Diagnostic Services
Remote Specialist Care
In order to provide your pet with the most effective diagnostic care possible Hillside Animal Hospital utilizes a telemedicine system. This system allows our doctors to have access to a national network of specialists in a range of disciplines electronically as well as to instantly share a range of diagnostic studies—X-rays, ultrasounds, etc.
Radiographs
Radiographs (X-rays) are extremely helpful for diagnosing and monitoring many medical and surgical conditions. X-rays are useful in examining your pet’s bones, lungs, heart, abdomen, oral cavity and other areas of the body. An X-ray can spot a fractured bone, detect tumors, help with the diagnosis of heartworm disease or locate an obstruction or foreign body in your pet's intestine or stomach. When used in conjunction with other diagnostic procedures like ultrasound, X-rays can accurately diagnose problems, making treatment faster and easier for your pet and your veterinarian.
Hillside Animal Hospital is up to date on the latest radiographic procedures and is able to transfer radiographies into digital images, which can be saved in your pet’s electronic medical record. Digital images are also able to be easily sent to board certified radiologist for second opinions when necessary.
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. Often considered more exact than radiographs, 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, bladder scans and other areas such as the thyroid glands, testicles and mammary glands.
Ultrasound also works well in conjunction with other diagnostic tools and a wide range of diagnostic procedures. For example, if an X-ray shows a lesion on your pet, an ultrasound can determine the origin of the lesion and whether it has spread elsewhere in your pet’s body. Using the ultrasound image as a guide, surgical biopsies can be obtained without major surgery and your pet can often go home the same day. Ultrasounds are typically not stressful for your pet and take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to perform.
Hillside Animal Hospital uses state-of-the-art ultrasound technologies and is up-to-date on ultrasound assisted procedures, such as abdominal ultrasounds, biopsies, needle aspirates, and more. We are also able to perform echocardiography, which is a specialized examination of the heart and the vessels that support its function.
Electrocardiography
Electrocardiographs (EKG) are snapshots of how your pet’s heart functions. These are very helpful at detecting numerous types of arrhythmias as well as a handful of other cardiac conditions that can be difficult to identify through a stethoscope. You probably have seen an EKG machine—also known as an ECG 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.
An EKG test is a noninvasive procedure that involves simply connecting a handful of electrodes to your pet’s skin. The machine will read the electrical impulses coming from the heart as the heart works to pump blood and provide a graph for your veterinarian to read. If we notice any abnormalities we will explain them to you and advise you on next steps.
Our Lab
Performing preventative medicine as well as diagnosing emerging internal health issues requires the ability to perform a wide range of laboratory tests on blood, urine, feces, and biopsied tissue. Without timely access to precise laboratory test results it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis or assessment of your pet’s health.
For example, diagnostic testing can detect heartworm disease, Lyme disease, infections, feline leukemia, intestinal parasites, urinary tract infections, and many additional diseases and conditions that can go unnoticed in their early stages. Early blood testing can show evidence of disease such as diabetes, changes in liver or kidney function, or simply provide a baseline for future reference. Diagnostic testing is also included in pre-anesthetic screenings prior to dental or surgical procedures that require general anesthesia.
Hillside Animal Hospital has a complete in-house laboratory and offers specialized lab studies for pets in their junior years and senior years at a discount when performed as part of a wellness exam. In many cases, our sophisticated instruments and diagnostic capabilities allow us to receive results within minutes. We are also able to submit tests to a local reference laboratory when necessary.