DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES
Raby Bay Vet Surgery has invested in the latest veterinary digital radiology machine that takes high quality, detailed radiographs (x-rays) of your pet. Digital x-rays produce high-quality, accurate images that result in faster, more accurate and less-stressful diagnosis of your pet’s condition.
Radiographs are one of the most important diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine. They allow us to view the shape, size and location of organs inside your pet’s body. Radiographs are extremely helpful for diagnosing and monitoring many medical and surgical conditions. X-rays are useful for examining your pet’s bones, lungs, heart, abdomen, oral cavity and other areas of the body. An x-ray can detect bladder stones, a fractured bone, tumour, heart problem, and locate an obstruction or foreign body in your pet’s stomach or intestine. X-rays and Ultrasound are often utilized together for an even more accurate diagnosis.
Digital radiology has many benefits for your pet, you, our staff and the environment. Because digital x-ray images can be saved on a computer, they can be transmitted quickly by email to a specialist if a referral is necessary. Digital x-rays are easier and faster to process than traditional film x-rays, resulting in less time on the x-ray table (and less stress) for your pet. The harsh chemicals once necessary for developing x-rays are not needed for digital x-rays, reducing potential harm to our staff and the environment.
In-House Laboratory
Our vets are trained in many areas including pathology, microbiology, haematology and parasitology. With our laboratory in the clinic we are able to run many diagnostic tests to help us determine the nature of your pet’s illness. This means we have rapid results, so we can start your pet on the correct treatment straight away to start on the way to recovery.
We also use our blood analysis machines to run tests on your pet’s blood prior to having an anaesthetic. This helps to ensure there are no hidden diseases which may affect the safety of having an anaesthetic, e.g. liver or kidney disease, diabetes, anaemia.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is an important diagnostic tool. We can look at your pet’s internal organs, chest and abdomen without surgery or sedation (in most cases). It is invaluable for making treatment decisions for various types of conditions. We perform in-house ultrasounds for certain cardiac, abdominal conditions, and ultrasound guided cystocentesis and basic screenings. We work with several mobile ultra-sonographers who are able to travel to our clinic to perform ultrasounds for more complex cases.
In most cases, the procedure is relatively brief and your pet is able to go home the very same day. Most importantly, though, an ultrasound will help us make an accurate diagnosis of your pet’s condition and provide effective treatment recommendations.