Introduction

This section contains extensive information on the diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases. It is intended to give you a basic understanding of some animal diseases and to augment the information you receive from one of our doctors. First we suggest you learn the thought process of how a diagnosis is made. Then come back here and click on a specific species below to learn about some of the more common diseases we treat.

In the last decade there have been great advances in the medical treatment of animals. We now have at our disposal drugs to treat chronic diseases that previously caused unnecessary discomfort and pain. In addition to these drugs, there have been significant advances in the treatment of animals using a more natural approach. This involves stimulating the body's own immune and nervous system. These advances now allow us to utilize a balanced approach to disease treatment and prevention, utilizing medications as needed, while simultaneously stimulating the body to heal itself. We are now able successfully manage chronic diseases involving the heart, kidney, liver, and musculoskeletal system.

The natural approach utilizes diet and medications called nutraceuticals, along with compounds that occur naturally in our environment. A recent advance in the natural approach has been our ability to stimulate the nervous system to increase blood flow to diseased organs and correct imbalances that have been present for a significant period of time. A major advantage to this approach is the fact that no anesthesia, injections, or drugs are used.

The primary method we use to stimulate the nervous system is known as Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (VOM). It is a simple and pain-free method to treat disease, and when used in combination with careful use of medication, has dramatically improved the health and well-being of animals. By decreasing our use of drugs in many diseases we help our patients by minimizing the potential for side effects, along with deleterious effects these drugs have on the internal organs of older pets.

In VOM we use an instrument called an activator to impart energy to the nervous system via the bones that surround the spinal cord. As the motion moves the joint it releases impinged nerves, endorphins, and inflammatory cells. This mild yet specific energy is all that is needed to correct many years of nervous system dysfunction that can occur after a toxic or traumatic episode.

VOM can be used to treat a wide variety of endocrine, metabolic, systemic, and orthopedic diseases. This is because all of these areas are intimately related to the spinal cord, which in essence, is an extension of the brain. During a routine exam one of our staff will look for signs of spinal dysfunction. If present, and after we are sure we have the complete picture on your pet's problem by analyzing blood samples and radiographs, VOM might be instituted.

In almost all cases there is an improvement, and when a specific treatment schedule is followed for the first 5-7 treatments there is usually no need for any further treatments. At that point we try decreasing the amount of drugs, and keep our balanced approach to treatment. In some cases, we are able to eliminate the need for drugs at all. 

Some of the following sections show actual surgical procedures performed at our hospital. You will be alerted as to when these pictures are on a page. You might want to familiarize yourself with our laser surgery before reading about the surgeries we perform at our hospital.

 

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