DIAGNOSTICS

 Laboratory testing plays an important role in evaluating your pet’s overall health and detecting disease early. 

Blood and urine testing can provide valuable insight into organ function, infection, inflammation, and metabolic conditions. Our in-house laboratory allows us to perform many tests quickly, helping guide timely diagnosis and treatment decisions. 

Common testing includes:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Blood chemistry panels
• Electrolyte testing
• Urinalysis
• Infectious disease testing
   

These diagnostics are often recommended as part of routine wellness care, pre-anesthetic screening, or when your pet is not feeling well.

 Parasites are a common cause of illness in pets and may not always be visible. Routine testing helps detect infections early and prevents potential health risks to both pets and people.

We offer diagnostic testing to screen for a variety of internal and external parasites, including:

• Intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms)
• Giardia and other protozoal infections
• Heartworm disease
• Flea- and tick-borne diseases
   

Testing may be recommended if your pet is experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea, weight loss, or lethargy.

 Cytology and histopathology are diagnostic tools used to evaluate cells and tissues and better understand a range of conditions. Cytology involves examining cells under a microscope from samples such as the skin, ears, or masses. It is a quick, minimally invasive test that can often provide same-day results. Histopathology involves submitting tissue samples to a specialized laboratory for more detailed evaluation, particularly for growths, masses, or complex conditions. 

These tests may be used to evaluate:

• Lumps and masses
• Skin and ear conditions
• Inflammation and infection
• Tumors and abnormal tissue changes
   

Findings from these tests help determine whether a condition is inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic, which directly influences next steps and treatment decisions.

 Radiography (X-rays) is an important diagnostic tool that allows our veterinarians to evaluate the musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and urinary systems.

Our digital imaging system produces high-quality images within seconds, helping reduce your pet’s stress and overall exposure time. These images can be easily shared with specialists for consultation or provided to you for your records.

Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging tool that allows us to evaluate your pet’s internal organs in real time. It is especially useful for assessing soft tissue structures such as the liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder, and gastrointestinal tract.

Ultrasound may be recommended to:

• Evaluate changes seen on bloodwork or X-ray
• Investigate abdominal pain, vomiting, or weight loss
• Assess masses or fluid within the abdomen
• Guide diagnostic procedures such as fine needle aspirates
   

When needed, we coordinate with experienced specialists to perform advanced ultrasound evaluations, helping provide a more complete understanding of your pet’s condition.

We offer non-invasive screening of skin and subcutaneous masses using the Vista IQ system, an advanced technology designed to help assess the risk of malignancy without the need for immediate sampling.

This evaluation may help guide decisions about whether a mass should be monitored, sampled, or removed. When appropriate, this screening may be recommended as part of your pet’s diagnostic plan.

This approach is especially useful for pets with multiple masses or when a less invasive initial assessment is preferred.