Advanced Diagnostic Services
The key to treating any type of emergency or critical care situation is the ability to make a quick and accurate diagnosis. Our complete diagnostic and emergency medical resources mean that Valley CARES can diagnose and begin treatment of a pet within minutes. Our diagnostic capabilities include:
Digital Radiographs
Radiographs (X-rays) are extremely important for diagnosing and monitoring many medical and surgical conditions. Radiographs provide a view of your pet's bones, lungs, heart, abdomen, oral cavity, and other areas of the body in order to help us spot a fractured bone, internal injuries, diagnose heartworm disease, or locate an obstruction or foreign body in your pet's intestine or stomach.
Valley CARES utilizes the latest in digital radiography equipment by Eklin and are up-to-date in the latest procedures. Because we offer digital radiography, our radiographs can be easily sent for timely consults with board certified radiologists in complicated cases.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a pain-free, totally non-invasive technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce a real-time image of your pet's internal organs. Ultrasound provides a movie of what is happening inside your pet's body. It is particularly useful in viewing your pet's abdominal organs including the spleen, kidneys, liver, and gallbladder. It can also be used to evaluate heart functions, the bladder and other areas such as the thyroid glands, testicles, and mammary glands.
Endoscopy
Veterinary endoscopy aids in the diagnosis and treatment of problems occurring in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts. An endoscope allows a more complete examination of the esophagus, stomach, and some areas of the intestines, as well as the ability to take tissue samples for testing, and aid in the removal of foreign bodies and other blockages. Most importantly, an endoscope allows for examination to occur quickly and without major surgery.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Electrocardiographs are snapshots of your pet's heart functions. If we suspect your pet is suffering from some cardiac event, an electrocardiogram will quickly and painlessly provide your veterinarian with important diagnostic information. You probably have seen an ECG machine—also known as an EKG machine—or have had one of these tests in your doctor's office as they are commonly used to test for and diagnose common heart conditions in humans.
Tonometry
Glaucoma is a condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eye increases to a point where the optic nerve is damaged, causing loss of vision and blindness. In many cases glaucoma can progress quite rapidly—especially when it is the result of injury or underlying illness—and is considered an emergency situation. Should your pet have difficulty seeing or experience an injury it is critically important to test eye pressure using a Tonometer. It is a noninvasive procedure that should not cause your pet any pain or discomfort; though your veterinarian will apply a mild anesthetic eye-drop to ensure your pet is comfortable during the exam.
Complete Veterinary Lab
Diagnosing emergency internal health issues, as well as maintaining a critically ill pet, requires the ability to perform a wide range of laboratory tests on blood, urine, feces, and biopsied tissue. For example, your pet may be exhibiting a number of symptoms, but are they due to accidental poisoning, viral infection or some other cause. Laboratory testing can help to identify the cause of the issue and its severity, thereby enabling appropriate treatment.