Advancements in medical technology are everywhere, including within the veterinary industry.  At TVH, we pride ourselves in staying on top of what's happening, and seeking out the latest advancements and how they can help your pets right here at TVH.

Some of our advanced equipment and technology:

Class 4 Cold Laser Therapy

Ultrasound

Stem Cell Therapy

Digital X-Ray

 

Class 4 Cold Laser Therapy 

If you're seeking an alternative to drugs for pain management for your pet, Laser Therapy may be a good option.  Laser therapy has been proven effective on a variety of ailments or conditions including:

  •  
    Wounds
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    Acute Conditions
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    Allergies
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    Infections
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    Cuts/ Bites
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    Inflammations
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    Tooth Extraction
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    Pain Relief
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    Sprains, Strains & Fractures
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    Post-Surgical Healing / Pain Relief
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    Chronic Conditions
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    Degenerative Joint Disease
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    Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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    Periodontal Disease
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    Lick Granulomas
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    Geriatric Care
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    Hip Dysplasia
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    Feline Acne
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    Tendonitis
  •  
    Arthritis

 

We offer laser therapy in single treatments or in three or six session packages.  Ask one of our Veterinarians if Laser Therapy may benefit your pet.

 

Ultrasound

Our ultrasound equipment is almost identical to that used within human medicine. It allows our Veterinarians to view soft tissue in real time without exposing your pet to numerous X-rays and sedation. 

 

Why May My Pet Need an Ultrasound Exam?

Ultrasound exams can be performed for a wide variety of reasons. If you've ever known anyone who has been pregnant, they've probably had an ultrasound. However, in veterinary medicine, because ultrasound is a safe, repeatable way to look inside the body, it has become a very useful tool for many other situations.

Your veterinarian may have requested an ultrasound exam of your pet for one of the following reasons:

  • Bloodwork which has abnormalities
  • Constant Vomiting or diarrhea lasting multiple days
  • Weight loss
  • Chronic infections
  • Urinary changes, usually less frequency
  • To gain a 'baseline' ultrasound, generally for senior pets
  • Cancer staging
  • Check for Fluid in chest or abdomen
  • Pregnancy- can also identify number of fetuses in womb


What can an Ultrasound tell you? 

Ultrasound allows us to examine internal organs for location, size, shape, texture and blood supply.  Unfortunately, ultrasound does not always give us a clear picture of how well the specific organ is working, this may be determined by other tests such as bloodwork or additional imaging. 

It is not uncommon to find “masses” within the organs being examined by ultrasound although many of these turn out to be normal changes that occur as patients age.  It cannot always be determined by ultrasound alone if the mass is benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancer).  The doctor will look at your pet’s medical history and current concern, as well as the entire ultrasound exam to make a diagnosis and recommendations for further tests.  

Further tests may include an ultrasound-guided aspirate of a mass found on ultrasound (obtaining a very small sample of the tissue with a needle), bloodwork, additional imaging, recheck imaging or surgery.  You will always be contacted prior to any additional procedures.

 

Digital X-ray

It's almost hard to believe that X rays have been in use within the medical field since 1895.  Although we haven't been using them here at TVH for that long, there were the days where we did take film X rays and developed them within the hospital.  Those days are long gone, and we have updated the technology to digital.  Not only does digital X ray allow us to make a faster diagnosis on a pet, but it allows us to share those images with consulting radiologists around the country if necessary.At TVH, we have 2 different types of X ray equipment. Both use the same technology. First is our full-body X-ray machine, which allows us to X ray any part of your pet, from head to tail.  The other is in our Dental Suite which allows us to identify dental issues which may lie below the gumline.

 

Stem Cell Therapy

The name sounds controversial, but it's not.  We're not talking about embryonic stem cells, which you may have heard about in news reports regarding human scientific research.  In stem cell therapy for your pet, we use adipose tissue (fat) which we harvest from your pet while under anesthesia.  We then use a highly specialized process to extract stem cells from the adipose tissue.  Those stem cells are then injected into areas of your pet where they are experiencing pain.  The results are remarkable for most pets, especially in the treatment of arthritis and painful joints; using the body's own cells to heal itself. These procedures are done in-house at Tampa Veterinary Hospital. There is also an option to send your pet's stem cells to be banked to be used for future treatments.

Platelet Rich Plasma

In recent years, veterinary medicine has seen significant advancements in treatment options, and one of the most promising therapies to emerge is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy. PRP therapy, originally developed for human medicine, has found its way into the world of veterinary care, offering a range of benefits for our beloved pets. 

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is a cutting-edge regenerative medicine technique that harnesses the natural healing properties of platelets found in blood. It involves the collection and concentration of platelets from a small blood sample taken from the pet. These platelets are rich in growth factors, which play a crucial role in tissue repair and regeneration. Unlike Stem Cell Therapy, your pet does not need to be put under anesthesia, so the treatment is less invasive. After the blood is drawn, the platelets are separated from the blood sample and a serum is made. This serum is injected into your pet's source of pain.

This procedure is used in human medicine, and many professional athletes have benefitted from PRP to speed healing following injury.