When our animal companions are not feeling well, they can’t tell us what’s wrong or where it hurts. That’s why veterinary diagnostics are so important. These invaluable tools allow our veterinarians to delve deeper – below the surface of the skin – to quickly and accurately identify, diagnose and treat whatever is ailing your pet. This early diagnosis can help improve the chances of a quick and full recovery for your pet.
Our hospital uses state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment for quick, accurate results to many diagnostic tests. We also maintain a close relationship with a veterinary diagnostic lab to assist with more complex tests, and we can even arrange consultation with clinical pathologists if needed.
Our in-house laboratory allows us to perform many diagnostic tests with rapid results, aiding in the prompt development of appropriate treatment options for our patients. We can perform basic blood panels to evaluate general health and organ function, as well as special blood tests to assess for such conditions as heartworm disease, feline leukemia, pancreatitis, anticoagulant poisoning, and thyroid disease. Using a microscope, we have the ability to evaluate for skin and ear infections, blood-borne parasites, and cancerous masses, to name a few.
We also utilize two outside laboratories that can perform a vast array of testing. Once or twice daily pickups of laboratory samples allows for quick processing and evaluation.
In addition to standard diagnostic and dental x-ray services, we offer ultrasound imaging at our hospital. We also offer videoscope service for examining the ears and nasal cavity. This option allows on-screen viewing of the problem area. A veterinary radiologist consults with our hospital to review all of our x-rays and to perform advanced ultrasound studies.
We are fortunate to have a number of board-certified veterinary radiologists available to help maximize our diagnostic capabilities. Drs. Craig Long, Brian McKie, Eric Herrgesell, Linda Mellema, and Michele Laurenson are all diplomats of the American College of Veterinary Radiology. They are available to provide abdominal ultrasounds here at Woodland Veterinary Hospital when needed, which allows us to evaluate the health of many of the internal organs. They also review all of the x-rays that we take of our patients to provide expert opinions as to diagnosis, further testing (if required), and possible treatment protocols. Because our x-rays are taken digitally, these experts are able to access and review the images usually within 24 hours, allowing us to provide prompt and specific care.