Diagnostics
Ultrasound
Used mainly in cases of cardiac or abdominal conditions, ultrasound supplies your veterinarian with a real time, moving picture of your pet’s internal organs. Ultrasound also gives vets the ability to perform biopsies that would otherwise involve surgery, determine pregnancy, aid in performing a cystocentesis, and aspirate fluid from within the body cavity.
Ultrasound exams are generally stress-free and noninvasive for your pet and usually don’t require anesthesia. After the exam is complete, your veterinarian will review the results with you to provide you with the best options for treatment. Our vets often consult with a specialist to ensure the most accurate diagnosis possible.
EKG
An EKG, or electrocardiogram, is a test that analyzes the electrical impulses that pass through your pet’s heart, causing the muscle to contract and pump blood throughout the body. An EKG can detect abnormalities in the heart, such as arrhythmias, abnormalities in the size or structure of heart chambers, valve problems, and other defects. Your vet may recommend an EKG if your dog or cat has an irregular heartbeat or shows signs of heart disease. EKGs are not painful and normally only take a few minutes to complete. Your vet will review the results with you and discuss the most appropriate treatment for your pet.
Laboratory
Bloomsburg Veterinary Hospital has both in-house and outside laboratory options available for diagnosing a pet’s condition. Laboratory testing is vital in diagnosing your pet’s illness and beginning treatment as quickly as possible for the best outcome. In our in-house laboratory we can run complete blood counts (CBC), blood chemistry profiles, and electrolyte measurements, getting results within just a few minutes. We can also perform skin scrapings, as well as run urinalyses and dermatophyte cultures. We also test for Lyme disease, internal parasites, heartworms, feline leukemia, FIV, giardia, and Ehrlichia.
Our lab is staffed with vet techs who are specially trained to process test results accurately and quickly. In some cases, we will send your pet’s lab work to an outside laboratory for specialized testing, or when urgency is not of concern. To achieve the most accurate diagnosis we believe that certain tests should only be conducted by laboratories that possess specialized equipment and skills in specific areas of expertise.
Digital Radiography
Radiography is one of the most important and powerful tools in the diagnostic world of veterinary medicine. Bloomsburg Veterinary Hospital is proud to offer digital radiography, which produces more accurate, high-quality images with faster results and better diagnoses. These more detailed, high-resolution x-rays are very useful in distinguishing the precise location of fractures, detecting signs of heart disease, determining the location and size of tumors, and much more. Because they can be done so quickly, the experience is less stressful for your pet.
After your pet’s digital radiographic examination has been conducted, your veterinarian will review the results with you using powerful software designed to better illustrate your pet’s condition, all within a matter of minutes. In more complex cases, the images can be emailed directly to a referral specialist for the most accurate diagnosis possible.
Bloomsburg Veterinary Hospital is an active participant with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, a non-profit organization that evaluates radiographs for hip dysplasia and other genetic diseases.