Why Diagnostic Tests Are Important For Your Pet
When your dog or cat has a health problem, our veterinarians at Garbí Veterinary Hospital use a variety of techniques to get to the source of the issue. Changes in body temperature, weight, appetite and energy level can signal a problem that requires further investigation. Sensitive areas of the body or the animal’s reluctance to put weight on their limbs may signal an issue that is not visible on the surface. In these cases, a veterinarian may advise one or more of a variety of tests that can provide information about what’s going on inside your pet’s body. In some cases, you may not even suspect your pet has a problem, but a test will reveal a health issue in the early stages so that it can be treated before it becomes a more critical health problem.
Common Veterinary Diagnostic Tests
Garbí Veterinary Hospital offers medical imaging tests such as:
- Digital Radiography: This generates sharper images than traditional X-ray machines, with lower radiation emission and shorter exposure, which means an improvement in both speed and quality. It allows the radiograph to be viewed on a computer instantly and saved to various digital formats.
- Ultrasound: This allows us to visualise lesions in organs and other disorders. Ultrasound does not use ionising radiation, making it safe for monitoring pregnancies and for frequent examinations.
- Endoscopy: This is used to visualise the inside of organs and body cavities. It’s useful for diagnosing digestive problems, bleeding, inflammation, ulcers, or detecting abnormalities.
- CT Scan: This is a medical imaging test that uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of organs, bones, soft tissues, and blood vessels inside the body. Unlike a conventional X-ray which produces a two-dimensional image, a CT scan takes multiple images from different angles and then combines them to generate high-resolution, three-dimensional images.
These tests are important tools that can help your vet keep your companion animals healthy throughout their lives.