Diagnostic Care

Radiographs

Radiographs (x-rays) are a powerful diagnostic tool that aid greatly in diagnosing your pet's medical problems. X-rays are used to diagnose a variety of conditions and we commonly use x-rays to diagnose cardiac, pulmonary, abdominal and musculoskeletal conditions. Our hospital also has the capability to perform renal and barium radiographic studies.

All radiographs taken at Cherokee Animal Clinic are sent weekly to a board-certified veterinary radiology specialist for diagnostic confirmation. We believe this added service strengthens the quality of medicine we offer and greatly aids in diagnosing your pet's condition and ultimately benefits his or her well-being.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound uses high-frequency soundwaves to create a moving image of your pet's internal organs. Ultrasound produces highly-detailed images that allow us to evaluate the functions of the heart and detect the location and size of foreign bodies in your pet's stomach, among other diagnostic uses. We routinely perform echocardiograms and abdominal cavity and bladder sonograms using ultrasound. In addition, we are able to perform liver biopsies using ultrasound.

Your pet no longer needs general anesthesia, complicated surgery and a painful experience. All this can now be avoided by using ultrasound. An ultrasound diagnostic examination is stress-free for your pet and lasts only a few minutes. Ultrasound examination alleviates the high cost and possible complications associated with exploratory surgery. At Cherokee Animal Clinic, we use the latest and most effective ultrasound technology.

Endoscopy

Endoscopy means "looking inside," and this diagnostic tool provides our veterinarians an up-close view of your pet's internal organs without resorting to major surgery. An endoscope is composed of a long tube (either flexible or rigid) with a camera attached at the end. The endoscope is inserted into your pet by way of a very small incision. The camera then transmits images back to a monitor.

We perform both upper and lower endoscopies and also conduct tracheal washes and bronchoscopy using the Olympis BIF XP20 endoscope. Endoscopy is also useful in removing foreign bodies from your pet's stomach, conducting biopsies and performing other procedures that might otherwise require major surgery.

Anesthesia is required to keep your pet still during an endoscopic procedure. However, the amount of anesthesia required is far less than what is commonly needed for surgical procedures and, in most cases, your pet can go home the same day.

Diagnostic Laboratory

On-site diagnostic labwork results in fast, accurate treatment for your pet. Cherokee Animal Clinic is equipped with an extensive on-site laboratory that enables us to perform pre-surgical labwork, along with any emergency labwork. Our laboratory is veterinarian-supervised and staffed by our team of trained, experienced veterinary technicians, who are capable of quickly and accurately interpreting your pet's results. As an added service, we utilize an outside reference laboratory for some diagnostic tests.