Diagnostics

Selwood House is equipped with the latest in digital x-ray technology. Our xray is used to diagnose a wide range of medical and surgical issues including certain types of heart disease, respiratory diseases, gastro-intestinal diseases, fractured bones, hip dysplasia, intervertebral disc disease and dental abscesses to name a few. Often the patient will need to be anaesthetised to ensure correct positioning and an accurate, quality image. Our digital technology allows us to send images to expert veterinary radiologists if required.

Selwood House has in-house laboratory facilities to allow for rapid, convenient and cost-effective processing of blood tests, urinalysis, cytology and microbiology. For instance, our in-house facilities allow for the testing of a number of common dog and cat diseases such as pancreatitis, parvovirus, feline leukaemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus and heartworm infection. Our biochemistry and electrolyte machine can screen for or detect a wide spectrum of diseases such as kidney disease and liver disease and certain hormonal disease such as diabetes, thyroid disease, Cushing’s disease and Addison’s disease. For more specialised tests we utilise an external laboratory of veterinary pathologists, with daily collection services and rapid turnaround and interpretation of results.

In-house microscopy facilitates diagnosis of bacterial infections, certain gastrointestinal parasites, skin based parasites such as mites and certain types of cancers from fine needle aspiration of lumps and masses. We also routinely use microscopy for identifying urinary crystals. Where in-house microscopy does not yield a diagnosis we are able to send samples to our external pathologists.

In-house urinalysis is often conducted along with haematology and biochemistry blood tests as a minimum database to investigate disease. Urinalysis facilitates diagnosis of bacterial urinary tract infections, urinary crystals, certain kidney diseases and some hormonal diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Urine samples may either be voided (eg collected from a cat litter tray using a non-absorbent litter substrate) or may be collected directly from the bladder with a technique known as cystocentesis.

Ultrasonography is a powerful diagnostic tool and is increasingly utilised in primary accession veterinary practice. Selwood House is pleased to be able to offer clients ultrasonography services through the expertise of Dr Nina Sweeney as a visiting consultant to Selwood House. For more specialised ultrasonography services we are able to refer clients to expert veterinary imaging specialists such as Veterinary Imaging Asscociates.

In certain case presentations that elude diagnosis, exploratory abdominal surgery may be required to allow direct examination, and/or biopsy, of abdominal organs. Presentations such as chronic vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal masses or obstructions and bladder disease are some examples that may require exploratory laparotomy. If deemed necessary, the procedure may include further diagnostic or therapeutic surgical procedures such as biopsy, gastrotomy, enterotomy, cystotomy or splenectomy.

Eye disease typically require a detailed ophthalmic examination, which may include one or more of a number of procedures such as transillumination and retroillumination (as part of any eye exam to look for eg signs of uveitis, lens disease and/or corneal disease), Schirmer Tear Tests (to look for the presence of suboptimal tear production), fluoroscein stains (to examine for corneal ulceration), retinal exam (to examine for retinal disease or as part of blood pressure monitoring), and eye pressure tests. We may need to dilate the pupil or apply a topical anaesthetic to allow for a full ophthalmic exam. Common ophthalmalogical surgeries include surgery for cherry eye, entropion, eyelid masses, corneal ulcers and enucleation (eye removal). For more specialised ophthalmic diagnostics or therapies we are able to refer to veterinary ophthalmologists including a visiting ophthalmologist on the first Tuesday of the month.