Diagnostics & Laboratory Testing

Clear Insight for Confident Care

Diagnostics are the first step toward effective treatment. At Lansdowne Animal Hospital, we use a variety of diagnostic tools to assess your pet’s health from the inside out, from sudden symptoms to ongoing health concerns or subtle changes you may have noticed at home.

Because pets cannot tell us what is wrong, diagnostic testing provides valuable information that may not be apparent during a physical examination alone. By combining your pet’s history and physical exam with appropriate diagnostic testing, our veterinary team can better identify the underlying cause of illness and develop a treatment plan tailored to your pet.

Comprehensive Diagnostic Care

Depending on your pet’s individual needs, diagnostics may help us:

• Evaluate organ function and overall health
• Detect infections and other underlying illnesses
• Identify changes that may not be visible on a physical exam
• Investigate unexplained or recurring symptoms
• Diagnose and monitor chronic conditions
• Evaluate lumps, masses and abnormal tissue
• Establish a baseline for your pet’s health
• Monitor your pet’s response to treatment
• Provide important information before anesthesia or surgery

Our Diagnostic Services Include:

• Bloodwork and chemistry panels
• Urinalysis and fecal examinations
• Heartworm and tick-borne disease testing
• Cytology for ears, skin, lumps and masses
• Digital X-rays
• Electrocardiograms (EKG)
• Pre-anesthetic and surgical screening

Diagnosing Complex and Ongoing Health Concerns

Some health problems are straightforward to identify, while others require more investigation. Pets experiencing recurring symptoms, chronic disease or concerns involving the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, immune system or digestive tract may need additional diagnostic testing and ongoing monitoring.

Our veterinarians can evaluate these concerns, recommend appropriate testing and manage many chronic conditions as part of your pet’s general veterinary care. This may include monitoring changes over time, evaluating your pet’s response to treatment and adjusting their care plan as their needs change.

Lansdowne Animal Hospital does not have a board-certified internal medicine specialist on staff. If your pet has a condition that requires specialty-level diagnostics or care beyond what we provide, our veterinarians can discuss the next steps and refer you to an appropriate veterinary specialist.

When Additional Diagnostic Testing May Be Recommended

Diagnostic testing can be especially important when your pet is experiencing:

• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Unexplained weight loss or changes in appetite
• Increased thirst or urination
• Coughing or difficulty breathing
• Lethargy or decreased energy
• Recurring infections
• Gastrointestinal concerns
• Changes in kidney or liver values
• New lumps, bumps or other physical changes

These symptoms can have many possible causes. Diagnostic testing helps us gather the information needed to narrow down what may be happening and determine an appropriate next step.

Managing Chronic Health Conditions

For pets living with a chronic condition, diagnostics are not only used to make an initial diagnosis. Repeat testing can help us monitor how a condition is changing and how your pet is responding to care.

Depending on the condition, our veterinarians may recommend periodic examinations, laboratory testing or other diagnostics to monitor your pet’s health and make informed adjustments to their care plan.

When a condition becomes more complex or requires specialized equipment, procedures or expertise, we can help coordinate a referral to a veterinary specialist.

From Symptoms to Answers

With many diagnostic results available the same day, we can often begin treatment sooner and provide you with answers more quickly. When additional testing or specialized care is needed, our team can help determine the next appropriate step.

Our goal is to look beyond the symptoms and gather the information needed to understand your pet’s health. From solving a health mystery to confirming a diagnosis, monitoring an ongoing condition or establishing a wellness baseline, our diagnostic process is thorough, purposeful and focused on your pet’s comfort and care.

If your pet is not feeling well, has recurring symptoms or needs monitoring for an ongoing health condition, contact Lansdowne Animal Hospital to schedule an examination.