Animal Diagnostic & Wellness Center
11816
N. 56th Street 
Temple Terrace, Fl. 33617
813-985-2889
close to I-75, University of South Florida, and New Tampa
board-certified specialist in dog and cat practice
special interest in ferrets, rabbits, small mammals, and birds
Feline Immunodeficiency Testing
Heartworm Testing : dogs, cats, ferrets Screening Blood Tests : diabetes, thyroid, liver, kidney, adrenal, cholesterol
Laboratory Imaging
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
CT (Computed Tomography)
Radiology (X-Rays) : Plain and contrast films
Unlike routine or screening blood tests, advanced blood tests are performed specifically to confirm or negate a diagnosis. An example would be an ACTH test used to determine if the adrenal gland is functioning properly. Other tests that would be placed in this category include thyroid profiles, tick-borne disease titers, bile acid assays, sex hormone assays, etc..
These tests may require special preparations for your pet. [top of page]
There are several types of allergy tests available. Some are simple to perform (food trials); others are more complex (i.e. intra-dermal skin testing and serum analysis). Each of these tests is specific for the types of allergens they are detecting.
If your pet is currently under treatment for allergies, prior to scheduling allergy testing check with your veterinarian or veterinary nurse for specific pre-appointment instructions. [top of page]
Before exposing other birds in your family to a new adoptee, a complete evaluation should be performed. Depending upon the species, a new bird should be tested for infectious agents and organ disease. Radiographs of the whole body, fecal examinations, and blood tests are required to be certain your new pet is healthy.
Remember, birds hide signs of illness as a protective measure. [top of page]
Cultures are used to determine what specific organism is present during an illness.
An appropriate antibiotic can be chosen based on these results. The results of these tests can take days to weeks depending upon the organism cultured. Fungi grow very slowly and can be very devastating. [top of page]
Many animal species have an inherent need to mask illnesses to ensure their survival. Birds are no exception. Many appear healthy but harbor underlying diseases. Specific tests can be performed (blood chemistries, chlamydia testing, X-Rays, bile acids, fecal parasite examination, etc.) to rule out possible health issues. It is important for your bird's health to have yearly blood examinations performed. If caught early, many avian disease can be reversed or controlled.
Many lumps and bumps can be diagnosed sticking a needle into the lumps and examining the material under the microscope. This is termed cytological evaluation. Growths that can be diagnosed by this method include mast cell tumors, cysts, melanomas, and granulomas. Histopathology refers to evaluation of an entire lump or a section of the growth. This is much more involved and requires surgical removal of the growth. Histopathology allows for a more precise diagnosis and allows for a more specific treatment plan. [top of page]
Gastrointestinal (GI) and pancreatic function can be evaluated with simple blood tests. These tests aid in determining the cause of vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss or poor appetite. Patients must have a 12 hour fast prior to running these tests.
All medications can have side effects. If your animal companion requires long-term medications, periodic monitoring may be required to minimize these side effects before they can cause damage.
Commonly used medications that require periodic monitoring include:
- Arthritis medications (Rimadyl, Etogesic, Metacam, etc.)
- Heart medications (Digoxin, Enalapril, Lasix, etc.)
- Seizure medications (Phenobarbital, Potassium Bromide, etc.)
- Thyroid medications (Tapazole, Soloxine, etc.)
- Allergy medications (Prednisone, etc)
- Endocrine medications (Insulin, Lysodren, etc.)
Ask your veterinarian or veterinary nurse what follow-up schedules will be needed if your pet is on medication. [top of page]
If your pet is going to be placed under anesthesia, pre-anesthetic blood testing should be performed no more than 6 weeks prior to the procedure. These blood tests help to evaluate the health of your pet's organs, ability to clot, and level of hydration. If the results of the pre-anesthetic tests are within normal ranges, the likelihood of an adverse outcome is minimized. On the other hand, if the results are not within normal limits, the anesthetic procedure may be canceled and further testing may be required. [top of page]
The gradual onset of disease in seemingly healthy pets will often go unnoticed. As our companion animals move into “senior-hood”, they experience changes that are very similar to humans. Studies have shown that a small percentage of our canine/feline companions that appear healthy have underlying disease. Simple annual blood testing will help detect diseases that can affect your pet's quality of life. Since our pets age more rapidly than people, dramatic changes in health can occur in as little as 3 to 6 months. Common diseases that affect our canine/feline companions are organ disease, tumors, diabetes, thyroid conditions, and hormonal problems. [top of page]
Gram stains are commonly used in avian species to detect the presence of abnormal bacteria or yeast. They are helpful in directing further testing routes.
Gram stains are most useful with hand-fed chicks or adults on antibiotics.
Mosquitoes transmit heartworms, so even if your pet stays indoor, they are still susceptible. A simple blood test will help to diagnose heartworm infection. No medication is 100% effective, therefore it is important to have annual testing performed, even while on heartworm prevention (e.g. Heartgard, Revolution, Interceptor, Proheart, etc.). Dogs, cats, and ferrets can all get heartworms and should be on heartworm prevention.
If your pet has missed more than a 1-month cycle of their heartworm prevention,
call your veterinarian or veterinary nurse for details prior to restarting. It may be necessary to have your pet tested prior to restarting their prevention.
These are tests that should be done at your pet's yearly exam. They help to catch disease early, often before symptoms appear. Diseases that may be detected include diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, anemia, and infection. If caught early many of these can be reversed. [top of page]
Some parasites, (tapeworms, roundworms), are visible with the naked eye, but the majority of intestinal parasites are identified by a microscopic evaluation of your pet's feces. Some adult worms release their eggs sporadically; therefore, several fecal samples, over time, may be needed to confirm a parasitic infection. Many of these parasites can be transmitted to humans, so it is highly recommended that a
fecal examination be performed one to two times a year.
If your pet has been diagnosed with an intestinal parasite, a treatment plan will be determined. A stool parasite evaluation should be performed three to four weeks after treatment to assure parasite elimination. [top of page]
Testing is recommended for any newly acquired kitten or adult cat before it joins a multiple-cat household, any cat used for breeding, or any sick cat with a fever. The earliest a kitten can be tested is 9 weeks, but it is recommended to have testing repeated at 6 months of age. This simple blood test can be done in-clinic and takes only 10 minutes. [top of page]
A urinalysis can aid in the detection of many diseases. Bladder, kidney, diabetes, and liver problems are some of the diseases that can be detected by performing a urine evaluation. During a urinalysis, collected samples are evaluated for appearance, color, specific chemistries, and microscopic evaluation of the sediment. A mid-stream urine sample is recommended for best results.
Vaginal Cytology/Sperm Evaluation
Vaginal cytology and sperm evaluation are simple, in-clinic procedures that can assist in determining reproductive status when considering breeding. Vaginal cytology can aid in determining best time to inseminate or breed. These tests can also detect the presence of infection or sterility. [top of page]
X-Rays are used for many reasons (i.e. identifying obstructions, tumors, arthritis, broken bones, normal/abnormal organ size, e.g). Radiographs can be used as a very important tool in determining specific treatments. In some instances, contrast material, such as barium, may be given to the pet to further evaluate the functioning of an organ. Most radiographs can be taken with the pet awake. Occasionally, sedation may be needed if special views are required or if the pet is unlikely to relax for positioning.
Ultrasound has been used in human medicine for years. It is used in the same manner in veterinary medicine. This allows us to see the architecture of the organs and to see subtle changes that cannot be seen on radiographs. Most pets easily allow an ultrasound examination of the abdomen. Occasionally, sedation is required. Ultrasound can also allow for a fine needle aspirate or biopsy to be performed without the need of surgery. [top of page]
Echocardiography is an ultrasound examination of the heart. This allows the structure and function of the heart to be evaluated fully. Heart valves, heart wall thickness, birth defects, tumors, and abnormal chamber size can all be detected through an echocardiograph. [top of page]
Animal Diagnostic & Wellness Center offers telemedicine, access to several Board Certified Specialists. After an Echocardiogram or Abdominal Ultrasound, images are sent, to the specialist chosen, along with other pertinent information (i.e. radiographs, lab work, medical history, and any other diagnostic). After reviewing the files, the specialist contacts Dr. Ernest with their interpretation and recommendations. Turn around time is usually less than 24 hours, barring holidays, weekends, etc.
Abdominal ultrasound can be performed as early as 18days, but is best done in the 4th or 5th week. When done early on in the pregnancy, the embryos look like black circles within the uterus. Between 24 and 30 days heartbeats will be able to be seen. Exact counts are unable to be confirmed, due to the mobility of the uterus.
Radiographs are best taken between 43 and 63 days. Prior to that only an enlarged uterus will be visible. At 43 days the fetal skulls and spines are visible.
An accurate fetal count can be given with radiographs. [top of page]
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to evaluate areas of the body that are hidden or difficult to access and conatain a moderate amount of fluid. The areas most frequently imaged are the brain and spinal column. The abdomen may also be evaluated with MRI. Anesthesia is required for our animal patients because they must lay perfectly still for about an hour. The procedure is painless and can identify tumors in the brain, vertebral disc or spinal disease, and lesions in the abdomen. [top of page]
Computed tomography (Cat scan) is use to evaluate areas of the body that contain little fluid. Examples include the abdomen, muscles, and bones. Certain tumors or problems may be seen on a CT and not on x-ray or MRI. A short acting anesthetic is needed to allow our patients to remain still and calm suring the procedure.
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