Facilities

Sometimes an external examination won’t fully reveal what is wrong with your pet which is why we use digital radiography to help diagnose the problem. Our diagnostic facilities are used to investigate complex cases further and the use of digital radiography means that less radiation is used that the old-style photographic system. One of the main advantages of digital radiography is that the results are available very quickly. Also, the digital image can be easily zoomed and enhanced to help with diagnosis allowing for fast and effective care. If it is necessary for your pet to be transferred to a specialist, it also means we can send the image to them quickly. X-rays are used to evaluate lameness, bone diseases and sore joints together with heat and lung disorders, vomiting and digestive problems as well as urinary problems. To ease any stress on your pet, we perform x-rays under light sedation or general anaesthetic. They are commonly done in a day allowing your pet to return to the comfort of its own home in the afternoon.

Using sound waves to make a computer image, ultrasound is a painless and non-invasive way of looking inside your pet helping us evaluate the physical structure of internal organs and identify abnormalities. We use the procedure for imaging soft tissue structures such as the liver, bladder, heart, kidneys, prostate gland and eye. Pulses of very high frequency sound are sent out by the ultrasound probe and these penetrate the tissues of the body to create an image on screen. Women who have been pregnant will be familiar with ultrasound themselves and we also use the procedure commonly to scan dogs and cats for pregnancy too.

At Dunedin Vets we are proud of our medical and surgical facilities where your pet will be given our full attention. All procedures will be fully explained to you by our highly qualified staff who are well versed in our medical and surgical systems. We have an ultra-hygienic operating suite with specialist equipment housing our large treatment and preparation room together with the operating theatre itself. We carry out a rigorous anaesthetic protocol and your pet will be fully monitored with the administration of pain management where necessary by our registered veterinary nurses who care for tour pet before and after the procedure. We regularly carry out soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery and our staff have the knowledge and skills to make sure your companion is well looked after throughout its time with us.

As a responsible pet owner, it is important you take good care of their teeth and gums to avoid infections which can impact, if left untreated, on major organs. The accumulation of plaque and tartar on teeth can affect gums and the roots of the teeth making them prone to disease. Plaque is a sticky film consisting of saliva, food material and bacteria. Brown discolouration arises if plaque is not regularly removed from the teeth. This is tartar, a hard-brown substance tightly adherent to the enamel. If this is present at the tooth-gum margin it causes inflammation known as gingivitis. Gingivitis is quite tender and if left untreated leads to gum recession, sometimes with pocket formation known as periodontal disease. This may extend down the tooth to the bone and lead to tooth loosening and ultimate loss. Dogs’ teeth can develop holes in the enamel, known as caries. We often find holes in the neck of the cats’ teeth, known as feline restorative lesions. Sometimes the gum grows excessively when it is inflamed and needs surgery. There are various other diseases which can occur in the mouth and these are checked for when we perform any oral examination. To aid diagnosis we have a dedicated dental xray machines to allow us to assess oral health so we can plant dental surgery effectively. As your pet matures it is vital that any tooth and gum disease is treated to maintain health and vitality into old age. Remember – a healthy pet has a healthy mouth.

If your pet requires day care be assured that we have separate cat, dog and isolation wards for their best comfort and care. Your pet will be in excellent hands during its time with us with our registered vet nurses and student nurses looking after them and tending their needs. Should your pet need out-of-hours care we can transfer them to the Edinburgh Treatment Service (Evts) at the Braid Vet Hospital where they will receive round-the-clock care with a vet and nurse on site at all times. Alternatively, if your pet’s needs are not so urgent we can keep them here at Dunedin Vets where a duty vet will check on them in the evening.

Our architect-designed modern premises boast a brand-new laboratory and pharmacy. The lab allows us to run some tests in-house including checks on blood and urine. which give us the results the same day. Our microscope facilities mean we can also do skin tests and assess cell types from samples. For more advanced tests and back up we run a courier service to a specialist veterinary laboratory. For your convenience we have a well-stocked pharmacy so that we can supply you with medication for your pet without delay. The latest, best and safest flea and worm control products are always available.