Diagnostic Services
Digital Radiographs
Radiographs, or X-rays, are one of the most common and useful diagnostic tools in medicine because of their ability to penetrate tissues and show your pet's organs and bones. At Green Forest Veterinary Hospital, we use X-rays to examine your pet's bones, lungs, heart, abdomen, oral cavity, and other areas, and for diagnosing and monitoring many medical and surgical conditions. If we suspect your pet has a fractured bone, has swallowed a foreign object, or is suffering from a heart problem, an X-ray can tell us what we need to know.
Because X-rays are such a valuable diagnostic tool, Green Forest Veterinary Hospital has invested in a state-of-the-art digital X-ray machine. There are many important advantages to digital X-rays:
- They are immediately able to be viewed on a computer monitor.
- The clear, detailed images can be manipulated so we can get a better view of your pet's bones and internal organs, leading to a quicker and more accurate diagnosis.
- They take less time to process, which means less time for your pet on the X-ray table (and less stress), and less waiting time for you.
- No harsh chemicals are needed to develop the images, reducing potential harm to our staff and the environment.
- If a second opinion is necessary, digital X-rays can be sent by email to a specialist.
Advanced diagnostic capabilities are an extremely important part of veterinary medicine, especially because we can't simply ask our patients what is wrong. Our investment in digital X-ray technology reflects our commitment to offer you and your pet the best, most comprehensive healthcare available.
Ultrasound
Using sound waves, ultrasound produces a real-time moving picture of your pet's organs that allows us to visualize objects that cannot be detected by X-rays alone. This painless, safe, non-invasive procedure is one of the many ways we strive to give you peace of mind when it comes to your pet's health.
Our veterinarians use ultrasound to assess the shape, size, tissue density, internal structure, and position of your pet's abdominal organs, assess cardiac health (also called an echocardiogram), and diagnose pregnancy. It can also be used to identify masses or tumors and as a guide during surgical biopsies.
The ultrasound procedure takes between 15 to 30 minutes to perform and, unless it is being used during a surgical biopsy, does not typically require sedation.
Our In-House Medical and Diagnostic Laboratory
When performing routine wellness examinations or diagnosing an illness, what our veterinarians can't see is as important, if not more important, than what they can see.
Because protecting your pet's health is our most important job, we maintain a close working relationship with Antech Diagnostics. Our partnership with Antech allows for your pet to receive a wide range of tests on blood, urine, feces and biopsied tissue. Without timely access to these precise test results, it would be difficult to make an accurate diagnosis or assessment of your pet's health. Test results can also help us in the early detection of diseases and other conditions affecting your pet's health and well-being.
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 diabetes, changes in liver or kidney function, or simply provide a baseline for future reference. Diagnostic laboratory testing is also completed prior to dental or surgical procedures that require general anesthesia.
We also utilize our own in-house diagnostic laboratory to gather pre-anesthetic information when necessary, as well as in the event of an emergency that calls for test results as quickly as possible.
If you would like more information about the diagnostic services that Green Forest Veterinary Hospital offers for your pet or to schedule an appointment, please call (516) 676-4838.