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

DTM Culture

Fungal cultures, also known as dermatophyte test medium (DTM), are a diagnostic tool Pet Health veterinarians use to identify fungal infections in dogs and cats. The procedure involves collecting a small hair or skin sample from the affected area and placing it onto a specialized culture medium. The culture is then incubated for up to four weeks to allow any fungal spores to grow.

Fungal cultures are beneficial in diagnosing fungal infections that are difficult to identify through other methods, such as skin scrapes or impression smears. They can also be used to monitor the progression of a fungal infection and assess the effectiveness of treatment.