Skin problems are one of the most common reasons why owners seek veterinary care for their pets. There are many different causes of skin disease, from external parasites to allergies to hormonal imbalances. Fleas, mites, food and pollen allergies, genetic disorders, thyroid and adrenal gland problems are just some of the underlying causes of skin disease in dogs and cats.

dRSometimes diagnostic tools and laboratory tests must be performed at Bridge Veterinary Hospital to help determine the underlying cause of a skin disease. If necessary, our doctors can recommend microscopic examinations, fungal cultures, biopsies, allergy or other blood tests for a rapid diagnosis and proper treatment.

Some skin problems are easily resolved and others can be very frustrating to manage. We are here to work with you and your pet to ensure its best care and comfort. Our groomer can even apply special dips and medicated shampoos under the doctors’ supervision if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself.

Besides prescription drugs, our hospital pharmacy carries many types of shampoos, conditioners, cleansers, and supplements to maintain your pet’s healthy coat.

Our hospital is proud to offer state-of-the-art digital radiology services. Digital x-rays are essentially film-less x-rays. Traditional x-rays use photographic film to capture images whereas digital x-rays use a digital image capture device (computer) to record the x-ray image.

There are many advantages to digital x-rays including a shorter time to take the x-ray, lack of chemicals needed to process an x-ray and less radiation exposure to your pet and veterinarian. These x-rays can also be digitally enhanced for best visualization of a problem. Digital x-rays can easily be copied to disk, magnified or sent to a specialist for evaluation at the press of a button.

We are proud to be able to provide sophisticated ultrasound services for our clients’ pets.

Ultrasound is particularly effective at looking inside solid or fluid filled structures such as those in the abdomen and the heart. These are areas where radiography (x-ray), the traditional imaging mode, is limited in many ways. For example, radiography produces a shadow of the outline of the liver and its relative size. But ultrasound shows additional details of the various blood vessels and ducts within the liver, gives clues as to the organ’s texture, and even demonstrates tumors and other diseases within the organ.

Ultrasound is much less effective imaging bone or lung. Fortunately these are the very areas in which radiographic images excel. Having access to both radiography and ultrasound gives our veterinarians the ability to image almost all body areas accurately.

EKG

Our hospital routinely performs electrocardiograms as part of our cardiology services. An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a readout of the electrical activity of the heart. If your veterinarian hears a heart rhythm abnormality (called an arrhythmia) in your pet’s heart beat, they will recommend an ECG. Several clips (called leads) are placed onto your pet’s skin at various body points in order to accurately record the information your veterinarian requires. This readout allows your veterinarian to accurately determine the cause and appropriate treatment for the arrhythmia.

Although the ECG procedure requires that your pet hold very still for a few minutes to obtain the electrical data, it generally does not require sedation.

Although the eyes are examined during routine wellness exams, sometimes, when problems develop, a more in-depth examination is necessary. When the doctor needs to perform this more detailed exam, he or she will often use a device called a tonopen. Through a processed called tonometry, the doctor is able to calculate and measure the intraocular pressure of the eye. This measurement is gathered by assessing the fluids within the eye. An imbalance in the production and drainage of the fluids however, can lead to ocular problems.

Signs your pet may need to have their eyes examined can include:

  • Red or irritated-looking eyes
  • When a pet has suffered head or orbital trauma
  • When monitoring drug therapy for glaucoma

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