Veterinary Lab & Diagnostics

Our Diagnostic Services 

• Radiography (Digital X-rays)

  Radiography is a safe, painless and non-invasive procedure. It uses very low doses of radiation, so low that even pregnant females and very young pets can undergo it.

  Radiologists use radiographs to evaluate bones and organs, and to diagnose conditions such as broken bones, chronic arthritis, bladder stones, spinal cord diseases and some tumours.

• Digital Dental X-rays

  Periodontal disease causes much of its damage below the gum line, where it can't be easily seen. Our veterinarians use digital dental X-rays to examine the roots, bones and internal anatomy of your cat or dog's teeth.

  Using digital dental X-rays, we can see below the surface of your pet's gum line to fully evaluate each tooth.

• Ultrasound

  Ultrasound imaging uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the pet’s body. We can see the structure and movement of your cat or dog's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through the blood vessels, because we capture ultrasound images in real-time.

• Electrocardiogram (ECG)

  If your veterinarian performs a physical examination and suspects a heart disorder in your pet, they usually take chest X-rays and an ECG.

  ECGs uncover data that may be integral to diagnosing your cat or dog. In other cases, the doctor may require a cardiac ultrasound to identify disorders in the chambers of the heart.

• Blood Work

  We can run a number of common and targeted blood tests at our lab to help determine the health of your pet and diagnose illness.

  We can perform some of the most common veterinary blood tests, including CBC (complete blood count), white blood cell counts, hemoglobin and MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), hematocrit, platelets, eosinophils and blood serum profiles.

• Urinalysis

  Our veterinarians use urinalysis as a key diagnostic test to gain essential insights into the physical and chemical properties of your pet's urine.

  We primarily use urinalysis to assess the health of the kidneys and urinary tract system, but it can also help detect issues in other organ systems and diagnose metabolic diseases such as diabetes.

  Submitting a Urine Sample: To collect urine, be sure to take your dog for a walk and keep them close. Have a collection utensil ready (preferably something you don’t want back) for the moment they begin to urinate. Be sure to use your utensil to collect as much as possible. Please keep the sample refrigerated until you can bring it to us.

  Please fill out a Urinalysis Drop-off form by clicking here

• Fecal Exams

  Our in-house vet lab can perform a microscopic examination of your animal's feces, known as a fecal exam.

  The ultimate goal of a fecal exam is to identify and treat any GI infections that may compromise the health of your pet. Your veterinarian can also use fecal exams to determine if your pet has intestinal parasites like roundworms or hookworms.

  Submitting a Fecal Sample: Please bring the fecal sample to our office in a sealed ziplock bag. Samples should be brought in as fresh as possible, within four to six hours is ideal. Make sure the sample is refrigerated before bringing it in.

  Please fill out a Fecal Drop-off form by clicking here

In-House Veterinary Pharmacy 

Once a diagnosis is obtained, your veterinarian can prescribe and supply the medications to help resolve or manage your pet's medical condition.

You can also let us know when you need to refill the prescription. We will have your pet's medicine ready and waiting when you come in.

In-House Pet Health Supplies

Managing medical conditions can sometimes be as simple as changing your pet's diet. Creston Veterinary Hospital is committed to providing the best diet and healthcare products to treat medical issues and maintain good health.

Our animal hospital is well-stocked with prescription diets, parasite prevention products, medications and more.