Diagnostic Testing
Diagnostic Testing for Dogs & Cats in Frederick, MD
When your pet is sick, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what’s wrong.
Since your pet can’t talk, your veterinarian can’t just ask them where they hurt and what they’re feeling. Instead, we often have to turn to diagnostic testing to help determine the cause of your pet’s issues.
At Old Farm Veterinary Hospital, we have a full slate of diagnostic testing procedures available to help your pet, and any we don’t do in-house we refer out to skilled teams of professionals.
Get to the bottom of your pet’s problems faster. Schedule an appointment today!
Common Diagnostic Tests Performed
At Old Farm Veterinary Hospital, we are able to run a series of diagnostic tests to look for signs of illness in your dog or cat.
Some common diagnostic tests we perform include:
- Blood panel: This test looks for signs of illness in your pet’s blood, including screening for anemia, leukemia, kidney problems, liver issues, diabetes, and other diseases and conditions.
- Urinalysis: Your pet’s urine is checked for signs of disease in the urinary tract, such as the kidney, ureters, and bladder. Additionally, urinalysis can help detect signs of diabetes.
- Fecal analysis: Similar to a urinalysis, your pet’s feces are examined for signs of parasites or disease.
- Skin scraping: To look for skin disease and external parasites, your pet’s skin may be scraped slightly and examined under a microscope.
- EKG: An electrocardiogram (EKG) is used to monitor your pet’s heart activity and test for heart disease.
- X-rays: An X-ray can be used for a variety of diagnostic reasons, including checking bones for fractures, examining whether there is fluid in your pet’s organs, checking for foreign bodies, and examining the soft tissues.
- Ultrasound: This procedure is also used to check for internal injuries or signs of disease, and uses sound waves to visualize internal organs in more detail. Ultrasounds also can be used to guide surgical procedures.
- Histopathology: When a surgery or necropsy is performed, or a biopsy of a lesion is taken, a sample is preserved for examination under a microscope.
Our team of skilled veterinarians and technicians works hard to keep your pet as comfortable as possible during any diagnostic testing, and answers any questions you may have about an individual procedure or the results.
Don’t delay – Schedule your appointment today!