Diagnostic Care for Your Pets

Radiology and Ultrasound

Radiographs (X-rays) are extremely helpful for diagnosing medical and surgical problems. If your veterinarian feels a lump or growth in your pet's abdomen, an X-ray can determine where the mass is located. If your pet is experiencing a medical problem, an X-ray can often pinpoint the organ where the problem is occurring. Tumors and foreign bodies (lodged in the stomach or the intestine) can be seen in an X-ray. Heart and lung disease, gastrointestinal problems and bladder stones can often be seen in X-rays.

Our modern X-ray equipment provides excellent diagnostic quality radiographs. In addition, we perform many advanced procedures, including gastrointestinal series and urinary bladder contrast studies. These special procedures are necessary for identifying difficult or chronic problems.

Ultrasound is another important, non-invasive diagnostic device. Used primarily for abdominal and cardiac problems, our hospital is equipped with the latest ultrasound technology to help diagnose disease and other health problems quickly and efficiently.

Ultrasound is a non-invasive, modern technique that provides our veterinary staff with a real time "movie" of what is happening inside your pet's body. Ultrasound produces a visual map of the interior of the body, and is often crucial to the comprehensive diagnosis of diseases of the heart, liver, kidneys, gallbladder, spleen and other internal organs.

Laboratory Testing

Since your sick pet cannot tell us what is wrong, veterinarians must sometimes supplement physical exams with sophisticated diagnostic testing. Our hospital is equipped with a complete, sophisticated diagnostic laboratory that allows us to measure more than 100 laboratory values, with results often available in a few minutes. In addition, we work with several outside referral labs if your pet requires specialized testing.

Along with heartworm testing, complete blood count, blood-chemistry panel, urinalysis and fecal examination are the most common laboratory tests performed at our hospital.

Endoscopy

Endoscopy is an extremely useful procedure which aids in the diagnosis and treatment of problems occurring in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. With an endoscope, we can perform a more complete examination of the GI tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and some areas of the intestine.

With the use of an endoscope, the veterinarian can visualize areas that would normally not be accessible without invasive surgery. The scope is equipped with a lighted camera and pictures are transferred to a monitor. Using the scope, the veterinarian can diagnose gastrointestinal disorders, cancerous growths, polyps and much more.

Even though anesthesia is required to keep your pet still during the endoscopic procedure, the amount of anesthesia and recovery time is greatly reduced. Endoscopy is often indicated when routine blood and urine tests, radiographs and ultrasound do not give the complete diagnostic picture.