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

Corneal Staining

Corneal staining is a common diagnostic test Pet Health veterinarians use to evaluate the health of a dog or cat’s cornea. Normally, the liquid and stain will not stick to the surface of the cornea and will run off, but if a corneal defect is present, the stain will adhere to the damaged area and appear bright green under a fluorescent light. This test is typically used to diagnose conditions such as corneal ulcers, keratitis, or other types of corneal damage.

Corneal staining is a simple, non-invasive procedure that involves placing a drop of fluorescein stain onto the eye and then using blue light to visualize any damage to the cornea. If a corneal defect is detected during corneal staining, further diagnostic tests, such as bacterial cultures, may be necessary to determine the underlying cause of the damage.