Diagnostic Care
Radiology
Radiology is an essential tool for diagnosing many ailments and illnesses in your pet. X-rays are used to diagnose a variety of conditions, including broken bones, tumors, bladder stones and locating foreign bodies (a bone, toy or article of clothing) in your dog or cat's stomach. Radiographs also are useful for diagnosing heart and lung problems and can be used to evaluate cats and dogs for hip dysplasia and dogs for and elbow dysplasia. Lakeside Animal Hospital uses the latest radiology equipment, including a flat panel digital radiograph system, as part of your pet's care. In more complicated cases, we send x-rays for second opinions to the Dallas Radiology Specialty Clinic and to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University. Your pet's x-rays can also be sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for certification.
Ultrasound
To provide your pet with the best care, Lakeside Animal Hospital uses the latest veterinary diagnostic technology. Ultrasound is an advanced imaging technique that uses soundwaves to provide a real-time moving image of your pet's internal organs. This procedure is particularly useful for diagnosing abdominal and cardiac problems and can also be used to detect abdominal fluid, tumors, foreign bodies and other illnesses.
An ultrasound machine is on site to guide many diagnostic procedures, including biopsies and urinary bladder evaluations (for bladder stones/tumors). Ultrasound is also helpful to diagnose pregnancy and visualize fetal heart rates.
Endoscopy
Veterinary endoscopy is an extremely useful procedure which aids in the diagnosis and treatment of problems occurring in the upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. With an endoscope, we can perform a more complete examination of the GI tract, including the esophagus, stomach and some areas of the intestines. The veterinarians at Lakeside Animal Hospital are well-trained in the use of an endoscope.
The endoscope allows a veterinarian to visualize areas that would normally not be accessible without invasive surgery. The scope is equipped with a lighted camera, and pictures are transferred to a monitor to be better evaluated by the veterinarian. Using the scope, a doctor can diagnose gastrointestinal disorders, cancerous growths, polyps and much more.
Even though anesthesia is required to keep your pet still during the endoscopic procedure, the amount of anesthesia and recovery time is greatly reduced. Endoscopy is often indicated when routine blood and urine tests, radiographs and ultrasound do not give the complete diagnostic picture.
Bronchoscopy and Rhinoscopy
Bronchoscopy is a technique that allows a veterinarian to thoroughly examine your pet's nasal cavities, larynx, trachea and lungs. Bronchoscopy is performed using a fiber optic bronchoscope consisting of a tube, a light source, camera and viewing eyepiece.
The most important feature associated with bronchoscopy is that it provides a very accurate diagnosis of diseases affecting your pet's respiratory tract. Often used in conjunction with x-rays, bronchoscopy can help identify the cause of airway problems such as bleeding, difficult breathing, or a long-term, chronic cough. It is also used to remove foreign bodies, benign polyps and for performing biopsies on growths and tumors.
Rhinoscopy is an examination of the nasal passages. In order to perform a complete nasal exam, a small flexible fiber optic scope with a light source is used. Lakeside Animal Hospital will perform a rhinoscopy on pets that have persistent nasal discharge or who are suspected or known to have inhaled a foreign body (such as a twig). Other reasons for performing a rhinoscopy include a suspected tumor or fungal infection.
In-House Laboratory
Because your pet cannot tell us what is wrong, we rely on laboratory diagnostic tests to help us determine your pet's condition. Lakeside Animal Hospital is equipped with an advanced, in-house diagnostic laboratory capable of performing complete series of diagnostic tests.
During an emergency, time is of the essence. Our laboratory is staffed by experienced veterinary technicians capable of performing complete blood counts (CBC), blood chemistry profiles, intestinal parasite evaluations, heartworm testing, and other tests, all within a matter of minutes. Your dog or cat's results are interpreted quickly and accurately, allowing us to begin your pet's treatment immediately.