Veterinary Diagnostic Lab
We use ultrasound and X-rays for diagnostic imaging. These provide us with detailed images of your pet's internal systems.
At Siskiyou Veterinary Hospital, we have up-to-date tools to help accurately diagnose your pet's medical issues. We offer a variety of services, from digital radiology to ultrasound and Penn Hip.
With the diagnostic tools at our disposal, we can expertly construct diagnostic information about your pet's issue and provide rapid treatment options.
In-House Lab & Veterinary Pharmacy
All of the tests performed at our in-house vet lab offer speedy results so we can diagnose and begin treatment without added delays.
Our pet pharmacy in Medford is stocked with a range of prescription diets and medications, providing our veterinary team with quick access to all of the medications your pet may need while in our care.
Our Diagnostic Services
With our in-house veterinary diagnostics lab, we are pleased to offer advanced diagnostic testing to allow our vets to provide an accurate diagnosis of your pet's medical issues.
- Radiography (Digital X-Rays)
Using a radiograph (digital x-ray), we can examine your pet's internal systems to reveal information that may be invisible from the outside.
Radiography is safe, painless and non-invasive. It uses only very low doses of radiation. Because the level of radiation exposure required to perform radiography is very low, even pregnant females and very young pets can undergo this procedure.
Radiographs can be used to evaluate bones and organs, and diagnose conditions including broken bones, chronic arthritis, bladder stones, spinal cord diseases and some tumors.
- Ultrasound
The use of diagnostic imaging allows our team of veterinary professionals to create extremely detailed images of your pet's internal structures.
With ultrasound imaging, we expose part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body.
Because we capture ultrasound images in real-time, we can see the structure and movement of your pet's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through the blood vessels.
Having this valuable technology available to our vets in our in-house lab means that your dog or cat's condition can be diagnosed quickly and treatment can start sooner.
- PennHIP & OFA
PennHIP is a radiographic screening method for hip evaluation. It is one of the most accurate ways to determine hip health in dogs. Not only can it determine issues such as hip dysplasia, but it can also be used to evaluate the extent of arthritis in the hip joints.
This method goes beyond radiographs though, it connects a vast network of veterinary professionals with an ever-expanding database. As more information continues to come in, it informs research into the etiology, prediction, and genetic basis of hip dysplasia which is not yet known.
The OFA certification that our vets hold is similar in concept to PennHIP, it is a database that collects and publishes information concerning orthopedic and genetic diseases of animals. Through this vast network of information, we can help inform patients about the risk factors their pets have for developing orthopedic issues.
- Bloodwork
At our vet lab in Medford, we are able to run several common and specialized blood tests to determine the health of your pet and to diagnose illness.
Some of the most common veterinary blood tests we do are CBC (complete blood count), white blood count, hemoglobin and MCHC, hematocrit, platelets, eosinophils, and blood serum profile.
- Urinalysis
Urinalysis is a key diagnostic test that provides your vet with essential insights into the physical and chemical properties of your pet's urine.
Urinalysis is primarily used to assess the health of your animal's kidneys and urinary tract system, but it can also help detect issues in other organ systems and is important for diagnosing metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
This is a valuable diagnostic test for both healthy and sick animals and should be included in any comprehensive evaluation of your pet's overall health. It is, however, not performed in our in-house lab, we send it out to a specialized vet lab for analysis.
- Fecal Exams
A fecal exam is the microscopic examination of your pet's feces, which can be done at our in-house vet lab in Medford.
The ultimate goal of a fecal exam is to identify and treat any GI infections that could be compromising your pet's health and even the health of your family. Fecals allow your vet to determine if your pet has intestinal parasites such as roundworms or hookworms.
Parasites can make pets uncomfortable, irritable, and lead to more serious conditions. Some can even be transmitted to humans.
Since these parasites live in your pet’s gastrointestinal tract, they are often hidden from view. The only way to detect them is with a fecal exam.
Annual fecal examines should be a vital part of every pet's routine wellness exam. It is, however, not performed in our in-house lab; we send it out to a specialized vet lab for analysis.
- Digital Dental X-Rays
If your cat or dog is suffering periodontal disease, much of this damage occurs below the gum line where it can't be easily seen. Digital dental X-Rays help our veterinarians assess your pet's oral health.
Digital X-Rays are safer for your pet. They allow our team of veterinary professionals to examine the roots, bones and internal anatomy of your cat or dog's teeth.
With digital X-Rays, the risk of radiation exposure for your pet is significantly lower than with traditional X-Ray technology. We are able to see below the surface of your pet's gum line to fully evaluate each tooth.
This technology allows your Medford vet to see results immediately, then project them onto a computer screen to review.