The Windsor Animal Clinic is located in Dimondale, Michigan, on M-99.  The owner and Veterinarian, Dr. Jeff Cripps, has 25 years of experience that he uses to solve your cat or dog’s problem, condition, or any questions you may have about the care and treatment of your pet in an efficient and friendly manner.  Staffed with the Vet Tech, Sara, and myself, we will have your pet feeling “right as rain” in no time!

Some of the things we do “in house”:

We do the general health and well-being procedures, such as wellness exams, preventative medicine, parasite control, rabies vaccinations and annual vaccinations to keep your pet happy and healthy.  If you wonder about what we check during a routine physical, stop by the page next door to learn more!

In addition, we offer many other tests and procedures for the times things may go wrong, or if you have a concern for the health of your pet.  Some of these include:

Ovarian hysterectomy (spay)/Castration (neuter)

This is done using gas anesthesia instead of injectable anesthesia, which can be monitored and followed with more detail, as well as the ability to counteract it if an allergic reaction occurs (this is very rare, but it is possible).  We are able to watch such things as O2,CO2,gas anesthetic delivery, EKG, pulse ox monitoring, and BP.  We also use a surgical CO2 laser for the surgery itself.

Using a CO2 laser is different than the “regular” surgeries being done in that there are many advantages when done correctly and attentively.  Some of these include:

Less pain and bleeding: The laser seals nerve endings, shortening the time needed to be on anesthesia which reduces the risk of complications and reducing the amount of pain post-surgery.  It also seals off small blood vessels during surgery instead of tying them off.

Less swelling and inflammation: Since it doesn’t crush, tear or bruise tissue like a traditional blade can, there is less swelling as the body fixes this tissue, and there is less itching and scratching at the surgical sight post-op.

Greater accuracy and less risk of infection: the laser can remove unhealthy tissue without damaging surrounding healthy tissue and it sterilizes as it works, burning off any bacteria that cause infection.

All of this leads to less stress on your pet post-op.

Ultrasound

This device is what we use to look at soft tissue. This includes organs like the spleen, kidneys, heart, bladder and possible pregnancy questions to name a few. This also helps us to guide a needle for aspirate collection for analysis. A lot of information can be gained with this procedure that many tests cannot cover with as much clarity.

In-House Lab

We can run a large variety of diagnostic lab-work in our facility to lower the wait time on results, since the samples do not need to leave the premises in most cases.  Some of the things we do are blood chemistries, CBCs, blood profiles, T4 analyses, cytologies, urinalyses and flow cytometries, among other things.  Some procedures we can also begin for you, such as collecting the samples for an Environmental Allergen Panel to determine if your pet requires antigen injections for a chronic condition, or collecting biopsies to send out.  For a full list and explanation, please visit the Windsor Animal Clinic Homepage.

Scoping

With a fiber optic scope, we can do things such as observe, collect certain biopsies, and even conduct a foreign body removal with less discomfort and quicker recovery time.  This can be anywhere from the ears and nose of your pet to the stomach or intestines.

Dentistry

A dentistry can prevent some serious problems down the road, between the rot and loss of teeth, to helping with bad breath or even treating an infection or loss of appetite before it becomes a serious issue.

All patients undergo a physical before being anaesthetized, as well as checking to be sure that all vaccines and standard tests are up to date. Often times, we will also do blood-work to ensure that no additional problems exist before we begin.

We begin with tartar removal, then any subgingival root planings and tooth extractions that are needed, then we polish, do a fluoride treatment, and give any pain medication that is required.  We also offer dental X-rays, if needed.

X-rays

We do our own X-rays in-house for diagnostic procedures like examining or checking for fractured bones, skeletal disorders, joint issues, cruciate ligament injuries, arthritis, bone cancer, intervertebral disc disease, skull injuries, changes in shape, size or placement of abdominal organs (ultrasound can check inside that organ in greater details, but with less placement information than X-rays), some foreign objects (though some may not show up on an X-ray, like plastic objects), and chest X-rays for signs like difficulty breathing or suspected heart or lung diseases. As always, any test may need another type to fully analyze the situation, but X-rays can be a useful tool for spotting concerns and determining a direction for treatment or tests for more detailed information.

Dermatology

We look into many possible skin conditions that can affect your pet’s health and well-being.  This usually involves allergies and parasites, or questions of “why is my pet so itchy?” Most allergies are either food, environment or flea allergies.

For food, we can start your pet on a food test or elimination diet with home-made or prescription diets to alleviate the irritation on your pet’s digestive system.

Environmentally, we need to find the source for a dog’s itching, which can come from things like dust mites and plant pollens to common trees found outside.  Some dogs are even allergic to the cats in their homes or neighborhood!  But, don’t panic.  If this is true, you don’t have to pick between Mittens and Fido and cut down every White Pine in the area.  We can set up antigen (desensitization) injections for the afflicted pet that the owner can give right at home, eliminating many other medications that, over time, can cause long-term harm.

Flea allergies (also mange and ticks) can be determined with biopsies of the irritated skin, as well as endocrine problems (like thyroid imbalances or Cushings) so your pet can be set up on a treatment program for relief.

We cover many other things as well to keep your pet in tip-top condition, so please feel free to visit our homepage by clicking on the logo below for any information you need!