Veterinary Lab & Diagnostics

Our Diagnostic Services 

We are pleased to offer diagnostic testing at our in-house veterinary lab. This allows our vets to provide an accurate diagnosis of your pet's medical issues.

• Radiography (Digital X-rays)

  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. 

• 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 X-Rays allow our team 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.

• Ultrasound

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

• ECG / EKG

  If your veterinarian performs a physical examination and suspects your pet may have a heart disorder, we usually take chest X-Rays and an electrocardiogram (ECG / EKG).

  This procedure can be completed easily and quickly. It reveals data that may be integral to your pet's diagnosis. In other cases, a cardiac ultrasound may be required to identify disorders in the chambers of the heart.

• Bloodwork

  At our vet lab in Castlegar, 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. 

• 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. 

• Fecal Exams

  A fecal exam is the microscopic examination of your pet's feces, which can be done at our in-house vet lab in Castlegar.

  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.  

In-House Veterinary Pharmacy

Once we diagnose your pet's condition, your veterinarian can prescribe and supply the medications to help resolve or manage your pet's issue.

When it's time to renew your pet's prescription, let us know. We can have your pet's medicine ready and waiting when you come in. 

In-House Pet Health Supplies

At Castlegar Veterinary Hospital, we strive to provide pet parents with diet and healthcare products to treat their pet's medical issues and maintain their good health.

Our animal hospital stocks prescription diets, parasite prevention products, medications and more. This allows our team to provide you with the products your four-legged friend needs while in our care.

We strive to make caring for your four-legged family member as easy as possible. Speak to your Castlegar veterinarian to find out which products could help improve the health of your pet.