Union Lake Veterinary Hospital is a full-service veterinary clinic that understands the importance of a quick and correct diagnosis when your pet is ill. Veterinary diagnostics let us find signs of illness, monitor diseases we know about, and learn other vital facts about your pets and their health. We rely on the following diagnostic tools to offer your pets the best veterinary care:
Veterinary Diagnostics: Laboratory Services
We have an in-house diagnostic laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment to enable us to get the information we need quickly. If we need testing beyond our capabilities, we also partner with specialty labs that can offer more detailed analysis. Our laboratory services provide the following laboratory tests with information about what is happening with your pet:
- Blood panel screenings
- Parasite screenings
- Infectious disease testing
- Allergy testing
- Endocrinology testing, which clues us into diseases like Cushing’s Disease, thyroid diseases, and even diabetes
- Biopsies and histopathology
- Vaccine titer testing
- Urinalysis
- Culture and sensitivity
- Nutritional analysis
- Gastrointestinal disorder diagnostics
- And others
Veterinary Diagnostics: Digital X-Ray
Digital X-ray machines offer clear images of internal structures to help us make thorough diagnoses. The images upload immediately to a computer, so that we can view them instantly and easily send them elsewhere if needed. They also require less radiation than traditional X-rays to get a usable image.
Veterinary Diagnostics: Ultrasound
This diagnostic tool gives us a clearer view of the internal organs using sound waves to create images. This is a non-invasive way to see the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, intestines, bladder, and uterus. The more information we have about what’s happening internally, the quicker we can diagnose your pet accurately.
Veterinary Diagnostics: EKG
If we suspect a cardiac issue with an animal, we can use our electrocardiogram (EKG) to take detailed measurements of the heart and its current functionality. An EKG will measure the amount of heartbeats, whether irregular heartbeats are present, and the size of all of the heart chambers to determine if there are any issues. Once we know what your pet’s heart looks like, we can make a treatment plan based on his or her current condition.
The Importance of Veterinary Diagnostics
While there are many things we can learn from a physical examination and a detailed history of your pet’s health, sometimes we need more information. Veterinary diagnostics can show us that a health issue is developing before there are any outward symptoms. Knowing what is happening inside gives us more time and better odds of finding a successful treatment plan. Diagnostics also let us monitor disease and ensure it is not progressing too soon. It can also help us see if any nutritional changes need to be made to ensure your pets remain in optimal health.
Whether your pet is sick or it’s time for his or her annual wellness exam, the caring team at Union Lake Veterinary Hospital is here to offer thorough, compassionate veterinary services. We want to help your pets be their healthiest throughout every stage of life. To learn more, please call (248) 363-1508.