1525 24th Ave SW Norman, OK

405-364-7793

Diagnostic Services

Digital Radiology at Our Norman, Oklahoma Veterinary Hospital

Radiographs are one of the most important diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine. They allow us to view the shape, size, and location of organs inside your pet's body. They are useful for examining your pet's bones, lungs, heart, abdomen, oral cavity and other areas of the body. With x-rays, we can detect fractured bones, tumors, heart problems and locate obstructions or foreign bodies in your pet's stomach or intestine.

Because we believe that pet owners throughout the Norman, Oklahoma area deserve the best possible care, we have invested in a state-of-the-art, high-quality digital veterinary x-ray machine. This means that we can quickly take highly detailed radiographs, manipulate them to gain a better view of your pet's bones and internal organs, and then display them on a computer monitor for you to see. We are able to diagnose a very wide range of medical conditions with more speed and accuracy than before.

Digital radiology has many benefits for your pet, you and our staff. Digital x-rays are easier and faster to process than traditional film x-rays, resulting in less time on the x-ray table (and less stress) for your pet. In addition, the harsh chemicals once necessary for developing x-rays are not needed for digital x-rays, reducing potential harm to our staff and the environment.

Abdominal Ultrasound for Your Pet

Ultrasound is a pain free, non-invasive procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce a real-time moving image of your pet's internal organs. Ultrasound is painless and does not require anesthesia or sedation in most cases. This exam is typically performed after blood tests, x-rays, and a physical examination indicates an underlying problem.

Abdominal ultrasound allows us to fully examine your pet's liver, gallbladder, spleen, adrenal glands, pancreas, kidneys, urinary bladder, and parts of the stomach and intestines. Ultrasound examination of internal organs is crucial when a diagnosis depends upon seeing the organ or when surgery or anesthesia would not be desirable. Abdominal ultrasound has revolutionized the study of liver diseases and is crucial to diagnosing and treating many types of cancer.

Ultrasound allows our pet care medical team to see things that cannot be visualized with radiographs. For example, a radiograph of your pet's abdomen may show enlargement of the liver but does not tell us why it is enlarged. An ultrasound is a complimentary test that allows us to see the structure of the liver in greater detail and identify specific lesions or masses.

Using the ultrasound image as a guide, surgical biopsies can be obtained without major surgery and your pet can often go home the same day. Ultrasounds are typically not stressful for your pet and take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to perform.

Park Lane Veterinary Hospital's In-House Laboratory

Sometimes we need to rely on diagnostic tests in order to make an accurate diagnosis. Thanks to our in-house diagnostic laboratory, your pet's test results are ready within a matter of minutes. Our laboratory is capable of processing dozens of tests, including complete blood counts (CBCs), serum chemistries, urine analysis, fecal testing, and more. Your pet's laboratory test results are analyzed and interpreted by our highly-trained veterinary team. The prompt laboratory test results mean we can provide fast, accurate treatment for your pet.

Along with heartworm testing, complete blood count, blood-chemistry panel, urinalysis, and fecal examination are the most common laboratory tests performed at our hospital. Below are short descriptions of some of the tests offered at Park Lane Veterinary Hospital:

Complete Blood Count

Complete blood chemistry measures the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a sample of blood. The numbers of each type of cell provides information to help diagnose anemia, infections, and leukemia. If your pet is undergoing treatment for a condition, a complete blood count can help your veterinarian monitor how your pet is responding to the treatment.

Serum Chemistry

A serum chemistry profile is a panel of tests that provides a broad picture of your pet's general health. The results confirm any abnormalities found during a physical exam and also indicate any problems that might otherwise go undetected. The blood chemistry values measured may include liver, kidney and pancreatic enyzyme levels, as well as calcium, glucose, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chloride, cholesterol, triglycerides, and total protein. A 12-hour fast is recommended prior to testing to assure the most accurate results.

Fecal Examination

A fecal examination is part of your pet's complete wellness examination. Dr. Holland may examine your pet's feces under a microscope for clues about many different kinds of diseases, including difficulties with digestion, internal bleeding, and pancreas disorders. Most importantly, a fecal examination confirms the presence of intestinal parasites, including roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm, giardia, and coccidia.

Urinalysis

Laboratory testing of your pet's urine can help detect the presence of specific substances that normally do not appear in urine, including protein, sugar, white blood cells, or blood. Measuring the dilution or concentration of urine can also help us diagnose illness. Urinalysis also can be helpful in diagnosing urinary tract infections, diabetes, dehydration, kidney problems, and other medical conditions.