Veterinary Lab & Diagnostics

Our Diagnostic Services

At Selkirk Veterinary Hospital, we have the technology and lab tests necessary to help diagnose and treat a variety of issues in dogs and cats.

• Radiography (Digital X-rays)

  Radiography is a safe, painless and noninvasive diagnostic imaging technique. The level of radiation required to perform radiography is so low that 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 tumours.

• Digital Dental X-Rays

  If your cat or dog is suffering from periodontal disease, much of this damage occurs below the gum line where it can't be easily seen. Digital X-rays allow our team 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.

• Ultrasound

  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.

• Cold Lasers

  This tool uses a low-intensity laser or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to help stimulate and enhance cell function, relieve pain and improve healing in cats and dogs.

  Many uncomfortable conditions have been shown to improve with the use of cold laser therapy including arthritis symptoms, muscle spasms and joint or muscle pain.

  If your pet has sustained an injury, undergone orthopedic surgery or suffers from a painful condition, they may be a candidate for this pain-free and drug-free treatment.

• ECG

  If your veterinarian performs a physical examination and suspects your pet may have a heart disorder, we usually take chest X-rays and an electrocardiogram (ECG).

  This procedure can be completed easily and quickly. It reveals data that may be integral to your pet's diagnosis. In other cases, a cardiac ultrasound may be required to identify disorders in the chambers of the heart.

• Bloodwork

  At our veterinary hospital in Nelson, we are able to run a number of common and targeted blood tests to help us determine the health of your pet and to diagnose illness.

  Some of our most common veterinary blood tests are complete blood count (CBC), white blood count, hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), hematocrit, platelets, eosinophils, and blood serum profile.

• Urinalysis

  Urinalysis is a key diagnostic test that provides your veterinarian 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. Still, it can also help detect issues in other organ systems and is important for diagnosing metabolic diseases such as diabetes.

• Fecal Exams

  A fecal exam is a diagnostic test used to identify and treat any gastrointestinal (GI) infections that could be compromising your pet's health. Fecal exams allow your veterinarian to determine if your pet has intestinal parasites such as roundworms or hookworms.