Diagnostics, Digital Radiology, and Ultrasound in Charlotte, NC

The following are some of our diagnostic tools and procedures that allow us to treat your pet in the most effective way:

• Digital radiology (x-ray)
• CBC (complete blood count) and serum chemistry analyzers
• Urinalysis
• Blood gas analysis
• Coagulation profile
• Intestinal parasite screening (float, direct, cytology)
• Ear cytology
• Heartworm / Lyme / Ehrlichia / Anaplasma testing
• Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus testing
• Snap giardia and pancreatic assays
• Fungal cultures
• Blood pressures
• Parvoviral enteritis testing
• Glucose curves
• Fluid and tissue cytology
• Central venous pressures

Digital Radiography

The team at Animal Medical Hospital & 24 Hour Urgent Care considers the use of digital radiograph technology as a critical tool in modern diagnostic procedures. We use radiographs, which are commonly known as x-rays, to evaluate injuries and conditions which require more than external examination. Radiology equipment gives us a noninvasive way to observe your pet’s internal physiology so that we can provide a more thorough and accurate diagnosis. Our veterinarians use radiographs to detect bone fractures, bladder stones, tumors, soft tissue problems (those related to the heart, stomach, intestines, reproductive, and urinary systems), as well as to locate swallowed foreign objects such as toys or rocks.

The imaging procedure is completely painless and can be performed on calm and cooperative pets without sedation. Your veterinarian may administer a sedative or general anesthesia in cases where a dog or cat has trouble becoming fully relaxed naturally.

• Board-certified radiologists evaluate our x-rays and give us their expert advice and reports within a few hours.
• If x-rays are necessary, you might have to drop your pet off for the day. In urgent situations, we can often have x-rays taken immediately.
• We can burn copies of x-rays onto a CD at the owner’s request.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a safe, non-invasive diagnostic procedure, which, unlike x-rays, does not expose your pet to radiation. An ultrasound machine uses sound waves to penetrate the internal organs and create an image displayed on a monitor. We use a hand-held probe on the skin above the area being studied.

An ultrasound of the heart, or echocardiogram, is the most useful test for evaluating a heart murmur in a pet. With ultrasound, a veterinarian can look inside the heart, in the chambers, and visualize the valves. This non-surgical test can rule out or confirm a diagnosis and aid in determining the amount of leakage and the severity of an abnormality.

Abdominal ultrasound simplifies the diagnosing of internal disease by providing veterinarians with a clear view inside the patient’s stomach, liver, kidneys, and other internal organs.

Some of the common reasons to ultrasound a heart are:

• Heart murmur
• Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia)
• Labored breathing
• Birth defects

Some of the common reasons to ultrasound the abdomen are:

• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Pregnancy
• Urinary bladder disease
• Screening for cancer