Health Maintenance Services
Comprehensive Vancouver Animal Care Services
While regular preventive care is the foundation of your pet's good health, even the best preventive care cannot guarantee your pet won't face a medical problem. As a part of our commitment to provide your pet with the most comprehensive Vancouver animal care, the veterinarians and medical team at Salmon Creek Veterinary Clinic are also skilled providers of a full range of animal care services in the Vancouver area, including cat and dog allergy and dermatology treatment, glaucoma prevention, weight management, nutrition counseling and prescription diets, and more.
Allergies and Skin Problems in Dogs and Cats
Allergies and skin problems are quite common in dogs and cats of all breeds and backgrounds. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include:
- Red, raised, scaly areas on the skin
- Bumps, crusts or pus filled vesicles on the skin
- Increased skin pigmentation
- Thickened skin
- Loss of hair
- Salivary staining
- Head shaking
If your pet exhibits any of the symptoms listed, please make an appointment at our Vancouver animal hospital. We can offer your pet oral and injectable immunotherapy and provide full diagnostic services at our office in Vancouver for pet allergies like, inhalant, food and contact allergies. If left untreated, allergic reactions and skin conditions can become serious medical concerns.
Glaucoma Prevention
Glaucoma is a common condition in which the fluid pressure inside your pet's eye increases, resulting in damage to the optic nerve, followed by loss of vision and blindness. There are two types of glaucoma. Primary or chronic glaucoma is hereditary or develops as your pet ages. Secondary or acute glaucoma develops as the result of an injury or illness. Because secondary glaucoma can progress rapidly, it is considered an emergency situation and should be treated immediately.
Symptoms of glaucoma include:
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Your veterinarian at Salmon Creek Veterinary Clinic recommends a routine glaucoma exam as part of your pet's regular wellness care. The exam is not only effective in screening for chronic and acute glaucoma, it can also help set a baseline measurement of your pet's normal intraocular pressure (IOP). Establishing an IOP baseline is important because the normal measurement can vary between species, breeds, and even individual pets.
This is a noninvasive, simple procedure that should not cause your pet any pain or discomfort. We apply a mild anesthetic eye-drop to ensure your pet is comfortable during the exam.
Treating Your Pet's Cancer
At Salmon Creek Veterinary Clinic in Vancouver, the standard cancer treatment for your pet's cancer diagnosis is almost always surgical removal of the mass. Surgery is also the best treatment for both accessible benign cancers and the majority of malignant cancers that have not yet spread. Your pet's recovery from surgery is usually rapid and post-surgical pain can be controlled using appropriate medications.
Should chemotherapy or radiation be in the best interest of your pet, we can also refer you to Internal Medicine and Oncology Specialists.
Before making the decision on the appropriate course of action for your pet, please discuss all the relevant factors with your veterinarian so you can make an informed choice. Our understanding of cancer is increasing all the time, leading to better treatment approaches, preserved quality of life and an improved outcome for your pet.
Your Pet's Nutrition
Proper nutrition and a balanced diet, along with fresh, clean water, are essential ingredients for your pet's overall good health. As your pet's caregiver, nutrition is the most significant health variable you control. Making the best nutritional choices for your dog or cat not only effects general health, but will improve the quality and length of your pet's life.
To support your efforts, your veterinarian will perform a thorough body condition evaluation during every physical examination and offer weight loss counseling if needed. We can also provide you with important information on proper serving size, nutrient needs, and feeding strategies for your individual pet and help you navigate pet food claims so you can make the most informed choices.
Prescription Diets
Some pets have serious nutritional challenges, weight issues or chronic conditions that benefit from a special prescription diet. Making this change can positively impact your pet's overall health and well-being.
Prescription diets benefit medical conditions such as liver disease, bladder and kidney disease, digestive problems, renal failure, food allergies, diabetes and more. Salmon Creek Veterinary Clinic carries a selection of high-quality prescription pet foods, including Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet and Purina. Your veterinarian can recommend one that will best meet your pet's needs.
Referrals
Should your pet develop a medical or surgical problem that would best benefit from the expertise of a specialist, we will refer you to Columbia River Veterinary Specialists in Vancouver. Our animal care services team refers to them for certain cases that involve internal medical, surgery, ophthalmology, oncology, neurology, cardiology and dentistry, as well as 24-hour emergency and critical care.