Quicker results with in-house diagnostics
Walton Gwinnett Animal Clinic uses many in-house diagnostic tests and equipment to help us determine a cause of illness and find a treatment option for your dog or cat. Using in-house equipment and tests allows us to get to a diagnosis-and treatment plan-together faster, which allows your pet to receive needed treatment and medications as quickly as we can.
Our in-house diagnostic capabilities include:
- Digital Radiography (X-rays)
- Ultrasound
- In-House Laboratory
- In-House Pharmacy
- Endoscopy
- Cardiology Tests
Ultrasound
Ultrasonography (also called ultrasound or sonography) is a noninvasive, pain-free procedure that uses sound waves to examine a pet’s internal organs and other structures inside the body. It has no known side effects, and doesn’t typically require pets to be sedated or anesthetized. It can be used to evaluate the animal’s heart, kidneys, liver, gallbladder, and bladder; to detect fluid, cysts, tumors, or abscesses; and to confirm pregnancy or monitor an ongoing pregnancy.
We may use this imaging technique in conjunction with radiography (x-rays) and other diagnostic methods to ensure a proper diagnosis. Interpretation of ultrasound images requires great skill on the part of the clinician.
In-house Laboratory
While many important diagnostic tests can only be performed by outside laboratories, having in in-house laboratory allows our veterinarians to perform and receive results for other vital tests quickly, all without having to send to an outside laboratory, costing you additional time and money.
Our laboratory provides accurate analysis of tests done for both routine health as well as emergencies, helping your pet on the road to recovery.
Cardiology
Heart disease can lead to congestive heart failure (CHF), which occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood effectively. If your pet is suffering from CHF, fluid usually accumulates in and around the lungs and sometimes in the abdomen. Congenital heart disease (animals born with a heart problem), valvular heart disease (abnormalities of the heart valves), arrhythmias (rhythm disturbances), and heartworm disease can all lead to CHF.
Call us if your pet starts breathing rapidly or coughing, loses his or her appetite, tires easily, seems weak, or has trouble exercising. We can discover many heart problems during a physical exam. Additional tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), radiographs (x-rays), and ultrasounds, are usually needed to accurately identify the cause of the heart disease or failure.
Digital Radiography
X-rays provide valuable information about a pet’s bones, gastrointestinal tract (stomach, intestines, colon), respiratory tract (lungs), heart, and genitourinary system (bladder, prostate). We use radiology alone or in conjunction with other diagnostic tools. Interpretation of radiographs requires great skill on the part of the veterinarian.
We are proud to offer digital radiology (x-rays that are captured digitally rather than on film). This state-of-the-art technology allows us to provide you with a quicker diagnosis for your pet. Plus, it uses less radiation than traditional x-rays.
Endoscopy
Endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure to see inside a pet’s body and, when necessary, take biopsies (tissue samples) without having to perform surgery. Endoscopy is commonly used to examine the inside of the ears, nose, esophagus, colon, bladder, stomach, and other internal organs. Endoscopy can also be used to assist with minimally invasive surgeries and is particularly valuable in retrieving swallowed items.
Endoscopy does require that your pet be placed under anesthesia. As with all such procedures, we follow strict protocols and continually monitor your pet’s vital signs to help ensure his or her safety. Please see the descriptions under Anesthesia and Patient Monitoring for more information on what we do to keep your pet safe.