Diagnostic Tests

Your dog has been scheduled for an endoscopic examination. The purpose of this procedure is to make a diagnosis of the disease that has been causing your pet’s clinical signs of vomiting or diarrhea.

When any irregular heart rhythm is detected on clinical examination, an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) should be performed. The small electrical impulses normally generated by the heart are amplified 3,000 or more times and recorded by the ECG machine. An ECG can detect minor disturbances in the heart beat or rhythm and allow your veterinarian to diagnose many types of heart disease.

I have been told I can have my female dog scanned to see if she is pregnant. What does this involve?
An ultrasound examination, also known as ultrasonography or echosonography, is an imaging technique that allows internal body structures to be seen by recording echoes of ultrasonic waves. Unlike x-rays, which are potentially dangerous, ultrasound waves are considered to be entirely safe.

What is the purpose of the bile acid test?
The bile acid test is performed to determine if the liver is able to do its job. In order to function properly, the liver must have enough healthy cells to do the job, and a good blood supply. If the liver has enough healthy cells, it is described as having "adequate functional mass". The bile acid test is based on the principle that a healthy liver, with adequate functional mass and a good blood supply, can “recycle” bile acids, while a damaged or defective liver cannot.

Why is bone marrow collected and examined?
The bone marrow produces most of the cellular elements that are found in blood. If abnormalities are found in a patient’s blood sample, examination of the bone marrow may help to determine the cause of the problem.

What are antibodies?
Antibodies are specialized proteins, also called immunoglobulins, that are primarily found in the bloodstream. They are produced by specialized white blood cells called plasma cells, a form of lymphocyte. Specific antibodies are generated in response to the different foreign substances (for example bacteria, viruses, toxins) that the body encounters, and provide varying lengths of immunity against these substances.

Ask purebred fanciers why they prefer known breeds to mixed-breeds and they’ll tell you it has a lot to do with predictability: with mutts, they say, you never know exactly what you’re getting, but with specific AKC-recognized breeds, you know precisely what to expect in terms of behavior, temperament, and looks.