump or base of the tail.

It is important to identify the first signs and symptoms of allergies and dermatological conditions. These include:

Scratching, licking, chewing or biting the skin, feet and ears. Red, raised, scaly areas on the skin Bumps, crusts or pus filled vesicles on the skin Increased skin pigmentation

Thickened skin Loss of hair Salivary staining (brown color) Head shaking

If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, please make an appointment to have him or her seen by one of our veterinarians at Veterinary Medical Center. We will evaluate your pet, determine the most effective method of treatment, and explain how you can prevent future problems. If left untreated, allergic reactions and skin conditions can become serious medical concerns.

Glaucoma Prevention

Glaucoma is a common condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eye increases, resulting in damage to the optic nerve, followed by loss of vision and blindness. There are two types of glaucoma. Primary, or chronic, glaucoma is hereditary or develops as your pet ages. Secondary, or acute, glaucoma develops as the result of an injury or illness. Because secondary glaucoma can progress rapidly, it is considered an emergency situation.

Symptoms of glaucoma to look for include:

The medical team at Veterinary Medical Center recommends your pet receive a routine glaucoma exam as part of his or her regular wellness care. The exam is not only an effective screening measure for chronic and acute glaucoma, it can also help set a baseline measurement of your pet's normal intraocular pressure (IOP). Establishing an IOP baseline is important because the normal measurement can vary between species, breeds, and even individual pets.

This is a noninvasive, simple procedure that should not cause your pet any pain or discomfort. We apply a mild anesthetic eye-drop to ensure your pet is comfortable during the exam.

Your Pet's Nutrition

Proper nutrition and a balanced diet, along with fresh, clean water, is an essential ingredient for your pet's overall good health. As your pet's caregiver, nutrition is the most significant health variable you control.

Feeding your pet the highest-quality food you can afford is one of the best ways you can contribute to his or her health and vitality. Though the differences between premium and budget varieties may not be apparent on their nutrition labels, they are in the quality of the ingredients. Both may contain the same amount of protein but be very different in digestibility and nutritional value. Making the best nutritional choices for your dog or cat not only effects general health, but will also improve the quality and length of your pet's life.

To support your efforts, the doctors at Veterinary Medical Center perform a thorough body condition evaluation during every physical examination, and give recommendations based on what we see. We can also provide you with important information on proper serving size, nutrient needs, and feeding strategies for your individual pet. We will also help you navigate pet food claims so you can make the most informed choices.

Prescription Diets

Some pets have serious nutritional challenges or chronic conditions that benefit from a special diet. When that is the case, we may recommend feeding a special prescription diet. Making this change can have a significant positive impact on your pet's overall health and well-being.

Prescription diets benefit medical conditions such as liver disease, bladder and kidney disease, digestive problems, renal failure, food allergies, diabetes, and more. Veterinary Medical Center carries a diverse inventory of prescription foods and high-quality nutritional products, including those made by Hills, Waltham, and Purina. If your pet requires a prescription diet we do not carry, we can easily order it for you.

Reproductive Medicine

Whether you are an experienced breeder or you are breeding your pet for the first time, the team at Veterinary Medical Center can help during all phases of the breeding process, from initial planning and consultation all the way through birth and post-natal nursing and management of associated diseases and complications.

We provide the following reproductive medical services for your pet:

As a part of Veterinary Medical Center's comprehensive reproductive services, our veterinarians also treat other problems that affect your pet's reproductive organs, such as vaginitis, prostate disorders, and mammary disorders.

Telemedicine

For certain complex medical cases, including cardiac issues, Veterinary Medical Center utilizes Telemedicine. Telemedicine is the provision of health care by phone or computer. With telemedicine, we can offer you and your pet access to even more comprehensive medical care by connecting with doctors and specialists who can lend their expertise in the research, diagnosis, and treatment of specific cases.