Diagnostics

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

Spinal Radiographs

Spinal radiographs are special images of a pet’s bones associated with its spinal cord and surrounding soft-tissue structures. This procedure allows Pet Health veterinarians to evaluate the individual bones of the spine, the spaces in between these bones, and the area where the spinal cord is located. Spinal radiographs are recommended for pets experiencing specific pain or injuries to the cervical or lumbar region, neurological problems that affect the front or hind limbs, or nonspecific pain without other clinical signs or a diagnosis. These radiographs can detect and diagnose health concerns that are invisible to the naked eye, such as intervertebral disk disease, cancer, infection, and trauma.

The spinal radiographs are pain-free and non-invasive. However, some diseases affecting the spinal cord or spinal nerves can be extremely painful, and pets may resist the need for restraint and manipulation to obtain radiographs. If a pet is in a great deal of pain, a sedative may be recommended to make them more comfortable during the process and help achieve high-quality diagnostic radiographs. If the findings of the radiographs are inconclusive or unclear, additional diagnostic testing or imaging might be recommended, such as a CT scan or MRI, which would require a referral to a specialist.