Sometimes a wellness exam doesn’t provide enough information for a complete diagnosis. Animal Hospital of San Luis Obispo uses the most advanced pet diagnostics available to provide the most accurate diagnosis to our patients. We are proud to offer in-house bloodwork, urinalysis, radiographs, ultrasound, and electrocardiogram.
In-House Diagnostic Laboratory
In order to diagnose your pet quickly and accurately, we are proud to offer same-day, in-house laboratory diagnostics including bloodwork, urinalysis, cytology, and a variety of specific diagnostics via ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). We also work with a local clinical veterinary laboratory to process more complicated diagnostics within 12 to 24 hours. The result is patient-specific treatment with less expense to the owner and a better overall recovery rate for the pet.
State-of-the-Art Digital Radiography
Radiology is one of the most important diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine. This procedure is painless and exposes pets to such a small amount of radiation that it’s even safe for pregnant pets.
Our digital radiography (X-ray) services are performed in-house so we receive instant feedback about your pet’s health. We also send all of our radiographs out to a board-certified radiology interpretation specialist for a second opinion.
The conditions X-rays help diagnose go well beyond fractures and broken bones; radiographs also allow us to take a closer look at your pet’s internal organs by examining their size, position, and shape. Some issues that radiographic diagnostics help treat include:
- Foreign Bodies
- Liver, Kidney, and Heart Disease
- Intestinal Blockage
- Bladder Stones
- Chronic Arthritis
- Some tumors
High-Tech Ultrasonography
When your furry family member is pregnant or is having issues with their abdominal organs, a non-invasive ultrasound can provide critical information to help guide diagnosis. Using high-frequency sound waves and echoes, ultrasonography produces images of soft tissue structures in the body that are relayed to the veterinarian on a computer screen in real time. Some of the conditions our in-house ultrasound machine helps us diagnose includes:
- Cysts
- Tumors
- Abnormal Lymph Nodes
- Abdominal Masses
- Fluid inside or surrounding vital organs
- Conditions of the bladder, liver, and uterus
- Confirm pregnancy and number of puppies/kittens in a litter
Specialized Electrocardiography
Pets experience heart problems just like humans, and they often live long, happy lives with the right medical management.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a safe, non-invasive test that records the electrical activity of the heart. The ECG is used commonly to evaluate heart rhythm and can help doctors identify any abnormal heartbeats, also known as arrhythmias. It may also be helpful in identifying heart enlargement, which is a common symptom of many heart diseases.
All of our in-house ECG results are interpreted by a board-certified cardiology specialist, who will work with your vet to understand your pet’s results and develop a treatment plan.
Does your pet need a diagnostic work-up? Please contact us online or call 805-543-0985 to take the next steps in your pet’s wellbeing.
