Additional Services

Laser Therapy

We are excited about being able to provide a cold laser therapy option for your pet.  This is  new technology that uses light to help stimulate healing.  It helps shorten healing time, reduce pain and swelling, and increase circulation and healing elements.  Ask us if your pet could be a candidate for this new therapy!


Laboratory Diagnostics

At the Austin Vet Clinic we now have the ability to run a wide range of diagnostic tests in-house. This gives us the ability to run diagnostic tests on your pet and get lab results the same day or in some cases just a few minutes. In the case of those test procedures that we still do not do in-house, we can usually get results from a diagnostic facility with 24-48 hours. We recently purchased new, state of the art diagnostics for blood testing.

After examining your pet, the doctor will discuss with you which tests may be appropriate for your pet. We try to fit your needs on an individual basis and try to do what is best for your pet. If you have financial constraints, feel free to discuss this with the doctor and we will do our best to stay within your budget.

In-House Diagnostic Tests We Do



Allergies/Fleas/Skin Disorders
Nothing can make you pet more uncomfortable and unhappy than inflamed, itchy skin. Constant scratching and rubbing aggravates the problem, leading to hair loss and infection. The first step in helping your pet is to determine whether the problem is caused by parasites, bacterial or fungal infections, allergies or metabolic problems. Accurate identification of the cause of the problem is essential to successful treatment. Sometimes common problems such as fleas, allergies or mange can be surprisingly difficult to treat and commonly re-occur, unless there is an intense, long term treatment plan.


Pharmacy

At the Austin Veterinary Clinic, we maintain a large and comprehensive stock of pharmaceutical products. This helps us to quickly and efficiently treat our hospitalized patients and also allows us to provide a convenient source for your pet’s prescription needs. In the rare event that we do not have your pet’s prescription medication, we can write a prescription to the appropriate pharmacy. We try very hard to provide quality products at reasonable prices. In the case of routine prescription medications, such as Heartgard, our prices are very competitive with online pharmacies and often less expensive. Please check before you order.


Microchipping
We offer microchip identification for your pet. A tiny microchip is inserted under the skin, using sterile technique. Usually the chip cannot be felt or detected without a special machine that can read the id information electronically, when a transponder wand is passed over the back and shoulders of the pet. In the event that your pet becomes lost, most humane shelters and many pounds and veterinary clinics have transponders which can identify the owner of the pet.


Rabies Tags At the time of Rabies vaccination, at the owner’s discretion, every pet receives a Rabies tag, which can be attached to its collar. This tag indicates that the pet was vaccinated for Rabies and has the name and phone number of the Austin Veterinary Clinic. It also has a unique identification number, which is recorded in your pet’s health chart.

If your pet becomes lost and someone finds it, the finder can call the veterinary clinic and learn the name and phone number of the owner, so that your pet may be returned safely home. During office hours, this information can be found immediately.

After office hours, it may take somewhat longer to obtain owner information. This may prevent a stay at the dog pound or humane shelter. We have received phone calls about lost pets that have been found hundreds or thousands of miles away. In many cases, the owners were on vacation, when the pet strayed.


Surgical Services
At the Austin Vet Clinic, we offer many surgical services. Elective surgeries are performed on Monday through Thursday. Fridays are reserved for dental procedures. Elective surgeries are scheduled ahead of time and include procedures such as spays and neuters, cruciate repair, mass removals. 

None-elective surgeries would include high-priority procedures such as fracture repairs, intestinal surgeries and caesarian sections. We offer and strongly encourage pre-anesthetic blood testing to help detect any health problems that might cause complications during surgery. This is especially important with older pets. 

All patients are monitored closely during the surgical procedure. We currently monitor heart-rate, respiratory rate, EKG, and blood oxygen levels. Most procedures use gas anesthesia or modern injectable anesthetics with oxygen supplementation. After the procedure, your pet is placed in ICU and is monitored by staff until awake and stable. 

A few surgical procedures require at least one night of hospitalization.