Diagnostic Care

In-House Laboratory

Our in-house diagnostic laboratory is an added benefit that 5280 Veterinary Care is proud to provide to our clients. Diagnostic procedures discover what is going on inside of your pet, and allow us to pinpoint the precise cause of ailments. We strive to ensure that our diagnostic procedures are both accurate and timely. Having an in-house lab gives us greater control over these two factors, and it also makes us stand out as a veterinary hospital.

When diagnostic services can be provided faster, this means that your pet’s treatment can be initiated faster, too. Often, your pet’s test results are available the same day depending on the test. If we need to send your pet’s test to one of our reference labs, we receive the results within 24-48 hours. We will call you and let you know our findings.

Here are some different laboratory services that we offer:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC) tests for anemia, infection, inflammation, and measures some components of blood clotting.
• Blood chemistry panels are made of several different tests which aim to assess different organs such as the kidney, liver, and pancreas.
• Electrolytes testing analyzes sodium, potassium, chloride, and phosphorus levels in your pet to monitor issues such as dehydration, bone metabolism, and general body health.
• Thyroid gland tests determine how the thyroid gland is functioning. The thyroid gland is a key regulator of almost all metabolic functions, and therefore thyroid disease can have serious repercussions. Treatment can be provided using medication, radioiodine therapy, or surgical procedures.
• Urinalysis evaluates how the kidneys are functioning to provide insight into the presence of diabetes. Abnormal kidney function is also a common issue in senior cats.

Digital X-Ray

In addition to laboratory testing, our facility is also fully equipped to perform digital radiology. Digital radiology, or x-ray, is an essential diagnostic tool that can create images of your pet’s internal organs and systems without exposing them to dangerous radiation. Radiology is helpful for diagnosing cardiac disease, heart murmurs, respiratory issues, gastrointestinal and digestive system disorders, renal disease, bladder stones, urinary tract disease, tumors, musculoskeletal disorders, and arthritis. The procedure is painless, fast, non-invasive, and precise.

X-ray technology can be helpful in both routine and emergency situations thanks to its innumerable applications. It allows a trained practitioner to see the heart, lungs, musculoskeletal system, and other internal organs. With this information, they can then interpret the images to make informed decisions about your cat or dog’s health. At 5280 Veterinary Care, we employ digital x-ray technology in lieu of the older method of film x-rays because it affords us several benefits, including:

• Faster acquisition of images
• Better quality and accuracy of images
• Less radiation subjected to the animal (thanks to the decreased amount of time needed)
• Ease of sending pictures over the internet to specialists in separate offices if necessary
• Ease of storing images for future use electronically

These attributes of digital X-ray technology allow us to more precisely diagnose and treat patients, thereby increasing our quality of service to you.

Allergy & Dermatology Testing

Allergies and other dermatological issues can have wide-ranging effects, from topical maladies to more serious infections. There can also be a variety of different culprits causing these issues, such as infections, parasites, allergies, dermatitis, autoimmune disease, hormonal disorders, and skin cancer. Our staff is prepared to help with any and all of these issues.

The skin, ears, hair, and nails of your pet may become inflamed as a result of these conditions, which can make your pet extremely uncomfortable and irritated. No one wants their beloved dog or cat to feel this pain, which can even lead to additional behavior issues. Our dermatology services can provide relief to pets suffering from these illnesses by working with you to create individualized treatment plans.

Are you concerned about your pet facing a dermatological issue? Let us know if they exhibit any of these symptoms:

• Scabbing, red, or flaky skin
• Excessive licking, biting, or chewing of the skin
• Excessive scratching
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Hot Spots (areas of the skin with an unusually high temperature when compared with the rest of the body)
• Lumps or bumps
• Excessive shedding

Often, our team can diagnose your pet through a simple physical examination. Other times, more extensive testing such as skin scrapings, blood samples, biopsies, or cultures are needed in order to pinpoint the issue that is ailing your pet.

Once the condition has been diagnosed, we can devise our plan of action to help your pet feel better again. Sometimes the cure to the dermatological issue is a topical cream. Other times, we will combine a variety of different techniques to customize your pet’s treatment plan.

Allergies can be particularly difficult to manage. Paying close attention to how your dog or cat is affected can be beneficial for getting to the root of the problem.

Here are some different possible allergens to be aware of:

• Contact allergens like grass & weeds, household cleaning supplies, or parasites
• Airborne allergens like pollen, dust, dust mites, mold spores, weeds & grass
• Food allergens like protein sources, wheat & other grains

Together we can resolve the dermatological issues affecting your dog or cat!