Prompt and accurate diagnosis of your pet’s condition increases our ability to provide a better outcome. At Anderson's Corner Animal Hospital, we are proud to offer an extensive array of in-house diagnostic testing. “In-house” means that you won’t have to wait for your pet’s test to be done by an outside laboratory.
In the majority of cases, we are equipped to get laboratory test results within 20 - 45 minutes and can therefore get down to the important business of keeping your pet healthy, because many critical patients cannot wait overnight for results sent to an outside laboratory. Anderson's Corner Animal Hospital offers the following in-house pet diagnostics:
Our in-hospital veterinary diagnostic chemistry, electrolytes, immunoassay and blood gas instrument. This CBC machine allows for a comprehensive 22-parameter complete blood count with cellular histograms in just minutes
A CBC gives us numbers regarding your pet’s red and white blood cells as well as platelets. These numbers can then be interpreted to reveal the presence of inflammation, anemia, certain parasitic infections, or even certain cancers.
Blood electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) Many disease conditions result in electrolyte disturbances, a situation that can have far-reaching effects on a body’s ability to function. In some cases, such as an obstructed bladder and the inability to pass urine, it is actually the resulting electrolyte disturbance that presents the life-threatening emergency. Evaluating your pet’s electrolyte status may help flag a diagnosis, and in most cases, correcting an imbalance can help your pet feel better and recover quicker.
There is so much that can be learned from a simple blood sample, especially when the information is available quickly. Our laboratory is able to quickly assess the health of your pet’s major organs including the kidneys, liver, pancreas, and thyroid gland. Current information about your pet’s endocrine system and metabolism helps us identify problems faster and allows us the opportunity to readily monitor progress when problems arise.
I-STAT portable clinical analyzer allows for almost instantaneous results when key information about a patient is needed. Knowing such information as acid-base and electrolyte status upon presentation allows us to apply the appropriate treatment plan in a timely manner. This device allows for quick evaluation of blood sugar. This is especially important to know, for example, in emergency situations such as a patient in a diabetic crisis, a toy breed seizing from low blood sugar, a patient with a severe infection or one with a pancreatic tumor.
The Coagulation Panel analyzer allows for vital information when a bleeding disorder is suspected. This can be a life saver in such cases as rat bait toxicities, heat strokes, and snakebites.
A Clinical Binocular Microscope enables us to make in-house diagnostics for patients needing on-site services such as fecal exams, urinalysis, and mass aspirates.
Parasite screening
Fecal examinations, parasite screens, and heartworm testing can be conducted in-house to help rule them out as cause or contributor to your pet’s illness or poor health. We are able to perform most of these tests while you wait, or if dropped off outside of a scheduled appointment, the results will be determined by the end of the day.
Urinalysis
A urine sample can provide us valuable information regarding your pet’s kidney function as well as evidence of problems such as infection, diabetes, and urinary stones. This simple test is one very significant way we can gain an insight into the health of your pet’s internal organs. While collecting a sample in a pan outside or at home may be adequate in some instances, a cystocentesis performed in the hospital is necessary to have urine cultured to evaluate an infection or to obtain the most accurate results. This simple procedure, similar to an amniocentesis in pregnant women, involves the passing of a tiny needle into the bladder from outside the abdomen. Thankfully, most pets tolerate cystocentesis very well.
There are still some tests that require the technology of an outside reference laboratory or specialist service. These include imaging studies, such as CT and MRI, as well as advanced diagnostics, such as specialized blood tests, DNA studies, bladder stone analysis, and histopathology (biopsies). Through familiarity with prominent reference laboratories around the country, Anderson's Corner Animal Hospital can arrange for your pet to benefit from any and all diagnostic services available worldwide.
