We your Pets

We are proud of our exceptional service and care that we provide to both you and your pet. We are all animal owners and understand that special care is required for each individual pet, no matter what type of pet.

Dandenong Ranges Veterinary Centre

Medical/Surgical Facilities


Medical/Surgical Facilities

Our highly skilled and experienced veterinary surgeons can perform a wide range of procedures in our fully equipped veterinary surgery.

Anaesthesia

We tailor our anaesthetics to be as safe as possible for your pet. Pre-anaesthetic blood tests help to detect any health issues which may impact the safety of anaesthesia. All animals receiving sedation or anaesthesia will have a haematology profile tested included in the cost of the sedation or anaesthetic. This profile checks the red blood cell count, haematocrit (PCV), haemoglobin levels, white blood cell counts and platelet levels (an important factor in blood clotting). For a small extra charge, we offer an additional biochemistry screening test which checks some liver enzymes, kidney enzymes, protein and glucose levels. This test also includes a basic urine screening test if required (and if we are able to collect a sample on the day). This extra blood test is optional but particularly recommended for older patients or patients with pre-existing health concerns. If abnormalities are found on these screening tests sometimes additional testing is needed or the procedure may need to be delayed.

All patients having full general anaesthesia receive a pre-medication with sedatives and pain relief, helping to ensure a smooth anaesthetic and recovery. Intravenous fluids are also given to all patients having heavy sedation or anaesthesia, helping to maintain hydration and blood pressure and ensure a speedy recovery.

All anaesthetics are extensively monitored by a dedicated surgical nurse. State of the art monitoring equipment checks heart rate, breath rate, blood oxygen levels, blood pressure & core body temperature.

Surgery

Our experienced veterinary surgeons can perform a wide range of surgical procedures, including:

  • desexing
  • umbilical hernia repair
  • lump removals
  • wound repair and exploration/drainage of abscesses
  • biopsies
  • some orthopaedic procedures such as femoral head excision, correction of luxating patellas and ruptured cruciate ligaments in small to medium sized dogs
  • exploratory abdominal surgery such as to remove foreign objects from the intestines (e.g. toys, corn cobs, rocks!) or to biopsy abdominal organs
  • surgical removal of bladder stones
  • amputations
  • some eye procedures such as correction of cherry eye, eyelid tumour removals, third eyelid flaps, etc.

X-Rays

We pride ourselves on the quality of x-rays that can be produced with our equipment. We have direct digital x-ray image capture displayed on a specific high definition black & white screen to produce exceptionally detailed radiographic images. The images can be sent via e-mail to specialists or copied to a disc or USB stick if required. One of the main advantages of having digital x-ray imaging is the speed of the procedure meaning that animals need to be under sedation for less time & some x-rays can be taken within the time for a normal consultation. Most animals need sedation so that they can remain still long enough to capture an image without movement blur. Also, sometimes an animal may be in pain & resent being positioned to allow a clear picture of the problem area to be examined. Sedation - including a strong pain killer - helps relax & relieve their discomfort. It also makes the procedure safer for our staff so they don't have to be holding the animal's limbs or body when the x-rays are taken (less radiation exposure).

Ultrasound

We also have a laptop-sized ultrasound that can give us a clear indication of the internal structure of abdominal organs including the kidneys, bladder, liver, spleen, pancreas, stomach, intestines, lymph nodes & adrenal glands. It can also be used to determine the pregnancy status of breeding animals & for examining other soft tissue structures like tendons & body lumps. Some assessment of the structure of the heart can also be determined using our ultrasound. For complete & detailed assessment of the heart, a specialist veterinary cardiologist can visit our surgery so you don't have to travel with your pet.

Laboratory Testing

Here at DRVC we have a comprehensive in-house laboratory suite allowing us to perform a range of blood and urine tests with rapidly available results. In addition, we utilise external laboratories to perform a wide range of additional tests as required to diagnose and treat all kinds of medical conditions including diabetes, hyperthyroidism, Cushing’s disease, Addison’s disease, etc.

Overnight Monitoring

Although we do not have 24-hour staffing, we can offer overnight hospitalisation for certain patients. Our vets will come into the clinic to check on patients as required overnight. For intensive care patients that require constant monitoring we may advise taking them to a specialized emergency centre overnight. There are several emergency centres within 30-40 minutes’ drive of Dandenong Ranges Veterinary Centre.

Emergencies

Emergency cases after hours are referred to an intensive care emergency centre in Narre Warren (Casey Pet Emergency). Your call to our phone number ((03) 9751 2999) can be directly transferred to the Casey Pet Emergency after hours or you can contact them directly on (03) 8790 1625. There are also 24-hour Animal Emergency Centres in Mount Waverley (03 9803 8122) and Dandenong (1300 385 874). A summary of your pet’s treatment & assessment at the emergency centre overnight is usually emailed to us the following day so that we can update your pet’s history on our files.

Referral to Veterinary Specialists

Sometimes certain cases will require specialist veterinary attention. We can refer to a complete range of specialty veterinary services in Melbourne, including eye specialists, oncologists (cancer specialists), veterinary behaviour specialists, reproductive/mating services, specialist surgeons and internal medicine specialists. Veterinary MRI & CT scanning facilities are also available at most of the specialist centres in Melbourne. After a referral the specialist will send us a report of the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the referred patient. We can then work collaboratively with the specialists to provide ongoing care and follow-up treatment where appropriate.

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