Diagnostic Services

Digital Radiographs

Radiographs, or X-rays, are one of the most common, useful diagnostic tools in medicine. After performing a thorough examination, diagnostic tests are sometimes necessary to identify the underlying cause of your companion's illness.

The veterinary team at Cottage Grove Animal Hospital uses digital 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. There are many important advantages to digital X-rays:

• They can be immediately 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, 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.

Advanced diagnostic capabilities are an extremely important part of veterinary medicine, especially because we can’t simply ask our patients what is wrong. Our investment in digital X-ray technology reflects our commitment to offer you and your pet the best, most comprehensive healthcare available.

Ultrasound

Using sound waves, ultrasound produces a real-time moving picture of your pet’s organs that allows us to visualize objects that cannot be detected by X-rays alone. It is a painless, safe, non-invasive procedure we use to evaluate your pet’s internal organs and it is one of the many ways we strive to give you peace of mind when it comes to your special companion’s health.

At Cottage Grove Animal Hospital, we partner with a specialist who performs thoracic and abdominal ultrasound imaging at our practice. The procedure takes between 30 to 60 minutes and does not typically require sedation. A diagnosis based on what we see is usually available immediately, which means we can also provide you with treatment options at the time of your appointment, minimizing your worry and stress.

Our In-House Laboratory

Cottage Grove Animal Hospital maintains a full service diagnostic laboratory, which means we can perform complete blood counts, chemistry profiles, electrolytes, urinalysis, fecal exams, cytology evaluations, and other valuable tests for your pet. Laboratory testing can provide information about your pet's overall systemic health, as well as detect diseases and other conditions affecting your pet's health and well-being without the need for invasive, expensive procedures. Diagnostic laboratory testing is also completed prior to dental or surgical procedures that require general anesthesia.

Without timely access to these test results, it would be difficult to make an accurate diagnosis or assessment of your pet's health.