ABBEY VET CENTRE

 

OUR SERVICES

 
 

Our dedicated in-house veterinary MRI scanner is now up and running. As a fully-integrated and permanently-staffed facility, the scanner forms a central part of our mission; to bring the highest standards of diagnostics and subsequent treatment options to the region.

This enables us to offer an advanced imaging service to patients and other veterinary practices in the East Midlands region. The scanner can safely and reliably investigate suitable cases quickly and efficiently, minimising any possible delay in treatment for your animal.


Indications for MRI

  1. • Head trauma

  2. • Suspected intra-cranial space-occupying lesion

  3. • Suspected raised intra-cranial pressure

  4. • Epilepsy

  5. • Inflammatory and congenital brain disease

  6. • Spinal disease

  7. • Chronic or unilateral nasal discharge

  8. • Middle/inner ear disease

  9. • Orbital disease

  10. • Screening for inherited neurological abnormalities

  11. • Orthopaedics (stifle/elbow/shoulder conditions)

  12. • Stress fractures

  13. • Renal/hepatic disease

  14. • Various soft tissue conditions such as prostatic cysts/neoplasia

Magnetic Resonance Imaging SCANNING

Ultrasound scanning can be used to diagnose many diseases in small animals. Ultrasound offers a non-invasive and non-painful method of investigating and diagnosing many conditions. It is the best method to evaluate the health of soft tissue organs. The typical examination requires no sedation and is easily performed on small animals. In some cases (for example, if the animal is uncomfortable or restless), a light sedation may be required. The only patient preparation needed is clipping of the hair overlying the area needed to be scanned (as the ultrasound is not able to pass through hair).


Ultrasound is useful in the following situations:

  1. • Evaluation of the heart and diagnosis of cardiac problems

  2. • Revealing the presence of infection in a specific area of the body

  3. • Determination of abnormal structures/ growth in a particular area

  4. • Diagnosing pregnancy and assessing stages of development

  5. • Examination of bladder and kidney disease

ULTRASOUND

We perform safe, effective radiography daily to diagnose both bone and soft tissue problems.


We regularly perform:-

  1. •Contrast radiography (barium studies) to assess the function of the gastrointestinal tract

  2. •Radiography for the BVA/Kennel Club Hip Dysplasia/Elbow Dysplasia schemes

RADIOGRAPHY

With the technology available in our in-house laboratory we offer clients same day health screening and diagnoses of a wide range of disease conditions:-

  1. • General Health Screening to check liver and kidney function; blood sugar levels; levels of total protein (albumin, globulin); cholesterol etc.

  2. • Haematology to look for anaemia and check the body’s response to infections

  3. • Electrolytes: the blood ion levels. These have to be correct for muscles to function effectively

  4. • Hormone assays: checking for an underactive/overactive thyroid gland; diagnosing Cushing’s disease; checking bile acid levels to treat liver conditions more effectively.

  5. • Urine screening: chemical testing, specific gravity, microscopy to look for the formation of bladder stones and crystals, infections, inflammations and tumours

  6. • Hair and skin microscopy: for the diagnosis of skin mite infections and ringworm


We also carry out blood testing to check the effectiveness of treatment for hormone problems (see above) and epilepsy. For animals with allergic skin disease and eczema which is not well controlled with medication we also test for the exact allergens involved and set up a programme of hyposensitisation to control the irritation more effectively.

MEDICAL HEALTH SCREENING

We have many years experience of fixation of fractures including epiphyseal and elbow fracture repair. We also perform surgery for knee problems, including Cruciate Ligament Repair, Meniscal Damage and Patellar Luxation.

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY