Diagnostic Testing

Diagnostic testing is very important to the veterinarian. After all, a sick pet can't tell us how they feel or where it hurts. Testing helps us rule out diseases, formulate treatment options, and provide prognoses for pet owners. Some of the tests we are able to perform include the following:

Laboratory Testing

Our in-house lab station can provide us various measurements on blood and urine samples for rapid diagnoses and evaluations.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Blood Chemistries

Electrolyte levels

Endocrine hormone levels

Drug levels in the bloodstream

Detailed urinalysis with microscopic evaluation (Sedivue)

We also use the Idexx outside lab system for more detailed and elaborate diagnostics not available on our inside lab station.

Microscopic Testing

The microscope, of course, allows us to evaluate things not normally visible to the eye

Fine needle aspirates of tumors, lumps, bumps and fluids

Skin scrapes for parasites, cells, bacteria, and yeasts

Ear swab cytologies for bacteria, yeasts, parasites, and cells

Blood cell evaluations

Vaginal cytology for estimating stage of estrus

We also use outside laboratory specialists for more specific diagnostic interpretations

Diagnostic Imaging

Digital Radiology (x-rays) and Ultrasound Scanning help us to see inside you pet. While we are not specialists in either modality, we can often get a good idea of what's normal and what's not normal. Our radiographs can be sent for review by specialist over the internet. The quick ultrasound scans we perform might justify us to refer a pet for a more detailed sonogram with a specialist. These imaging techniques provide us a non-invasive path to identifying many disorders

Other Tests

In addition to the aforementioned, we are able to perform blood pressure measurements, intra-ocular pressure measurements, pulse oximetry, and basic electrocardiograms.