When our pets become ill they are unable to communicate to us how they are feeling. After a thorough physical exam by a Veterinarian, we are often left with questions as to the source of the illness. The next step in veterinary medicine, as with people, is often analysis of blood and/or urine.
At Mitchell Mill Animal Hospital we have invested in the most modern lab equipment to ensure that your pet receives the most accurate diagnosis and treatment. . With it we are able to evaluate your pet’s liver, kidneys, electrolytes, blood proteins, and more within just 15 minutes using only a few drops of blood. This technology is indispensible in the case of an emergency or critical illness, and can even mean the difference between life and death for some of our patients.
Other uses for veterinary blood profiles include pre-anesthetic testing (tests to ensure that your pet is healthy for anesthesia and surgery), drug monitoring (tests for liver and kidney function for pets on long-term medications such as rimadyl and phenobarbitol), and senior screening blood tests (blood panel recommended for older pets, age 10 years or older, once a year to screen for developing diseases).
If you have any questions regarding blood testing for your pet please stop by or call us at 919-266-8177.
Is Laser Surgery Right For Your Pet?
Mitchell Mill Animal Hospital offers laser surgery options for your Pet.
Laser surgery reduces your pet's recovery time and results in less bleeding, less swelling, and less post-operative pain than traditional surgery.
Laser Surgery is available for spays, neuters, de-claws, tumor removal and soft tissue surgery.
What Is A Laser?
A laser is a device that generates an intense beam of light that can cut, seal or vaporize tissue. Lasers have been successfully used in human medicine for over 30 years.
The knowledge gained in human medicine is beneficial for your pets. Your pet's health is as important to us as it is to you. Advances in veterinary medicine now allow us to offer laser surgery as an exciting new option for safer, more comfortable treatment. In many procedures, the laser can replace the scalpel and provide a better alternative to traditional surgery.
Why Laser Surgery?
Less Pain
The laser seals nerve endings as it "cuts." As a result, your pet will experience less pain and be more comfortable post operatively.
Less Bleeding
The Laser seals small blood vessels during surgery. This speeds many procedures, reducing the amount of time your pet will be under anesthesia, which further reduces potential complications.
·Less Swelling
Laser energy does not crush, tear, or bruise tissue because the only thing that touches your pet is an invisible beam of light.
What Does This Mean For My Pet?
·Reduced Risk of Infection
The laser energy acts as an antimicrobial/antibacterial agent by producing high temperatures, effectively eliminating microorganisms.
Precision
The laser can remove unhealthy tissue while minimizing adverse effects to the healthy surrounding tissue.
Quick Return to Normal Activities
Healing is rapid and there is less post-operative discomfort and a better course of healing.
Animal Dentistry
Why is dental care important for pets? The American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three. Besides affecting the mouth, this disease can lead to more serious health problems including heart, lung, and kidney disease, which makes it all more the important that you provide your pets with proper dental care from the start.
What is periodontal disease? Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissue surrounding the teeth that takes hold in progressive stages. Initially, bacteria cause tartar which leads to plaque build-up. If unchecked, this build-up can form an infection around the root of the tooth. In the final stages, the tissue around the tooth erodes and the tooth becomes loose. This is a very painful process for our pets.
Central Animal Hospital also has advanced digital dental x-rays available to allow for the early diagnosis and treatment of this potentially serious and painful disease.
What will happen during the dental visit? Depending on the age of the pet, a current exam and blood work will be needed to check for any potentially dangerous heart, kidney or other conditions. A short-acting anesthetic will be administered so that the teeth can be cleaned thoroughly. The technician will then scale and polish the teeth and extractions will be performed if necessary.
MLS Laser Therapy - A plan for a pain free pet
Conventional Laser therapy has been in use for more than 25 years. More than 3,000 scientific publications test its effectiveness and the validity of this approach. It has been demonstrated that it is not toxic and it has no side effects. Today, it is used as a monotherapy or as a complementary therapy. Until now, the challenge with Laser Therapy has been its inability to treat deep-seeded pathologies, since it is used with low to medium power. We are pleased to provide our clients with the most advanced technology available today to leverage the benefits associated with laser therapy: MLS Harmony Therapy.
What is MLS Harmony Therapy?
MLS Therapy is a new therapy for treating pain, inflammation, and edema and for repairing superficial lesions. It was developed to overcome the limits of traditional Laser therapy, based on the use of diode lasers. Currently, no diode laser is able to induce strong anti-inflammatory, anti-edema and analgesic effects simultaneously and within a short period of time. Continuous Laser emissions act fast on inflammation, stimulating blood and lymphatic circulation and inducing fast re-absorption of fluid build-ups; however, they only have a secondary effect on pain, which is diminished after reducing the inflammatory process. Pulsed Laser emissions, on the other hand, have an immediate effect on pain, since they are able to produce analgesia, interfering with their very transmission of the pain impulse to the higher brain centers, but they are less effective at treating inflammation and edema, only achieving results after a long period of application. Until now, no diode laser was able to induce strong anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, and analgesic effects simultaneously and within a short period of time. MLS Therapy is able to overcome the limits imposed by selecting one of the two emission types, since it is based on the characteristic therapeutic properties of a new Laser pulse. It uses an MLS pulse, which combines and synchronizes emission of continuous and pulsed Laser emissions with different infrared wavelengths. The patented control system that generates the MLS pulse synchronizes the two emissions.
Thanks to this characteristic synchronization, the various therapeutic effects – anti-inflammatory and anti-edema of the continuous emission and analgesic of the pulsed emission –not only take place at the same time but reciprocally reinforce each other. Because of this, MLS therapy is able to guarantee effectiveness and short treatment times when treating numerous osteo-muscular system diseases and when repairing superficial lesions.
Indications for Laser Therapy The most common Laser Therapy indications are:
Arthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease)
Back Pain (Intervertebral Disc Disease)
Trauma (Skin, Muscle, Bone)
Wounds (Trauma)
Surgery (Incisions, Growth Removals, Bone Surgery)
Inflammatory Conditions:
Acute or chronic otitis (Ear problems)
Anal Gland inflammation
Periodontal Disease (Gingivitis)
Hot Spots
Lick Granulomas
Idiopathic Cystitis - (Bladder Inflammation)
Sinusitis, Rhinitis (Nasal problems)
Frequently Asked Questions
What wavelengths are used in the MLS therapy? MLS therapy uses both the 808nm and 905nm wavelengths simultaneously. The 808nm wavelength is delivered using continuous emission while the 905nm wavelength is delivered using pulsed emission.
Why are two wavelengths used?
MLS Therapy uses two wavelengths to overcome the limits of traditional Laser Therapy. Traditional Laser therapy does not deliver both wave lengths in a reinforcing and synchronized fashion. Continuous laser emissions act fast on inflammation, stimulating blood and lymphatic circulation and inducing fast re-absorption of fluid build ups; however they only have a secondary effect on pain, which is diminished after reducing the inflammatory process. Pulsed laser emissions, on the other hand, have a practically immediate effect on pain, since they are able to induce analgesia, interfering with the very transmission of the pain impulse to the higher brain centers, but they are less effective at treating inflammation and edema.
Is MLS Therapy approved by the FDA? Yes, the FDA has approved the use of MLS therapy and it is also patented via the US Patent Office.
What is the advantage of MLS therapy over traditional low level lasers? (LLLT) MLS Therapy is able to induce strong anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, and analgesic effects simultaneously and within a short period of time. LLLT cannot achieve these results because of the limitations of using one or two wavelengths that are not synchronized. The patented control system that generates the MLS pulse synchronizes the emissions to achieve results previously unattainable. Thanks to this characteristic synchronization, the various therapeutic effects not only take place at the same time but reciprocally reinforce each other.
What is the depth of penetration of the Harmony laser? The depth of penetration will vary based on the animal but it is safe to assume that it will penetrate 4-5 cm on most animals.
How many treatments are usually needed to get results? Results can often been seen after the first treatment. Most conditions have protocols that range from 6-10 treatments. The treatments are cumulative and are delivered 2-3 times per week for 2-3 weeks.
What is the cost of each treatment?
The treatments can range from $40 per treatment. There is a 6 treatment package sold for $240 with a seventh treatment given for free.
How was MLS Therapy developed and tested?
MLS Therapy has been developed and tested following a strict course of biomedical and clinical research. The effectiveness of the combination of the emissions making up the MLS pulse was initially tested in vitro on cellular cultures, then in vivo on animals, and finally by means of controlled clinical trials run by major state-of--the-art health organizations for treating traumatic and degenerative painful diseases.
Clinical Benefits of Laser Therapy
The benefits of laser therapy are relatively new in the veterinary industry. Despite this, clients are quick to adopt the technology as they see a marked improvement in the health of their pets, quickly and free of side-effects.
MLS Harmony is the most advanced small animal laser on the market. The breakthrough of the multi wave system offers greater benefit to the patient that any one wavelength alone.
Benefits include intense anti-inflammatory and anti-endemic effects, and also strong analgesic effect.
Quicker Recovery
As a result of all of the above, laser therapy provides the benefit you will appreciate the most: a quicker recovery for your pet.
Grooming
We are happy to announce we have Groomer Ruth available to serve all your grooming needs. Groomer Ruth has over 15 years of experience styling your furry friends. She is a member of the National Dog Groomers Association of America Inc. She is one of only two NGAA groomers in the area.
Boarding
We offer a full service boarding facility to meet your pets needs. Your pet will be treated to his/her own large kennel, that is cleaned a disinfected daily. Your pet can be fed our high quality Purina food or you may bring your pets own fare. Your pet will be able to run and play a minimum of two times daily and can be upgraded to include more playtimes. We offer bathing for your pet so they go home smelling fresh and clean. Your dog will roll over with joy to stay with us. We also offer purr-fect boarding for your cat too.
Well Animal Examinations
Vaccines
Fecal Parasite Checks/Deworming
Heartworm Testing
FELV/FIV Testing
Microchip Implantation
Health Certificates
New pet checks
Heartworm Prevention
Flea & Tick Prevention
Radiography
Our in house radiographs allows use to "look inside" and can help use to diagnose your pets illness. Our staff is trained in the use and safety of the x-ray equipment , so your pet is in good hands.
We are Green!
Dr. Covington has always been eco friendly and water conscious, and with the water crisis we have upped our game. We already recycle paper, plastic, and aluminum (we use the money from them for the rescue). We conserve water, hang out laundry, turn lights off, and save rainwater/ other water for plant water. We are now going paperless. We are asking for email address for reminders and updates to reduce paper needed for reminders. We reuse paper and are computerized.
Please help our efforts and implement your own.
Online Resources
When looking for accurate information on the web we trust:
Mitchell Mill Animal Hospital offers laser surgery options for your Pet.
Laser surgery reduces your pet's recovery time and results in less bleeding, less swelling, and less post-operative pain than traditional surgery.
Laser Surgery is available for spays, neuters, de-claws, tumor removal and soft tissue surgery. 
Is MLS Therapy approved by the FDA?
We are happy to announce we have Groomer Ruth available to serve all your grooming needs. Groomer Ruth has over 15 years of experience styling your furry friends. She is a member of the National Dog Groomers Association of America Inc. She is one of only two NGAA groomers in the area.