Veterinary Services

We believe every pet should have a thorough exam each year when they are feeling well.  We examine every body part, from the teeth, eyes & ears to the tip of the tail.  It is important to look for dental problems, check for ear infections, evaluate for cataracts, monitor weight, feel for lumps, bumps and enlarged internal organs, check mobility of the joints, and listen to the heart and lungs.  We check poop samples for intestinal parasites and recommend bloodwork to establish a baseline.

As recommended by veterinary organizations, we recommend "core" vaccines for all our cats & dog patients including rabies, DHLPP for dogs and  FVRCP for cats. We also offer Bordetella (kennel cough) and influenza vaccine for dogs that are in contact with many different dogs (boarding, daycare,  dog competitions), and recommend Lyme vaccine for all dogs at risk of tick bites and FeLV for cats that spend time outside.

Blood is often sent to an outside laboratory, with results returned generally within 24 hours. We also have an in-house lab, which we use for sick animals or those coming in for surgery. We have an incubator so we can culture urine samples in-house, to make sure bacteria grow before sending them to a lab for antibiotic testing.

Fecal samples are sent to an outside lab to provide quality control and to make sure we aren't missing any parasites during our analysis.

Did you know that 1 in 3 pets will get lost in their lifetime?

A microchip is the only unique, unalterable, tamper-proof, and permanent form of identification you can provide for your pet. The procedure is simple and safe. The current chips do not have an internal energy source so it will last the lifetime of your pet. Once your pet has a microchip, you can register your information so that when your pet is found they will be safely returned to you!

We can also read chips here at the clinic.

We love a good mystery as much as the next person and we are seeing more dogs come to us with unknown origins. While knowing what breeds make up your dog is not necessary, it does help usunderstand character traits and give us a better idea of what genetic tendencies to watch for as your dog ages. The testing company we use is well known, has a great reputation, and all we need from your pup to perform a cheek swab. Give us a call to find out more about genetic testing for your dog today!

Making the decision to say goodbye can be unbelievably difficult. We can discuss your pet's quality of life and the best timing for when to make the hard decision to help them move on. 

When it is time to say goodbye, we give your pet a sedative so their transition is painless. You are welcome to be present and stay as long as you need to.

We use Memorial Pet Services to help you preserve your pet's memory.

Four Lakes Vet has a dedicated surgical suite where we perform spays, neuters (including cryptorchids), cystotomies (bladder surgery), lump or tumor removals, nose resections (for those flat-faced breeds with squished nostrils), foreign body removals, and gastropexies (to help prevent bloat in large dogs). All surgery patients receive IV fluids, pain medication, & antinausea medication to help them recover more quickly.

All our dental cleanings are done under full anesthesia, with IV fluids and monitoring.  This allows us to take x-rays, so we can evaluate the tooth roots, probe around each tooth to assess for bone loss, and clean, polish and apply flouride to each tooth.  We use a class 4 laser on the gums after each dental to help with inflammation.

If there are diseased teeth, we are proficient in extractions, suturing the gum closed to prevent infection.  Veterinary dentists can perform root canals; we are happy to refer you to one if you are interested in trying to save a diseased tooth.

Most prescriptions are able to be filled in our clinic, including antibiotics, pain medications, allergy treatments, heartworm preventative, and prescription diets.  We carry the flea and tick preventatives that we consider to be the most efficacious.  We try to have our prices competitive with online pharmacies.  In addition, we often have rebates from the manufacturer that helps lower costs.  

We have online stores that can ship medication and food right to your home.

No one wants their pet to be sick, but Four Lakes is here for you if it happens.  We perform many diagnostic tests in-house such as fine-needle aspirates of lumps, ear cytology, bloodwork & urinalyses, eye staining & pressures, and x-rays.  We can sedate a pet that has a broken toenail and have them back home in a couple of hours.

Laser therapy is a noninvasive treatment designed to reduce pain and inflammation, and to speed healing.  This treatment is quickly becoming standard of care in both human and veterinary medicine.  Our staff members administer laser therapy via a handpiece that emits a therapeutic infrared light in a fast, drug-free, and soothing treatment. The light can treat surface problems such as wounds, as well as deeper structures, penetrating through fur, skin, and fat if necessary to reach damaged tissue.

The therapeutic infrared light targets the mitochondria in damaged cells and stimulates them to regenerate and to return to optimal function.  This regenerative process is called photobiomodulation (PBM).  PBM does not impact normal cells, but can help damaged cells to recover from injury faster. 

Laser therapy can be utilized as an adjunct to existing treatments, often reducing or replacing the need for pain medications.

When a pet needs an ultrasound to determine the significance of a heart murmur or to get a better look at internal organs, we've got you covered! Several of our vets perform ultrasounds & consult with an outside specialist to me make sure nothing is missed. Dr. Bortnowski is an Internal Medicine specialist who does cardiac ultrasounds.  Her services are referral-based only.

We also consult and refer to VCA, Madison Veterinary Specialists, and the UW Vet School.

 We have cat condos for our boarding kitties.  The condos are located in our break room, which is next to large windows.  Depending on temperament, a boarder can have exploration/play time outside the condo each day.  We have staff available to give medication and insulin for cats who have those needs.