Veterinary Diagnostic Lab
We utilize electromagnetic radiation for diagnostic imaging. This as well as other technologies help our veterinary team produce very detailed images of your cat or dog's internal structures.
At The Beacon Veterinary Associates, we use state-of-the-art tools to accurately diagnose your animal companion's medical condition. We can provide you and your pet with a range of diagnostic services, including digital radiology, ultrasounds, and digital dental X-rays.
With our diagnostic imaging capabilities, we are able to quickly obtain accurate diagnostic information about your cat or dog's issues and give your options for treatment immediately.
In-House Lab & Veterinary Pharmacy in Beacon
Our veterinary team implements a range of diagnostics tests and gets results back immediately in our in-house veterinary diagnostic lab so that we are able to diagnose your cat or dog's symptoms quickly and begin treatment as early as possible.
Our vets have easy access to the prescription medications and diets your pet may need while they are in our care with our in-house pet pharmacy in Beacon.
Our Diagnostic Services
With our in-house veterinary diagnostics lab, we can provide you and your pet ultramodern diagnostic testing services, that let us give you an accurate diagnosis for your cat or dog's symptoms.
- Radiography (Digital X-rays)
Our vets use a radiograph (digital x-ray), to examine the internal structures of your pet, to unravel information that can't be seen from the outside.
Radiography is painless, safe, and non-invasive. It only uses really low doses of radiation. Because the level of radiation exposure needed to conduct radiography is very low, both pregnant females and very young pets can have this procedure done.
We can use radiographs to evaluate bones and organs as well as diagnose conditions such as broken bones, chronic arthritis, bladder stones, spinal cord diseases, and some tumors.
- Ultrasound
Diagnostic imaging helps our vets obtain highly detailed images of your pet's internal structures.
Ultrasound imaging exposes a part of your pet's body to high-frequency sound waves to capture images of the body's insides.
Because we capture ultrasound images in real-time, we are able to see the movement and structure of your pet's internal organs, in addition to the blood flowing through the blood vessels.
Having this valuable technology available in our in-house lab means that your pet's condition can be diagnosed quickly and we can begin treatment sooner.
- Bloodwork
With our vet lab in Beacon we can run a series of specialized and common blood tests to assess the health of your pet, and diagnose their illness.
A handful of the most common blood tests our vets conduct include CBC (complete blood count), white blood count, hemoglobin and MCHC, hematocrit, platelets, eosinophils, and blood serum profile.
- Urinalysis
Urinalysis is an essential diagnostic test that gives your vet key information about the chemical and physical properties of your pet's urine.
We usually use urinalysis to evaluate the health of your pet's kidneys and urinary tract system, as well as to detect issues in other organ systems. It is important for diagnosing metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
Both healthy and sick pets should have this diagnostic test included in their comprehensive checkups and wellness exams.
- Fecal Exams
A fecal exam is the microscopic examination of your cat or dog's feces, and your vet is able to complete it in our in-house vet lab in Beacon.
The main goal of a fecal exam is to detect and treat any GI infections that could be having a negative effect on your pet's health and potentially the health of your family. Fecals help your vet determine if your pet has intestinal parasites such as roundworms or hookworms.
Parasites make cats and dogs feel irritable, uncomfortable and can cause more severe conditions. A few could even be spread to humans.
Because these parasites live in your pet’s gastrointestinal tract, they are usually hidden out of view. The only way to find them is with a fecal exam.
Annual fecal examines should be included in every one of your pet's routine wellness exams.
- ECG / EKG
If your veterinarian conducts a physical examination and has reason to believe your cat or dog may have a heart disorder, your vet will probably take chest X-rays and an electrocardiogram (ECG / EKG).
Your vet can perform this procedure easily and quickly. It uncovers data that could be integral to your pet's diagnosis. Sometimes a cardiac ultrasound may also be needed to identify disorders in the chambers of the heart.
- Digital Dental X-Rays
If your pet is suffering from periodontal disease, most of the damage would be happening beneath the gum line, where it can't be seen easily. Digital dental X-rays help our vets evaluate the oral health of your cat or dog.
Digital X-rays are safer for your pet and let our professional veterinary team examine the roots, bones, and internal anatomy of your animal companion's teeth.
With digital X-rays, the risk of radiation exposure for your pet is a lot lower than with traditional X-ray technology. We can see below the surface of your pet's gum line to fully assess every tooth.
This technology allows your Beacon vet to get immediate results and project them onto a computer screen to review.
