Diagnostic Care
Diagnostic Laboratory
Woodland Springs Veterinary Hospital utilizes a state-of-the-art diagnostic laboratory in order to better treat your pet. Our lab is staffed by highly trained veterinary technicians capable of quickly processing and analyzing a number of tests, from complete blood counts and fecal tests to urinalysis and heartworm tests. These laboratory tests are extremely important in diagnosing, treating and assessing follow-up care for your pet.
About Our Laboratory Tests
Ear Cytology - For this test, the veterinarian takes a small sample from your dog or cat's ear with a cotton swab. This is a simple test to check for bacterial infections, yeast infections and ear mites. This test helps determine the best course of treatment and management for your pet.
4dx - A blood parasite screen that checks for heartworm infections and three tick-born illnesses, Lyme disease, Erlichia canis, and Anaplasmosis. All of these can cause severe blood disease. If identified early, prescription medications can often clear them without any symptoms.
Fecal - A fecal flotation test is needed once a year to check for intestinal parasites. If not treated, these parasites can harm your pet and can be transmitted to you and members of your family. Some parasites can cause anemia, chronic diarrhea and other conditions. Unfortunately, there is no single medication that treats all intestinal parasites.
Click here to learn more about veterinary diagnostic tests.
Radiology
Radiographs (x-rays) are one of the most important diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine. Woodland Springs Veterinary Hospital utilizes high-quality radiology equipment for diagnosing your pet's problems. X-rays are useful in evaluating a number of areas of your pet’s body, from the heart, lungs and reproductive system to the gastrointestinal tract and the musculoskeletal system. X-rays can detect tumors or foreign objects (toys, bones, etc.) inside your pet’s body and pinpoint the location of fractures as well as symptoms of heart disease.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses high-frequency soundwaves to produce real-time moving images of your pet’s internal organs. Ultrasound is particularly useful when examining your pet’s abdomen and internal organs and is used frequently for pregnancy examinations. Woodland Springs Veterinary Hospital utilizes a mobile service with a board-certified veterinary ultrasound specialist for ultrasound procedures.
Allergy Consultation & Testing
Pets can have allergies, too! Like people, pets can be allergic to a variety of allergens in their environment, including pollen, mold, dust, flea bites, carpet fibers - and even other pets! Allergies can result in red, itchy, irritated skin. These symptoms can lead to other, more serious problems, including infections.
If you believe your pet is suffering from an allergic reaction, the first step is to identify the cause. Woodland Springs Veterinary Hospital works with Bio-Medical Services in Austin to help treat pets with allergies.