Targeting Health Changes with Pet Diagnostics in Limerick
At Limerick Veterinary Hospital, we can utilize our cutting-edge pet diagnostics equipment for a variety of situations. Sick, injured and healthy pets can all benefit from our technology, which helps us detect subtle health changes and measure specific blood and internal organ values.
Diagnostic testing is the logical next step if your veterinarian cannot find what they are looking for during a physical exam. It is also necessary when we need to fully evaluate your pet's health and determine proper anesthesia levels prior to a surgical procedure.
In addition, we are glad to offer state-of-the-art services that produce the most accurate and timely results. The sooner we can make a diagnosis, the sooner we can treat the problem and return your pet to good health.
Dog and Cat Digital X-Rays
Our digital X-ray equipment requires no film or developing fluid to produce high-quality images. We can take X-rays much more quickly, and email the images to outside specialists if necessary. One of our veterinarians may recommend X-rays for your pet if they suspect broken bones, genetic defects, heart problems, a tumor, or an intestinal blockage. X-ray procedures are painless, non-invasive, and usually do not require sedation.
Dog and Cat Ultrasounds
Like digital X-ray, ultrasound is non-invasive and pain-free. Unlike X-ray, our ultrasound equipment produces moving, real-time images of the internal organs. Instead of radiation, it uses high-frequency sound waves to create images. When the sound waves bounce off of the internal organs, they produce echoes, which are converted into electrical impulses, then images.
With ultrasound, we can detect pregnancies, tumors and cysts, fluid in the abdominal cavity, and more. Ultrasound is also important for fully assessing your pet's health before a surgical procedure to determine optimal anesthesia levels and protocols.
Laboratory Testing
Limerick Veterinary Hospital's in-house laboratory enables our veterinarians to perform various blood, urine and fecal tests, including:
- Heartworm
- T4 (thyroid levels)
- Urinalysis
- Lyme disease testing
- Fecal test (to detect parasites)
- Cytology (in certain cases)
- CBC (complete blood cell count)
- Feline leukemia/AIDS testing
- Blood chemistry panel
For more complex testing, we will send blood, urine or fecal samples to an outside specialist. Results can take about 24 hours.