Pet Diagnostics in Colma, CA
The team at Colma Animal Hospital is committed to providing your pet with the most modern care. That’s why we offer advanced diagnostic services to accompany our comprehensive physical wellness exams. If any health issues or abnormalities are detected during the physical exam, a diagnostic exam is often recommended. Since the diagnostic exam involves examining your pet internally, the results allow us to determine the cause of your pet’s health condition.
For your convenience, we perform all of our diagnostic services in-house, using cutting-edge equipment and techniques.
Digital Radiography
Digital radiographs (X-rays) are used to safely and quickly examine a pet’s bones, heart, lungs, abdomen, and other areas of the body to diagnose various conditions—some of which may require surgery. These include fractures, foreign bodies, and tumors. Unlike film X-rays, digital radiography provides a number of benefits for your pet, for you, and for the doctor, including:
We are pleased to have a veterinary digital radiologist specialist, Dr. Rivers, on-call to provide X-ray services here at our hospital. If you would like to Schedule an Appointment, please let us know.
Ultrasonography
Ultrasound is a safe, non-invasive diagnostic imaging procedure that uses sound waves to examine a pet’s internal organs and/or diagnose pregnancy. It is often used in conjunction with digital X-rays to provide a more accurate diagnosis. Ultrasound technology is a unique diagnostic option in that it allows us to determine the structure, shape, tissue density, and size of the internal organs. It can also be used to detect cysts and tumors. In most cases, pets must be shaved prior to the ultrasound. However, anesthesia is typically not necessary.
Skin Scraping and Cytology
There are hundreds of known skin conditions seen in dogs and cats. In fact, “skin disease” is one of the most common reasons that pets are brought to veterinary hospitals. As part of Colma Animal Hospital’s dermatology diagnostic services, we use in-house skin scraping and in-house cytology to examine skin cells and detect conditions, many of which are microscopic. This involves obtaining a skin sample by gently scraping the skin surface—usually with a scalpel blade—and analyzing the sample under a microscope.
Skin scraping and cytology analyses help us more accurately diagnose and treat skin problems. Some of the common skin conditions that we can detect with skin surface cytology include:
If you’ve noticed any abnormal conditions with your pet’s skin, such as hair loss, red spots, or scabs/sores, schedule a dermatology exam today by calling (650) 756-1753.