Anesthesia
Wausau Animal Hospital uses the anesthesia options proven safest for your pet. For your pet’s safety we always have a CVT
(certified veterinary technician)or a veterinarian monitoring anesthesia throughout the surgical procedure.
Before Anesthesia
Prior to receiving anesthesia, your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your pet, review your pet’s medical history and discuss any risk factors. Your veterinarian may also perform blood tests on your pet to check for any indications of a developing medical problem or anesthetic risk. Prior to anesthesia, your pet will likely be given a pre-anesthetic sedative to reduce his or her stress and ease the process. During Anesthesia
While under anesthesia, your pet will receive monitoring and care comparable to what you’d receive if you underwent anesthesia. This may include intravenous fluids and/or medications to support your pet’s circulation and blood pressure; an endotracheal tube inserted into your pet’s trachea (windpipe) to deliver the anesthetic gas and provide oxygen to your pet’s lungs; pulse oximetry to measure the oxygenation of your pet’s blood; end tidal CO2 (carbon dioxide) which helps us to monitor respiratory function; blood pressure monitoring; temperature monitoring and warming blankets to prevent hypothermia (low body temperature); and electrocardiography to monitor your pet’s heart. All anesthesia monitoring is carried out by a CVT or veterinarian. After Anesthesia
Once the procedure is done and it’s time for your pet to wake up from the anesthesia, your pet will be placed in a quiet, semi-dark kennel to recover. Pets are monitored during this time to make sure that they are recovering normally and that care is provided quickly if there are any problems. Pads and blankets are used to keep your pet warm during the recovery.
Prior to receiving anesthesia, your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your pet, review your pet’s medical history and discuss any risk factors. Your veterinarian may also perform blood tests on your pet to check for any indications of a developing medical problem or anesthetic risk. Prior to anesthesia, your pet will likely be given a pre-anesthetic sedative to reduce his or her stress and ease the process. During Anesthesia
While under anesthesia, your pet will receive monitoring and care comparable to what you’d receive if you underwent anesthesia. This may include intravenous fluids and/or medications to support your pet’s circulation and blood pressure; an endotracheal tube inserted into your pet’s trachea (windpipe) to deliver the anesthetic gas and provide oxygen to your pet’s lungs; pulse oximetry to measure the oxygenation of your pet’s blood; end tidal CO2 (carbon dioxide) which helps us to monitor respiratory function; blood pressure monitoring; temperature monitoring and warming blankets to prevent hypothermia (low body temperature); and electrocardiography to monitor your pet’s heart. All anesthesia monitoring is carried out by a CVT or veterinarian. After Anesthesia
Once the procedure is done and it’s time for your pet to wake up from the anesthesia, your pet will be placed in a quiet, semi-dark kennel to recover. Pets are monitored during this time to make sure that they are recovering normally and that care is provided quickly if there are any problems. Pads and blankets are used to keep your pet warm during the recovery.
Dentistry
In addition to keeping your pet’s mouth free from pain, a healthy mouth can greatly benefit the rest of their body. Bacteria from
tartar buildup travel through inflamed gum tissue and into the blood stream. This bacterium then invades vital organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys, resulting in heart murmurs, kidney insufficiency and more.
What do we look for in a dental exam?
What happens at a dental cleaning?
We first will place your pet under general anesthesia which will be monitored by a certified veterinary technician throughout the procedure. Next, each tooth will be cleaned to remove any plaque and tartar with an ultrasonic scaler. We may also hand scale the hard to reach areas if needed. After all of the teeth are cleaned, the doctor will measure the gum depth with a probe and inspect each tooth. She will be looking for any loose, damaged or unhealthy teeth along with examining the gums, palate, tongue and cheeks. Extractions
If any teeth need to be extracted, the doctor will remove the unhealthy teeth that are causing your pet issues, pain or discomfort. Home care
Your pet will go home with you that afternoon. One of our certified veterinary technicians will dismiss your pet and update you on all findings of the mouth along with any extractions, medications or special instructions you will need to do at home. Most pets will be able to go back to their normal routine the following day and will be feeling much better with no tooth pain! Keeping your pet’s teeth healthy
Not every pet will sit still to have their teeth brushed, we understand that! That is why we also offer other dental products to make this less stressful for both you and your pet.
- Mouth pain
- Dental tartar or calculus
- Gum recession or gingivitis
- Fractured or loose teeth
- Difficulty chewing/decreased appetite
- Growths in the mouth
- Abscesses
- Retained baby teeth
We first will place your pet under general anesthesia which will be monitored by a certified veterinary technician throughout the procedure. Next, each tooth will be cleaned to remove any plaque and tartar with an ultrasonic scaler. We may also hand scale the hard to reach areas if needed. After all of the teeth are cleaned, the doctor will measure the gum depth with a probe and inspect each tooth. She will be looking for any loose, damaged or unhealthy teeth along with examining the gums, palate, tongue and cheeks. Extractions
If any teeth need to be extracted, the doctor will remove the unhealthy teeth that are causing your pet issues, pain or discomfort. Home care
Your pet will go home with you that afternoon. One of our certified veterinary technicians will dismiss your pet and update you on all findings of the mouth along with any extractions, medications or special instructions you will need to do at home. Most pets will be able to go back to their normal routine the following day and will be feeling much better with no tooth pain! Keeping your pet’s teeth healthy
Not every pet will sit still to have their teeth brushed, we understand that! That is why we also offer other dental products to make this less stressful for both you and your pet.
- Vetri Science Perio Support food additive
- C.E.T Chews
- C.E.T Toothpaste
- Healthy Mouth Water Additive
- Veggie Dent Chews
- DentAcetic Dental Wipes
Dermatology
At some point in your pet’s life, you will likely need to have a skin abnormality, allergy, or ear infection diagnosed. Possible ailments
include, but are not limited to: ear infections, skin infections, atopic dermatitis secondary to allergies, skin growths, endocrine/internal diseases, warts, cancers, parasites of the skin, fungal growths, autoimmune diseases and alopecia.
Diagnosis
To diagnose a skin disease or ailment we will take a detailed history and your veterinarian will perform a physical examination and appropriate diagnostic tests. Based on the history and exam, diagnostic tests may include:
Depending on the diagnosis, we offer a wide range of products such as medications, supplements, injections, shampoos, ear cleansers and mousses to soothe irritated skin and ears as well as laser therapy in appropriate cases.
To diagnose a skin disease or ailment we will take a detailed history and your veterinarian will perform a physical examination and appropriate diagnostic tests. Based on the history and exam, diagnostic tests may include:
- Microscopic analysis of skin scrapings and hair
- Skin/hair cultures
- Specialized skin tests
- Blood and urine tests
- Biopsies
Vaccinations
If your dog or cat is due for their vaccinations – or your puppy or kitten needs their first round of vaccines – it’s time to
visit Wausau Animal Hospital. Here’s everything you need to know about protecting your pets from rabies, distemper and other devastating diseases with vaccines.
Cat Vaccinations
Adult cats need vaccinations to boost their immunity to disease. While some feline vaccines are available in three-year formulas, others must be administered annually, so your cat will need vaccines yearly. We recommend the following core cat vaccinations for every cat:
Dog Vaccinations
Whether your dog is young or old, active or lazy, they are vulnerable to a few devastating, but preventable, diseases. Make sure your dog’s records are always up to date, including recent vaccinations for the following diseases:
Vaccines for Puppies and Kittens
Our youngest pets are incredibly vulnerable to common infections and diseases, and their bodies are still too weak to fight them off, especially in the first few months of life. Therefore, puppy/kitten vaccine series should be started at 8 weeks of age. Boosters are administered every 3-4 weeks until around 16 weeks of age in hopes of narrowing the window of opportunity for infection. The timing of the boosters is very important. If given too soon or late the body’s immune response to the first vaccine will interfere with the response to the second vaccine; thus, you do not get the desired booster effect that makes the immune response stronger.
Adult cats need vaccinations to boost their immunity to disease. While some feline vaccines are available in three-year formulas, others must be administered annually, so your cat will need vaccines yearly. We recommend the following core cat vaccinations for every cat:
- Rabies – Every cat needs lifelong rabies protection, even indoor-only cats who may escape someday or if a bat or other animal carrying rabies gets into your home. Rabies is a highly contagious neurological disease that is nearly always fatal and is still transmitted by local wildlife. This vaccine is required by nearly every city government.
- FVRCP – This combination vaccine prevents three different viruses: rhinotracheitis (feline herpesvirus type 1), feline calicivirus, and panleukopenia (feline distemper), all of which are contagious and common among cats.Some cats are also good candidates for additional vaccines, known as non-core vaccines. If your cat spends time outdoors and/or with other animals, other vaccines may be recommended.
- Feline Leukemia – A virus that attacks the immune system and shortens life span. This is the most common cause of cancer and may cause blood disorders.
Whether your dog is young or old, active or lazy, they are vulnerable to a few devastating, but preventable, diseases. Make sure your dog’s records are always up to date, including recent vaccinations for the following diseases:
- Rabies – Rabies is a highly contagious neurological disease that is nearly always fatal and is still transmitted by local wildlife. This vaccine is required by nearly every city government.
- Distemper
- Canine Parvovirus – Serious intestinal illness that is most common among young growing dogs.
- Distemper – An incurable viral disease carried by multiple wild animals.
- Canine Hepatitis (Adenovirus Type 2) – A serious viral disease that infects the organs and can be transmitted by wild animals’ bodily fluids.
- Leptospirosis – A serious bacterial disease that causes liver and kidney failure, is very contagious and is spread in the urine of affected wildlife. This bacterial infection can be spread to humans. We may also recommend non-core vaccinations for dogs who lead active outdoor lifestyles or share quarters with other dogs on a regular basis. Ask your veterinarian if your dog is a good candidate for any of the following vaccines:
- Lyme disease – Most commonly transmitted by ticks. Due to high numbers of infections in our area this is now HIGHLY recommended.
- Bordetella – Also known as “kennel cough”, because this respiratory infection is common at boarding facilities and shelters. This is typically required for dogs staying at a boarding facility or doggy day care.
Our youngest pets are incredibly vulnerable to common infections and diseases, and their bodies are still too weak to fight them off, especially in the first few months of life. Therefore, puppy/kitten vaccine series should be started at 8 weeks of age. Boosters are administered every 3-4 weeks until around 16 weeks of age in hopes of narrowing the window of opportunity for infection. The timing of the boosters is very important. If given too soon or late the body’s immune response to the first vaccine will interfere with the response to the second vaccine; thus, you do not get the desired booster effect that makes the immune response stronger.
In House Laboratory
Wausau Animal Hospital is equipped with Heska Element Analyzers. We are dedicated to getting accurate, timely answers
for you and your pet.
There are many instances in which your pet might require diagnostics. This could include blood work, urinalysis, fecal analysis and more. Our fully equipped veterinary laboratory allows us to perform advanced diagnostics such as blood chemistry panels, CBCs (complete blood counts) and electrolytes to help us determine the best treatment plan for your pet's medical condition
Other in house testing includes that for giardia, heartworm, tick-borne illnesses such as lyme, ehrlichia, and anaplasmosis, feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
When immediate results are not as vital, such as yearly screenings, we also have the availability to send samples to Marshfield Labs for evaluation.
Microchipping
Sometimes having a fenced-in yard, electric fence or collar is not enough to contain our four-legged friends and they explore a
little too far from home and end up getting lost on their adventures. Microchipping is a service that Wausau Animal Hospital offers to increase the chance that your furry family member finds its way home!Fun fact: studies from 2009 shows that 74% of dogs and 63.5% of cats found by shelters were reunited with their original owners because they were microchipped!
https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.235.2.160?url_ver=Z39.88-+
What is a microchip?
A microchip is an implant the size of a grain of rice that is implanted underneath a layer of loose skin, typically between the shoulder blades. It is made out of an inert, biocompatible substance that won’t cause an allergic reaction or degenerate overtime and is the same type of material that is used in human implants. The microchip itself holds a unique ID code that can be traced back to a data base that holds the owners information such as a phone number, name and address. This information can be updated by the owner at any time. When a lost pet is found the rescue or clinic will pass a scanner over the skin to determine if there is a microchip. If there is one present the microchip emits a radio frequency signal to the scanner and the unique ID code will appear. The microchip itself is inactive and does not emit RF signals until it is scanned. What is the procedure like?
Microchipping your pet is often a quick procedure which does not need to be performed under anesthesia although we do often microchip our younger patients when they are under anesthesia for spay and neuter. Microchipping is no more painful than a typical injection. We do however numb the area with a small amount of lidocaine gel before the microchip is placed. There is no recovery time after microchipping and no harmful effects. Owners will be given a registration form for the microchip to fill out personal information. Wausau Animal Hospital will register the microchip for you and provide information on your registration, pet health insurance and how to update your information in the future if needed. Is this the right choice for my pet?
Microchipping your pet is an affordable safeguard for you to ensure the safety and well-being of your furry friend. It can aid in the return of your lost pet and help to prove ownership. The decision to microchip is an extra measure that pet owners often choose, this decision is made by you and chipping can be performed at any time. About our microchip recovery system:
Wausau Animal Hospital carries the Save This Life Microchip and Pet Recovery System. This company offers a onetime registration fee therefore only requiring the owner to update personal information as it changes with no annual fees like many other microchip companies require. We will provide links from this provider down below: About Save This Life: https://www.savethislife.com/about-us FAQ’s: https://www.savethislife.com/frequently-asked-questions Video on microchipping procedure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7dxqolzjVw
A microchip is an implant the size of a grain of rice that is implanted underneath a layer of loose skin, typically between the shoulder blades. It is made out of an inert, biocompatible substance that won’t cause an allergic reaction or degenerate overtime and is the same type of material that is used in human implants. The microchip itself holds a unique ID code that can be traced back to a data base that holds the owners information such as a phone number, name and address. This information can be updated by the owner at any time. When a lost pet is found the rescue or clinic will pass a scanner over the skin to determine if there is a microchip. If there is one present the microchip emits a radio frequency signal to the scanner and the unique ID code will appear. The microchip itself is inactive and does not emit RF signals until it is scanned. What is the procedure like?
Microchipping your pet is often a quick procedure which does not need to be performed under anesthesia although we do often microchip our younger patients when they are under anesthesia for spay and neuter. Microchipping is no more painful than a typical injection. We do however numb the area with a small amount of lidocaine gel before the microchip is placed. There is no recovery time after microchipping and no harmful effects. Owners will be given a registration form for the microchip to fill out personal information. Wausau Animal Hospital will register the microchip for you and provide information on your registration, pet health insurance and how to update your information in the future if needed. Is this the right choice for my pet?
Microchipping your pet is an affordable safeguard for you to ensure the safety and well-being of your furry friend. It can aid in the return of your lost pet and help to prove ownership. The decision to microchip is an extra measure that pet owners often choose, this decision is made by you and chipping can be performed at any time. About our microchip recovery system:
Wausau Animal Hospital carries the Save This Life Microchip and Pet Recovery System. This company offers a onetime registration fee therefore only requiring the owner to update personal information as it changes with no annual fees like many other microchip companies require. We will provide links from this provider down below: About Save This Life: https://www.savethislife.com/about-us FAQ’s: https://www.savethislife.com/frequently-asked-questions Video on microchipping procedure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7dxqolzjVw
Ultrasound
An ultrasound machine creates images called sonograms by giving off high-frequency sound waves that go through the body.
As the sound waves bounce off organs and tissues, they create echoes. The machine makes these echoes into real-time 2-dimensional pictures that show organ structure and movement and even blood flow through blood vessels. The images can be seen on a computer screen.
Ultrasound is very good at getting pictures of some soft tissue diseases that don’t show up well on x-rays. Internal organs, such as the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, urinary bladder, intestines and heart can be looked at closer for abnormalities. Ultrasound is also a good way to tell fluid-filled cysts from solid tumors because they make very different echo patterns.
Ultrasound images are not as detailed as those from CT or MRI scans. Ultrasound cannot tell whether a tumor is malignant cancer, a biopsy would be needed for this. Its use is also limited in some parts of the body because the sound waves can’t go through air (such as in the lungs) or through bone.
Anesthesia is not usually needed for most ultrasound examinations, unless a biopsy is needed. This is one of the great advantages of ultrasound. The technique is non-invasive but does involve clipping an area of hair and applying a water-soluble jelly on the skin. The technique is totally painless and most pets will lie comfortably while the scan is being performed.
Wausau Animal Hospital features a GE LOGIQ e Vet Expert Ultrasound Machine.
Fear Free
When you visit our practice, you may see Fear Free certificates on the walls and pins on our jackets.
Fear Free Certification is something each member of our team has learned through hours of continuing education as well as years of on the job experience.
We know that a visit to the veterinary office can be extremely stressful for your pet, and for the pet parent. This stress results in fewer animals being taken to the vet for routine care. When this happens, animals may not get the care they need until they become very sick.
A fearful patient is more difficult to examine and treat but fear can also affect our patients physically as well. Pets that are experiencing anxiety, stress and fear often have higher blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate, and body temperature. The calmer a patient is the more accurate our diagnosis and more successful our treatment plans can be.
Fear Free has given us the knowledge and tools to ensure our patient’s emotional well-being is given the same level of attention as their physical well-being.
Techniques
Since smells in a veterinary clinic can affect a pet’s demeanor we try to reduce them as much as possible. On the other hand, using calming scents can sway a pet’s experience towards a more positive outcome. Products that mimic the naturally calming pheromones in dogs and cats are widely used through diffusers and topical sprays in our clinic. They are also available for use at home! Some techniques we utilize:
If you have had a hard time in the past getting your pet to the vet, feel free to reach out to us for tips and tricks to get them in the door- we’ll take it from there!
Since smells in a veterinary clinic can affect a pet’s demeanor we try to reduce them as much as possible. On the other hand, using calming scents can sway a pet’s experience towards a more positive outcome. Products that mimic the naturally calming pheromones in dogs and cats are widely used through diffusers and topical sprays in our clinic. They are also available for use at home! Some techniques we utilize:
- slip free mats on our examine tables
- using alternative exam locations such as in the carrier, on the floor, or in the owner’s lap
- playing relaxing music
- using treats for rewards and distraction
Digital Radiography
In order to give your pet the absolute best, Wausau Animal Hospital has invested in arguably the best
radiology machine available today. We are the proud owners of a Cuattro High Definition Digital Radiology machine. This technology allows us to take images so sharp and detailed we can see more than we ever thought possible and in amazing detail! As of today we can take the finest images in the greater Wausau area. This allows our veterinarians amazing insight into your pet’s health, and if needed we consult with some of the best board certified specialists in the state.
