Pet Diagnostics: Cat and Dog Ultrasound, X-Ray, & Lab Testing in Charleston, SC

Cat Ultrasound In Charleston Sc (1)

At West Ashley Veterinary Clinic, we know a physical examination of your pet cannot always give us all the answers we need to provide them with the best care, especially if they are feeling unwell. When we need to go further to understand their health and condition, we look to our various pet diagnostic capabilities to get more information. Our clinic offers an in-house diagnostic laboratory, digital radiography, ultrasound, and other state-of-the-art tools for the benefit of you and your pet.

Whether your pet needs routine testing, or they are sick and need a checkup, you can call us at (843) 571-7095 or request an appointment online.

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Cat and Dog X-Ray Imaging

Cat and Dog X-Ray Imaging

Using digital radiography (X-rays), we can obtain clear and detailed internal images of your pet. These images can be viewed and evaluated from several rooms in our clinic and are used to diagnose many problems like fractures, arthritis, gastrointestinal conditions, foreign bodies, urinary stones, and cancer. When we need to screen pets for hip dysplasia and other orthopedic conditions, we can sedate them and take films to be evaluated by the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals). As part of our fear-free initiative, we can also sedate pets who may be stressed or in pain.

Ultrasound for Dogs and Cats

Ultrasounds are a safe, non-invasive way to evaluate the internal organs by generating a two-dimensional moving image using high-frequency sound waves. Though most pets tolerate ultrasound very well, we can provide light sedation to facilitate a thorough ultrasound examination that is more comfortable for an anxious or uncomfortable pet.

Ultrasound is a useful diagnostic tool for viewing the abdominal organs and abnormal masses, and for collecting aspirates and confirming pregnancies. Ultrasound packs a large diagnostic punch when used with other tests for a comprehensive exam.

We may recommend an ultrasound for your pet if they have:

  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Irregular blood work
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Palpable masses
  • Abdominal pain
  • Vomiting
  • Blood in their urine

At West Ashley Veterinary Clinic, we have a boarded radiologist and internist that can come in to support your pet’s treatment.

Staff Member Performing Diagnostics In Laboratory

About Our In-House Laboratory

Our clinic’s sophisticated in-house laboratory allows us to perform a variety of tests of the blood, serum, feces, urine, and other body fluids, with results often available within 30 minutes. This capability is essential for pets with urgent medical needs, and for pets who need pre-anesthetic testing before surgery at our clinic. For pets that are stable and healthy, we typically send testing out to reference labs to ensure thorough results.

Tests we can provide include:

  • Blood chemistries
  • Coagulation times
  • Complete blood counts (CBC)
  • Thyroid testing
  • Skin cytologies

Tonometry

Using a Tonovet and a Tonopen machine, our veterinarians are able to perform tonometry, a procedure that measures intraocular (IOP) pressure (pressure within the eye). An IOP reading that is higher than normal may indicate glaucoma, which can damage the eye’s optic nerve and lead to vision loss. A low IOP reading could indicate intraocular inflammation (uveitis), which is also a painful condition and often requires special therapy.

Doctor Performing Eye Exam With Tonopen