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Bashaw pets in serious condition can now be diagnosed in minutes

Central Veterinary Clinic Bashaw installed two new blood testing machines on Jan. 5, 2021
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The Central Veterinary Clinic in Bashaw is now the proud owner of two blood testing machines that will mean clients will receive results for their animals in minutes, saving valuable time in critical cases.

With the machines in-house, veterinarians can receive results in just 15 to 20 minutes, instead of the days it used to take to send out blood samples for testing.

For example, if an emergency case came in on a Friday night, labs would be closed over the weekend, and before a blood sample could be tested, it might be Monday or Tuesday before a clinic received a report.

“It just drastically reduces diagnostic time for clients who live in the area so we can better provide care to those pets who need it,” said Dr. Leighton Coma.

“It’s a really cool thing for a small town to have.”

Coma is one of the three owners of Central Veterinary Clinic, both the Bashaw and Ponoka locations.

The machines, installed on Jan. 5, are a Complete Blood Count (CBC) that counts red and white blood cells and a chemical analyzer that tests for enzymes in the blood that indicate the health of all the internal organs.

With the use of both machines, veterinarians can quickly assess critical illnesses such as kidney failure or liver damage, acute infections, low white blood cell counts, or determine if a pet has ingested a toxic substance.

The machines can also help to determine if a pet is dehydrated and test for specific diseases such as pancreatitis.

Lots of small clinics don’t have these machines because they are costly and more economic to send samples to a lab, says Coma.

Previously, the clinic would send samples to the Ponoka location for testing.

Central Veterinary Clinic in Ponoka took over the Bashaw location at the end of June, 2019 following the retirement of local vet Henry Srubka and officially opened the satellite facility in Bashaw on July 8, 2019.

READ MORE: Vet clinic changes hands in Bashaw

Coma says ever since the Central Veterinary Clinic owners bought the Bashaw location, it’s been a dream to supply the new clinic with all the best equipment.

An x-ray and a dental machine that will provide ultrasonic cleaning and scaling is anticipated to be installed at the Bashaw clinic in three to four months, once renovations are complete.



Emily Jaycox

About the Author: Emily Jaycox

I’m Emily Jaycox, the editor of Ponoka News and the Bashaw Star. I’ve lived in Ponoka since 2015 and have over seven years of experience working as a journalist in central Alberta communities.
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