Faster answers, earlier treatment, and a clearer picture of your pet’s health
At Sarasota Animal Medical Center in Sarasota, FL , modern in-house laboratory testing, digital imaging, and advanced ultrasound work together to find problems before they become serious. Our training in holistic alternatives also means many conditions, such as liver, kidney, and heart disease, can be treated successfully when they are diagnosed early.
In-House Laboratory Testing
Our in-house laboratory is especially beneficial for critically ill patients, because results are available quickly. We recommend routine lab work annually for young pets and semi-annual bloodwork for seniors, so issues can be caught before they turn into more serious problems.
Digital Radiology
Digital radiology is an advanced, non-invasive imaging tool that lets our veterinarians look inside your pet and examine the cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and urinary systems. Our state-of-the-art digital equipment helps us diagnose fractures, joint abnormalities, intervertebral disc disease, and abnormalities in the internal organs.
Why Digital X-Rays Beat Traditional Film
Digital x-rays produce much higher image quality than film, and results are available instantly. That means we can diagnose and treat your pet faster, so he or she can get home sooner. Digital radiology also requires less radiation than film x-rays, and it is friendlier to the environment because no chemicals are needed to process film.
Digital Dental Radiology
Digital x-rays let us capture detailed images of your pet’s teeth and gums during a dental exam. Alongside a comprehensive external evaluation, dental x-rays reveal disease that is difficult to detect with an oral exam alone. We can examine the teeth, roots, gums, and surrounding bone, and quickly spot bone loss or hidden disease. Because hidden dental disease is often painful, we recommend annual full mouth radiographs for all pets two years of age and older. Learn more about our pet dental care.
Diagnostic Ultrasound
Sound waves create a detailed image, with no side effects
Ultrasound is a very non-invasive modality, and together with x-rays it forms a great diagnostic tool. Radiographs give an overall picture of the abdomen or chest, while ultrasound lets us look at the architecture of an organ. It is also faster and more affordable than some other advanced imaging options, such as CT scans and MRIs. Those require deep general anesthesia, while ultrasound rarely requires sedation, except for patients who are particularly anxious.
Advanced diagnostics for improved patient care
Ultrasound has many uses. When a pet has a tumor, it shows us which organs are involved and how invasive the tumor is, which guides our treatment protocol and prognosis. It can distinguish fluid from soft tissue masses or foreign bodies, which is sometimes difficult on radiographs. It is also a useful tool for detecting blood in the abdomen or around the heart, a diagnosis that can be life-saving.
Cutting-edge diagnostics can save lives
Ultrasound can rule out bladder stones or a bladder tumor when a pet has a persistent urinary tract infection. It can also guide fine-needle aspirates, which are small biopsies of organs or masses, or be used to collect urine from the bladder. Our state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment and diagnostic probes provide top-of-the-line images, and Dr. Luther has trained extensively in advanced ultrasound techniques. See how we use this technology in our abdominal ultrasound exams.
Echocardiology
An ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram) evaluates how well the heart is working and helps us diagnose specific heart diseases so we can treat them appropriately.
The most current recommendation is to perform an echo as soon as a murmur or arrhythmia is detected. This establishes a baseline, shows whether treatment is needed, and tells us how often to follow up. Recent studies show that therapy guided by echocardiography, blood pressure, and an ECG can extend the lives of pets with heart disease significantly, often by years, compared with no therapy.
Using the best technology to help your furry friend
Ultrasound can help us tell fluid in the lungs from dry lungs, and it is often more accurate than radiographs. It can also identify lung tumors that may be too small to show up on chest radiographs.
When to act
Heart disease needs to be evaluated and treated at an early stage to prolong your best friend’s quality of life. If your pet has a murmur, an irregular heartbeat, or is simply due for routine lab work, we are here to help.
Diagnostics Questions Pet Owners Ask
What diagnostic services does Sarasota Animal Medical Center offer?
We offer in-house laboratory testing, digital radiology, digital dental radiology, diagnostic ultrasound, and echocardiology, so most diagnostic needs can be handled under one roof.
How often should my pet have lab work?
We recommend routine lab work annually for young pets and semi-annual bloodwork for senior pets. Regular testing helps us catch problems such as liver, kidney, or heart disease before they become more serious.
What are the benefits of digital x-rays over film x-rays?
Digital x-rays offer higher image quality, instant access to results, and lower radiation exposure. They also use no processing chemicals, which makes them better for the environment. Faster results mean faster diagnosis and treatment for your pet.
Why does my pet need dental x-rays?
Dental x-rays reveal disease that cannot be seen during an oral exam alone, including bone loss and problems below the gumline. Because hidden dental disease is often painful, we recommend annual full mouth radiographs for all pets two years of age and older.
Does my pet need sedation for an ultrasound?
Ultrasound rarely requires sedation, unless a patient is particularly anxious. CT scans and MRIs require deep general anesthesia, so ultrasound is a gentler option in many cases.
What can an ultrasound show that an x-ray cannot?
X-rays give an overall picture of the abdomen or chest, while ultrasound shows the internal architecture of an organ. It can distinguish fluid from soft tissue masses or foreign bodies, show how far a tumor has spread, and detect blood in the abdomen or around the heart.
When should my pet have an echocardiogram?
Current recommendations are to perform an echocardiogram as soon as a heart murmur or arrhythmia is detected. This establishes a baseline, shows whether treatment is needed, and determines how often to follow up.
Get the answers your pet needs
Call (941) 954-4771 or request a visit online to schedule diagnostic testing with our Sarasota veterinary team.