In-House Diagnosics
In veterinary medicine, it can be a challenge to identify the cause of illness in pets as they can't communicate their pain or discomfort. Diagnostics play a crucial role in determining the underlying issue, and quick results are essential. Fortunately, we can perform many tests in-house, enabling us to provide an accurate diagnosis and start treatment promptly, helping your furry friend feel better soon.
Blood Work
Our in-house analyzers enable us to perform a thorough blood panel and CBC on our patients in just 20 minutes. These tests help us track any changes and decide on the next steps required for your cat's treatment. We suggest getting blood work done annually on cats over the age of 7 to ensure they remain as healthy as possible.
​
Radiology
In veterinary medicine, radiology plays a crucial role in allowing us to visualize the internal conditions of our pets. By utilizing digital imaging, we can conveniently upload the images to our computer and optimize them for better clarity. This enables us to provide precise diagnoses and effective treatments for our beloved animals.
Ultrasound
We use both ultrasound and radiology together to get the best picture of what's going on inside your pet. Radiology provides an overall view of internal structures, while ultrasound allows for a closer look at any suspect areas. With our in-house ultrasound machine, we can quickly check for any abnormalities that the doctor may have noticed in a radiograph.
Urinalysis
Similarly to blood work, urine can tell us a lot about what may be going on when a cat is sick. Urinary problems are also a common issue among cats and can become severe if not treated promptly. Our office is equipped with ultrasound technology that allows the doctor to obtain a sterile urine sample easily. Our Sedivue Urinalysis Analyzer enables us to test the sample immediately and gives us the most acurate results possible so we can treat your cat quickly and effectivly.
Blood Pressure
Just like humans, cats can develop high blood pressure as they age, and it is crucial to manage it. Interestingly, the process of measuring blood pressure in pets is quite similar to that of humans. A device called a doppler is attached to a pulse point and bounces high-frequency sound waves off red blood cells, allowing us to hear the pet’s heartbeat. A small cuff is then placed around the pets leg and inflated until the heart beat is no longer audible. The air in the cuff is relaesed until the heart beat is heard again, giving us their blood pressure reading.
Fecal Test
Intestinal parasites are a common issue we see in cats. These parasites can go unnoticed and, in some cases, can be transmitted to humans. It is important to keep up with testing, especially for cats that go outside or catch wild animals. We send our fecal samples to the ANTECH reference lab for comprehensive and accurate results to get the right medication for your pet. Though we do have to send these tests out, we normally receive results as soon as the next day.
Reference Labs
When it comes to certain tests like biopsies, fecal tests, specific blood testing, and cultures, it may not be possible to get accurate results in-house. In such cases, sending samples to reference labs like Idexx and Antech can provide more in-depth and specific testing with results as soon as the next day.