Diagnostic Services
In-House Laboratory and Diagnostic Testing
Our extensive in-house laboratory provides information that is critical to the sick or injured pet. Due to our modern in-house diagnostic equipment, animals can receive appropriate treatment immediately after arriving at the hospital.
Pre-anesthetic blood testing Our laboratory is equipped to perform preanesthetic blood testing. This important procedure can greatly reduce the risks associated with anesthesia and surgery.
E.R.D. (Early Renal Disease) Screening: Veterinarians now have new technology that allows them to perform a routine health exam test to identify patients with kidney damage. The E.R.D.-HealthScreen Urine Test acts as an "early warning system" by detecting very small amounts of protein leaking into the urine.
Analysis of your dog or cat's urine can help detect renal disease before it becomes a major health problem. We would be happy to provide you with the materials you need to easily collect urine from your dog or cat.
Fecal Screening
Microscopic examination of your pet's fecal sample is needed to detect the presence of parasite infection. Yearly fecal exams are also very important because they can uncover parasites that may not be causing a problem yet, but left untreated can lead to severe diarrhea and vomiting, anemia or malnutrition. Some fecal parasites may even be transmissible to humans.
Heartworm/Lyme/Erlichia Testing
Mosquitoes (which carry heartworm) and ticks (which carry lyme and erlichia) are everywhere, especially here in the Capital district. That means their infections are everywhere, too. Heartworm, lyme and erlichia can be fatal infections. Dogs can become infected with just one bite from a mosquito or the bite of one tick. These infections are more widespread than previously believed, which is why it is important to test annually for infection. Heartworm/Lyme/Erlichia testing requires a blood test that can be performed at your pet's annual exam.
Tonopen
Glaucoma is the term that refers to increased pressure in the eyeball. It is an emergency situation, and if not treated immediately, can lead to blindness.
In a healthy eye, an equilibrium exists between the amount of intraocular (within the eyeball) fluid produced and the amount of fluid removed. If fluid cannot be removed, pressure builds up within the eye. This elevated intraocular pressure (glaucoma) can cause permanent damage to the optic nerve, resulting in blindness.
Ocular Tonometry is the measurement of pressure within the eyeball. The Tonopen is the device used to measure this pressure.
Ultrasound/Echocardiography
We offer both abdominal and cardiac (heart) ultrasound services. Ultrasound is a non-invasive modern technique that produces a visual imprint of the interior of the body. Ultrasound uses sound waves, which have no harmful effects and the examination is painless Ultrasound allows the doctor to achieve a depth of detail that is not possible with X-rays.
Abdominal ultrasound allows the doctor to fully examine the liver, gallbladder, spleen, adrenal glands, pancreas, kidneys, urinary bladder, and parts of the stomach and intestines. Ultrasound examination of these organs is crucial when a diagnosis depends upon seeing inside an organ, or when surgery or anesthesia would not be desirable. Abdominal ultrasound has revolutionized the study of liver diseases, and is crucial to treating many types of cancer.
Echocardiography is a standard non-invasive technique for assessing cardiac anatomy, pathology and function. It is perfect for diagnosing many types of heart problems.
The heart is a very complex organ. As in people, animals suffer from a wide variety of heart diseases. In order to correctly diagnose and treat these diseases, it is necessary to see inside the heart. Using ultrasound, it is possible to watch the heart in motion and to measure each of its parts.
Endoscopy
Endoscopy is the ability to look inside the body, using a variety of very small cameras attached to a flexible tube. The procedure allows the doctor to actually see within a body cavity or within a given organ. Directly viewing the interior of an organ is often very helpful in determining the cause of a problem and helpful in establishing a diagnosis.
The endoscope can also be used to take biopsy samples. This has the advantage of being less invasive than standard surgery) to the patient and allows for a faster recovery.
In veterinary medicine, all endoscopy procedures are performed under general anesthesia. Due to the nature of endoscopy procedures, the amount and duration of anesthesia is much less than would be needed for a standard surgical procedure.
Radiology
To ensure the safety of your pet and limit the amount of radiation exposure, Capitaland Animal Hospital offers complete updated radiology service. Our state-of-the-art x-ray machine produces excellent quality radiographs which allow us to better diagnose your pet's medical condition.