Veterinary Diagnostics & In-House Laboratory: Pet X-ray, Pet Ultrasound, & More!

Introducing CT Scans at Tenafly Veterinary Center

We are delighted to share the good news with you about our new state-of-the-art dental CT scan.

In our constant pursuit to improve patient care and provide cutting edge medicine, we invested this year in new technology.

Our state-of-the-art CT scan will benefit your pet in the following fields:

1. Shortened time = less anesthesia: Cut down on dental anesthesia from 15-20 min of taking full mouth x-rays to 20 seconds full mouth CT scan.
2. More information, better accuracy.
3. Nasal images for chronic nasal diseases.
4. Ear images for those stubborn ear disease.
5. Brain tumors.
6. CT of extremities such as paws, elbows and joints.
7. CT of chest and abdomen of small pets.

Please call our office if you would like more information or are interested in getting a quick tour.

In-House Laboratory

At our hospitals, we have an advanced in-house laboratory that allows us to provide accurate and timely diagnostic results to our clients. By performing these tests in our facility, we are able to save our clients valuable time that can be critical for situations involving severe illness or injury. We also use our in-house laboratory to perform general wellness tests and routine blood work, which we recommend annually to monitor your pet’s overall health. Laboratory diagnostics go much deeper into the examination process and can reveal crucial data that is not obvious in a physical exam, such as organ function, blood chemistry levels, and any underlying abnormalities. For these reasons, fecal examinations and urinalysis tests are also recommended annually.

Common diagnostic tests performed in our in-house laboratory include the following:

• Complete Blood Count measures the amount of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a blood sample to help identify inflammation, infection, anemia, and some forms of cancer.
• Blood Chemistry Panel is conducted to evaluate how your pet’s organs are functioning and can be used to provide a health baseline or monitor the impact of treatment.
• Electrolyte Testing is used to examine general health, hydration, and metabolism.
• Thyroid Testing shows whether or not the thyroid is properly functioning, specifically checking if the thyroid is producing hormones necessary for regulating energy and metabolism.
• Urinalysis is recommended as part of an annual wellness check and examines your pet’s urine to identify any potential disease or infection.
• Fecal Tests are also recommended annually and use a stool sample to identify any parasites, internal bleeding, digestive or pancreatic issues, or any disease.

Digital Radiography (Pet X-ray)

Digital Radiography, more commonly known as digital x-ray, is a critical tool that helps our clinical team accurately and efficiently diagnose medical conditions in our clients. At our hospitals, we are home to advanced digital x-ray technology we use for both routine and emergency examinations. By using digital radiography, we are able to assess the health of almost any organ in your pet’s body, including the heart, lungs, and abdominal organs. Pet X-rays allow our highly qualified clinical team to give your pet a more comprehensive examination and uncover any potential ailments such as tumors, bone fractures, abnormalities, etc.

At our hospitals, we opt to use digital radiography rather than traditional film x-rays because it is a quicker process and more comfortable process for your pet. During the procedure, a miniscule, safe amount of radiation is omitted to get a clear picture of the size, shape, and position of the organs and bones in your pet. During this quick procedure, our staff will be right there to keep your pet calm and still while the images are being taken.

Pet Ultrasound

Pet ultrasound, also known as veterinary ultrasound, is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of an animal's body. It is similar to the ultrasound technology used in human medicine, but it is specifically designed for use on animals. The images produced by pet ultrasound can help veterinarians diagnose and monitor a variety of conditions in pets.

Echocardiograms & Endoscopy

When pets experience heart issues, ultrasounds and x-rays are often used to make a definitive diagnosis. Echocardiography, put simply, refers to an ultrasound utilized for the heart.

When an ultrasound is performed, it shows us an image of the heart in real time, referred to as an echocardiogram. From there, our veterinarians can evaluate the heart’s size and shape as well as the way it functions. Specifically, they’ll be able to measure wall thickness, examine the heart valves, and assess blood flow.

Echocardiograms can be used to detect the following conditions:

• Birth defects
• Heart disease
• Cardiac tumors
• Some heartworm infections

Like other ultrasounds, echocardiograms are painless, non-invasive, and usually don’t require any form of anesthesia. The most your furry friend will need to worry about is getting a patch of their hair shaved prior to the procedure.

Endoscopy

We offer both flexible and rigid endoscopes for imaging services. Flexible endoscopes help our patients by retrieving foreign bodies from the upper intestines (such as rings, toys, coins, etc.) and performing biopsies to retrieve tissue samples from the gastrointestinal tracts. Rigid endoscopes are used to help patients who suffer from chronic nasal disease and require a more thorough examination of their nasal passages. These procedures are minimally invasive and most pets are able to go home the same day.