Services

Internal Medicine

The entire staff at Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists works closely with your referring veterinarian to provide specialized medical and surgical services for your pet. With Dr. George Kramer at the helm of the internal medicine department, your pet receives the finest care possible. A board certified specialist and diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dr. Kramer oversees all cases referred to the hospital pertaining to cardiology, internal medicine, oncology, ultrasonography and echocardiography.

The internal medicine department uses a team approach to provide exceptional patient care. Our internists are specially trained to diagnose and treat problems affecting the gastrointestinal, urinary, hematologic, liver, endocrine and respiratory systems using the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art technology. They collaborate with the other specialty services in order to develop a comprehensive plan to diagnose and treat your pet's illness.

In order to provide accurate and comprehensive diagnostics, the internal medicine department is well-equipped with with high-resolution video endoscopy and laproscopy, state-of-the-art, high resolution ultrasonography, transesophageal echocardiogram, CT scanner and an in-house clinical pathology laboratory. We are also equipped with a high-resolution fluoroscopy unit that enables us to perform cardiac pacemaker placement, angiography and gastrointestinal / esophageal motility evaluation.

Some of the services that our internal medicine department offers include: abdominal ultrasounds for spleen, liver, kidney, gall bladder, urinary bladder and pancreatic problems; cardiac ultrasounds for heart and lung problems; endoscopic procedures for problems affecting the lungs, stomach, intestines and sinuses and treatment for Cushing's disease, diabetes mellitus and Addison's disease.

For more information about veterinary internal medicine, please visit the website of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

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Emergency and Critical Care

When our pets are sick or injured, we want the best possible care for them. The staff at Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists provides state-of-the-art, compassionate, high-quality emergency care for pets, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have an emergency, please come directly to our hospital. You never need to make an appointment and you don't need to be referred by your veterinarian. Our hospital is staffed at all times by skilled emergency veterinarians and technicians, capable of handling the most complicated and demanding emergencies during the daytime and at night. No matter what time you arrive, you and your pet will be seen by a veterinarian.

Our emergency care department grew out of a two-fold need in the community. First, pet owners needed a quality, 24-hour emergency hospital that provided continuous medical care for their pets. Secondly, veterinarians in the central Long Island area needed a high-quality resource to which they could refer emergency cases when their offices were closed. They also needed a facility that provided overnight supervision and monitoring for their critically ill patients.

If you feel that your pet has an emergency, don't delay care. Prompt veterinary care gives your pet the best chance of a successful outcome and recovery. Here are some indications and situations when you should always seek veterinary emergency care:

Unconsciousness
Hit by Car
Falling from Heights
Foaming from Mouth
Unresponsiveness
Unable to urinate
Blue, Purple or Pale Gums
Cat Exhibiting Open-Mouth Breathing
Bleeding Heavily
Profuse Vomiting or Diarrhea
Difficulty Breathing
Seizures
Ingestion of Toxins, Medications or any Suspect Substance

At Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists, we understand that a medical emergency can be a frightening experience for you and your family. Whether you have been referred to us by your family veterinarian or have found us on your own, our goal is the same - to provide your pet with the best emergency medical care and make the experience as easy for you as possible.

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Surgery

Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists is a full-service veterinary surgery facility. Dr. Karyn K. Maxworthy (Briggs), Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, has been overseeing all referral and emergency cases at Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists since January 2008. Her excellent reputation for outstanding surgery and patient care has earned her the trust of all referring veterinarians. Dr. John Parks, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, performs surgery on a part-time basis. Staffed by veterinary surgery specialists and licensed veterinary technicians, we offer a full range of orthopedic, soft tissue and neurosurgical procedures for dogs and cats. Since our hospital is open 24 hours a day, your pet receives around-the-clock monitoring and the highest level of post-surgical care possible.

ACVS is proud to have a full-service surgery department including two complete surgical suites with state-of-the-art anesthetic monitoring capabilities. Our surgery team can tackle the most challenging cases in the fields of orthopedic, thoracic, gastrointestinal, oncologic, and urologic surgery. The surgeons work in conjunction with our veterinarians in internal medicine, oncology and emergency medicine to provide your pet with the most comprehensive care possible.

Some of the orthopedic procedures that we perform include:

Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (for CCL rupture)
Extracapsular Cranial Cruciate Ligament Stabilization
Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (for CCL rupture)
Patellar Luxation Repair
Hip Reduction (Open/Closed)
Femoral Head & Neck Excision
Fracture Repair
Arthrodesis
Bone Biopsy
Limb Amputation
Mandibulectomy/Maxillectomy
Arthrotomy for OCD/FCP

Some of the soft tissue procedures that we perform include:

Spinal Decompression/Stabilization
Patent Ductus Arteriosus Ligation
Persistent Right Aortic Arch
Pericardiectomy
Pacemaker Implantation
Lung Lobectomy
Soft Palate Resection
Laryngeal Tieback
Gastric Dilatation/Volvulus
Bowel Resection/Enterotomy
Liver Lobectomy/Splenectomy
Biliary Diversion/Cholecytectomy
Hernia Repair
Feeding Tube Placement
Anal Sacculectomy
Adrenalectomy
Thyroidectomy
Urinary Stone Removal
Urethrostomy
Prostatic Drainage
Skin Grafts
Total Ear Canal Ablation
Radiographic Dye Studies

The surgery department at Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists is an extension of the care provided by your primary veterinarian. We feel that the best results are obtained when the primary veterinarian, pet owner and veterinary surgeon work together as a team.

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Cardiology

Pets, just like people, get heart disease. In fact, one out of every 10 dogs and cats is affected by heart disease. As pets age, they are more susceptible to heart disease. It is estimated that 30% of all geriatric dogs have some type of heart disease.

There are 2 types of heart disease, congenital and acquired. Pet that are born with heart problems have congenital heart disease. Pets that develop heart problems as they get older have acquired heart disease.

Some of the most common symptoms associated with heart disease include coughing, difficulty breathing, tiring easily after exercise, weakness or even collapse. Sometimes your pet shows no symptoms of heart disease but your veterinarian detects signs during physical examination. Some of these signs are irregular heart rhythm or irregular heart sounds.

If your veterinarian suspects that your pet has a heart problem, he / she may refer you to Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists for further diagnostic tests and treatment. Dr. George Kramer, chief of staff at ACVS, is a board certified cardiologist and specializes in diseases affecting your pet's heart. He has experience in treating congenital heart disease, acquired heart disease and pericardial disease.

Cardiac disease is diagnosed and evaluated using echocardiography, electrocardiogram, holter monitor, blood pressure measurement, cardiac catheterization and angiography. Most pets that are diagnosed with heart disease can lead long and happy lives. Some pets can have their symptoms treated with simple medications while other pets without symptoms may not need any medication.

The cardiology department at Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists offers specialized cardiac surgery for certain cardiac conditions that do not respond well to medication. These surgical procedures include transvenous pacemaker implantation, patent ductus arteriosus coil occlusion and balloon valvuloplasty.

Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists offers the latest in a range of cardiology examinations and procedures. Some of these procedures include:

Pacemaker Implantation
Diagnosis and Management of Valvular Disease - Valvoplasties
Pericardiocentesis
Evaluation of Murmurs
Breed Screens for Congenital Heart Disease
Breed Screens for Acquired Heart Disease
Hypertension Evaluation and Treatment
Cough/Dyspnea Evaluation
Cardiac and Respiratory Exams
Geriatric Exams
Pre-anesthetic Evaluation
Diagnosis and Treatment of Heartworm Disease

The cardiology department at Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists works closely with you and your family veterinarian. When your veterinarian refers you to our hospital, you can be sure that your pet receives the best care possible.

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Oncology

The word 'cancer' strikes fear in all of us; however, with new advances in veterinary technology and chemotherapy, many pets are living longer with a greatly improved quality of life. Successful cancer treatment often lies in early detection and identification. Early detection can be difficult at times, as cancer may not only present itself as a lump on the skin, but may arise inside the body. If left undiagnosed, the disease may not be noticed until clinical symptoms develop.

In order to identify the type of cancer, aspirates and biopsies are performed. Once the cancer is identified, it is "staged." This is accomplished by lymph node sampling, ultrasonography and / or radiology examination.

Treatment depends on the type and location of the cancer. If possible, surgical removal of the tumor is performed. Some types of cancer are responsive to chemotherapy, which include a variety of oral and injectable medications. Dogs and cats tend to tolerate chemotherapy well and rarely develop side effects that are seen in humans. Prior to treatment, blood and urine tests are performed to asses the overall health of your pet.

Chemotherapy is offered at Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists. Our primary goal is to obtain a cure. If a cure is not possible, the goal of chemotherapy is to provide a better quality of life for your pet. We recommend treatment only if it is appropriate for your pet.

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Endoscopy

Endoscopy means "looking inside" and refers to looking inside the body for medical purposes. The instrument used for this procedure is called an endoscope.

Endoscopy is a minimally invasive, diagnostic, medical procedure commonly used to evaluate the interior surfaces of an organ by inserting a small tube into the body. Through the endoscope, the observer is able to see lesions of organs and other internal medical conditions.

In veterinary medicine, endoscopy is commonly used as a diagnostic procedure, for tissue and organ biopsies, to remove foreign objects (particularly in the stomach) or get an inside view of a particular part of your pet's body. Even though anesthesia is required to keep your pet still during the endoscopic procedure, the amount of anesthesia and recovery time is greatly reduced. Endoscopy is often indicated when routine blood and urine tests, radiographs and ultrasound do not give the complete diagnostic picture.

The endoscope is composed of a long tube (flexible or rigid), a light source, camera and viewing eyepiece. In addition to the fiber optic light source, there are two channels within in the tube. One channel is for passing forceps, snares or biopsy instruments, allowing for the removal of foreign objects, collection of biopsy samples and removal of small polyps or tumors. Air or water can be passed through the other channel for better viewing of the tissue or organ.

The benefits of endoscopy include shortened anesthetic time, decreased inflammation, less physiologic stress and discomfort and an earlier return to normal function. The endoscope is used to help diagnose and treat a variety of gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. Depending on the symptoms, it is used to look at the inner lining of the throat, stomach, intestine, colon or at the respiratory passages (nose, throat and lungs). Endoscopy is used to obtain superficial biopsies of stomach, proximal small intestine and colon, look for cancer of the esophagus or stomach and to remove small foreign bodies from larger airways, esophagus or stomach. Even though general anesthesia is required for an endoscopic procedure, it is still considered much less invasive than traditional surgery due to the relatively short procedure time and low occurrence of complications.

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Advanced Diagnostics

In order to provide your pet with world-class veterinary care, Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists has invested heavily in diagnostic instruments and equipment. Some of our investments include:

Radiology
GE Vivid 7 ultrasound system
ATL CS ultrasound machine
Transesophageal echocardiogram
CT scanner
C-Arm fluoroscopy
Video endoscopy and laproscopy
In-house clinical pathology laboratory
Numerous ECG, ventilators, blood pressure, Sp02 and blood gas machines, ERG, and phaco emulsification unit
Ultravet Diagnostics, our sister hospital, has a mobile ultrasound division with sonographers and doctors providing mobile ultrasound and consulting service to 350 animal hospitals in the NY, NJ and CT area.

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Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a safe natural alternative therapy that enlists the body's healing mechanisms to maintain homeostasis and manage disease processes. Numerous professional athletes such as David Cone, Matt Hasselback, Jeremy Shockey, and Tiki Barber have taken advantage of the healing effects of acupuncture. There is compelling evidence that it activates the body's natural pain inhibitory process, has local inflammatory effects, provides relief from muscular trigger points, and interacts with the autonomic nervous system to affect internal organs. Free nerve endings, small arterioles and veins, lymphatic channels, and numerous white blood cells have been shown to be located at acupuncture points to mediate the effects of acupuncture in the body. It works primarily through effects on the central nervous system but also affects the musculoskeletal, hormonal, and cardiovascular systems. When a needle is placed in an acupuncture point, it causes a release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones (such as natural endorphins in the body) to relieve pain. It also relieves muscle spasms, stimulates nerves, stimulates the immune system, increases blood flow, and decreases inflammation.

Acupuncture is performed with sterilized thin, filamentous stainless steel needles. It is not painful and the patient feels the needle only as it goes through the skin. Acupuncture is one of the safest therapies available when practiced by a competent veterinary acupuncturist.

Since the effects of acupuncture are often cumulative, a course of treatment over a period of weeks is generally recommended. In addition to needles, there are many ways of stimulating an acupuncture point. Stimulation with heat (moxibustion), electrical stimulation (electroacupuncture), injections of dilute solutions into acupuncture points (aquapuncture) and infrared light therapy are common modalities that are available at Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists. These procedures often enhance the duration and effect of the acupuncture depending on the condition being treated.

Pain control
Musculoskeletal disease including post-operative orthopedic surgery, osteoarthritis, trigger point therapy, and joint dysplasia
Neurologic disease including intervertebral disk disease, FCE, seizures, neuropathies, vestibular disorders, and to improve the comfort of patients with degenerative myelopathy
Gastrointestinal disorders causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain
Dermatologic disorders such as allergic dermatitis, chronic skin disease, and otitis externa
Behavioral problems
Cardiovascular and Respiratory diseases including rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, chronic coughing, circulatory disorders, and asthma
Urogenital disorders such as urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, and chronic kidney disease
Immune stimulation
Oncology patients- to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and improve overall vitality of the patient
Geriatric patients- especially those who have reached the end of the line with conservative Western medical treatment

Acupuncture can be successfully combined with conventional veterinary treatment. In many cases, integrative medicine will provide the best clinical outcome. It can also offer geriatric patients with chronic debilitating conditions a treatment option other than euthanasia. At Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists, we understand that providing the best possible quality of life for your pet is important. Our acupuncture service is committed to helping you achieve this goal in a caring and compassionate way.

Click here to learn more about veterinary acupuncture.

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