ECG / EKG Services
Another noninvasive diagnostic tool is an electrocardiogram.
The painless, noninvasive test helps detect irregularities in your pet’s heart rate and rhythm.
Why does my pet need an ECG/EKG?
There are several reasons an ECG/EKG might be ordered. If our veterinarians hear an irregularity as they listen to your pet’s heart through a stethoscope or if your pet has symptoms of heart issues, such as fainting, we might order the test. If your pet takes a medication that can impact heart function, we would use the ECG/EKG to check their heart periodically and ensure heart function is not being adversely affected.
What happens during an ECG/EKG?
An ECG/EKG takes only one to two minutes and is painless. Your pet is connected to an ECG/EKG unit and their heart rate and rhythm are transmitted to a board-certified cardiologist to review. After the test is done, our veterinarians can go over the results with you.
Illness Care Services
We make every effort to treat your sick pet the same day that you call our office.
When your pet becomes ill, please call and we promise to get your pet in to see our veterinarians as soon as possible. If your call is after regular business hours, Monday to Friday 7am to 6pm and Saturday 8am to 6pm, and is an emergency, we’ll refer you to one of the two pet emergency hospitals that we work with here in Lexington.
How should I prepare for my pet's appointment?
Before you arrive, we ask that you and your family discuss all of your pet’s problems and symptoms so that you can relay all the details to our veterinarians. We find that often, different family members notice different behaviors and having everyone’s input is invaluable as we diagnose your pet’s illness.
If your pet is a new patient, please bring along any health records, like lab work, from other veterinary clinics and any medications that your pet is taking. If you do not have this information, please call your previous veterinarian and request them to fax or email these records to our clinic.
We keep you informed about your pet’s diagnosis and treatment
We will keep you informed every step of the way as we examine your pet, do various tests and determine the cause of their illness. We will recommend a treatment plan and go over it with you, explaining why tests or procedures are needed and providing costs of treatment. If your pet needs to stay in our care for treatment or procedures, we will keep you posted on how your pet is doing/progressing. If your pet goes home after treatment, our veterinarians will follow up with you by phone to check on your pet’s condition and to answer any questions you may have.
Radiology Services
Our radiology services help us to diagnose your pet without invasive procedures.
One of our main goals at Richmond Road Veterinary Clinic is to diagnose your pet by using noninvasive tests. Our on-site digital radiology equipment allows us to do diagnostic x-rays quickly, accurately and easily.
Digital x-rays are higher quality images
Digital x-rays require less radiation exposure and produce a much higher quality image almost instantly. Digital x-rays allow our veterinarians to zoom in and enlarge areas of concern, aiding in the ability to better diagnose issues without having to take multiple x-rays thus limiting your pet’s exposure to radiation.
Senior Care Services
Elderly pets face unique health challenges and require special care and treatment.
Thanks to advances in veterinary care and improvements in diet, pets are living longer, better lives. With these longer lifespans come challenges similar to those faced by elderly people. Aching joints and muscle weakness. Heart and hearing problems. Kidney and urinary tract issues. Diabetes and cancer. Tooth and gum problems. Senility and dementia.
Just as older people check in more often with their family physician, we recommend that older pets see us more frequently. Richmond Road Veterinary Clinic likes to see its pet clients twice a year when they are age 8 and older.
Our veterinarians will perform a full physical exam. At this time, we will recommend diagnostic testing, such as blood work, urinalysis and possibly even radiographs or EKG, depending the outcome of your pet’s physical exam. These will help us to better evaluate your loved ones health, as it can be challenging due to our patients not being able to verbalize how they feel. You will also be an important part of the exam as you fill us in on any changes or problems you have noticed in your pet.
As pets age, medication, food and other needs change
We will also want to consult with you about changes that need to be made as your pet ages. We might adjust dosages of medications as your pet’s metabolism changes. Vaccination schedules might need to be altered. Parasite prevention will become even more important, because as your pet ages, their immune system becomes weaker and they can’t fight off diseases spread by parasites as effectively. We might suggest a different type of food, as older pets need foods that are more easily digested and that contain different vitamins and nutrients. We will check your pet’s mobility and make suggestions on how to keep your pet active. We might recommend changes at home to make your pet more comfortable–moving a bed downstairs so your pet can avoid the stairs, shorter walks or spending more time indoors.
Our pledge to you, and to your pet, is to make your years together as happy and healthy as possible.
Ultrasound Services
Ultrasounds complement other diagnostic tools for a complete view of your pet's health.
Ultrasound is an essential diagnostic tool, often used when a physical exam, blood work or x-rays indicate possible problems with internal organs. An ultrasound uses sound waves and echoes to produce images of your pet’s internal organs. Ultrasound for animals is exactly like it is for humans, except that in animals, we might have to shave a bit of fur so that the ultrasound wand makes better contact with the skin.
What can I expect during my pet's appointment?
Ultrasound is painless and noninvasive. Your pet will be admitted into our hospital and provided bedding and water. We ask that owners not feed their pets the day of the ultrasound, as a full belly can limit visual ability of certain internal organs. Our clinic has an on call board-certified sonographer that will be performing their ultrasound.
Why does my pet need an ultrasound?
An ultrasound might be ordered if your pet has abnormal blood work or x-rays, unexplained weight changes, lack of appetite, diarrhea or vomiting. An ultrasound can also determine if a pet is pregnant. If a mass is detected during a physical exam, an ultrasound can show us where the mass is, its size and how it might be impacting organs. Ultrasounds can also show whether fluid has accumulated in an organ or the abdominal cavity.