UW Veterinary Care Wish List

As the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital’s caseload continues to grow, so does our need to provide state-of-the-art diagnostics and care. Each year, the School of Veterinary Medicine purchases new equipment for the Hospital, but income does not always cover the costs of necessary improvements.

For that reason, the Hospital shares its wish list with the public. Sometimes, our clients or friends decide to make a gift toward a substantial piece of equipment that will benefit numerous animal patients.

Naming opportunities are also available to donors that would like to cover the entire purchase cost of a piece of equipment.

Our current wish list includes:

Diagnostic Imaging Upgrade
Diagnostic imaging encompasses the diagnostic modalities of x-ray, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, CT and MRI scans and echocardiography (heart ultrasound). These services are provided to both the large and small animal hospital and their diagnostic capabilities are one of the features that sets UW Veterinary Care apart from other referral hospitals and general practices. To provide the best imaging techniques to our clients, we must be able to diagnose and monitor our patients through their treatments. Please click here for more information on the equipment we need.

Clinical Pathology
Like diagnostic imaging, clinical pathology is a UW Veterinary Care service provided to both the large and small animal hospitals. Clinical pathology encompasses the analysis of almost all of the samples that come from our patients. Routine tests such as complete blood counts, serum chemistry profiles, urinalyses and bacterial cultures are all performed in clinical pathology. The following five items are listed below.

Vitek Automated Microbiology System (~$60K)
Our current microbiology system will no longer be serviceable after December 2011 because of its age. The improved microbial identification technology that a Vitek Automated System instrument offers will increase our ability to accurately identify bacteria that cause disease in a variety of animal species.

Thromboelastograph Hemostasis Analyzer (~$35K)
Successful treatment of diseases involving abnormal blood clotting relies on accurate and timely diagnosis. This instrument provides a systemic view of clotting and would enhance our diagnostic capability by offering a sophisticated method of analyzing blood to guide diagnosis and management of serious bleeding and clotting disorders.

Diagnostic Stago STA Compact Coagulation Analyzer (~$38K)
State of the art coagulation testing now includes the evaluation of several individual blood clotting proteins to permit accurate diagnosis and prognosis, as well as to help manage serious disorders of blood clotting.

BD BACTEC 9050 Blood Culture Analyzer (~$17K)
A blood infection can be rapidly fatal if not detected promptly. The BD BACTEC 9050 Blood Culture Analyzer is an automated continuous-monitoring blood culture system that shortens detection time and provides better recovery rates of microorganisms that cause these infections. Earlier detection of infection means appropriate therapy can be administered more quickly and improve the patient’s outcome. 5-headed Microscope, Camera and Projection System (~$30K) This microscope would replace the current microscope used for biopsy rounds, ocular pathology rounds, cytology rounds, histology seminar, and other histology teaching and collaborative uses. Our current microscope is an older, out-of-date piece that is prone to malfunctions and that limits the number of people who can participate in rounds. This new microscope system provides built-in projection capabilities and allows more people to participate in these important rounds.

Other Hospital-wide needs

Three autoclaves (~$100K each)
Autoclaves sterilize surgical and other medical instruments and thus are essential items for patient care. All UW Veterinary Care’s current autoclaves are older units (25+ years) that malfunction frequently and are difficult to service. Upgrades in autoclave technology would allow for faster surgical pack processing as well as rapid sterilization of items that may need to be used multiple times in any one day.

Exam room/ER triage room refurbishment (~15-35K per room)
UW Veterinary Care is currently remodeling all small animal examination rooms. This process includes upgrading counter tops, cabinets, and examination tables as well as installing better lighting, new computers that allow digital radiograph review with clients, and more comfortable seating. Three examination rooms have yet to be remodeled. Also, the room dedicated to small animal ER is still in need of new flooring, cabinets, counter tops, examination tables, and lighting.

Tubing Sealer for the Blood Donor program (~$2K)
Tubing sealer aids in the preparation and storage of blood collected from the hospital’s blood donors (privately owned animals that receive benefits for participation in this program). UW Veterinary Care uses the same types of supplies and equipment that are used in human blood donation programs. This assures the blood is safe for future use.

Pulse oximeters (~$600-1500)
These small portable devices give information about oxygen levels in our patients. Because they are essential and continuously utilized, our need for replacement pulse oximeters is on-going