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Medical Services

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If your pet needs medical assistance, you can feel confident turning to us. Our knowledgeable staff and modern facilities are equipped to handle a wide variety of medical conditions, including emergencies. Because we can perform many diagnostic procedures in-house, we can often give you immediate answers and start treating your pet faster. In some cases, your pet may require hospitalization and further diagnostic tests. Please take a look at the more detailed descriptions of medical services we offer, or call us to discuss your pet’s needs.

May 02
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Hospice & Euthanasia Services

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Hospice Care and End of Life Counseling

Our team is here to support you and your pet through all stages of life including advanced age when medical needs are often greater and you may be faced with challenging decisions.

Hospice care focuses on care, comfort and quality of life as a pet nears the end of his or her life. This can be a very difficult time for you as a caregiver. Working with our veterinary team to establish an individualized hospice care plan can provide valuable guidance and a team approach to what can otherwise feel quite lonely and uncertain. Hospice care at Blue Sky includes a dedicated technician to follow up as indicated by you and/or the doctor to discuss any concerns and help you assess changes in quality of life. Importantly, you and your pet are not alone. Please call to schedule a consultation with our team if you feel that your pet is in need of this service or if you need help making an end of life decision for your pet.  Below are excellent resources provided by Lap of Love that can be reviewed before a consultation.

How Will I Know It’s Time to Say Goodbye?

Quality of Life Scale

 

Euthanasia

The term euthanasia means “good death.” While it may seem that there is nothing “good” about euthanasia, it is a compassionate way to end suffering and pain for your pet. At Blue Sky, we have a gentle approach to euthanasia and our goal is to make this experience as calm as possible, with a smooth transition from life to death. Scheduling a euthanasia for your pet can feel scary, especially if you have never had to make this decision for a pet before, or if you have had a difficult euthanasia experience in the past. If you have specific questions about what to expect, please call the clinic so that we can answer these for you.

Euthanasia Process in Clinic

As you arrive at Blue Sky you will be escorted into a private comfort room. First, your doctor will meet with you to discuss the euthanasia process individualized to your pet’s needs and address any concerns you may have. This can be a helpful time to discuss the end of life decision further if needed. Next, a technician will review brief paperwork including your wishes for body care and memorialization of your pet (ink paw prints, clay paw prints, hair trimmings). You are more than welcome to indicate your wishes over the phone, before your scheduled appointment, if you prefer.

While you are here at Blue Sky, we will try our very best to make sure you and your pet are comfortable and supported during this difficult time. Family members, including children and other pets in the household, are welcomed if you so desire. If you do not wish to be present during the euthanasia process, that is fine as well. The comfort room is a safe space for saying goodbye to your pet and we do our best to accommodate your preferences.

At Home Euthanasia

Whenever possible, we accommodate at home euthanasia requests for our existing clients and patients. For this specific service, the time frame to schedule varies depending on our doctors’ availability, but can usually be scheduled within a week. If we are not able to accommodate your needs, there are several trusted veterinary teams in the area that specialize in this service. Please reach out to these teams directly or see their websites for current hours as these are subject to change.

With at home euthanasia, we can manage all body care afterward (cremation) if desired.  We are experienced in at home euthanasia so we can help guide the process to make it calm for all.

Lap of Love
Website: LapofLove.com
Email: supportcenter@LapofLove.com
Phone: (844) 525-3060

Caring Pathways
Website: CaringPathways.com
Email: noco@caringpathways.com
Phone: (970) 236-7100 – Northern Colorado Region
*They serve from Castle Rock to Fort Collins and the surrounding areas*

Home to Heaven
Website: www.hometoheaven.net
Phone: (970) 412-6212

 

After Care of Your Pet

We offer multiple options for the care of your beloved pet. You can take the body with you to be buried (if you live in an area that allows burial) or through a burial company (Precious Memories offers this service). Through the clinic, we offer cremation or aquamation through two local and trusted companies, Precious Memories and Guardian Pet Aquamation. You may also arrange for pick up directly from your home with either of these companies or to transport your pet directly to their facility yourself. Cremation or aquamation both allow the option to have your pet’s ashes returned to you if you desire.

To learn more about after care options, please see the resources below for Precious Memories and Guardian Pet.

Precious Memories – Crematorium and Pet Cemetery
Traditional flame process for cremation and offers burial at their pet cemetery.

https://www.preciousmemoriespetcemetery.com/
Phone: 866-882-4086
Address: 5815 East Highway 14, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Email: info@pmpc-inc.com

Guardian Pet Aquamation

Aquamation uses alkaline hydrolysis (water flow, temperature, and alkalinity) to accelerate the process of natural decomposition in the soil. Like regular cremations the only solid remains are the ashes of the bones.
http://guardianpetaquamation.com

Phone: 970-889-9331
Address: 1122 N Denver Ave, Loveland, CO 80537

 

Pet Loss and Bereavement Support

 

Pet Loss Support Hotlines

Lap of Love
Pet Loss Resource Line –855-352-LOVE (5683)
https://www.lapoflove.com/pet-loss-support/pet-loss-resource-line

Tufts University Pet
Loss Support Hotline – 508-839-7966
https://vet.tuftss.edu/petloss/

Support Groups

Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine – Offering once monthly meetings in person or via call. Please see more resources on their website.

Lap of Love – Meeting several times a week via Zoom (free!)

Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement – Weekly chat room

Individual Counseling

Please click here (Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement) to search locally for counselors specifically trained in pet loss/grief support.

 

Additional Resources

The resources above can help provide support, but do not provide mental health counseling. If you or someone you are concerned about is depressed, unable to cope, or having thoughts of self harm or harming others, IMMEDIATELY call the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. For emergency services, please call 911.

The Suicide Crisis Lifeline can be reached 24/7 for free, confidential support for people in distress. Call or text 988. Or visit their website to chat online at 988lifeline.org and access prevention and crisis resources.

May 02
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Laboratory

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We strive to provide the highest-quality medicine for your pet and are proud to offer many in-house diagnostic laboratory services.

Laboratory testing is often an essential diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine and in many cases results are needed the same day of an appointment, especially if your pet is not feeling well.

We are able to offer many in-house services, including CBC (Complete Blood Count), chemistry, thyroid level, urinalysis, and more.

Now, not all diagnostic tests can be performed in clinic, in those cases, we send your pet’s sample to trusted outside laboratories, such as the CSU Diagnostic Lab and Antech.

May 02
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Pharmacy

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We are proud to offer a fully stocked pharmacy and highly trained pharmacy staff, so you know you can always count on us for your pet’s medication needs.

When you obtain medications from our pharmacy, you can rest assured that your pet’s medications were obtained from safe, reliable sources and stored under optimal conditions. Your pet’s safety is our utmost priority. Filling medications through our pharmacy ensures your pet is getting the appropriate medications with proper dosing instructions and we can alert you to any possible side effects or drug interactions.

Would you prefer to purchase medications from an online pharmacy and have those medications shipped directly to your home? Well, you are in luck! Our online pharmacy is a great option for the busy pet parent. You can set up auto-shipments so you’ll never run out of important medications again! Our trained pharmacy staff oversees the online pharmacy and can approve medications as soon as they are ordered by you, during business hours, of course. These medications come directly from the same trusted supplier we order from.

Whether you fill medications in clinic or from our online store, we are here to take care of all medication needs for your pet.

Remember, we are only a phone call away if you have concerns or any problems with your pet’s medications.

May 16
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Dentistry

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Imagine what your mouth would feel like if you never brushed your teeth or went to the dentist. For many dogs and cats, this is a painful reality. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have dental disease by the age of 3. Dental (or periodontal) disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in pets.

Common signs of dental disease include:

  • Yellow or brown buildup (tartar) on the teeth
  • Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
  • Bad breath
  • Excessive drooling
  • Changes in eating or chewing habits
  • Pawing at the face
  • Loose teeth
  • Depression

Even if your dog or cat doesn’t have these symptoms, we recommend that you have a veterinarian evaluate your pet’s dental health at least once a year. Bacteria and food debris accumulate around the teeth and, if left unchecked, will lead to deterioration of the soft tissue and bone surrounding the teeth. This decay can result in irreversible periodontal disease, tooth loss, and possibly expensive oral surgery.

Dental disease can also affect other organs in the body: Bacteria in the mouth can get into the bloodstream and cause serious infections in the kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart. If these problems aren’t caught and treated quickly enough, they can result in death. A physical exam combined with appropriate laboratory work can determine if infection in the mouth has spread.

Schedule your pet’s dental exam today! We can also help show you how to brush your pet’s teeth and recommend foods and treats that will help combat plaque and tartar buildup.

May 16
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Imaging

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Imaging (ultrasound and radiographs) is an important diagnostic tool for illness workups.  Imaging can help identify the cause of the problem, rule out possible problems and/or provide a list of possible causes. We may also use imaging during a wellness exam to diagnose potential problems before they become serious.

Radiographs (X-Rays)

X-rays provide valuable information about a pet’s bones, gastrointestinal tract (stomach, intestines, colon), respiratory tract (lungs), heart, and genitourinary system (bladder, prostate). We use radiology in conjunction with other diagnostic tools.

We are proud to offer digital radiology (x-rays that are captured digitally rather than on film). This technology allows us to provide you with a quicker diagnosis for your pet and involves less radiation than traditional x-rays.

To avoid a blurry image, pets need to remain completely still while an x-ray is taken. In some cases, we may need to sedate your pet or use short-acting general anesthesia to obtain diagnostic x-rays.

Interpretation of radiographs requires great skill on the part of the veterinarian.  In some cases, your veterinarian may recommend a radiology consult.  This is when x-rays are sent (digitally) to a board-certified veterinary radiologist (a veterinarian who has completed extensive training specific to radiology) for interpretation of the x-rays.  We are pleased to partner with a skilled team of radiologists who can provide x-ray consults within a matter of hours if needed!

Ultrasound

The same team of radiologists operate on a mobile basis to perform in-clinic ultrasounds at Blue Sky.  This service can generally be scheduled within a day or two if needed, or sometimes same-day.  Abdominal ultrasound can be helpful at diagnosing a number of disorders since the radiologist evaluates all abdominal organs (stomach, liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder etc.).  Ultrasound can provide more detailed information about many soft tissue structures (i.e. organs, muscles) as compared to x-rays.

Most often, an abdominal ultrasound is ordered, but ultrasound can also be used to evaluate other structures, like the thyroid gland along the neck or evaluating muscles on a leg.

What to expect during an abdominal ultrasound appointment

If your pet is scheduled for an abdominal ultrasound, we request that your pet is

  • Fasted for 8 hours prior to ultrasound – this means no food by mouth, but water is ok.  An empty stomach will improve the diagnostic ability of the ultrasound.  **If your pet receives regular medications within 8 hours of the appointment time, please call the clinic to see if administration with a small snack is recommended.**
  • Kept from urinating for a couple hours before the ultrasound, if possible.  A full bladder is preferred for ultrasound evaluation.

Your pet will generally be admitted to the clinic for a couple of hours for his or her appointment.  Prior to the radiologist arriving, our team will prep your pet by shaving hair from the belly.  Hair prevents proper contact of the ultrasound probe with the abdomen and results in poor imaging.  Your veterinarian will then share your pet’s history and the current concerns with the radiologist prior to ultrasound.  The ultrasound is performed in a quiet exam room and your pet is placed on its back in a cushioned bed for optimal positioning.  Gel is placed on the ultrasound probe prior to contacting the skin to help with image quality.  An abdominal ultrasound is generally completed within 10-15 minutes.  Occasionally sedation is needed, but this would be discussed with you prior to administration.  Your pet’s veterinarian will discuss the findings with the radiologist and then call you to review results and recommended treatments.  A written report will be provided by the radiologist within a couple of days and attached to your pet’s medical record.  You may request this report at any time if you would like a copy.

 

If you have any questions about the imaging services available at Blue Sky or what to expect during your pet’s procedure, please don’t hesitate to ask.