Illness Care

Chronic care focuses on managing long-term or recurring medical conditions such as arthritis, allergies, endocrine disease, kidney disease, or heart disease. While these conditions cannot be cured outright, they can be controlled to help pets live more comfortable, fulfilling lives. According to leading veterinary organizations, chronic illnesses require ongoing monitoring, individualized treatment plans, and periodic adjustments as a pet’s needs change over time.

At Aspire, we approach chronic care as a whole-picture partnership. Our team takes time to understand not just the disease(s), but also the real-world factors that shape how your pet can be cared for: your home environment, your family’s daily routines, your budget, prescription availability, your pet’s mobility and comfort, and the resources you realistically have day-to-day. Every treatment plan is built with compassion, practicality, and transparency so it truly fits your life, not an idealized version of it.

Because many chronic conditions affect multiple body systems, our medical strategy goes beyond treating surface-level symptoms. We look for the underlying drivers of illness, recognizing that improving inflammation, pain, stress, mobility, nutrition, or organ function can often unlock better control of the outward issues you’re seeing. Managing chronic disease is a complex puzzle, and our job is to assemble the pieces with you step by step to maximize comfort, stability, and quality of life for your pet.

CBC Analysis

A Complete Blood Count (CBC) helps us evaluate for infections, inflammation, anemia, clotting disorders, and immune-related concerns. This test is often one of the first steps in narrowing down what’s wrong and guiding next steps in treatment.

Chemistry Analysis

For illness, we often run more extensive chemistry panels than those used in wellness visits—looking at the details of each body system rather than just broad summaries. These results can highlight imbalances linked to kidney disease, liver dysfunction, pancreatitis, and many other conditions, giving us a clear picture of how illness is affecting your pet.

Urine and Fecal Analysis

Urine and fecal (poop) testing give us insight into issues affecting the urinary tract and digestive system. These tests can detect infections, organ dysfunction, parasites, or metabolic disease, helping us clarify the cause of your pet’s symptoms.

In-House Cultures & Microscope Testing

Our digital microscope and in-house bacterial cultures are used to more clearly identify skin, ear, and lump issues. This digital imaging allows us to share these images with both you and other diagnostics professionals to come to a determination of what may be ailing your pet and how best to treat it.

Screenings for Common Illnesses

Some illnesses are so common that rapid tests have been developed to confirm them quickly. We carry these tests in-house for situations where there is strong suspicion of Parvovirus, Pancreatitis, Leptospirosis, Lyme Disease, Feline Leukemia. These screenings give fast results so the right treatment plan can begin without delay.

For routine monitoring and preventive care, explore our Wellness Diagnostics page to see how we keep your pet healthy year after year.

When pets are sick, imaging is one of the most powerful tools we have to understand what’s happening inside the body. These tests give us a clear picture of bones, organs, and soft tissues, often providing answers that guide treatment quickly and effectively. By combining in-house imaging with access to radiology specialists, we can diagnose and manage a wide range of illnesses with confidence and care.

Digital Radiography (X-Rays)

With both a standard table X-ray unit and a mobile X-ray system, we can adapt imaging to your pet’s specific needs. This flexibility means we can capture high-quality images even when pets are uncomfortable, in pain, or difficult to position. X-rays can help us detect fractures, foreign objects, fluid around the lungs, or organ enlargement—conditions where prompt treatment can be imperative. Our unique mobile unit also allows us to creatively acquire images to reduce stress for pets.

Abdominal Ultrasound

Ultrasound gives us real-time views of soft tissue structures, helping us detect masses, intestinal blockages, or fluid buildup. It is especially useful for guiding procedures such as fluid sampling or biopsies, allowing us to confirm a diagnosis quickly and accurately. Ultrasound helps us uncover the “why” behind many symptoms, from vomiting to changes in urination.

Dental X-Rays

Dental X-rays are critical when pets show signs of oral pain, bad breath, or difficulty eating. These images are acquired as part of a dental procedure under anesthesia and allow us to diagnose problems like tooth root abscesses, fractured teeth, or bone loss that aren’t visible during an exam. By identifying the true source of discomfort, we can provide targeted treatment to restore health and relieve pain.

Collaboration with Specialists

All imaging studies can be reviewed by board-certified radiologists or other specialists, providing a second layer of expertise. This ensures no detail is missed and your pet’s treatment plan is based on the most accurate, comprehensive information available. We partner with mobile internal medicine specialists who can come to Aspire to perform very detailed abdominal ultrasounds for certain cases when needed.

For routine preventive imaging, visit our Wellness Imaging Diagnostics page to see how these tools support long-term health.