Veterinary Technology

Our Diagnostic Services 

We are happy to offer advanced diagnostic testing to our veterinarians so that they can accurately diagnose your pet's medical issues with our in-house veterinary diagnostics lab.

• Radiography (Digital X-rays)

  We can examine your pet's internal systems using a radiograph (digital x-ray) to reveal information that may be invisible from the outside.

  Radiography is a non-invasive, painless procedure. It makes use of extremely low doses of radiation. Because the level of radiation exposure required for radiography is so low, it is safe to perform this procedure on pregnant females and very young pets.

  Radiographs are used to evaluate bones and organs and to diagnose conditions such as broken bones, chronic arthritis, bladder stones, spinal cord diseases, and certain types of tumors.

• Ultrasound

  Using diagnostic imaging, our veterinary team can create highly detailed images of your pet's internal structures.

  Ultrasound imaging uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of the body.

  We can see the structure and movement of your pet's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through their blood vessels.

  Having this valuable technology available to our vets means faster diagnosis and treatment for your dog or cat.

• Surgical Lasers

  Hermitage Animal Clinic is proud to be one of the few clinics in the Hermitage area to offer surgical lasers as an alternative to scalpels.

  The benefits of laser surgery are many, but the most notable is that it decreases pain. Not only does this make for an easier recovery time, but there will also likely be less scarring than with traditional stainless steel scalpels.

  Almost any soft-tissue surgery may be performed with the laser. Routine procedures such as spaying neutering are commonly done, as well as skin tumor removal and eyelid surgeries. Your vet will discuss whether or not a surgical laser is right for your pet's specific procedure.

• Bloodwork

  We can run a variety of common and specialized blood tests to determine your pet's health and diagnose illness at our veterinary lab in Hermitage.

  CBC (complete blood count), white blood count, hemoglobin and MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), hematocrit, platelets, eosinophils, and blood serum profile are some of the most common veterinary blood tests we perform.

• Urinalysis

  Urinalysis is a critical diagnostic test that provides your veterinarian with critical information about the physical and chemical properties of your pet's urine.

  Urinalysis is primarily used to evaluate the health of your animal's kidneys and urinary tract system, but it can also be useful in detecting problems in other organ systems and is critical in diagnosing metabolic diseases such as diabetes.

  This is an important diagnostic test for both healthy and sick animals, and it should be included in any comprehensive assessment of your pet's overall health.

• Fecal Exams

  An in-house vet lab in Hermitage can perform a fecal exam, which is a microscopic examination of your pet's feces.

  Your pet's health, as well as the health of your family, is at stake if you do not have a regular fecal exam. Fecals provide your veterinarian with the information they need to determine whether your pet is infected with parasites like roundworms or hookworms.

  Discomfort, irritability, and even death can result from parasites. Some are even human-transmittable.

  These parasites are difficult to see because they reside in your pet's gastrointestinal tract. A fecal exam is the only way to find out if you have them.

  Every pet's annual wellness exam should include a fecal examination.

• ECG / EKG

  If your veterinarian performs a physical examination and suspects your pet may have a heart problem, we will typically perform chest X-rays and an electrocardiogram (ECG / EKG).

  This procedure is simple and straightforward. It reveals information that may be critical in diagnosing your pet. In other instances, a cardiac ultrasound may be necessary to detect abnormalities in the heart chambers.

• Digital Dental X-Rays

  In periodontal disease, much of the damage occurs below the gum line, where it is difficult to see. Oral health is assessed by digital dental X-rays.

  These are safer for your pet. They enable our veterinary team to examine the roots, bones, and internal anatomy of your pet's teeth.

  The risk of radiation exposure to your pet is much lower with digital X-Rays than with traditional X-rays. We can see beneath your pet's gum line to fully assess each tooth.

  This technology allows your Hermitage vet to review results instantly on a computer screen.