Our High Touch, High Tech Philosophy

High Tech

Technology has advanced dramatically in the past 20 to 30 years. With the virtual flood of new technology comes the ever-present challenge of determining which new machine should we – and can we afford to – purchase. Decades ago I found that we should base our purchases on our Core Values. One of our key Core Values is to relieve the pain and suffering of our patients. This made the purchase of our Laser Surgery Unit a relatively simple, but expensive, choice. Our Laser Unit works like a scalpel, cutting tissue. As it cuts it seals vessels, lymphatics, and even nerves. This dramatically reduces post-operative bleeding, swelling, and most importantly pain. All surgical procedures are assisted, but some procedures have been dramatically improved with Laser.

Thirty years ago there was no ultrasound, even in the human medical field. Mueller Pet Medical Center presently has two machines used for different types of studies, and we call in Board Certified Veterinary Radiologists to do our more involved ultrasound cases. Ultrasound is like sonar: it works well with fluid, so it is best used in the abdomen or other tissues that are not air-filled or bony. Ultrasound allows you to look throughout the tissue, to determine not only the size but the consistency of the tissue. Now we can determine if, for example, the liver is just big, or big with cysts, or big with tumor-like structures. We can also use the ultrasound to take tissue samples precisely from exact locations in the body, often with just a light sedation.

Xray studies show size and total density, and so can be used in air-filled or bony tissues. We currently have two state of the art digital Xray systems, one for dental procedures and one for general xray studies. Digital Xrays have a multitude of benefits over standard xrays. Digital Xray studies actually collect data that can be modified and adjusted to improve the image. We can now see and diagnose conditions with digital Xrays that are not visible with standard xrays. Digital Xrays also dramatically reduce the number of redo xrays required, thus reducing the stress to our patients. This is one area in which veterinary medicine seems to be ahead of human healthcare – we rarely see digital Xrays used in the human medical field.

We have added other new technology to our practice, including IV pumps, Pulse Oximetry, blood pressure machines, and heating devices:

Thirty years ago we did not have a single IV pump. Now all IV fluids and feeding tubes are "driven" by these pumps. This allows us to give exact, regulated amounts of fluids at all times.
Pulse Oximeters allow us to determine the oxygen saturation of our patients. When a pet in distress arrives we now can quickly determine if its stress is due to a lack of oxygen, which we can address, or due to some other factor.
Blood pressure measurements have always been a challenge for veterinarians. Usually when a human is seen for a medical exam, his or her blood pressure is taken as a routine step. Unfortunately, in the past we used human blood pressure cuffs and machines, which do not work well with pets, particularly with cats and very small dogs. Newer, veterinary specific blood pressure machines have allowed us to take and monitor blood pressure measurements for our patients. This has dramatically helped us to evaluate our patients, especially during surgery, and to use medications and fluids to treat high or low blood pressure.
The heating pads of old, which could scald our patients, have been replaced with water circulating blankets and warm air bags. These help us to better regulate our patient's body temperature.

High Touch

It is essential in veterinary medicine to combine High Touch with the High Tech. Mueller Pet Medical Center prides itself on being a pre-birth to post-grave practice. What this means is that we are here to educate and support our clients in enjoying the Human-Animal Bond throughout the entire life of their pet. We are also available to help our clients determine what new pet might be best for their lifestyles and housing (pre-birth). At the other end of their pet's life, we send sympathy cards, flowers or plants, and paw prints – and we make donations in the name of our patients. We keep in contact with our clients after their pet's passing to see how they are doing (post-grave). I have always been proud of our "right brained" staff here at Mueller Pet Medical Center. They often congregate and celebrate with the client on the pet's first visit. Through the course of the pet's life they acknowledge and embrace the pet, in good times and bad. And when the final day comes, there is rarely a dry eye, especially for those patients we have known throughout their life.