Advanced Care

Advanced care services go above and beyond a general hospital visit for pets. Advanced services may be items such as specialized surgeries, eye treatment, diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, or therapies. Please click on any of the subheadings listed below to learn more about our services in advanced care.

Available Services
  • Cryopen being used on a dog at VCA Hawthorn Animal Hospital

    Cryosurgery is the use of extreme cold produced by a liquid nitrous oxide gas (or, in specific instances, liquid nitrogen) to destroy diseased tissue. The super-cold probe freezes and destroys the immediate and surrounding cells. After cryosurgery, the frozen tissue sloughs off and, in most cases, is replaced partially or completely with healthier scar tissue.... Read more

  • Veterinary staff using a microscope at VCA Hawthorn Animal Hospital

    Our hospital offers dermatology services. Our veterinarians will perform a detailed history, physical examination and basic medical. .... Read more

  • Our hospital offers a number of diagnostic imaging services. Diagnostic imaging refers to the techniques and processes used to create images of your pet's body or body parts for medical purposes. .... Read more

  • Dog getting an x-ray at VCA Hawthorn Animal Hospital

    Our hospital is proud to offer state-of-the-art digital radiology services. Digital x-rays are essentially film-less x-rays. Traditional x-rays use photographic film to capture images whereas digital x-rays use a digital image capture device (computer) to record the x-ray image.... Read more

  • Veterinary surgeon at VCA Hawthorn Animal Hospital

    Our hospital offers many soft tissue surgery services. Soft tissue surgery refers to surgery on any body part excluding: bones/joints (orthopedic surgery), heart (cardiac surgery), or nervous system (neurologic surgery). Examples of common soft tissue surgeries include gastrointestinal surgery (to remove foreign objects or removed diseased sections of intestine), bladder surgery (to remove stones or polyps), liver surgery (to remove masses or diseased lobes), and spleen surgery (often to remove diseased spleens or masses).... Read more

  • Tonopen being used on a dog at VCA Hawthorn Animal Hospital

    When an eye problem develops and a detailed exam is needed, the doctor will often use a device called a tonopen. .... Read more

  • Ultrasound being performed on a dog at VCA Hawthorn Animal Hospital

    Our hospital offers ultrasound (sonogram) examinations as a non-invasive diagnostic procedure to evaluate your pet's internal organs. Ultrasound can be used to examine the abdominal organs, reproductive organs, eyes and heart. Ultrasound is non-invasive and well tolerated by most pets.... Read more