We have a wide range of diagnostic services available at all of our hospitals:
In house blood testing: Our hospitals have laboratory equipment which enables us to process a blood sample from your pet as soon as the sample has been collected; this is particularly useful with the critically ill, emergency patients we see.
We are also able to run blood screens prior to surgeries to be certain that your pet is fit enough to undergo the general anaesthesia. The clinical benefits of immediate results are immeasurable, forming the foundations on which we can build our treatment plan for your pet.
We also recommend all senior patients (7+ years old) to receive a comprehensive blood test as a screen for overall health and preventative care.
Urine Testing: We can assess urine as a quick and cost-effective indicator of illness, and it forms an important part of a clinical investigation. We are able to examine the urine for presence of red or white blood cells, crystals (which can be an indicator of the presence of bladder stones, infection or poor diet) and bacteria.
The levels of glucose present, and the ability of the animal to produce concentrated urine also develop a clearer clinical picture and detect early signs of disease, often before clinical signs are observed.
Digital radiography: All three of our clinics have digital radiology machines. There are many advantages to having this equipment available. The time between taking the radiograph and being able to see it on the computer screen is only a few minutes – this means that your pet will not have to be on the x-ray table for long at all. This also means we are able to assess your pet’s radiographs quickly to get a diagnosis.
Cytology and microscopy: Skin and ear conditions can be very stubborn, so if we have a persistent case, we are able to take swabs from infected ears or skin and examine under the microscope to improve the precise targeting of treatment – for example, knowing if the primary problem is yeast or bacteria.
External laboratory services: We use the external laboratory service for the more specific diagnostic tests that we are unable to perform in-house. Samples are collected daily from our clinics, with many of the results being available that same evening.
Identification of masses removed surgically usually take 4-5 working days however. With results in hand a treatment plan is constructed and tailored to the individual needs of your pet. Our vets are also able to discuss complex cases in detail with the specialists at the external laboratory, providing a greater depth of knowledge for the patient.
The external laboratory can also do culture and sensitivity tests to help identify bacteria and which medication it is sensitive to.