Imagine being able to see what is going on inside your pet. It would be pretty amazing to see how all those internal organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are working. Unfortunately, sometimes there is little that we can tell from looking at the outside of a pet that reflects what is actually going on inside. We must rely on diagnostic testing to tell us the true story. 

One of the most powerful diagnostic tools that we have is blood tests. The blood panels that we run allow us to assess how well your pet's internal organs are functioning. They also allow us to assess red and white blood cells along with platelets. We can accumulate information about the thyroid, pancreas, intestines, kidneys, liver, spleen and other systems - it varies with the type of blood panel being run. Recommended tests will depend on your pet's health condition, age, what medications your pet is on, and other reasons.

Another valuable tool we have is the urinalysis. We run chemistry tests and examine the urine under a microscope to assess bladder and kidney health. It may also give us information about the liver and other internal organs like the adrenal glands. 

Radiographs (X-rays) that are taken using our digital x-ray machine, detect a variety of problems including fractures, cancer, kidney and bladder stones, and heart disease. 

Fecal analysis for intestinal parasites is one of the pillars of our annual/biannual exams. We use this test to help assess intestinal and overall heath. You simply need to submit a less than 24 hours old sample about the size of a walnut.