Aceso Vet

10/02/2025

Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) is most commonly seen in large dogs, such as Great Danes and Dobermans, although any dog can be affected. Initially, the stomach fills with gas, causing abdominal dilatation or “bloat”. This can be accompanied by gastric torsion, which is a life-threatening condition.

As the stomach distends with gas and/or fluid, the abdominal pressure increases, resulting in a severe compromise of the respiratory and cardiovascular functions.

Clinical signs include:

🐾 Restlessness and pacing

🐾 Excessive drooling

🐾 Distension of the abdomen

🐾 Breathing difficulties

🐾 Retching without vomit or just vomiting thick saliva

🐾 Collapse

To try to prevent GDV, a gastropexy can be performed, where the stomach is surgically attached to the body wall to prevent it from twisting.

⚠ If you see your dog is distressed and looking bloated, get in touch with us immediately. Early treatment is essential for a good prognosis! ⚠

You can read more about our soft tissue surgery services on our website 🔗 https://acesovetclinic.co.uk/soft-tissue/

03/02/2025

Fractures are common in cats and dogs, and they can be caused, for instance, by road traffic accidents or falling from a building. They can also suffer fractures due to other illnesses that can make the bones weaker and increase the likelihood of fractures. 🩻

Here at Aceso Vet Clinic, our multi-disciplinary team can treat all types of fractures. Our service includes proactive diagnosis, effective treatment and quality post-surgical care.

We’re capable of handling complex fractures, including those that require inserting all types of plates (including locking) or external fixators to provide successful healing and reduce short- and long-term suffering.

We can even repair fractures on smaller pets like rabbits, guinea pigs and other exotic animals.

Head over to our website for more information 🔗 https://acesovetclinic.co.uk/fracture-repair/

21/01/2025

❔ What is a CT?

CT stands for Computed Tomography and a CT scanner allows us to obtain high-quality 3D images of the inside of your pet’s body.

❔What can a CT scan detect?

A CT scan allows us to check for orthopaedic injuries, a range of internal abnormalities, and soft tissue damage.

❔ Does my pet need to be put under anaesthetic for this procedure?

Since your pet must stay still during the procedure for us to get high quality images, they need to be put under general anaesthesia for the scan. Our highly qualified team of veterinary surgeons monitor your pet throughout the exam, ensuring everything goes smoothly for them.

You can read more about our CT scan services on our website 🔗 https://acesovetclinic.co.uk/ct-scanning/

11/01/2025

Is your furry friend facing mobility issues or discomfort? At Aceso Vet Clinic, we provide specialised orthopaedic exams and surgery to ensure your pet stays active, healthy and comfortable.

We have advanced imaging equipment, such as a CT, to reach an orthopaedic diagnosis, but if your pet has already been diagnosed, our team of veterinary surgeons can help you with:

👉 Cranial cruciate ligament rupture

👉 Spinal problems, such as intervertebral disc herniation

👉 Elbow dysplasia

👉 Hip dysplasia

👉 Bone fractures

👉 And more!

Head over to our website for more information about our services 🔗 https://acesovetclinic.co.uk

04/01/2025

We understand how stressful receiving a cancer diagnosis for your pet can be. However, cancer treatments have evolved a lot in veterinary medicine and can be effective in achieving a cure, depending on the cancer your pet has and its stage at diagnosis.

At Aceso Vet Clinic, we will take the time to discuss the most practical and effective treatment options with you. Other than treatment targeted at the disease, we will include pain management and controlling any possible secondary illnesses.

You can be sure we will handle your pet’s needs, as well as your own, in a compassionate way, and that your pet’s quality of life will always be our number one priority.

Read more about our cancer diagnosis and treatment services on our website 🔗https://acesovetclinic.co.uk/

21/12/2024

Is your pet in need of an endoscopy? 🤔

Endoscopy is one of the diagnostic tools we offer at Aceso Vet Clinic. It works by putting a tiny camera through the nose or the mouth.

This allows us to see inside some organs or structures with great detail, with live images displayed on a screen. Using this tool, we can look for anything out of the ordinary, such as signs of inflammation, bleeding, ulcers or even tumours.

Would you like to know more about this service? Get in touch with us for more information 🔗 https://acesovetclinic.co.uk/

13/12/2024

A CT scan allows us to detect and diagnose an extensive range of health issues, including musculoskeletal problems, thoracic and abdominal disease, and more.

By using a CT scanner, we can get a much more accurate understanding of the issue at hand. This will help us reach a proper diagnosis, put together the right treatment plan, and ultimately achieve the best outcome for your pet.

At Aceso Vet Clinic, we provide our specialist pet CT scanning services for clients across a wide area, including Belfast and surrounding areas.

Head over to our website for more information 🔗 https://acesovetclinic.co.uk/ct-scanning/

01/12/2024

Just like our own, our dogs' spines have discs between the vertebrae that help cushion the impact caused by movement and allow for a wide range of motion.

Over time, these discs can suffer degenerative changes and can end up compressing the spinal cord, leading to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Depending on where this occurs, it can cause problems like:

👉 Signs of pain or discomfort

👉 Muscular weakness

👉 Difficulty walking

👉 Paralysis of two or more limbs

👉 Inability to control bowel movements

Even though intervertebral disc disease is more common in older dogs, chondrodystrophic breeds, such as Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, Shih Tzus, and Pekingeses, are more susceptible to it and can show clinical signs at a young age!

Get in touch with us if you spot any of these signs in your pet!

You can read more about our spinal surgery services on our website 🔗 https://acesovetclinic.co.uk/spinal-surgery/

29/11/2024

28/11/2024

🐇 “Bunny-hopping” refers to when a dog starts using both back legs at the same time. It is a common sign of hip dysplasia, along with limping, reluctance to walk and play, and avoiding high-level places.

Hip dysplasia is a condition that makes the hip less stable, leading to painful osteoarthritis over time.

Administering pain-relieving anti-inflammatories is our first line of treatment, which can be hugely successful in managing your dog’s pain.

However, this treatment doesn’t work in all dogs and surgery might be necessary.

Our team of vet surgeons is highly experienced in performing advanced surgical techniques with a high success rate, including those needed for the surgical management of hip dysplasia, such as:

🦴 Triple pelvic osteotomy (in dogs younger than 12 months),

🦴 Femoral head and neck excision,

🦴 Total hip replacement

Head over to our website for more information 🔗 https://www.acesovetclinic.co.uk/joint-surgery

18/11/2024

If your vet suspects that your pet has an orthopaedic injury, spinal disease, soft tissue damage or cancer, a CT scan might be recommended as a diagnostic method.

But what is a CT scan exactly? 🤔

A CT scan is an advanced diagnostic imaging method that provides a comprehensive assessment of your pet’s internal organs and may uncover issues that an X-ray or an ultrasound might have missed.

By providing detailed 3D images of your pet’s body, this tool allows vets to detect a range of health problems and develop effective treatment plans tailored to your pet, while enabling you to make informed decisions regarding your pet’s care. 🐈🐕

Here at Aceso Vet Clinic, we provide CT scans at a very competitive price! You can request a quote by e-mail 📧 [email protected]

08/11/2024

In most dogs, the cranial cruciate ligament, which is part of the knee joint, is prone to rupture due to long-term degeneration. This means the fibres within the ligament weaken over time, leading to osteoarthritis and serious mobility issues. 🐕

Following a thorough arthroscopic (keyhole) joint assessment, the most successful treatment consists of a procedure called tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO).

Keyhole surgery is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat joint problems. It involves making small incisions and inserting a tiny camera, called an arthroscope, into the joint. This camera projects images onto a screen, allowing us to see and operate inside the joint.

This procedure may sound complicated, but our highly experienced team of vet surgeons has performed it many times.

This treatment allows the joint to become stable when walking or running, ensuring your dog regains their quality of life.

You can read more about this procedure on our website 🔗 https://www.acesovetclinic.co.uk/cranial-cruciate-surgery

28/08/2024

Older pets are amazing company! There are many advantages to adopting an older dog 🐶 or cat 🐈 such as:
🐾 What you see is what you get, so no surprise growth spurts or significant body changes:
🐾 They are house-trained, usually love taking it easy, and their personality is already fully developed;
🐾 As they are less likely to be adopted, you’d be helping a pet in need and getting a fantastic buddy!

27/08/2024

Not every cat can be the height of poise or athleticism. 🐈

If your feline friend isn’t going to win any agility prizes any time soon, we want to hear from you! 👋 Show us your goofy cats!

26/08/2024

Today is International Dog Day! While we think every day is a great day for dogs, we love any excuse to do something special for our furry friends. 🐶

Here are some ideas on how to spoil your best friend:

🐕 Bake them some dog-friendly treats

🐕 Make them a new toy

🐕 Take them for a walk on a different route

🐕 Find exciting new games to play with them

How will you be pampering your dog on this amazing day? Tell us everything in the comments below! 👇

25/08/2024

Did you know boarding kennels and doggy daycares have kennel cough vaccine requirements for their guests? 🏨 🐶

Kennel cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease that causes a persistent hacking cough in dogs, often sounding as if there's something stuck in their throat. While it’s not usually a deadly disease, young puppies, sick dogs and golden oldies might have a severe form of kennel cough, which is why it’s essential to try and prevent outbreaks in places with lots of dogs in close contact.

To ensure you have a relaxed holiday right from day one, don’t forget to make sure your furry friend has their kennel cough vaccine all ready to go.

If you'd like to know more about kennel cough vaccination and to make sure your dog is protected, don't hesitate to give us a call!