Dr. Cloutier is able to provide Cardiac workups. These consist of Electro cardiograms (ECG), Radiographs and Cardiac Ultrasound.

ECGs allow the doctor to get information about the electrical activity of the heart. The actual process is painless and is done with the patient awake, lying down on their side. Electrodes are fastened to the limbs in strategic locations and as the electrical impulses pass through the heart they are recorded on a printout. By looking at this information the doctor is able to tell exactly when each of the four chambers of the heart is beating and allows them to detect arrythmias (irregular heartbeats). This equipment is also used in some surgeries where the heart may be compromised. ECGs can be performed by any of our veterinarians, but Dr. Cloutier does our cardiac consultations and workups.

Telemedicine is the ability to consult with veterinary specialists across the country via the internet. We can send images of cells, radiographs, endoscopic views, photographs of skin and ultrasonic images to a specialist and get a response often later that same day. Quick answers allow for prompt treatment in critical cases.

Our in house laboratory is one of our greatest and most used assets. We have the capability to run chemistry panels diagnosing problems such as kidney disease, liver diseases, diabetes or anemia in a matter of minutes. We can also run complete blood counts (CBC) and screening for diseases like Lyme and Feline Leukemia. Having such a convenient laboratory in house also allows us to run pre-operative blood profiles to screen for potential problems before an anesthetic is given. Some of our non-blood tests that we run include fecals, skin scrapings, ear cytologies, fine needle aspirates of lumps and urinalyses.

We also utilize a number of outside laboratories for specific tests. Some tests that we do send out include histologies (biopsies), thyroid profiles, bladder stone analyses, and in depth blood chemistries. Results from these tests usually are back within a few days, although some results can take up to 2 weeks or longer depending on which test is being run.

Allergies are, at times, frustrating for the patient, owner and the veterinarian. Some dogs respond to very minimal therapy. Others require much more. For those patients who show minimal to no response to conventional therapy, "allergy shots" (hyposensitization) may be of benefit. Testing is a simple blood draw that is sent to an outside lab. The lab tests the sample to find out what your dog is most allergic to. The Laboratory can then design a serum for hyposensitization that will be most benificial to your pet. If you have any questions or you think your dog is a candidate, please call us. Sorry, the test is unreliable in kitties.