Diagnostic testing enables our team to pinpoint the underlying cause of your pet’s symptoms, diagnosing their condition(s). We want our pet parents to be involved in the decision-making process, and we thoroughly discuss the diagnostic testing we recommend for your pet and their diagnostic test results. Personalizing your pet’s diagnostic plan ensures we avoid unnecessary tests and procedures while leading us to a more personalized and effective treatment plan.

Diagnostic Overview

Blood Pressure Measurement

Blood pressure (BP) is an important measure of overall health in pets, and it reflects the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. BP is measured indirectly using a cuff placed around a limb. During measurement, two values are recorded: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. However, only systolic pressure is commonly measured in pets, and a normal systolic pressure range in dogs and cats is between 120-130 mmHg. An allowance of up to 160 mmHg systolic is often used since pets can become anxious during veterinary visits, which can raise their BP.

There are two types of indirect BP measurement techniques: Doppler and oscillometry. The Doppler method uses a handheld device to detect the blood flow through an artery and relies on detecting audible sounds. On the other hand, oscillometry measures BP indirectly by using an inflatable cuff and an electronic device. The cuff inflates and deflates automatically, and the device detects blood flow oscillations within the artery. BP monitoring is an essential tool in evaluating the health of pets with conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, and hyperthyroidism.