Veterinary Diagnostic Services
Radiographs (X-rays) are extremely helpful for diagnosing and monitoring many medical and surgical conditions. X-rays are useful in examining your pet's bones, lungs, heart, abdomen, oral cavity and other areas of the body. An X-ray can spot a fractured bone, detect tumors, help with the diagnosis of heartworm disease or locate an obstruction or foreign body in your pet's intestine or stomach. When used in conjunction with other diagnostic procedures like ultrasound, X-rays can accurately diagnose problems, making treatment faster and easier for your pet and your veterinarian.
In order to provide your pet with the best medical care, Schulhof Animal Hospital uses the latest in computerized radiology equipment as part of your pet's diagnostic care. Digital radiographic images are far more detailed and offer a range of features that enhance your veterinarian's ability to make an accurate diagnosis. Because our radiographs are digital, we are also able to easily submit them electronically to a board certified radiologist for timely second opinions. In addition, our digital radiography system allows us to transfer your pet's radiographs to a CD, making it easy for you to take them to a specialist if necessary.
Veterinary Electrocardiographic Studies
Electrocardiographs (EKG) are snapshots of how your pet's heart functions. These are very helpful at detecting numerous types of arrhythmias as well as a handful of other cardiac conditions that can not be diagnosed during a routine physical examination. You probably have seen an EKG machine—also known as an ECG machine—or have had one of these tests in your doctor's office as they are commonly used to test for and diagnose common heart conditions in humans.
An EKG test is a totally noninvasive, painless procedure that involves placing several electrodes on your pet's skin. The machine reads the electrical impulses coming from your pet's heart. The graph-like results produced by the EKG machine allow our veterinarians to diagnose numerous cardiac conditions. If we notice any abnormalities we explain them to you and advise you on next steps.
Ultrasound Imaging
Schulhof Animal Hospital uses modern ultrasound technologies and is up-to-date on the latest ultrasound assisted procedures. In certain complex cases, we can bring a specialist onsite to read or perform ultrasound studies.
Ultrasound is a pain-free, totally non-invasive technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce a real-time image of your pet's internal organs. Often considered more exact than radiographs, ultrasound provides a movie of what is happening inside your pet's body.
Ultrasound is particularly useful in viewing your pet's abdominal organs including the spleen, kidneys, liver, and gallbladder. It can also be used to evaluate heart functions, do bladder scans and image other areas such as the thyroid gland, testicles and mammary glands.
Ultrasound also works well in conjunction with other diagnostic tools and a wide range of diagnostic procedures. For example, if an X-ray shows a lesion in your pet, an ultrasound may be able to 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. Ultrasound imaging can reveal cancer, heart lesions, enlarged spleens, and many other conditions. Ultrasounds are typically not stressful for your pet and take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to perform.
Our Lab
Performing preventative medicine as well as diagnosing emergent internal health issues requires the ability to perform a wide range of laboratory tests on blood, urine, feces, and biopsied tissue. Without timely access to precise laboratory test results—blood testing, biopsies, microscopic examinations, bacterial culture sensitivity, and more—it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis or assessment of your pet's health.
At Schulhof Animal Hospital we have a complete in-house laboratory. In many cases, our sophisticated instruments and diagnostic capabilities allow us to receive results within minutes.
Laboratory testing aides us in diagnosing and monitoring your pet's condition. In addition to diagnosing and monitoring illness and disease, diagnostic testing can also provide the veterinarian with additional information about your pet that is often undetectable during your pet's physical exam.
For example, diagnostic testing can detect heartworm disease, Lyme disease, infections, feline leukemia, intestinal parasites, urinary tract infections, and many additional diseases and conditions that can go unnoticed in their early stages. Early blood testing can show evidence of disease such as diabetes, changes in liver or kidney function, or simply provide a baseline for future reference. Diagnostic testing is also included in pre-anesthetic screenings prior to dental or surgical procedures that require general anesthesia. Annual wellness blood and urine tests, along with other diagnostics, assist us in the early detection of diseases and health conditions.