Veterinary Technology

Our Diagnostic Services 

We are pleased with our in-house veterinary diagnostics lab because it lets us perform diagnostic testing with quick and accurate results for your pet's medical issues.

• Radiography (Digital X-rays)

  With a radiograph (digital X-ray), we are able to examine your cat or dog's internal systems to find information that might be hidden from the outside.

  Radiography is safe, painless, and non-invasive. It uses only very low doses of radiation. Because the level of radiation exposure needed to implement radiography is very low, very young pets and pregnant females can have this procedure completed. 

  We can also use radiographs to evaluate organs and bones, and diagnose conditions such as chronic arthritis, broken bones, bladder stones chronic arthritis, spinal cord diseases, and some tumors. 

• Ultrasound

  Diagnostic imaging lets our team of vets take extremely detailed images of your pet's internal structures.

  In ultrasound imaging, we expose part of your pet's body to high-frequency sound waves to capture images of the body's insides. 

  Since we capture ultrasound images in real-time, we are able to see the structure and movement of your pet's internal organs and their 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. If advanced ultrasound imaging is needed for your pet, Companion Animal Hospital can contract a Board certified traveling Radiologist or Cardiologist to perform an ultrasound.

• Cold Laser Therapy

  During cold laser therapy sessions for pets, the veterinary technician will concentrate light over affected tissue for a time period that could range from 8 to 30 minutes, depending on the area being treated

  Laser therapy emits light that stimulates cells in a process known as photo-biotherapy. Photo-biotherapy promotes cell metabolism and protein synthesis, which increases the strength of the cells.
  
  This treatment is non-invasive and drug-free working to stimulate cells, reduce pain signals going to the nerves, increases blood circulation, and release endorphins.

• Bloodwork

  At our vet lab in Santa Cruz our team is able to run a variety of common and specialized blood tests to help evaluate the health of your pet and diagnose their illness.

  A few of the most common veterinary blood tests we perform include 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 gives your vet detailed insights into the chemical and physical properties of your companion's urine.

  We usually use urinalysis to determine the health of your companion's kidneys and urinary tract system, although it can also be used to detect problems in other organ systems and is essential for diagnosing metabolic diseases such as diabetes.

  This diagnostic test is valuable for both healthy and sick pets and should be part of any comprehensive evaluation of your cat or dog's overall health. 

• Fecal Exams

  A fecal exam is the microscopic examination of your pet's feces.

  The main goal of a fecal exam is to diagnose and treat any GI infections that might be impacting the health of your pet and even the health of everyone in your home. Fecals help your vet 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.

  Because these parasites reside in your pet’s gastrointestinal tract, they are usually hidden out of sight. The only way they can be found is with a fecal exam.

  A fecal examination should be included in all of your pet's annual routine wellness exams.  

• Digital Dental X-Rays 

  If your cat or dog is suffering from periodontal disease, lots of the damage would be occurring below the gum line where it can't be found easily. Digital dental X-Rays help our veterinarians assess your pet's oral health.

  Digital X-Rays are safe for your pet. They let our veterinary team examine the roots, bones, and internal anatomy of your cat or dog's teeth.

  The risk of radiation exposure with digital X-rays 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 helps your Santa Cruz vet get immediate results, and then project them onto a computer screen to review.