Internal Medicine for Your Medford Pet

Despite the very best preventive care, your pet may still become sick. When this happens, it is stressful for both you and your pet, especially because you can't ask your companion what's wrong. You need a skilled veterinarian whom you can trust to accurately diagnose and effectively treat your pet.

While the focus at Medford Animal Hospital and Wellness Clinic is your pet's wellness, an important part of the services we offer is the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of diseases that can affect your pet's internal organs and body systems. Experienced veterinarians, supported by advanced diagnostic technology, are able to quickly identify and effectively treat a range of complex internal medicine diseases.

Glaucoma Prevention

Glaucoma is a common condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eye increases, resulting in damage to the optic nerve and the possibility for weakening or loss of vision. There are two types of glaucoma. Primary or chronic glaucoma is hereditary or develops as your pet ages. Secondary or acute glaucoma develops as the result of an injury or illness. Because secondary glaucoma can progress rapidly, it is considered an emergency situation.

Symptoms of glaucoma include:

• Redness in the eye
• Tearing or discharge
• Eye sensitivity to light
• Pain
• Cloudy-looking eye
• Bulging eyeball

The Importance of Glaucoma Screening

The experienced veterinarians at Medford Animal Hospital and Wellness Clinic recommend that your pet receive a routine glaucoma exam as part of his or her regular wellness care. The exam is not only an effective screening measure for chronic and acute glaucoma, it can also help set a baseline measurement of your pet's normal intraocular pressure (IOP). Establishing an IOP baseline is important because the normal measurement can vary between species, breeds and even individual pets.

This is a noninvasive, simple procedure that should not cause your pet pain or discomfort. We apply a mild anesthetic eye-drop to ensure your pet is comfortable during the exam.

Allergies and Skin Problems in Dogs and Cats

Allergies are quite common in dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, typically due to fleas, certain foods, and environmental irritants. Most allergies appear after the pet is 6 months of age. The most common symptom associated with allergies is itching of the skin, either localized or generalized. Other symptoms include respiratory distress (coughing, sneezing and wheezing), or digestive problems causing vomiting, flatulence or diarrhea.

Flea allergy is the most common allergy in cats. A normal cat experiences only minor skin irritation at the site of the bite. The flea-allergic cat on the other hand has a severe, itch-producing reaction when the flea's saliva is deposited in the skin. Just one bite causes such intense itching that the cat may severely scratch or chew itself, leading to hair loss and open sores or scabs on the skin. The area most commonly involved is over the rump or base of the tail.

Symptoms of Pet Skin Allergy

It is important to be able to identify the first signs and symptoms of allergies and dermatological conditions:

• Scratching, licking, chewing or biting of skin, feet and ears
• Red, raised, scaly areas on the skin
• Bumps, crusts or pus-filled vesicles on the skin
• Increased skin pigmentation
• Thickened skin
• Loss of hair
• Salivary staining (brown color)
• Head shaking

If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, please make an appointment to have him or her seen at Medford Animal Hospital and Wellness Clinic. We will evaluate your pet, determine the most effective method of treatment and explain how you can prevent future problems. The hospital can also provide pets with food-allergy diet trials and has both oral and topical medication to help with the management and treatment of chronic or acute pet allergies. If left untreated, allergic reactions and skin conditions can become serious medical concerns.

Pet Behavior Counseling at Medford Animal Hospital and Wellness Clinic

Even with the right training and plenty of attention and love, your dog or cat may develop bad habits or unwanted behaviors. Please don't make the mistake of believing that you and your family must live with these problems, or worse, consider giving up your pet.

Medford Animal Hospital and Wellness Clinic offers behavior counseling for many of your pet's problems, including storm and noise phobias, inappropriate urination or defecation, aggression, separation anxiety, inappropriate chewing and barking, the introduction of new pets into your household and more.

Pet Behavior Assessment

The assessment begins with your pet's clinical history and a thorough medical examination. Before beginning behavior therapy, any medical problems that have been diagnosed will be treated. If staff members cannot help with your pet's behavior problem, we can refer you to a board-certified animal behavior specialist.

Your Pet's Nutrition

A balanced diet, along with clean water, are essential for your pet's overall good health. As your pet's caregiver, nutrition is the most significant health variable that you control.

To support your efforts, the doctors at Medford Animal Hospital and Wellness Clinic perform a thorough body condition evaluation during every physical examination, and give recommendations based on what we see. We can also provide you with important information on proper serving size, nutrient needs and feeding strategies for your pet. We will help you navigate pet food claims so you can make the most informed choices.

Prescription Diets for Medford Pets

Some pets have serious nutritional challenges or chronic conditions that benefit from a special diet. When this is the case, we may recommend feeding your pet a special prescription diet. Making this change can have a significant positive impact on your pet's overall health and well-being.

Prescription diets benefit medical conditions such as liver disease, bladder and kidney disease, digestive problems, renal failure, food allergies, diabetes and more. Medford Animal Hospital and Wellness Clinic carries a diverse inventory of prescription foods and high-quality nutritional products, including Hill's Science Diet brand, Royal Canin, and Purina DM. If your pet requires a prescription diet we do not carry, we can easily order it for you.