Digital Radiology
Radiographs, or X-rays, are one of the most common and useful diagnostic tools in medicine. At Hearthstone Animal Clinic, we use X-rays to examine your pet's bones, lungs, heart, abdomen, oral cavity and other areas and for diagnosing and monitoring many medical and surgical conditions. If we suspect your pet has a fractured bone, has swallowed a foreign object, or is suffering from a heart problem, an X-ray can tell us what we need to know.
To provide you with the highest quality veterinary care for your pet, Hearthstone Animal Clinic has invested in a state-of-the-art digital X-ray machine. There are many important advantages to digital X-rays:
- They are immediately able to be viewed on a computer monitor.
- The clear, detailed images can be manipulated to get a better view of your pet's bones and internal organs, leading to a faster and more accurate diagnosis.
- They take less time to process, which means less time for your pet on the X-ray table (and less stress), and less waiting time for you.
- No harsh chemicals are needed to develop the images, reducing potential harm to our staff and the environment.
- If a second opinion is necessary, digital X-rays can be sent by email to a specialist.
Advanced diagnostic capabilities are an extremely important part of veterinary medicine, in part because we can't simply ask our patients what is wrong. An investment in digital X-ray technology reflects the hospital's commitment to offer you and your pet the best, most comprehensive healthcare available.
In-House Medical and Diagnostic Laboratory
Because protecting your pet’s health is a top priority at the hospital, we have invested in a complete in-house diagnostic laboratory that allows us to perform a wide range of tests on blood, urine, feces and biopsied tissue. Without timely access to these precise test results, it would be difficult to make an accurate diagnosis or assessment of your pet's health. For specialized diagnostic and screening studies, we send samples to VCA Antech, a leading provider of companion animal laboratory services in the country.