Posts
What is an Oral Prophylaxis?
At Westgate Pet Clinic we are very proud of the services we offer and our approach to oral health care is no different. There was a recent expose on ABC’s 20/20 regarding oral care in our pets and the veterinarian’s role in promoting such care. The point of the episode was that veterinarians tend to…
USDA Accredited Veterinarian Services
Westgate Pet Clinic employees several USDA accredited veterinarians. What exactly is an accredited veterinarian and what role do they play in animal health? Hundreds of thousands of animals move across our borders every year via exports and imports. How do we protect our food supply and prevent the introduction of unwanted diseases that may not…
Meet Dr. Google
As a veterinarian, every day I see sick patients that have already been diagnosed by Dr. Google with a myriad of conditions. Some appear reasonable; others, however, are way out in left field. There was a time when I would dread the words “So I saw on the internet that Fluffy could have [Fill in…
Managing Pain for Surgery Patients
Pain management is an integral part of any anesthetic or surgical plan for Westgate Pet Clinic patients undergoing invasive procedures. Studies have demonstrated the benefits relating to patient comfort and fewer post-operative complications with good pain control. Good pain control starts at the planning stages of the procedure. Each patient is thoroughly evaluated for what…
What is Polyuria – AKA Why is my Pet Drinking and Urinating So Much?
Increased water drinking and increased urination in dogs and cats is a common problem. Because every animal needs to maintain water balance, any increase in water intake would result in greater elimination of urine and likewise, any increase in urination would result in a water deficit (dehydration) prompting an increase in thirst and water consumption….
Tis the Season of Torn Toenails
Gotta love Minnesota in the winter. Massive temperature fluctuations, snow, ice, bonding with your neighbors over getting cars unstuck (I actually enjoy this one). We get to chip feces out of our yards to avoid a massive poop-melt in the spring, and try to convince our furry friends that eliminating outside is still a good…
Prophylactic Gastropexy in Dogs
One of the most serious medical conditions seen in dogs is GDV, gastric dilatation and volvulus, also known as bloat. The stomach is positioned forward in the abdomen and in most dogs is covered by the ribs. It normally processes food delivered from the esophagus through digestion and then moves the digested food into the…
Pain Management
Pain management in companion animals has changed greatly over the last 10 years. Pain in our pets is now thought to be similar to the pain that people feel instead of a previously perceived tolerance to pain. Managing pain in our pets is important for a variety of reasons. Pain not only impacts an animal\’s…
Leptospirosis: My Dog is vaccinated for it
Leptospirosis is a corkscrew shaped bacteria that can be infectious to your dog. It carries extra significance because if your dog becomes infected, it could give it to you. How can my dog become infected? Wild animals, or infected domestic animals, are the source of Leptospirosis and maintain its existence in nature. There are two…
Laparoscopic Ovariectomy
Laparoscopy has been common in human medicine and surgery for years, allowing for less invasive surgical and diagnostic procedures with a quicker and less painful recovery. Westgate Pet Clinic recently began performing laparoscopic ovariectomies, a less invasive alternative to the traditional ovariohysterectomy, or spay. With the traditional ovariohysterectomy, a single incision is made along the…
