Technology

At the North Laurel Animal Hospital, we strive to bring you the latest and most effective treatments through cutting edge technology, proven and efficient training protocols and the most trusted procedures.

Penn Hip

The Penn Hip protocol was developed at the University of Pennsylvania and is designed to detect early hip laxity in dogs through a series of x-rays.  The PennHip method is the most accurate way to detect for the early onset of ostheoarthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease) which is the hallmark of Canine Hip Displaysia (CHD).

PennHip is more than a radiographic procedure.  PennHip is also a network of veterinarians and a knowledge database.  When a PennHip procedure is performed, the x-rays are sent out to the PennHipp headquarters for analysis and data storage.  As this data storage library grows, new answers are found as to the causes, prediction and genetic basis of CHD.  Findings are routinely published in scientific journals and distributed to member veterinarians.

As an early detector for CHD, you have many options to care for your pet.  If CHD goes undetected, your animals can experience pain, decreased work ability and lower quality of life due to pain and immobility of the hips.  When CHD is detected early on, corrective surgery can be performed to fix hip laxity.  This will lead to no pain, increased mobility and a higher quality of life for your pet.  Additionally, this will save the owner money in the long run because the surgery can cost less than multiple treatments for hip pain and immobility.

JustVision 400

The JustVision 400 is an advanced Ultrasonic device used to generate images externally from within the body.  This device sends ultrasonic waves through the body and is able to generate a sonograph based on their reflections, which it displays on a screen for the doctor to  analyze.  Ultrsonography can be used to diagnose disease, processes or organ changes which are not normally seen by the use of standard radiographic techniques. Frequently, this can be done without the need for sedation or anesthesia.

Beginning in 2005 the North Laurel Animal Hospital began using a Digital Flexible Fiber Optic Endoscope. This advanced piece of diagnostic equipment allows the doctors to view the esophagus, stomach, upper and middle small intestines for diseases such as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (G.E.R.D.), Gastric tumors, Helicobacter Ulcers, small intestine Inflammatory Bowel Disease, including but limited to Lymphocytic/Plasmacytic Enteritis, Eosiophilic Enteritis, and small intestinal tumors. The Endoscope can also be used to diagnose disease of the Colon in our small animal patients.

Similarly, Laparoscopy is another minimally invasive surgical technique where a small incision is made in, and surgery on the abdomen and pelvic cavities is conducted through this small incision.  This surgery uses a device known as a Laparoscope.  This is an instrument with the thickness of a ball point pen, and twice as long.  It has a camera attached to the tip and projects what it sees onto a TV screen in real time.

Here at the North Laurel Animal Hospital we use the Karl Storz Endoscope.  We have employed this trusted unit since 2005 and it has worked flawlessly to produce digital images and assist us in diagnosing internal conditions and malignancies in the nasal cavities, bladder, liver, adrenal gland, and kidneys. The Laparoscope can also be used to biopsy many of these organs.

Laparoscopic assisted Gastropexy can be performed at the North Laurel Animal Hospital to help prevent the onset of Gastric Dilatation and Torsion, all with minimal invasion into the body cavity which allows the patient to experience less post operative discomfort and allows them to return home sooner than with traditional Surgery.

In House Lab

We are able to perform a multitude of tests and analyses with our in house lab.  This offers multiple benefits to pets and their owners.  Some of those benefits include quick and accurate diagnosis, time saving, money saving and a quicker course of action.  Some of the more complex cases must be sent out for analysis such as Thyroid analysis, Urinalysis and Histopathology.  We are fully equipped to conduct most routine pathology analyses in house.  We conduct most pre-surgical blood screening in house, as well as electrocardiography, CBC (Complete Blood Count), Blood chemistries, electrolyte analysis and a host of other tests.

Our in house lab includes some of the most up to date equipment available so we can ensure accurate and quick diagnoses for your pet.  Among our lab machines are:

These three machines are able to conduct a multitude of tests, limiting what must be sent out to expensive labs, delaying the eventual diagnosis.  When samples must be sent out for analysis, we work primarily with Antech Labs and with a number of high level university medical centers such as: