Accupuncture treatments and the use of some herbal medicines can assist the animal's innate ability to heal itself.

Veterinary acupuncture is a healing science dealing with an individual animal as a living energetic being and utilizes that energy to affect a cure by restoring balance.  Western medicine focuses on symptoms and utilizes medications to eliminate the problems found. 

Both methods of healing depend upon a thorough exam and proper diagnosis.  At PRAH, we practice complementary medicine using the strengths of both systems to give your special pet the best of both worlds. 

Complementary medicine appointments tend to be longer visits than usual. You should plan on being with the doctor anywhere from 30-45 minutes. These appointments are available Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday.

Kisses without cooties are possible. Dog breath can be eliminated.

Dental care is available in many forms. The best is daily brushing with a brush and a paste that is specifically for cats & dogs.

"My pet refuses to let me brush":We have alternative options available. C.E.T chews and a product for their daily water that will overcome the most reluctant pets.

If you start good dental care and brushing habits with your pet when they are young, you will train them into good dental patients. If no dental care is given, your pet has a 75% risk of needing a surgical dental cleaning by the time they are 3 years old.

When the time arrives for a thorough dental procedure, all care will be taken as for any other surgery performed at Parker Road Animal Hospital.

This is definitely the place for owner participation and early intervention to avoid body-wide infection and/or disease because of bad teeth.

Subgingival Teeth Cleanings (surgical dental) are an anesthetic procedure and can be scheduled Monday through Friday.

The ability to find out what is wrong with your pet when they can not tell us what is wrong is crucial in providing the best care possible to your pet.

We have numerous in-house testing and diagnostic tools available to accurately diagnose your pet's health and provide appropriate treatment.  Knowing which tests to run and when the test should be performed is based on your pet's history and symptoms in combination with the doctor's physical exam findings.  Diagnostic testing can be as simple as viewing a sample of fecal material under a microscope or as complicated as a laparoscopic procedure to view and take samples of internal organs.  Sometimes diagnosing a disease is done by lab tests to eliminate other causes.

Creating a treatment plan for our patients that involves as little hospitalization time as possible, a shorter surgical procedure, or treating with as few medications as possible is our goal.  This is why testing is so important, to allow us to diagnose the illness quickly and accurately.

Diagnostics are the voice that your pet has when they are "not acting right".

Internal medical problems range from the acute case of a puppy's dietary indiscretion to the long term management of a cat with chronic kidney failure.

Hospitalization is often the most effective and cost efficient method of treatment. Parker Road Animal Hospital offers the assurance of care you would like for your self by using fluid pumps, pet warmers, an incubator for small critical patients, in-house lab work for timely treatment adjustments & monitoring, and of course, daily love and affection.

The care does not stop when the fluids do but goes home in the form of detailed discharge instructions, follow-up phone calls to assess your pet's progress at home, and recheck visits to confirm resolution of the problem.

Should your pet require intensive internal medical treatment, you are encouraged to visit your pet anytime we are open. Should your schedule not permit visits, we welcome as many phone calls as you would like to make while they are in our care.

 Our facility is not staffed 24 hours per day.

In continuity with our practice goal of improving patient care, Parker Road Animal Hospital has a sophisticated 1-port laproscopic system to provide visualization of the abdominal organs in a safe & painless, minimally invasive, procedure.

Many things can be accomplished through a small incision (about 1/2") and a camera!! Spaying, Neutering with retained testicles, visual assessment of internal organs, biopsies of suspicious lesions, to name a few more common procedures.

Laproscopic procedures require anesthesia and can be scheduled Monday through Friday.

Bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves. Let's face it, they keep your pet moving and are a major area where we can provide improved quality of life for your pet.

Whether it is a boken leg, anterior cruciate repair, or patella luxation, Dr. Dayton's pursuit of advanced training allows us to provide these surgical options to our patients.

However, Orthopedics is not just surgery. We have an array of non-invasive to minimally invasive options to offer our owners.

Acupuncture has been very successful in treating Intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) & pinched nerves. These dogs come in and can not walk. Within a few treatments they are regaining function. It is amazing. Acupuncture has delayed and sometimes avoids back surgery for these patients.

Our combination of polysulfate glycosaminoglycan injections and essential fatty acid regimen has been very successful in our treatment of Degenerative joint disease (Osteo-arthritis); reducing and in most cases eliminating the need for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Rimadyl, Deramaxx, etc... and their undesirable side effects.

Appointments can be made Monday through Saturday.

Radiology uses xrays to form a picture (radiograph) of the interior organs of animals.

These pictures are a non-invasive diagnostic tool used to determin an accurate diagnosis and treatment protocol.

As a permanent part of your pet's medical record, they are maintained here at Parker Road Animal Hospital for future reference.

One of our goals at Parker Road Animal Hospital is to acquire a digital radiology unit which will give better quality results with less exposure; as well as the ability to easily make copies for you the owner and send copies to specialists if necessary. Our target date is Fall 2010.

Xrays can be done anytime during normal business hours, including those patients requiring advance radiological studies.

Surgies on pets has come a long way. It is not just spays, neuters, and wounds anymore.

Advancements in technology and research have probably made the most impact on veterinary medicine. You can be confident, when you choose Parker Road Animal Hospital veterinarians to perform your pets surgery, our doctors stay current on the latest surgical techniques, anesthetic safety, patient comfort, and improved recovery rates for you pet.

This is accomplished by:

     1. Utilizing pre-anesthetic bloodwork to assess risk factors for our patients.

     2. Monitoring various parameters during our surgical procedures (oxygen levels, heartrate, blood pressure, body temperature).

     3. Maintaining patient stability by delivering intravenous fluids throughout surgery.

    4. Dr. Dayton's pursuit of advanced education and training in a variety of surgical techniques, especially orthopedics and laproscopic.

Surgies are performed Monday thru Friday. Emergency surgery is available on Saturdays.

Preventing disease/illness will cost you less as a pet owner than waiting for your pet to get sick.

Focusing on proper nutrition, immunizations, preventing heartworm disease, preventing intestinal parasite infection, limiting flea & ticks, and keeping your pets teeth clean are the top 6 things you can provide your pet to ensure a long and loving relationship.

For these reasons, a comprehensive physical exam every 6 months with lab tests yearly is so important to your pet's well-being. During these exams, we check the central nervous system, skeletal, respiratory, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems, eyes, ears, skin and coat, teeth and gums. A detailed blood screening checks the functioning of the liver, kidneys, pancreas and endocrine systems for any abnormalities while urine tests can detect diabetes, urinary tract infections, kidney function, stones and crystals. With blood pressure readings we can detect hypertension (high blood pressure), while EKC or ECG readiings detect heart murmurs, arrythmias, and heart disease. Early detection of many serious diseases can save your pet's life, making preventative health care the most precious gift you can give your pet.

No need to ask for this specialized care or testing. As a patient of Parker Road Animal Hospital, you can be assured these recommendations are incorrporated into your pets regular visits as they develop.