Diagnostics
Diagnostic testing enables our team to determine your pet’s health status and diagnose disease. We want to help your pet as quickly and efficiently as possible, which is contingent on a proper diagnosis. At Priority Pet Care Veterinary Hospital, we are able to move forward with helping your pet via digital diagnostic tools. Our veterinarian will recommend an appropriate course of diagnostics for each patient’s needs during the office exam.
In-house laboratory
In-house laboratory testing is a convenient option that allows our team to diagnose many pet illnesses while you wait. Our laboratory capabilities include blood and urine testing, skin and ear cytology testing, fluid analysis, and clotting times. Bedside test results enable us to obtain critical health information in minutes, eliminating the time lag associated with sending out tests and allowing us to formulate and begin a treatment plan without delay.
Reference laboratory
We partner with top-tier reference laboratories for specialized and non-urgent tests. Reference labs provide comprehensive diagnostic services, including blood panels, histopathology, cultures, and more, to help us reach an accurate diagnosis. Tests sent to Zoetis Reference Labs complement our in-house laboratory by providing a more complete picture of your pet’s health. Common tests we send out to reference laboratories include:
- Tumor and whole tissue biopsies
- Fungal testing
- Culture and sensitivity testing
- PCR and infectious disease testing
- Urinary stone analysis
X-ray
X-rays are a vital diagnostic tool for examining your pet’s bones, joints, chest, abdomen, bladder, and other internal structures. During a radiographic procedure, a 2D black and white picture of internal structures within the body is created. Often multiple images are taken at different angles for better diagnostic interpretation. Our veterinarians can interpret initial X-ray studies and send out images to a radiology specialist for expert review. Reasons we may take X-rays of your pet include:
- Suspected fracture or soft tissue injury
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Anorexia
- Urinary tract problems
- Abnormal abdominal palpation
- Heart murmur
- Coughing or difficulty breathing
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging technique that provides detailed, three-dimensional, real-time images of your pet’s internal organs without radiation. At Priority Pet Care Veterinary Hospital, we use ultrasound to evaluate abdominal organs, obtain fluid samples, and collect urine. We are also able to offer non-emergent full abdominal ultrasounds via a traveling radiologist or internal medicine specialist. These non-emergent ultrasounds are only offered on an appointment basis after your pet has been examined in-hospital with our veterinarian.
Abdominal ultrasound
An abdominal ultrasound is a complete scan of your pet’s internal organs, including the liver, kidneys, spleen, urinary bladder, adrenal glands, pancreas, gallbladder, lymph nodes, and intestines. Non-invasive abdominal ultrasound is essential for diagnosing tumors, evaluating organ size and appearance, and obtaining ultrasound-guided needle biopsy samples. Our skilled traveling ultrasonographers obtain detailed measurements and image snapshots during an abdominal scan, then create a report to guide us in developing a treatment plan for your furry pal’s health concerns.
