Diagnostics — Mesa West Pet Hospital

Diagnostics

Diagnostic testing enables our Mesa West Pet Hospital team to determine your pet's health status and diagnose disease. Our state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and expertly trained veterinary professionals ensure fast, accurate results that allow us to provide top-tier care. From wellness screening tests to advanced imaging techniques, our diagnostic capabilities support a range of pet health needs.

In-house laboratory

In-house laboratory testing is a convenient option that allows our team to diagnose many pet illnesses while you wait. Our laboratory capabilities include essential blood and urine testing, fecal parasite checks, skin and ear cytology testing, heartworm testing and more. Bedside test results enable us to obtain critical health information in minutes, eliminating the time lag associated with sending out tests and allowing us to formulate and begin a treatment plan without delay.

Reference laboratory

We partner with top-tier reference laboratories for specialized and non-urgent tests. Reference labs provide comprehensive diagnostic services, including blood panels, histopathology, cultures, and more, to help us reach an accurate diagnosis. Tests sent to Antech and Idexx complement our in-house laboratory by providing a more complete picture of your pet's health. Common tests we send out to reference laboratories include:

Tumor biopsies
Hormone testing
Fungal testing
Culture and sensitivity testing
Cancer screening
Routine wellness checks
PCR and infectious disease testing
Urinary stone analysis

X-ray

X-rays are a vital diagnostic tool for examining your pet's bones, joints, chest, abdomen, bladder, and other internal structures. Our hospital uses digital X-ray technology, which provides instant, high-quality images while reducing the need for retakes and minimizing radiation exposure. Our veterinarians can interpret initial X-ray studies and may send images to a radiology specialist for expert review. Reasons we may take X-rays of your pet include:

Suspected fracture or soft tissue injury
Vomiting
Urinary tract problems
Abnormal abdominal palpation
Heart murmur
Coughing or difficulty breathing

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging technique that provides detailed, three-dimensional, real-time images of your pet's internal organs without radiation. At Mesa West Pet Hospital, we use ultrasound to evaluate abdominal organs, obtain biopsies, collect urine, and monitor hospitalized patients. Our hospital also offers echocardiography, a specialized ultrasound examination to assess heart function, through traveling cardiology/imaging specialists/specially-trained team members.

Abdominal ultrasound

An abdominal ultrasound is a complete scan of your pet's internal organs, including the liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder, adrenal glands, pancreas, gallbladder, and intestines. Non-invasive abdominal ultrasound is essential for diagnosing tumors, evaluating organ size and appearance, and obtaining ultrasound-guided needle biopsy samples. Our skilled technicians/traveling sonographers obtain detailed measurements and image snapshots during an abdominal scan, then create a report to guide us in developing a treatment plan for your furry pal's health concerns.

Echocardiography

Echocardiography, or cardiac ultrasound, is a specialized imaging technique used to evaluate the heart's structure and function. Highly trained traveling veterinarians perform the scan and then submit the results for review and diagnosis. Echocardiography services are essential to diagnose and monitor pet heart conditions, including cardiomyopathy, valve disorders, and congenital malformations, and ensure adequate heart function before anesthesia in pets with a heart murmur.

CT scans offer detailed cross-sectional images using radiation similar to X-rays, but providing far greater detail. Mesa West Pet Hospital is one of few area hospitals that uses a local CT group to help diagnose complex conditions, including tumors, traumatic injuries, and head and neck pathology, and plan advanced surgeries. Pets must undergo general anesthesia for CT scanning but are monitored closely by skilled and trained veterinary technicians to ensure their safety.