Richmond Pet Health Maintenance
Internal Medicine for Your Richmond Pet
While focus at Dr. Taylor's office is disease prevention and wellness care, you can also rely on the skilled and compassionate medical team when your pet is sick. To that end, an important part of the hospital's practice is the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of diseases that can affect your pet's internal organs and body systems.
Led by experienced veterinarians and supported by advanced diagnostic technology, Locke A. Taylor Veterinary Hospital is capable of treating complex internal medicine cases such as kidney, heart, respiratory, immune-mediated and endocrine diseases.
Allergies and Skin Problems in Dogs and Cats
Allergies are quite common in dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, typically due to fleas. However, your dog may have allergies to certain foods or an inhaled irritant, like dust or pollen. Most allergies appear after the pet is six months of age, with the majority of affected dogs over age two. The most common symptom associated with allergies is itching of the skin. Other symptoms include respiratory distress (coughing, sneezing, and wheezing) or digestive problems which cause 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, which can lead 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.
It is important to be able to identify the first signs and symptoms of allergies and dermatological conditions. These include:
- Scratching, licking, chewing or biting the skin, feet and ears.
- Red, raised or 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 by one of the veterinarians at Dr. Taylor's office. We will evaluate your pet, determine the most effective method of treatment, and explain how you can prevent future problems. If left untreated, allergic reactions and skin conditions can become serious medical concerns.
Glaucoma Prevention
Glaucoma is a common condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eye increases, resulting in damage to the optic nerve. In extreme cases, this increased fluid pressure is followed by loss of vision and blindness. 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 to look for include:
- Redness in the eye
- Tearing or discharge
- Eye sensitivity to light
- Pain
- Cloudy-looking eye
- Bulging eyeball
The experienced veterinarians at Locke A. Taylor D.V.M Animal Medicine and Surgery 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 any pain or discomfort. We apply a mild anesthetic eye-drop to ensure your pet is comfortable during the exam.
Your Pet's Nutrition
Proper nutrition and a balanced diet, along with clean water, is an essential ingredient for your pet's overall good health. As your pet's caregiver, nutrition is the most significant health variable that you control.
Feeding your pet the highest-quality food you can afford is one of the best ways you can contribute to his or her health and vitality. Although the differences between premium and budget varieties may not be apparent on their nutrition labels, they are in the quality of their ingredients. Both may contain the same amount of protein but be very different when it comes to digestibility and nutritional value. Making the best nutritional choices for your dog or cat not only affects general health, but will improve the quality and length of your pet's life.
To support your efforts, the doctors at Locke A. Taylor Veterinary Hospital perform a thorough body condition evaluation during every physical examination. We can also provide you with important information on proper serving size, nutrient needs, and feeding strategies for your individual pet. We will also help you navigate pet food claims, so you can make the most informed choices.
Prescription Diets
Some pets have serious nutritional challenges or chronic conditions that benefit from a special diet. When that is the case, we may recommend feeding 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.
Locke A. Taylor Veterinary Hospital carries a diverse inventory of prescription foods and high-quality nutritional products, including Hills, Purina, Royal Canin and Iams prescription foods. If your pet requires a prescription diet we do not carry, we can easily order it for you.