Advanced Diagnostic Care
Computerized Radiographs
Radiographs (X-rays) are extremely helpful for diagnosing and monitoring many medical and surgical conditions. X-rays are useful in examining your pet’s bones, lungs, heart, abdomen, oral cavity and other areas of the body. An X-ray can spot a fractured bone, detect tumors, help with the diagnosis of heartworm disease or locate an obstruction or foreign body in your pet’s intestines or stomach. When used in conjunction with other diagnostic procedures like ultrasound, X-rays can accurately diagnose problems, making treatment faster and easier for your pet and your veterinarian.
In order to provide your pet with the best medical care, Bridgewater Veterinary Hospital uses the latest in computerized radiology equipment as part of your pet’s diagnostic care. Digital radiographic images are far more detailed than standard, film X-rays and offer a range of features that enhance your veterinarian’s ability to make an accurate diagnosis. Because our radiographs are digital, we are also able to easily submit them electronically to a board certified radiologist for timely second opinions.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a pain-free, totally non-invasive technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce a real-time image of your pet’s internal organs. Often considered more exact than radiographs, ultrasound provides a movie of what is happening inside your pet’s body.
It is particularly useful in viewing your pet's abdominal organs including the spleen, kidneys, liver, and gallbladder. It can also be used to evaluate heart and bladder functions, and other areas such as the abdomen, testicles and mammary glands.
Ultrasound also works well in conjunction with other diagnostic tools and a wide range of diagnostic procedures. For example, if an X-ray shows a lesion on your pet, an ultrasound can determine the origin of the lesion and whether it has spread elsewhere in your pet’s body. Using the ultrasound image as a guide, surgical biopsies can be obtained without major surgery and your pet can often go home the same day. Ultrasounds are typically not stressful for your pet and generally only take a short amount of time to perform.
Bridgewater Veterinary Hospital uses state-of-the-art ultrasound technologies and is up-to-date on ultrasound assisted procedures. Our ultrasound studies can also be sent to board certified radiologists for second opinions when necessary.
Electrocardiography
Electrocardiographs (ECG) are snapshots of how your pet's heart functions. These are very helpful at helping the veterinarians at Bridgewater Veterinary Hospital detect numerous types of arrhythmias as well as a handful of other cardiac conditions that can be difficult to identify through a stethoscope. You probably have seen an ECG machine—also known as an EKG machine—or have had one of these tests in your doctor’s office as they are commonly used to test for and diagnose common heart conditions in humans.
An ECG test is a noninvasive procedure that can be done in our hospital where your veterinarian simply connects three electrodes to your pet’s skin. The machine will read the electrical impulses coming from the heart as the heart works to pump blood and then provides a graph that one of our veterinarians will interpret for you. If we notice any abnormalities we will explain them to you and advise you on next steps.
Bridgewater Veterinary Hospital's Videoscope
A videoscope is a diagnostic tool that provides a view into your pet’s body that otherwise would require a far more invasive procedure such as surgery. Relatively small in size, Bridgewater Veterinary Hospital's videoscope is small a camera that can project images onto a computer screen so your veterinarian can perform very thorough exams of your pet’s ears and eyes. It also includes tools that allow our veterinarians to perform minor procedures such as ear flushes, remove polyps, take biopsies, treat infections, and more.
The videoscope also allows us to provide our clients with photos to demonstrate any medical issues we may find as well as to help evaluate the progress of treatment. Soon, Bridgewater Veterinary Hospital will also be able to examine internal organs and even take liver biopsies.
In-House Laboratory
Performing preventative medicine as well as diagnosing emerging internal health issues requires the ability to perform a wide range of laboratory tests on blood, urine, feces, and biopsied tissue. Without timely access to precise laboratory test results it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis or assessment of your pet’s health.
For example, diagnostic testing can detect heartworm disease, Lyme disease, infections, feline leukemia, intestinal parasites, urinary tract infections, and many additional diseases and conditions that can go unnoticed in their early stages. Early blood testing can show evidence of disease such as diabetes, changes in liver or kidney function, or simply provide a baseline for future reference. Diagnostic testing is also included in pre-anesthetic screenings prior to dental or surgical procedures that require general anesthesia.
Bridgewater Veterinary Hospital has a complete in-house laboratory. In many cases, our sophisticated instruments and diagnostic capabilities allow us to receive results quickly.