Veterinary Technology

Our In-House Technology & Tests 

We are pleased to offer the below diagnostic testing, through our in-house lab and external labs, to allow our vets to provide you with 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 tumours. 

• Ultrasound

  The use of diagnostic imaging allows our team of veterinary professionals to create extremely detailed images of your pet's internal structures.

  With ultrasound imaging, we expose part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. 

  Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, we can see the structure and movement of your pet's internal organs, as well as 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. 

  At Millbrook Valley Animal Hospital, we call in a veterinary specialist when our patients need abdominal ultrasounds to support the accurate imaging of your pet's body and interpretation of the results.

• Blood Work

  At our vet lab in Millbrook, we can run several common and targeted blood tests to help us determine the health of your pet and diagnose illness.

  Some of the most common veterinary blood tests we do are CBC (complete blood count), white blood count, hemoglobin and MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), hematocrit, platelets, eosinophils, and blood serum profile.

  When it comes to spay and neuter procedures, our animal hospital offers a 50% discount on the preoperative blood work tests necessary for your pet.

• 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 help detect 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 we recommend that it 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 is sent to an external lab.

  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. Fecals allow your vet to determine if your pet has intestinal parasites such as roundworms or hookworms. 

  Parasites can make pets uncomfortable, and 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 examinations should be a vital part of every pet's routine wellness exam.  

• Skin & Ear Cytology

  Ear cytology is commonly used in veterinary medicine to determine the cause of inflammatory conditions in your pet's ear, usually infection and/or allergy-related. Cytology can also help detect cancerous cells growing in the ear canals of pets. 
  
  The cytology process begins with gently taking a swab from inside each of the animal's ears. Then a microscope is used to identify the cells gathered from your pet's ear, to determine the underlying cause of your pet's ear condition.

• Cultures & Biopsies

  A culture test is performed to detect any germs (such as bacteria or a fungus) that could lead to an infection. Culture testing is typically performed using the pet's blood, urine, or stool.

  A biopsy is a procedure to remove a piece of tissue or a sample of cells from your pet's body so that it can be tested at our in-house lab. This allows our Millbrook vets to detect diseases that may be causing a concern (such as a lump).

• Titres

  A titre test is a blood test that measures the level of antibodies your pet has for a particular illness.

  Titre testing can be used to determine the effectiveness of a vaccine or the presence of any natural immunity toward disease in your pet.

• Digital Dental X-Rays

  If your cat or dog is suffering from periodontal disease, much of this damage occurs below the gum line where it can't be easily seen. Digital dental X-rays help our veterinarians assess your pet's oral health.

  Digital X-rays are safer for your pet. They allow our team of veterinary professionals to examine the roots, bones and internal anatomy of your cat or dog's teeth.

  With digital X-rays, the risk of radiation exposure for your pet is significantly lower than with traditional X-ray technology. We can see below the surface of your pet's gum line to fully evaluate each tooth.

  This technology allows your Millbrook vet to see results immediately, and then project them onto a computer screen to review.