Additional Veterinary Services and Resources
Additional Services
Laboratory Services
We offer comprehensive testing, using both in-house and send-out commercial laboratories.
The majority of the blood samples that we draw are sent to Antech Diagnostics https://www.antechdiagnostics.com/ for analysis. This is a leading veterinary diagnostic lab that employs the latest in technology and is staffed with board-certified veterinary pathologists. We can be confident that the tests that we send out are accurate and at a competitive price.
Although sending samples out to a commercial laboratory is more cost-effective, sometimes we need results right away. We pride ourselves on our ability to utilize a variety of tools to diagnose disease. Our technical staff is trained to analyze fecal samples for parasites, urine samples to detect infection or crystals, and to perform complete blood counts to check for abnormalities in the red and white cells. We can also run biochemical analyses on serum using our in-house laboratory analyzer. These tests help us to make a diagnosis on a sick pet, often within 60 minutes of presentation.
Pain Management
Our pets can hurt! We can help.
BPPH is at the cutting edge of providing management of acute, chronic, and surgical pain. Our veterinarians and technicians have taken over 100 combined hours of pain management continuing education in the past 3 years alone. We employ a multimodal system of pain control, using medication that acts at the site of the pain (i.e. anti-inflammatories), drug that decrease pain perception in the brain (such as narcotics), and newer medications that increase dopamine levels and increase the animal’s general state of euphoria, or well-being.
Our surgical patients also receive several forms of pain medication in addition to sedation or anesthesia. We also use local or regional nerve blocks (such as epidurals) when indicated. Most of our surgical patients also receive therapeutic laser treatment after the procedure. Therapeutic laser is a safe and effective way to improve healing in acute and chronic (e.g. arthritis) pain, by providing an energy source to the damaged cells in region.
BPPH employs the services of Dr. Mark LaVallie, a human chiropractor who is also licensed to provide chiropractic care in animals. Check out his Facebook page at Peak Performance Animal Chiropractic. Dr. LaVallie sees patients at BPPH every other Wednesday morning.
Radiology
A snapshot of your pet’s inside.
Not all problems can be diagnosed on physical exam alone. BPPH uses digital radiography to take x-ray images when necessary. These images are immediately uploaded for a board-certified radiologist to interpret. The veterinarians at BPPH can give a preliminary diagnosis immediately, and the final diagnosis is usually available within one business day. We are one of the few hospitals in the area that have all of our radiographs read by a specialist, and at no additional fee. This greatly improves accuracy of this test. An additional benefit of digital radiography (as opposed to traditional film) is that we can email or burn a cd of the images immediately to send to a specialist or give to the owner.
We also use digital radiography in all of our dental patients. Dental x-rays provide a huge benefit, as much of dental disease is below the gumline. Dental x-rays also allow us to plan extractions and ensure that all of the roots were removed. More information can be found on our dental link.
Parasite Prevention and Control
Intestinal Parasites: A part of wellness care is getting and keeping our pets free from any intestinal parasites. Puppies and kittens are the most susceptible, but any dog or cat can become infected. The most common intestinal parasites are hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. There are single-cell organisms such as coccidia and Giardia that are common among pets too. Be aware that people can contract intestinal parasites from pets and contaminated environments. We recommend preventative deworming of puppies and kittens and then continuing with monthly prevention throughout the lifetime of every pet. Running a yearly fecal test for parasites on each pet helps assure us no infection has developed.
Heartworm Infection: A known risk in all 50 states to both dogs and cats is the deadly heartworm disease. The state bird, the mosquito, transmits infected larva that can develop into adult worms that migrate to the heart and lungs of our pets. Infection can be prevented by using monthly medication year-round. Annual testing of all dogs is recommended to assure that the pet remains negative.
External Parasites: Using quality products to prevent external parasites helps to maintain a healthy status for our pets. Minnesota and the surrounding states have high population of a variety of ticks. Both ticks and fleas are common vectors for spreading infection and disease. You should use a monthly flea/tick preventative from early spring until late fall.
Here is a link for more information regarding parasite prevention and control:
Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) Parasite Prevalence Map
Client Education
The internet is teeming with medical and behavioral advice for pets. If you are interested in learning more about your pet’s condition, the following links have been written by, or verified by, our veterinary staff.
VeterinaryPartner.com
Fear Free®
Pet Poison Helpline®
American Association of Feline Practitioners®
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Pet Health Network®
Referral Specialists
If your pet needs advanced diagnostics and treatments, we can refer you to one of the many quality specialty centers in the twin cities.
Specialty Centers
Blue Pearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital
University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center
Ophthalmology
Dermatology
Haarstad Veterinary Dermatology
Ultrasonography & Radiology
Vetradiologist
Minnesota Veterinary Ultrasound
Veterinary Cardiology Specialists
Surgical Specialists
Twin Cities Veterinary Surgery
City of Lakes Veterinary Surgery
Direct Veterinary Surgery
Minnesota Mobile Veterinary Surgery
Behavior Options
Engmann Veterinary Behavior Consulting
Chiropractic Services
Peak Performance Animal Chiropractic
Dr. Mark LaVallie, a human chiropractor who is also licensed to provide chiropractic care in animals, is employed by BPPH and sees patients every other Wednesday morning.
Additional Resources
There are options that can help you be prepared for the unexpected…
Family pets are a part of our lives.
They are our companions, guardians, and best friends. But just like any loved one, they can fall into harm’s way or become seriously ill. Medical technology improves daily and now provides options for pets that were once reserved only for people. However, technology can be expensive; a veterinarian must not only cover the costly equipment, but also the expense of professional training and continuing education to keep staff up to date on the latest research and equipment available. There are options that can help you afford the very best wellness care for your pet, as well as be prepared for the unexpected emergency visit.
Wellness Plans
Care Credit™
Financial Assistance for Veterinary Bills – VeterinaryPartner.com resource
Is Pet Insurance Right for Me?
Pet Poison Helpline