Diagnostic Services
Radiology
Radiographs (x-rays) are extremely helpful for diagnosing and monitoring many medical and surgical problems. X-rays are useful in examining your pet's bones, lungs, heart, abdomen, oral cavity and other areas. An x-ray can spot a fractured bone, detect cancerous tumors, diagnose heartworm disease or locate an obstruction or foreign body in your pet's stomach. When used in conjunction with other diagnostic procedures like ultrasound, x-rays can accurately diagnose problems, making surgery easier for your pet—and your veterinarian. In some cases, we will utilize a veterinary radiology specialist to help interpret and evaluate x-rays.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a valuable, non-invasive imaging procedure that complements x-rays and allows our clinicians to better visualize internal organs in the chest and abdomen. Results are ready within 24 to 48 hours. This painless diagnostic technique is normally done without sedation of your pet.
Ultrasound is invaluable for making treatment decisions for various types of heart disease. It also allows us to biopsy organs such as the liver, kidney and spleen through a tiny "keyhole" incision. Ultrasound works best in conjunction with other diagnostic procedures. For example, if an x-ray shows a lesion on your pet, an ultrasound can determine the origin of the lesion and whether it has spread elsewhere in your pet's body. Using the ultrasound image as a guide, surgical biopsies can be obtained without major surgery and your pet can often go home the same day. Ultrasounds are typically not stressful for your pet and take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to perform.
Diagnostic Laboratory
A pet that appears healthy can often be hiding symptoms of disease. Routine blood testing helps your veterinarian learn things about your pet's health that cannot be spotted during routine physical examinations.
We are equipped with sophisticated instruments that allow us to measure many laboratory values. As a compliment to our regular laboratory services, our in-house diagnostic capabilities allow us to get results pre-surgically, or in an emergency, within minutes.
Our extensive laboratory services provide information that is critical to the sick or injured pet. We have access both in-house and at our centralized reference laboratory to extensive diagnostic testing allowing animals to receive appropriate treatment in a timely manner. Our laboratory is capable of processing a number of blood tests, including cholesterol, blood glucose and complete blood counts. We also process pre-anesthetic blood tests, which are a necessary step before your pet undergoes surgery.
Endoscopy
Endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure, performed on an anesthetized patient, which can have great diagnostic and therapeutic value. It is used to evaluate the stomach and intestinal tract; during an endoscopic procedure, the veterinarian can take a biopsy of any abnormal tissue that we visualize. Endoscopy can be used to diagnose, and in some cases, remove foreign material in the stomach, thus avoiding the need for surgery. At Avon Lake Animal Clinic, we offer a variety of endoscopic procedures, including laproscopy, thoroscopy, GI endoscopy, colonoscopy and bronchoscopy.