Veterinary Diagnostic Lab
We use electromagnetic radiation and other technologies for diagnostic imaging. This allows us to produce highly detailed images of your pet's internal structures.
At Fairvale Animal Hospital, we have a range of technology and tools to help diagnose your pet's medical issues as quickly as possible. We offer a variety of services from digital radiology, to ultrasounds and cold lasers.
With our diagnostic imaging capabilities, we can efficiently produce accurate diagnostic information about your pet's condition and provide immediate treatment options.
In-House Lab & Veterinary Pharmacy in Rothesay
We perform tests and get results quickly in our in-house laboratory so that we can diagnose your pet's symptoms and begin treatment as soon as possible.
Our pet pharmacy in Rothesay is stocked with a range of prescription diets and medications, providing us with quick access to any medications your pet may need while in our care.
Our Tests & Technologies
With our in-house veterinary diagnostics lab, we are pleased to offer diagnostic testing to allow our vets to provide you with an accurate diagnosis of your pet's medical issues.
- Radiography (Digital X-rays)
Using a radiograph (digital x-ray), we can examine your pet's internal systems to reveal information that may be invisible from the outside.
Radiography is safe, painless and non-invasive. It uses only very low doses of radiation. Because the level of radiation exposure required to perform radiography is very low, even pregnant females and very young pets can undergo this procedure.
Radiographs can be used to evaluate bones and organs, and diagnose conditions including broken bones, chronic arthritis, bladder stones, spinal cord diseases and some tumours.
- Ultrasound
The use of diagnostic imaging allows our team of veterinary professionals to create extremely detailed images of your pet's internal structures.
With ultrasound imaging, we expose part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body.
Because we capture ultrasound images in real time, we can see the structure and movement of your pet's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through the blood vessels.
Having this valuable technology available to our vets in our in-house lab means that your dog or cat's condition can be diagnosed quickly and treatment can start sooner.
- Cold Lasers
Cold laser therapy uses light-emitting diodes (LED) or low-intensity lasers (also known as cold lasers) to stimulate cell growth, improve healing, and relieve pain in your pet.
The kind of light emitted by a laser determines the depth to which it can affect tissues. The higher the wavelength (green, blue, or purple-coloured), the deeper into your pet's body will penetrate their skin.
Therapeutic laser treatments offer a wide range of benefits to your pet. When the specific wavelengths in low-intensity laser prompt alterations to the physiology of cells and tissues, it can help with pain relief and healing on many levels.
- Bloodwork
At our vet lab in Rothesay, we can run several common and targeted blood tests to help us determine the health of your pet and diagnose illness.
Some of the most common veterinary blood tests we do are CBC (complete blood count), white blood count, hemoglobin and MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), hematocrit, platelets, eosinophils, and blood serum profile.
- Urinalysis
Urinalysis is a key diagnostic test that provides your vet with essential insights into the physical and chemical properties of your pet's urine.
Urinalysis is primarily used to assess the health of your animal's kidneys and urinary tract system, but it can also help detect issues in other organ systems and is important for diagnosing metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
This is a valuable diagnostic test for both healthy and sick animals and we recommend that it be included in any comprehensive evaluation of your pet's overall health.
- Fecal Exams
A fecal exam is the microscopic examination of your pet's feces, which can be done at our in-house vet lab in Rothesay.
The ultimate goal of a fecal exam is to identify and treat any GI infections that could be compromising your pet's health and even the health of your family. Fecals allow your vet to determine if your pet has intestinal parasites such as roundworms or hookworms.
Parasites can make pets uncomfortable and irritable, and lead to more serious conditions. Some can even be transmitted to humans.
Since these parasites live in your pet’s gastrointestinal tract, they are often hidden from view. The only way to detect them is with a fecal exam.
Annual fecal examinations should be a vital part of every pet's routine wellness exam.
- Digital Dental X-Rays
If your cat or dog is suffering from periodontal disease, much of this damage occurs below the gum line where it can't be easily seen. Digital dental X-Rays help our veterinarians assess your pet's oral health.
Digital X-Rays are safer for your pet. They allow our team of veterinary professionals to examine the roots, bones, and internal anatomy of your cat or dog's teeth.
With digital X-Rays, the risk of radiation exposure for your pet is significantly lower than with traditional X-Ray technology. We can see below the surface of your pet's gum line to fully evaluate each tooth.
This technology allows your Rothesay vet to see results immediately, then project them onto a computer screen to review.