Diagnostic Lab & Technology

Diagnostic Services

Animal Hospital of North Asheville provides the following diagnostic services for our patients.

• Digital Radiology (X-Rays)

  Digital x-rays capture data during the patient exam, and transfer it immediately to a computer system.

  Digital radiology images feature high resolution and contrast, and the software allows us to manipulate them for additional diagnostic value. Digital radiology also requires far less radiation than traditional x-rays do, making it safer for your pet.

  In short, we get higher quality images more efficiently and safely, resulting better accuracy and a more efficient treatment. 

• Ultrasound

  Our ultrasound machine produces amazingly detailed images through transmitting harmless high frequency sound waves into the body. There is no pain or discomfort involved for the pet.

  The level of detail enables us to make an earlier diagnosis of problems including bladder stones, kidney disease, intestinal disease, heart disease, pancreatitis, adrenal disease, liver disease and abdominal masses. It allows us to obtain sterile urine samples.

  Early detection gives us a better chance of being able to treat or manage problems and comfortably prolong or save the life of your pet. We offer abdominal and cardiac ultrasounds. We are also have the ability through telemedicine to send the ultrasound images to a specialist for a second opinion.

  More About Ultrasounds

• Video Digital Otoscopy

  If your pet suffers from an acute or chronic ear problem, you are not alone. Due to the anatomy of the ear, dogs and cats are extremely susceptible to ear infections, allergies, ear foreign bodies, growths (benign and malignant) and polyps. Until now, accurate technology for diagnosing ear problems has not been available and many of these conditions were improperly diagnosed and treated.

  In order to better diagnose and treat your pet's ear problems, we have invested in a brand new technology that brightens and magnifies the interior of the ear canal. This new instrument, MedRx Video Otoscopy System, allows us to visualize, document and record the condition of your pet's ears. The technology permits us to obtain better samples for microscopic examination and bacterial culture (if necessary), thereby allowing us to make a more accurate diagnosis. Once an accurate diagnosis is made, the proper treatment can be initiated, resulting in a much better chance for cure.

• Limited Bronchoscopy

  Bronchoscopy is a technique that allows the veterinarian to thoroughly examine your pet's nasal cavities, larynx, trachea and lungs. Bronchoscopy is performed using a fiber optic bronchoscope consisting of a tube, a light source, camera and viewing eyepiece. In addition to the fiber optic light source, there are two channels within in the tube. One channel is for viewing the interior of your pet's respiratory tract and the other channel is for passing forceps, snares or biopsy instruments, allowing for the removal of foreign objects, collection of biopsy samples and removal of small polyps or tumors.

  The most important feature associated with bronchoscopy is that it provides a very accurate diagnosis of diseases affecting your pet's respiratory tract. There are 2 types of bronchoscopes, rigid and flexible. The flexible bronchoscope consists of a long, thin, lighted tube and is used more frequently than a rigid bronchoscope for looking into your pet's airways. The rigid bronchoscope is used to remove large tissue samples for biopsies and to remove objects that cannot be taken out using the flexible bronchoscope.

  Bronchoscopy, often used in conjunction with x-rays, is used to identify the cause of airway problems such as bleeding, trouble breathing, or a long-term, chronic cough. It is also used to remove foreign bodies, benign polyps and for performing biopsies on growths and tumors.

• Flexible Endoscopy

  Endoscopy permits direct visual examination, biopsies and foreign body retrievals from your pet's gastrointestinal system. Compared to traditional anesthesia and surgery, the advantages of endoscopy include no incision, less stress for your pet and shortened anesthesia time. Endoscopy is much less painful and causes less discomfort than traditional surgery.

  Endoscopy not only has advantages for your pet, it has advantages for you as well. Since your pet experiences less pain and recovers more quickly, he or she returns back to normal activity within a very short period of time. Less at-home nursing care is required, no bandages need to be changed and less medication needs to be administered.

  Endoscopy is used to help diagnose and treat a variety of gastrointestinal problems. Depending on the symptoms, it is used to look at the interior of the throat, esophagus, stomach, intestine and colon. Endoscopy is employed to obtain biopsies of the stomach, small intestine and colon, and look for cancer of the esophagus and stomach.

  Pets frequently swallow objects that can be removed as minor endoscopic procedures, rather than requiring traditional, expensive and complicated surgery. In order to make the endoscopic procedure more comfortable for your pet, we have invested in the latest video endoscopic equipment that is so gentle and maneuverable that we can travel through the mouth, esophagus, stomach and the small intestine and through the colon.