Imaging & Laboratory

X-ray

In our practice we use digital radiography.

Radiography is one of the main imaging diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine. X-rays allow to obtain a two-dimensional image of the animal's body and, in a very short time, a lot of valuable information.

Here are some examples: it helps to quickly identify acute emergencies such as pneumothorax, gastric torsion, pulmonary edema, but also fractures, dislocations, fluid effusion in the thorax or abdomen, tumors/metastases, and certain types of stones in the bladder or gallbladder.

In case of lameness, X-rays of the joints, long bones and spine are necessary to diagnose various joint pathologies. But often, X-rays alone are not enough and to make a precise diagnosis, other imaging methods such as ultrasound, endoscopy, fluoroscopy, CT scan or MRI may be necessary.

Dental X-ray

Dental X-rays are an important way to detect diseases or abnormalities in the roots of teeth and the bone surrounding them.

It is particularly important to emphasize the importance of dental radiography in cats in relation to FORL disorders (feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions), where the body's cells degrade the hard tissues of the teeth. In this case, the teeth may appear completely normal on the outside, but painful processes of root necrosis may occur. This disease is very common and affects up to 50% of cats over 5 years old.

Ultrasound

An ultrasound examination allows the internal organs to be visualized.

Unlike X-rays, there is no exposure to ionizing radiation during an ultrasound examination. The ultrasound waves emitted by the probe are not dangerous and are either absorbed by the structures of the animal's body without damaging them, or the waves are returned in the form of an echo that the probe recovers and transmits to the machine which will then transform them into an ultrasound image.

An ultrasound examination is not painful and is therefore performed in most cases without sedation. For the examination of the organs of the abdominal cavity, it is necessary for the animal to come fasting in order to facilitate the examination and better visualize and evaluate certain organs.

In addition to the visual representation of the organs, it is also possible to take samples from different organs under ultrasound control (ultrasound-guided biopsy) in order to subsequently submit them to a histopathological examination. A collection of fluid present in the abdomen or the thorax or the sterile collection of urine directly from the bladder are also possible. In this case, sedation is sometimes necessary, depending on the organ from which the sample is taken or the state of cooperation of the animal.

We will be happy to advise you on all the details before an appointment for an ultrasound scan.

Endoscopy

An endoscopic examination allows the body cavities and organs to be assessed from the inside and, if necessary, tissue samples to be taken, foreign bodies (bones, blades of grass, foreign bodies in the stomach, etc.) to be removed or minimally invasive surgical procedures to be performed.

An endoscope consists of, among other things, a fixed metal tube or flexible hose with a camera attached to its end.

In most cases, endoscopic examinations are performed under general anesthesia. It is therefore important that your pet arrives after fasting before an endoscopy appointment. We will inform you in detail about the necessary fasting period before the scheduled procedure.

Using our various endoscopes, we can perform the following examinations/interventions:

• Examination of the ear canal (otoscopy)
• Examination of the trachea and bronchi (tracheoscopy, bronchoscopy)
• Nose examination (rhinoscopy) 
• Examination of the stomach and intestines (gastroscopy, duodeno-/colonoscopy)
• Minimally invasive surgery: spaying of the female dog, castration of cryptorchids, taking biopsies, for example of the liver, pancreas, as well as laparotomies for sampling. Unlike the traditional method, minimally invasive surgery requires significantly smaller incisions to access the abdomen. This allows for reduced post-operative pain and faster healing.

Caution! Examinations of the nose and bronchi in particularly small animals (cats, rabbits, small dogs) may not be possible due to the small diameter of the airways compared to that of the endoscopes.

IDEXX in-house laboratory

With our IDEXX laboratory equipment, it is possible to perform a large number of blood tests (hematology, electrolytes, clinical chemistry) in-house. This offers a great advantage, especially in an emergency, to be able to establish a diagnosis as quickly as possible.

In addition, we carry out the following examinations in-house:

• Urine tests: specific gravity, Combur test, urinary sediment.
• Microscopic examinations: blood smears, search for infectious agents in the ears and on the skin.
• Various rapid tests: parvovirus, FIV/FeLV, Giardia, pancreatic lipase, pro-BNP.
• Glucose measurements in diabetic patients.
• A review of fungal infections using the Dermafyt test.

For routine blood tests and special examinations (e.g. bacteriological, cytological and histopathological examinations, genetic tests, specific pathogen screening tests, faecal examinations, etc.) we cooperate with different certified German laboratories specializing in veterinary medicine.