Medical Services

To ensure a proper diagnosis, we need to examine your pet. We begin a medical assessment by looking at your pet’s eyes, ears, and skin and checking his or her cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, and skeletal systems for any abnormalities. We will perform blood and/or urine tests as necessary to check your pet’s kidneys, liver, pancreas, and endocrine system, including the thyroid and adrenal glands. Based on your pet’s condition, we may recommend further diagnostic tests, such as radiography (x-rays), endoscopy (internal scoping), ultrasound, or biopsy.

If you’re concerned that something may be wrong with your pet, please call us to schedule a medical assessment. Depending on the symptoms, we may ask you to bring in your pet right away.

When we need to figure out what’s wrong with your pet, we routinely use radiographs to help identify the cause of the problem, rule out possible problems, or provide a list of possible causes.

Radiographs provide valuable information about a pet’s bones, gastrointestinal tract (stomach, intestines, colon), respiratory tract (lungs), heart, and genitourinary system (bladder, prostate). Interpretation of radiographs requires great skill on the part of the veterinarian.

We are proud to offer digital radiology (capturing images digitally rather than on film). Our state-of-the-art equipment saves time and improves the quality of diagnostic images. This means less stress for your pet, and better diagnostics from our doctors and referral team. Plus, it uses less radiation than traditional radiographs.

To avoid a blurry image, pets need to remain completely still while a radiograph is taken. Your veterinarian will let you know if we may need to sedate your pet or use short-acting general anesthesia.

If you have any questions about our radiology service or what to expect during your pet’s procedure, please don’t hesitate to ask.

In the event it’s necessary to hospitalize our patients while they recover, Wayland Animal Clinic provides a comfortable, full-service stay for your pet. Before returning them home to the loving care of their owners, we offer our patients hospitalization services including:

• On-site laboratory and radiology services for rapid and accurate diagnostics
• IV fluid therapy for re-hydation and diuresis
• Diabetic glucose curves and monitoring
• Well-staffed hospital wards with a highly trained, diligent, and compassionate veterinary nursing team
• A vast pharmacy of injectable and oral medications utilizing current techniques to address pain management, toxicities, nausea or diarrhea, bacterial and viral infections, heart, kidney, or liver disease, ocular problems, and many other illnesses and injuries.

We also have built strong relationships with many of the 24-hour centers around us, and, if in the best interest of the patient, we can access specialists for advice about cases or to discuss referral/transfer of care if indicated.

Wayland Animal Clinic’s in-house veterinary laboratory allows our veterinarians to quickly and accurately diagnose your pet at any time of day. We can conduct pre-operative blood screenings prior to any veterinary surgery – planned or unplanned.

When the need for emergency veterinary care arises, we can have accurate laboratory results in our hands almost immediately.

And, our in-house veterinary laboratory allows our veterinarians to provide the convenience and immediacy of our day-to-day wellness diagnostics for parasite prevention, senior pet blood tests, and urinalysis to name a few.

Dentistry is more important to your pet’s overall health than you may think! Just like us, they need oral check-ups and the regular removal of plaque and tartar from their teeth. From routine cleanings, to extractions and minor oral surgeries, we provide a wide range of dental services at Wayland Animal Clinic. Our professional examinations and care, combined with regular oral upkeep at home, will help keep your pet disease-free and healthy.

Imagine what your mouth would feel like if you never brushed your teeth or went to the dentist. For many dogs and cats, this is a painful reality. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have dental disease by the age of 3. Dental (or periodontal) disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in pets.

Common signs of dental disease include:

• Yellow or brown buildup (tartar) on the teeth
• Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
• Bad breath
• Excessive drooling
• Changes in eating or chewing habits
• Pawing at the face
• Loose teeth
• Depression

Wayland Animal Clinic recommends a dental health evaluation at least once a year. Bacteria and food debris accumulate around the teeth and, if left unchecked, will lead to deterioration of the soft tissue and bone surrounding the teeth. This decay can result in irreversible periodontal disease, tooth loss, and possibly oral surgery. Dental disease can also affect other organs in the body: Bacteria in the mouth can get into the bloodstream and cause serious infections in the kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart.

The good news is that these problems are highly preventable. Schedule your pet’s dental exam today. We can also help show you how to brush your pet’s teeth and recommend foods and treats that will help combat plaque and tartar buildup.