Diagnostics
Diagnostic testing enables our Chain of Lakes team to determine your pet’s health status and diagnose disease. Our state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and expertly trained veterinary professionals ensure fast, accurate results that allow us to provide top-tier care. From wellness screening tests to advanced imaging techniques, our diagnostic capabilities support a range of pet health needs.
Trusted Diagnostics, Tailored for Your Pet
MRI and Endoscopy are available via referral to a local specialist.
In-house laboratory
In-house laboratory testing is a convenient option that allows our team to diagnose many pet illnesses while you wait. Our laboratory capabilities include essential blood and urine testing, fecal parasite checks, skin and ear cytology testing, NuQ cancer screening for dogs, and more. When your pet is not feeling well, bedside test results enable us to obtain critical health information in minutes, eliminating the time lag associated with sending out tests and allowing us to formulate and begin a treatment plan without delay.
Reference laboratory
We partner with top-tier reference laboratories for specialized and non-urgent tests. Reference labs provide comprehensive diagnostic services, including blood panels, histopathology, cultures, and more, to help us reach an accurate diagnosis. This complements our in-house laboratory by providing a more complete picture of your pet’s health. Common tests we send out to reference laboratories include:
- Tumor biopsies
- Hormone testing
- Fungal testing
- Culture and sensitivity testing
- Cancer screening
- Routine wellness checks
- PCR and infectious disease testing
- Urinary stone analysis
X-ray
X-rays are a vital diagnostic tool for examining your pet’s bones, joints, chest, abdomen, bladder, and other internal structures. Our hospital uses digital X-ray technology, which provides instant, high-quality images while reducing the need for retakes and minimizing radiation exposure. Our veterinarians can interpret initial X-ray studies and always send images to a radiology specialist for expert review. Reasons we may take X-rays of your pet include:
- Suspected fracture or soft tissue injury
- Vomiting
- Urinary tract problems
- Abnormal abdominal palpation
- Heart murmur
- Coughing or difficulty breathing
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging technique that provides detailed, three-dimensional, real-time images of your pet’s internal organs without radiation. At Chain of Lakes, we use ultrasound to evaluate abdominal organs, obtain biopsies, collect urine, and monitor hospitalized patients. Our hospital also offers echocardiography, a specialized ultrasound examination to assess heart function, through a board-certified traveling cardiologist and a traveling ultrasonographer.
Abdominal ultrasound
An abdominal ultrasound is a complete scan of your pet’s internal organs, including the liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder, adrenal glands, pancreas, gallbladder, and intestines. Non-invasive abdominal ultrasound is essential for diagnosing tumors, evaluating organ size and appearance, and obtaining ultrasound-guided needle biopsy samples. Our skilled veterinarians and traveling sonographers obtain detailed measurements and image snapshots during an abdominal scan, then create a report to guide us in developing a treatment plan for your furry pal’s health concerns.
Echocardiography
Echocardiography, or cardiac ultrasound, is a specialized imaging technique used to evaluate the heart’s structure and function. A board-certified cardiologist and traveling sonographers perform the scan and then the cardiologist makes recommendations tailored to your pet. Echocardiography services are essential to diagnose and monitor pet heart conditions, including cardiomyopathy, valve disorders, and congenital malformations. It can also help ensure adequate heart function before anesthesia in pets with a heart murmur.
CT
CT scans offer detailed cross-sectional images using radiation similar to X-rays, but providing far greater detail. Chain of Lakes is able to offer this service with advanced scheduling with a mobile CT practice. A ‘cat scan’ can help diagnose complex conditions, including tumors, traumatic injuries, and head and neck pathology, and plan advanced surgeries. Pets must undergo general anesthesia for CT scanning but are monitored closely by skilled and trained team members to ensure their safety.
Trusted Diagnostics, Tailored for Your Pet
MRI and Endoscopy are available via referral to a local specialist.
In-house laboratory
In-house laboratory testing is a convenient option that allows our team to diagnose many pet illnesses while you wait. Our laboratory capabilities include essential blood and urine testing, fecal parasite checks, skin and ear cytology testing, NuQ cancer screening for dogs, and more. When your pet is not feeling well, bedside test results enable us to obtain critical health information in minutes, eliminating the time lag associated with sending out tests and allowing us to formulate and begin a treatment plan without delay.
Reference laboratory
We partner with top-tier reference laboratories for specialized and non-urgent tests. Reference labs provide comprehensive diagnostic services, including blood panels, histopathology, cultures, and more, to help us reach an accurate diagnosis. This complements our in-house laboratory by providing a more complete picture of your pet’s health. Common tests we send out to reference laboratories include:
- Tumor biopsies
- Hormone testing
- Fungal testing
- Culture and sensitivity testing
- Cancer screening
- Routine wellness checks
- PCR and infectious disease testing
- Urinary stone analysis
X-ray
X-rays are a vital diagnostic tool for examining your pet’s bones, joints, chest, abdomen, bladder, and other internal structures. Our hospital uses digital X-ray technology, which provides instant, high-quality images while reducing the need for retakes and minimizing radiation exposure. Our veterinarians can interpret initial X-ray studies and always send images to a radiology specialist for expert review. Reasons we may take X-rays of your pet include:
- Suspected fracture or soft tissue injury
- Vomiting
- Urinary tract problems
- Abnormal abdominal palpation
- Heart murmur
- Coughing or difficulty breathing
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging technique that provides detailed, three-dimensional, real-time images of your pet’s internal organs without radiation. At Chain of Lakes, we use ultrasound to evaluate abdominal organs, obtain biopsies, collect urine, and monitor hospitalized patients. Our hospital also offers echocardiography, a specialized ultrasound examination to assess heart function, through a board-certified traveling cardiologist and a traveling ultrasonographer.
Abdominal ultrasound
An abdominal ultrasound is a complete scan of your pet’s internal organs, including the liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder, adrenal glands, pancreas, gallbladder, and intestines. Non-invasive abdominal ultrasound is essential for diagnosing tumors, evaluating organ size and appearance, and obtaining ultrasound-guided needle biopsy samples. Our skilled veterinarians and traveling sonographers obtain detailed measurements and image snapshots during an abdominal scan, then create a report to guide us in developing a treatment plan for your furry pal’s health concerns.
Echocardiography
Echocardiography, or cardiac ultrasound, is a specialized imaging technique used to evaluate the heart’s structure and function. A board-certified cardiologist and traveling sonographers perform the scan and then the cardiologist makes recommendations tailored to your pet. Echocardiography services are essential to diagnose and monitor pet heart conditions, including cardiomyopathy, valve disorders, and congenital malformations. It can also help ensure adequate heart function before anesthesia in pets with a heart murmur.
CT
CT scans offer detailed cross-sectional images using radiation similar to X-rays, but providing far greater detail. Chain of Lakes is able to offer this service with advanced scheduling with a mobile CT practice. A ‘cat scan’ can help diagnose complex conditions, including tumors, traumatic injuries, and head and neck pathology, and plan advanced surgeries. Pets must undergo general anesthesia for CT scanning but are monitored closely by skilled and trained team members to ensure their safety.
