X-rays are a non invasive diagnostic tool to see within the body, such as the chest, abdomen, legs, and arms. They are used to help rule out and diagnose certain diseases. Sometimes we combine X-rays with other diagnostic tests, such as blood work and urine testing, to get a bigger picture. At Apple Creek Animal Hospital we perform digital radiography which allows for instant high quality images.
Ultrasound is another type of imaging that uses sound waves to obtain an image of the internal organs such as the heart, liver, spleen, kidneys. The advantages of ultrasound is the visualization of these organs under real time. When abnormalities are observed, ultrasounds can be used as a guide to biopsy that area. The ultrasound procedure is completely non invasive but can be very informative.
Diagnostic tests are sometimes necessary to determine the cause of the illness. For instance, skin conditions may require us to take sample of the skin (such as a skin scraping) to determine if mites (Demodex, and Scabies) are the cause of the itch. We sometimes perform ear swabs to see if bacteria or yeast are causing the infection. We are also capable of performing blood and urine tests to detect a wide variety of illness, such as heartworm disease, liver disease, Cushings etc. Also if you have noticed a lump or bump, we may talk to you about fine needle aspirates, and/or biopsies. All of which are performed at Apple Creek Animal Hospital.