Pet Diagnostics tools
Dade County Animal Hospital has multiple diagnostic tools at our disposal at our hospital. These tools help us find the root cause of your pet's illness or injury much faster because we have on-site digital x-rays, ultrasound, electrocardiogram, tonometry, and an in-house lab and fully-stocked, in-house, veterinary pharmacy.
Digital Radiology (X-rays)
Radiography is an invaluable diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine. Radiography is painless, is completely non-invasive, and uses very low doses of radiation.
Our radiology service is staffed by caring, skilled professionals who will provide exceptional care with compassion and patience.
X-rays give us information on your pet's health that may not be apparent just by looking at them and can be used to evaluate almost any organ in the body-including the heart, lungs, bones, and organs. We use radiology to diagnose broken bones, bladder stones, arthritis, some nervous system / spinal cord issues, and a large variety of other problems.
For dogs with a potential for hip dysplasia, we offer OFA-xrays for peace of mind.
UltrAsound
One of our goals is to offer state-of-the-art medicine and diagnostic testing; so we are pleased to offer ultrasound services as a means of providing a higher level of quality care to our patients.
Diagnostic ultrasound has proven to be a powerful tool in veterinary medicine. Ultrasonography uses high-frequency sound (ultrasound) waves to create a picture of what is inside your pet’s body. It is a completely non-invasive, painless way to diagnose and evaluate many common diseases.
Ultrasound waves can generate excellent images of abdominal organs, including the liver, spleen, gallbladder, and kidneys. It is also useful for assessing fetal health and monitoring pregnancy in breeding animals, and it can help us diagnose and stage (determine the severity of) some forms of cancer.
Because ultrasound images are produced in real time, this technology can be used to evaluate the heart as it beats. It helps us detect abnormalities in the motion of heart valves, blood flow through the heart, and contractions of the heart muscle. It can also be used to assess the heart for defects.
When Would My Pet Need an Ultrasound?
If your pet ever needs an ultrasound, it can help us diagnose:
- Cancerous tumors
- Cysts
- Obstructions in the GI tract
- Heart conditions
- Foreign bodies
- Pregnancies
- Fluid in the abdomen or around the heart
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Electrocardiography involves placing electrodes on your pet and measuring the electrical activity of their heart. Issues we look for are hypertension, heart failure and arrhythmias, disorders of heart valves such as heart murmurs, dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. ECGs helps us monitor the function of your pet’s heart and detect abnormalities, such as heart murmur.
Since the lungs and heart function together in your pet, we are also well versed in diseases of the lungs and chest cavity as well.
in-house pharmacy
We maintain a large inventory of veterinary pharmaceutical products and medications, including flea, tick, and heartworm preventive products. We are also a reliable place to purchase your pet's required medication for a chronic medical condition or their need for short-term medication while recovering from an illness, injury, or surgery.
When considering options for purchasing medication, pet owners have many choices, even including online pharmacies and mail-order catalogs. When you purchase medications from our pharmacy, you can rest assured that your pet’s medications were obtained from safe, reliable sources and stored under optimal conditions.
Our trained staff will fill your prescriptions with care as well as attention to detail and your pet’s specific needs. You can count on us to provide you with accurate information about your pet’s medications, including proper dosing information, and to alert you to any potential drug side effects or interactions. We are also here if you experience any problems with your medication after you return home.
If you want to be sure to get the most value for your dollar, as well as convenience and great customer service, call us for your next prescription or medication refill.
in-house laboratory
Laboratory testing is a critical diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine. Having access to accurate in-house diagnostic test results can help our veterinary care team serve your pets’ needs by expanding the testing options available to all our patients.
Many important diagnostic tests can only be performed by outside laboratories, but other tests can be performed in-house, getting your pet's results quickly and allowing us to continue their care without the wait.
Tonometry
When your pet's eyes are checked during his or her exam, any abnormalities may need another look. Dade County Animal Hospital provides patients the benefit of a tonometry, a tool used to measure the fluid pressure inside the eye.
Using an instrument called a tonopen, our doctors are able to calculate and measure the pressure of the fluid within your pet's eyes. If your pet has red, irritated eyes, has suffered head or eye trauma, or is being monitored for glaucoma, bring them in to for an additional testing.
