The staff of Oakbrook Animal Hospital strives to give personalized service to best meet the needs of you and your pets. Using a team approach, our doctors and veterinary assistants work with you to provide state-of-the-art veterinary care. The following services are available.

Health Maintenance

Health maintenance is the application of preventative medicine to keep our patients well. Regular physical examination is of the utmost importance - often problems are detected that, if untreated, would progress to serious illness. A complete physical examination is done routinely and involves assessment of all body systems. The doctor uses visual observation, stethoscope (to listen to heart, lungs, GI sounds), otoscope (to look in ear canals), ophthalmascope (to look in eyes), and palpation of lymph nodes, joints, and abdominal organs.

Routine laboratory testing such as fecal flotations and heartworm tests diagnose internal parasites. Vaccinations, a hallmark of preventative medicine, are used carefully and selectively to prevent serious contagious diseases.

Our doctors recommend a series of visits for puppies and kittens, and annual visits for adult cats and dogs.

Laboratory Diagnotics

Laboratory testing is critically important to the management of ill and injured patients, as well as prophylactic pre-anesthetic evaluations. Most routine tests are done in house. Others are sent to specialty laboratories.

Radiology

Radiographs have always been an important diagnostic tool. These images help our veterinarians evaluate bones, internal cavities and organs. The hospital houses two radiography machines.  X-rays are developed and read on site for prompt diagnosis.

Internal Medicine

Diagnosis and treatment of disease is an important aspect of veterinary medicine. Our doctors treat a broad range of medical problems, including those of the skin (dermatology), eyes (ophthalmology), ears, heart (cardiology), respiratory system, GI (gastroentology), neurology, tumors (oncology)...in other words, most of the body.

When a problem requires specialty care, our doctors will advise you about referral services and help with scheduling and transfer of records.

Surgery and Anesthesia

Surgical services are performed  Tuesday through Friday  using safe and patient-specific anesthesia. The hospital has a well-equipped separate operating room where sterile techniques are carefully utilized. Surgeons prepare with disinfectant scrubbing and wear protective gloves. Instruments are sterilized in an autoclave and used for single procedures.

Anesthetic choices are made by the doctor, based on the species, breed, age and physical condition of each patient. Both injectable and gas anesthesia, usually in combination, are used. Surgical procedures vary from spays and neuters, to tumor excision, cystotomy (bladder surgery), gastrotomy (stomach surgery), splenectomy (removal of spleen), and many more procedures.

The “Surgery Anesthesia Release Form” will be discussed and completed when you drop off your pet for surgery. The optimal anesthesia package, including pre-anesthetic bloodwork (Complete blood count, electrolytes, blood glucose, creatinine, BUN, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, and ALT), IV catheter and fluids, and pain management, is highly recommended and economical.

Dentistry 

Dentistry has become one of the most common anesthetic procedures performed. It is enormously important to the health of our patients - dental infections are painful, and associated bacterial infection may spread to internal organs such as the heart and kidneys. Dental prophylaxis and extractions are performed under general anesthesia. A routine dental cleaning includes a preanesthetic exam, scaling with an ultrasonic device, tartar removal, polishing with fluoride paste to leave a smooth non-adherent surface, and an oral exam.

Nutitional Counseling

We are what we eat - this applies to our pets, too! Many advances have been made in companion animal nutrition. Balanced diets using excellent quality ingredients are vital to good health and can help prevent medical problems. Species, breed, age, activity and medical conditions determine individual nutritional needs. Prescription diets can be used as an adjunct to medical treatment, from the more obvious weight management issues to control of kidney or heart disease. We recommend and sell Hill's Science Diet. 

Pain Management

Veterinary patients feel pain and discomfort under much the same circumstances as people. Arthritis, injury, disease and surgery can all require pain management. Recognizing and treating pain is a hallmark of good patient care.

Microchips

This incredible technology offers a safe and reliable permanent identification for all companion animals, including horses. Even with the best care, pets may be lost or stolen. Microchips have helped reunite thousands of pets with their families. This routine procedure is performed quickly, and may be done in an office appointment or when anesthetic procedures are performed.

Pharmacy

A comprehensive pharmacy is maintained on the premises for client convenience, with a complete inventory of canine and feline heartworm preventatives, flea and tick control products, and prescription medications. Medication is kept in a dry and temperature controlled environment. Expiration dates are checked carefully and routinely, and never exceeded during the course the product is to be used. Only high quality medicinals from reputable manufacturers and distributors are stocked. All prescription refill requests are reviewed at no additional fee by a doctor to ensure safe administration.

Grooming

Grooming by professional groomer Tricia Adams, of Companion Cuts by Tricia, is offered Tuesday through Friday.  Grooming is performed at Oakbrook Animal Hospital by appointment only. Tricia is an experienced and professionally trained groomer, who has had several years experience grooming dogs and cats in both traditional and personal styles.

Boarding

The safe and comfortable care of our pets when we travel from home is an important aspect of their care.  We are proud of the care that is offered by our staff. Cats are housed separately from dogs in a quieter environment.  Each cat has an individual clean cage with litter box, food and water bowl - multiple cats from the same household may share a large cage with plenty of space for privacy and socialization.

Dogs board in stainless steel cages or spacious runs, with hygienic grids for additional cleanliness.  All dogs are exercised outside in our fenced play yard at least twice a day. Fresh water is always available and high quality Hill's Science Diet food is provided. ALL SPECIAL NEEDS are carefully met. Doctors are alerted and available to treat any abnormalities, 7 days a week.

Chiropractic Medicine

Western medicine, using conventional procedures and therapeutic regimens, comprises the basis of our practice. However, the incorporation of chiropractic therapy improves our patient care.  Dr. Tom Buckley is accredited by the International Chiropractic Veterinary Association.