Diagnostic Services
As part of our commitment to provide you with access to the best medical care for your pet, we have invested in the latest diagnostic technology. After performing a thorough examination on your pet, diagnostic tests are sometimes necessary in order to identify the underlying cause of your companion's illness.
Should your pet require additional testing and evaluation, we may refer you to Sage Centers for Specialty and Emergency Care, which has a San Mateo location one mile away from our clinic.
Digital Radiographs
Radiographs, or X-rays, are one of the most common and useful diagnostic tools in medicine. At Camino Real Pet Clinic, we use X-rays to examine your pet's bones, lungs, heart, abdomen, oral cavity and other areas and for diagnosing and monitoring many medical and surgical conditions. If we suspect your pet has a fractured bone, has swallowed a foreign object, or is suffering from a heart problem, an X-ray can tell us what we need to know.
To provide you with the highest quality veterinary care for your pet, Camino Real Pet Clinic has invested in a state-of-the-art digital X-ray machine. There are many important advantages of digital X-rays:
- They are immediately viewable on a computer monitor.
- The clear, detailed images can be manipulated to get a better view of your pet's bones and internal organs, leading to a faster and more accurate diagnosis.
- They take less time to process, which means less time for your pet on the X-ray table (and less stress), and less waiting time for you.
- No harsh chemicals are needed to develop the images, reducing potential harm to our staff and the environment.
- If a second opinion is necessary, digital X-rays can be sent by email to a specialist.
Advanced diagnostic capabilities are an extremely important part of veterinary medicine, in part because we can't simply ask our patients what is wrong. Our investment in digital X-ray technology reflects our commitment to offer you and your pet the best, most comprehensive healthcare available.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a painless, safe, non-invasive procedure that we use to evaluate your pet's internal organs. It is one of the many ways we strive to give you peace of mind when it comes to your pet's health. Using sound waves, ultrasound produces a real-time moving picture of your pet's organs that allows us to visualize objects that cannot be detected by X-rays alone. One of the most important uses for ultrasound technology at Camino Real Pet Clinic is to observe your pet's abdominal organs, including the liver, stomach, spleen, pancreas, intestines, kidneys, bladder, uterus and prostate.
The procedure can take between 30 to 60 minutes to perform and does not typically require sedation. To make sure your pet receives the most complete care, our veterinarians may refer you to a specialty clinic for a more complete ultrasound if necessary.
Video Otoscopy
Chronic or recurrent ear infection, or otitis, is a frustrating condition common in dogs, especially with breeds that have floppy ears. Cats are affected less frequently. Because otitis can be a symptom of many diseases, identifying the underlying cause is the key to successful therapy.
Camino Real Pet Clinic has invested in an advanced video otoscope to perform ear exams that allow us to accurately diagnose and properly treat your pet's ear problems. Along with providing a detailed look at your pet's ear canal and ear drum, we also use the otoscope to flush and remove any foreign material from your pet's ears. To maximize your involvement in your pet's care, we also use the video feature to help you see and understand exactly what we see.
In pets with signs of otitis, video otoscopy provides several important diagnostic and therapeutic advantages over traditional hand-held diagnostic and operating-head otoscopes. It is another important way that our comprehensive diagnostic capabilities can help your pet live a long, healthy and happy life.
Our In-House Laboratory
When performing regular wellness examinations or diagnosing an illness, what our veterinarians can't see is just as important as what they can see. Laboratory testing provides information about your pet's overall systemic health without the need for invasive and expensive procedures.
Because protecting your pet's health is our most important job, we have an in-house diagnostic laboratory that allows us to perform blood-chemistry panels. Blood-chemistry panels measure electrolytes, enzymes and chemical elements in your pet's blood. The results of these tests are useful for diagnosing medical conditions as well as monitoring your pet's response to treatment. Blood testing is also required prior to surgery and dental procedures.
All additional testing is performed by Antech Diagnostics, a leading veterinary laboratory that delivers results within 24 hours. The results of these precise tests are necessary for making an accurate diagnosis or assessment of your pet's health.
Specialized Laboratory Testing
Abdominocentesis is the removal of fluid from the abdominal cavity. Fluid inside the abdomen is abnormal and is often symptomatic of a serious disease, including liver failure, kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, bowel perforation, cancer, bleeding disorders and congestive heart failure.
Thoracocentesis is the removal of fluid from the chest. The procedure is useful for identifying the cause and relieving respiratory distress. Fluid accumulation inside the chest is abnormal and may indicate heart failure, cancer, traumatic injury, infection or a viral disease.
Arthrocentesis (or joint tap) is the removal of fluid from a joint cavity. It is useful for the diagnosis of inflammatory joint disease.
If you would like more information about the San Mateo County veterinary diagnostic services that Camino Real Pet Clinic offers for your pet or to schedule an appointment at our animal hospital in Burlingame, please send us an email or call (650) 344-5711.