In-House Laboratory & X-Rays
Montclair Veterinary Associates in Montclair, NJ, proudly features a comprehensive pet in-house laboratory, including X-rays, to provide accurate and timely diagnostics.
DIAGNOSTIC BLOODWORK FOR CATS & DOGS
Montclair Veterinary Associates in Montclair, NJ, offers in-house diagnostic bloodwork for cats and dogs. Our testing consists of a blood chemistry panel, thyroid level, CBC, UA, fecal testing, and infectious disease screening. During your pet’s exam, we may wish to run laboratory tests using a sample of your pet’s blood, urine, skin, hair, or feces. These tests are important to help your veterinarian understand your pet’s health status.
Some common reasons to run diagnostic bloodwork and labwork include:
- Determining internal organ health when your pet is sick
- Routine yearly testing for heartworm or fecal parasites
- Obtaining baseline labwork when your pet is a senior
- Checking for infectious diseases such as Lyme Disease and Leptospirosis
- Management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, thyroid problems, or kidney problems
- Before surgery to ensure that the organs are healthy enough for anesthesia
Most of these tests are available on our in-house IDEXX lab equipment.
Complete Blood Count (CBC):
A CBC measures the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a sample of blood. The numbers of each type of cell give information to help Dr. Waxman 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.
Urinalysis (UA):
Laboratory testing of your pet’s urine will help your veterinarian 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 your veterinarian diagnose illness. A Urinalysis can help diagnose urinary tract infections, diabetes, dehydration, kidney problems, and other conditions.
Blood Chemistry Panel:
A blood chemistry panel measures your pet’s electrolytes, enzymes, and chemical elements in the blood such as calcium and phosphorous levels. These measurements help your veterinarian determine how your pet’s organs are functioning. Blood chemistry panels also help your veterinarian accurately diagnose and treat illness as well as monitor your pet’s response to treatment. Dr. Waxman may also recommend a chemistry panel to obtain your pet’s baseline values, which can be compared to later tests. Any differences between the baseline values and values measured at a later time will help to diagnose new problems.
Thyroid Level:
Thyroid hormones affect the metabolism of both cats and dogs. It is common for a cat to have an overactive thyroid (“hyperthyroidism”), which can cause problems such as increased drinking and urination, weight loss, and hyperactivity. Dogs tend to have an underactive thyroid (“hypothyroidism”), which can cause problems such as lethargy, hair loss, and weight gain. Both conditions can be diagnosed by a blood test and managed with medications.
Infectious Disease Screening:
Heartworm and tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease are common problems for dogs and can be tested on a 10-minute blood screen. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus are common problems for cats and can also be tested on a 10-minute blood screen.
Fecal test:
Intestinal parasites, such as worms, are common among social dogs and can be tested by sending a fecal sample to the lab. These parasites are very common in Montclair because they can be easily transmitted through another dog’s feces on the sidewalk or in the park. We routinely test for all intestinal parasites, including Giardia.
X-RAY SERVICES
Pet Radiology & X-Ray Services in Montclair, NJ
Montclair Veterinary Associates offers pet radiology and x-ray services for cats and dogs. Pet X-ray services are used to detect a variety of ailments, including arthritis, tumors, and lung abnormalities, including pneumonia, bladder, and kidney stones. They are also used to evaluate bone damage and organ integrity and identify foreign objects that may have been ingested.
Montclair Veterinary Associates is equipped to perform routine pet radiology services to identify many types of illness or injury when pets are sick or suffer a trauma. Our Montclair veterinarians may recommend X-rays as a part of a diagnostic procedure if your pet is experiencing any health conditions or as a preventive measure in a routine senior wellness examination.
Pet Dental X-Rays in Montclair, NJ
Offering pet dental X-rays for dogs and cats, we own state-of-the-art veterinary dental radiography equipment that allows us to examine and treat our patients providing them with the best care. We take our pet oral care very seriously, which is why we have invested in such equipment that allows us to better examine our cat and dog patients in our own facility.
If your dog or cat has experienced any form of oral injury, please call Montclair Veterinary Associates in Montclair, NJ right away. Our pet dental X-ray equipment is here to give you fast results and proper care for your cat or dog’s teeth. Contact us today if you have questions or would like to book an appointment!