Speciality Services
Specialized Equipment
PBVS uses high quality equipment, imperative in ensuring patient care. Many of the diagnostic machines used in our practice are those same pieces of equipment found in your local hospital or human medicine specialist.
This equipment allows us to achieve the optimum diagnostic database for your pet. An example of this equipment includes EKLIN radiology unit, Karl Storz Endoscopy, Viasys EMG unit and Phillips Ultrasound. The quality of this equipment surpasses that offered by comparable veterinary equipment.
EKLIN radiology has revolutionized our approach to radiography. The detail of the images is unsurpassed to hard copy films. The ease at which the images are obtained and the ability to manipulate the images has changed how many of the cases are managed. The images are also reviewed by a board certified radiologist via the Internet, which allows for complete medical review of the images. Further therapeutic suggestions are also made based on their interpretation. Another feature of digital radiology is t he ease in supplying owners and referring veterinarians copies of the images. This can be done by CD or through email.
PBVS, also utilizes advanced cross-sectional imaging technology. These studies are performed with a GE 1.5 Tesla MRI unit and a GE helical Discovery PET/CT scanner. Cross-sectional imaging provides a detailed method to evaluate the brain, spinal cord, lungs, abdomen, bones and joints. These superior imaging modalities are non-invasive, not painful to the patient and allow for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
Some owners may be reluctant to treat some surgical conditions for fear that they must have “open” surgery. The use of the Karl Storz endoscope equipment allows us to perform many procedures or diagnostics through minimally invasive means.
Diagnostic endoscopies include bronchoscopy, gastroscopy, endoscopy, cystoscopy and colonoscopy. These procedures can obtain fluid or tissue samples without incisions and with minimal pain to the patient. Some of the conditions that can be diagnosed with these procedures include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, bleeding ulcers and chronic bronchitis or asthma.
More advanced scoping procedure utilized for surgical correction include arthroscopy of the joints (elbow, stifle or hock) for OCD lesions, transabdominal cystoscopy for stone removal, laparoscopic gastropexy in large breed dogs to prevent GDV (Bloat) and thoracotomy to correct pericardial problems.
A newer procedure preformed primarily in University setting is treatment of female dogs with urinary incontinence. Through the use of cystoscopy (scoping the urethra and bladder) a collagen implant is help to alleviate this condition that could only be corrected through medications.
The VIASYS Electrodiagnostic machine is a top of the line unit found in many human neurology practices. Electrophysiologic evaluation is important in the diagnostic workup for animals with peripheral nerve, muscle and neuromuscular junction disease. The use of this machine can aid in the diagnosis of diseases such as brachial plexus injury, diabetic neuropathy, Cushing’s myopathy, myotonia congenita, myasthenia gravis and botulism.
The electrodiagnostic machine is also utilized to perform auditory studies (BAER testing) to evaluate for congenital and aquired hearing loss.
The Philips Ultrasound Unit (model type) is one of a handful of units found in private veterinary practice, The quality of the study offered as well as the precision of the unit has enhanced the practice of ultrasonagraphy at our facility. The unit is sensitive enough to be able to correctly diagnose Porto systemic shunts that could only be found through surgery. Also, the ability to diagnose and treat parathyroid tumors has altered the way in which these cases are managed. This unit is unsurpassed as far as quality and precision in the ultrasound field.
