Internal medicine covers a wide range of medical fields, such as cardiology, nephrology, etc.

Throughout your pet's life, this large knowledge will be used in order to understand, diagnose and treat most of the medical problems that your pet may face, regardless of the organ(s) affected.

The Vétérinaires des Plaines-du-Loup have a wide range of skills and equipment that allow them to provide state-of-the-art internal medicine, both in terms of diagnostic investigations and targeted treatments.

Our medical services

• Gastroenterology
• Dermatology
• Pneumology
• Cardiology
• Uro-nephrology
• Oto-rhino-laryngology
• Gynaecology / Obstetrics
• Endocrinology
• Ophtalmology
• Neurology
• Oncology
• Nutrition 

GASTROENTEROLOGY

Is your pet vomiting or having diarrhoea? Some digestive problems may require further examination: 

Coproscopy allows the presence of parasites in your pet's digestive system to be detected. Following this analysis, a specific treatment against the parasites found can be implemented. 

Abdominal radiology allows the visualisation of intra-abdominal organs quickly and without anaesthesia. This examination is easy and painless, and sometimes needs to be supplemented by an ultrasound scan to confirm our hypotheses. 

Gastroscopy provides direct visualisation of the oesophagus, stomach and sometimes even the duodenum. This examination allows the detection of gastric tumors, the taking of biopsies necessary for histological analyses, and the search for and removal of foreign bodies. 

Colonoscopy is used to screen for colorectal tumors and chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). For colonoscopy and gastroscopy, the Vétérinaire des Plaines-du-Loup has specific endoscopes, the latest equipment in the veterinary field.

We have high quality digital radiology, which allows us to communicate with other colleagues or to make specific and detailed reports. 

DERMATOLOGY

Your four-legged friend keeps licking himself, his skin is irritated or his hair has disappeared from certain areas of his body? Here are a few possibilities among the many skills of the practice to help you. 

Skin analysis

Our practice is equipped with a binocular microscope which is very useful in dermatology, particularly in the search for skin parasites: parasites responsible for sarcoptic mange, demodecia, etc. It can also be used to identify the presence of malassezia (yeast) or ringworm (mycosis).

Allergy screening and desensitisation protocol

Your dog, can have multiple allergies (to flea bites, dust mites, pollens, lactose, beef, etc.). The identification of allergens is often long and laborious, and requires real teamwork between the vet and the pet owner. The treatment most often consists of a hypoallergenic diet accompanied by a topical treatment.

In order to avoid a long trial process to find the most suitable food, the practice uses specific tests that relate the animal's sensitivity to the components of different foods. Sometimes a desensitisation protocol may be necessary.

Skin biopsy

In some cases, a skin biopsy may be indicated. Observation under the microscope allows us to be more precise about the origin of the problem, the reactions that the body has set up and the treatment to be used. Sedation is often necessary, so that the procedure is painless for the animal.

PNEUMOLOGY

Some respiratory diseases may require further investigation: :

Endoscopy and fibroscopy

Endoscopy and fibroscopy allow direct visualisation of the sinuses, larynx and airways. These instruments are very useful for the search for and removal of foreign bodies in the sinuses (spikelets, blades of grass). This examination also allows biopsies to be taken for histological analysis, particularly when a tumour is suspected.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL)

Bronchoalveolar lavage consists of collecting liquid from the deep respiratory tract (bronchi, bronchioles). This fluid, loaded with cellular debris and possible pathogens, is then examined under the microscope and cultured to determine whether bacteria or other infectious agents are responsible for the pathology.

Radiology

Chest X-rays are used to visualise the heart contour and lung tissue. These images are taken within minutes and without anaesthetic.

CARDIOLOGY

Our practice is equipped with an electrocardiograph to obtain the electrical activity of the heart (ECG) and a blood pressure measuring device to detect cardiac anomalies. Our radiology and ultrasound equipment also enables us to detect cardiomegaly and pulmonary oedema. For more specific diagnoses, when a major problem is suspected, the animal is referred to a veterinary cardiologist.

URO-NEPHROLOGY

Our practice is equipped with a binocular microscope, which is very useful for analysing urine sediments and detecting the presence of urine blood, bacteria or crystals. Some animals are no longer able to concentrate their urine and the refractometer allows us to check this important point, in order to determine, for example, whether the kidneys are still functioning properly.

OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGY

With the otoscope we inspect the entire ear canal up to the eardrum to assess its integrity. The otoscope also allows us to detect any foreign bodies (spikes, weeds, etc.), inflammation or the presence of earwax. Our brand new video-otoscope allows us to take pictures of the auditory canals, in order to show you what your animal is suffering from and also to be able to judge the effectiveness of the treatment, with pictures to support it.

GYNAECOLOGY / OBSTETRICS

Would you like to have the joy of welcoming many babies into your home? Or would you rather avoid a few surprises? We can help you.

Determining the ideal time for mating

Traditionally, it is recommended that the bitch be brought to the male every 2 days, from day 9 to day 13 of the cycle, from the start of blood flow. However, the length of the cycle can vary greatly, with some bitches ovulating as early as day 4 of the cycle and others waiting until day 18. The survival of the eggs (ovum) is short, so in cases of infertility, it is best to determine the ideal mating time by a blood test. Progesterone, the hormone responsible for pregnancy, can be measured to determine the time of ovulation, and therefore the right time for mating.

Diagnosis of gestation

Diagnosis can be made as early as the 3rd week of gestation by ultrasound, and from the 45th day by X-ray. This radiological diagnosis allows the number of babies to be counted and to ensure that their size is compatible with an exit through the mother's natural channels.

 

Cesarean section

In the event of a complicated birth, or in certain breeds of dog with a predisposition (French bulldog, English bulldog, Boston terrier, Pekingese, etc.), it may be preferable to have a caesarean section. This procedure is performed under general anaesthesia, and must be quick to ensure the survival of the puppies/kittens.

The anaesthesia protocols that we use today allow us to significantly reduce the risk of losing newborns.

Sterilisation by implant or injection

If you have a pet intended for reproduction, or if you are still hesitating to sterilise your pet, temporary solutions exist! An implant the size of a grain of rice has been designed to suspend the fertility of the entire male dog for a minimum of 6 months. Without the need for anaesthesia, the implant is performed in a single subcutaneous injection near the dog's navel and the active substance is released gradually and continuously for at least 6 months. After the first implantation, functional infertility is obtained after 6 weeks. The effect is reversible after one or more implantations, and the majority of dogs have normal sperm characteristics again within a year of treatment. This technique can be adapted to cats.

Medical treatments are also possible in females, but should be used with caution due to the risk of uterine infection.

ENDOCRINOLOGY

The aim of the endocrinology consultation is to diagnose and treat hormonal diseases affecting dogs and cats.

A wide range of reasons can lead to an endocrinology consultation: excessive drinking and urination, excessive appetite or anorexia, obesity without excessive eating or unexplained weight loss, changes in drinking habits, skin disorders...

Diagnosis is usually made by blood tests, and most hormonal diseases (diabetes mellitus, Cushing's syndrome, hyperaldosteronism, Addison's disease, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, diabetes insipidus, etc.) are treated effectively and the symptoms disappear.

OPHTALMOLOGY

Ophtalmoscope

The ophthalmoscope allows us to examine your pet's eyes and their various parts (cornea, lens, retina, etc.) in detail. It also allows us to test different eye reflexes, to check if your pet's visual abilities are correct.

Eye surgery

Important technical resources are now available in veterinary ophthalmology and allow us to treat, medically or surgically, a large number of ocular affections. At Les Plaines-du-Loup, we perform various ophthalmological surgeries (correction of entropion or ectropion, dislocation of the nictitating gland, trichiasis, enucleation...).

 

NEUROLOGY

Neurological disorders are quite common in veterinary medicine, especially in older dogs and in certain breeds known as chondrodystrophic (bulldogs, pugs, etc.). Most of these disorders can be treated medically, however some cases require further examination in order to make a correct diagnosis. When a MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is necessary, patients are referred to a specialist in veterinary neurology.

ONCOLOGY

Veterinary oncology (or cancerology) has made huge progress in recent years from a diagnostic and therapeutic point of view.

At Les Plaines-du-Loup, we have high-performance equipment (radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy) which allows us to make an early diagnosis and a precise assessment of extension.

Depending on the type of tumour, treatment can be surgical or medical. Our LigaSure technology and our laser allow us to perform the various oncological surgeries with the greatest precision while avoiding the risk of dissemination of cancerous cells. Chemotherapy is also in full swing. At our practice, we strive to keep up with the latest advances and therapeutic innovations in this field. Depending on the type of tumour, chemotherapy sessions can significantly increase the life expectancy of the animal, bring a very important improvement in its quality of life, or sometimes cure it definitively.

NUTRITION

Nutrition advice according to your pet's needs

Dogs and cats do not eat the same things as we do. Their needs vary according to their lifestyle, their stage of development and their size. We are very careful to recommend a suitable diet throughout their lives in order to optimise their immune defences, to respect the metabolism of their organs and thus to prevent diseases.

The food sold in our veterinary practice is of high quality and respects these objectives. Today, we are all convinced that the slogan "one day, our food will be our best medicine" is correct.

Customised rations on request