Pet Laboratory in La Mesa

The veterinarians at our La Mesa hospital use diagnostic tests and tools in our in-house vet lab in order to accurately diagnose your pet's medical conditions and customize treatment plans to their needs. 

Our Veterinary Diagnostic Services 

Using our in-house veterinary diagnostic lab, we are proud to be able to offer dogs and cats with advanced diagnostic testing in order to support us in creating accurate diagnosis and rapid treatment plans for your pet. 

• Radiography (Digital X-rays)

  Using a radiograph (digital X-ray), we can examine your pet's internal systems to reveal information that may be invisible from the outside. 

  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 help evaluate bones and organs within your pet and diagnose conditions that affect their internal systems and structures. These range from broken bones and bladder stones to tumors and spinal cord diseases. 

• Ultrasound

  The use of diagnostic imaging allows our team of veterinary professionals to create extremely detailed images of your pet's internal structures.

  Using ultrasound imaging, we are able to expose parts of your pet's body to high-frequency sound waves in order to help produce images of the inside of their body. 

  Since we can capture ultrasound images in real-time, we are able to see the structures and systems of your pet's internal organs as they function and even the blood flowing through their vessels. 

  Having this valuable technology available to our vets in our in-house lab means that your dog or cat's condition can be diagnosed quickly and treatment can start sooner. 

• Endoscopy

  An endoscope is comprised of a very tiny camera with a light attached to the end of a flexible tube.

  When our vets perform an endoscopy, a long, thin tube is inserted into their body in order to observe an internal organ or tissue in detail.

  Minimally invasive endoscopes can be inserted into the openings of the body such as the mouth or anus.

• Bloodwork

  At our vet lab in La Mesa, we are able to run a number of common and specialized blood tests to determine the health of your pet, and to diagnose illness.

  Some of the most common veterinary blood tests we conduct are complete blood counts (CBCs), white blood counts, MCHC, hematocrits, hemoglobin, platelets eosinophils and blood serum profiles. 

• Urinalysis

  Urinalysis is a critical diagnostic test that is able to provide 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 be helpful in detecting issues in other organ systems and is important for diagnosing metabolic diseases such as diabetes.

  This is a valuable diagnostic test for both healthy and sick animals and should be included in any comprehensive evaluation of your pet's overall health. 

• 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 La Mesa.

  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. 

  Parasites are capable;e of making our pets uncomfortable, irritable and may lead to far more serious conditions. Some may even be transmitted to people that share a home with an infected pet.

  Since these parasites live in your pet’s gastrointestinal tract, they are often hidden from view. The only way to detect them is with a fecal exam.

  Annual fecal examines should be a vital part of every pet's routine wellness exam.  

• 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 quickly and easily conducted on your pet, revealing data that may be critical to their diagnosis. In some instances, a cardiac ultrasound may also be required in order to identify the specific disorders affecting the chambers of your companion's heart. 

• Digital Dental X-rays

  If your cat or dog is suffering from periodontal disease, much of the damage occurs below their gum line where they can be easily spotted and treated. Digital dental X-rays help our veterinarians assess your pet's oral health.

  Digital X-rays are safer for your pet. They allow our team of veterinary professionals to examine roots, bones and internal anatomy of your cat or dog's teeth.

  Using digital X-rays, the risk of harmful radiation exposure for your pet is significantly lower than with traditional; X-ray machines. We are able to view the surface of your pet's gum line with our X-ray technology in order to fully evaluate each toot.

  This technology allows your La Mesa vet to see results immediately, then project them onto a computer screen to review.