Many practices aren't equipped with in-house veterinary diagnostics, so must send blood work to outside laboratories and refer patients to other practices for further screening tests.

Our team is proud to offer in-house veterinary diagnostics, and we explain why this technology helps us better care for your pet.

#1: In-house veterinary diagnostics provide fast answers in critical situations

If your pet is severely sick or injured, they don't have time to wait for test results so you can formulate a treatment plan. In-house diagnostics provide prompt results, so our team can make an appropriate treatment strategy. Examples include:

• Seizures - Seizures can be caused by numerous conditions, and an in-house laboratory allows our team to determine if hypoglycemia or organ failure is causing the episode.
• Fractured bones - Fractured bones need stabilization as soon as possible to alleviate pain and prevent further damage to surrounding tissues. In-house X-rays allow our team to visualize fractures and determine how to best address the injury.
• Hit-by-a-car - When a pet is hit by a car, an in-house ultrasound allows our team to quickly evaluate their chest and abdomen to determine if blood has accumulated.

#2: In-house veterinary diagnostics provide valuable information about sick pets

In-house diagnostics can help determine if a sick cat or dog needs hospitalization. Example scenarios include:

• Your pet is vomiting - In-house diagnostics can quickly determine why your cat is vomiting. Blood work can reveal electrolyte abnormalities, infection evidence, and kidney failure. X-rays can reveal certain gastrointestinal (GI) tumors, and ultrasound can help determine if your cat ingested a foreign body.
• >Your pet is having difficulty breathing - Respiratory complications can be caused by numerous issues. In-house blood work can reveal anemia and infectious causes, X-rays can show heart enlargement and lung changes, and ultrasound can be used to evaluate the heart and lung tissue.

#3: In-house veterinary diagnostics provide better care for senior pets

Senior pets are more at risk for health complications, and in-house diagnostics help our team diagnose conditions, such as:

• Diabetes - Blood work and urinalysis can easily diagnose diabetes, so we can devise an appropriate management strategy.
• Arthritis - Arthritis is an extremely common condition in senior cats and dogs, and in-house X-rays can help us determine the affected joints and arthritis severity.
• Cancer - Senior pets are at increased cancer risk, and blood work, X-rays, and ultrasound are useful tools to help with diagnosis.

#4: In-house veterinary diagnostics improve anesthetic safety for pets

Diagnostics are typically necessary before a pet undergoes anesthesia. In-house diagnostics we may recommend include:

• Blood work - A complete blood count (CBC) and biochemistry profile evaluates your pet's overall health to ensure they are healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. These tests also help our team determine if their anesthetic protocol should be adjusted.
• X-rays - Brachycephalic pets are at greater risk for respiratory complications during anesthesia, and we may recommend X-rays to evaluate your pet's airways before their procedure.
• Ultrasound - If we detect a heart murmur or arrhythmia during your pet's physical examination, we may recommend a heart ultrasound before they are anesthetized.

#5: In-house veterinary diagnostics improve drug monitoring

Many medications are contraindicated by certain conditions, such as liver or kidney disease. Our in-house laboratory allows our team to quickly and easily assess your pet's liver and kidney function to determine if they are a good candidate for a certain medication and if a current medication is causing problems.

#6: In-house veterinary diagnostics help make confident decisions

In-house veterinary diagnostics provide accurate information that helps our team make confident decisions about your pet's treatment plan-a much better option than educated guesswork.

#7: In-house veterinary diagnostics reduce stress

When your pet is sick, you don't want to spend days waiting on test results to determine their problem. Our in-house diagnostics provide prompt results, so you don't have to worry about your pet any more than necessary.

#8: In-house veterinary diagnostics save time

When practices can't offer in-house X-rays and ultrasounds, they must refer their patients to other facilities with the technology, which means you have to make an appointment at the new practice and schedule an appointment for your pet. In-house X-rays and ultrasound equipment eliminate the need to go to another facility, saving you time.

In-house veterinary diagnostics provide many advantages for you and your pet. If your pet needs veterinary care, contact our American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)-accredited team at Gentle Touch Animal Hospital so we can ensure their condition is diagnosed accurately and we can start treatment promptly.