Veterinary Technology

Our Diagnostic Services 

We are pleased to offer advanced diagnostic testing through our in-house veterinary diagnostics lab, allowing our veterinarians to provide an accurate diagnosis of your pet's medical issues.

• Radiography (Digital X-rays)

  We can examine your pet's internal systems with a radiograph (digital X-ray) to reveal information that may be invisible from the outside.

  Radiography is a non-invasive, painless procedure. It only employs very low doses of radiation. Because the level of radiation exposure required for radiography is so low, even pregnant women and very young pets can have this procedure performed.

  Radiographs can be used to assess bones and organs as well as to diagnose conditions such as broken bones, chronic arthritis, bladder stones, spinal cord diseases, and some tumors.

• Ultrasound

  Diagnostic imaging allows our veterinary team to create extremely detailed images of your pet's internal structures.

  We use ultrasound imaging to create images of the inside of the body by exposing a portion of the body to high-frequency sound waves.

  We can see the structure and movement of your pet's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through the blood vessels because we capture ultrasound images in real-time.

  Because our veterinarians have access to this valuable technology in our in-house lab, your dog or cat's condition can be diagnosed quickly and treatment can begin sooner.

• Cold Laser Therapy

  During pet laser therapy, the technician concentrates light over affected tissue for periods ranging from 8 to 30 minutes, depending on the issue being treated.

  Laser therapy works by emitting light that stimulates cells in a process called photobiotherapy. Photobiotherapy encourages cell metabolism and protein synthesis, improving cell strength.

  This drug-free and non-invasive treatment work to stimulate cells, reducing pain signals to nerves, increasing blood circulation, and releasing endorphins.

• Bloodwork

  At our vet lab in Clearlake, we can run several common and specialized blood tests to determine the health of your pet and to diagnose illness.

  Some of the most common veterinary blood tests we do are CBC (complete blood count), white blood count, hemoglobin and MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), hematocrit, platelets, eosinophils, chem, electrolytes, urine, FeLV/FIV/HWT, PT/PTT, bile acids, and blood serum profile. 

• Urinalysis

  Urinalysis is a critical diagnostic test that provides your veterinarian with critical information about the physical and chemical properties of your pet's urine.

  Urinalysis is primarily used to assess the health of your animal's kidneys and urinary tract system, but it can also be used to detect problems in other organ systems and is critical for diagnosing metabolic diseases such as diabetes.

  This is an important diagnostic test for both healthy and sick animals, and it should be included in any comprehensive assessment of your pet's overall health.

• Fecal Exams

  A fecal exam is a microscopic examination of your pet's feces that can be performed at our Clearlake vet lab.

  The ultimate goal of a fecal exam is to identify and treat any GI infections that may be threatening your pet's or your family's health. Fecals enable your veterinarian to determine whether your pet has intestinal parasites like roundworms or hookworms.

  Parasites can cause discomfort and irritability in pets, as well as lead to more serious conditions. Some are even transmissible to humans.

  These parasites are often hidden from view because they live in your pet's gastrointestinal tract. A fecal exam is the only way to detect them.

  Every pet's routine wellness exam should include an annual fecal examination.  

• ECG

  We usually take chest X-rays and an electrocardiogram (ECG) if your veterinarian performs a physical examination and suspects your pet has a heart disorder.

  This procedure is simple and quick to complete. It reveals information that may be critical to your pet's diagnosis. In other cases, a cardiac ultrasound may be required to identify problems in the heart's chambers.

• Digital Dental X-rays

  If your cat or dog has periodontal disease, much of the damage occurs below the gum line, where it is difficult to see. Our veterinarians can assess your pet's oral health using digital dental X-rays.

  Digital X-Rays are less dangerous to your pet. They enable our veterinary team to examine the roots, bones, and internal anatomy of your cat's or dog's teeth.

  The risk of radiation exposure for your pet is significantly lower with digital X-rays than with traditional X-ray technology. To fully evaluate each tooth, we can see below the surface of your pet's gum line.

  This technology allows your Clearlake vet to immediately see results and then project them onto a computer screen for review.