Veterinary Diagnostic Lab
We use electromagnetic radiation and other technologies for diagnostic imaging. This allows us to produce highly detailed images of your pet's internal structures.
At Smithfield Road Veterinary Hospital, PLLC, we have advanced tools to help accurately diagnose your pet's medical issues. We offer a variety of services, from digital radiology to ECG and cold lasers.
With our diagnostic imaging capabilities, we can efficiently produce accurate diagnostic information about your pet's condition and provide immediate treatment options.
In-House Lab & Veterinary Pharmacy in Knightdale
We can produce accurate results quickly using our in-house laboratory to diagnose your pet's symptoms and create custom treatment plans.
We also offer a fully stocked pet pharmacy with a wide variety of prescription diets and medications, to allow us to administer any medication your pet might need while we take care of them.
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.
- CBC
CBC (complete blood count), gives your veterinarian information about vital aspects of your pet's health including their hydration status, infections, anemia, blood clotting ability, and immune system response.
A CBC is essential for pets that have symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, or loss of appetite
- Blood work
At our vet lab in Knightdale we are able to run a number of 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 be helpful in detecting 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.
- 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 Knightdale.
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. Fecal exams 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.
- 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 / EKG).
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.