Evaluating Your Pet's Health
At Animals First Clinic, our diagnostic technology helps us evaluate your dog or cat's health, allowing us to precisely diagnose and treat various health conditions.
By obtaining these valuable insights into your pet's internal health, we can detect medical conditions in their early stages, and make a plan to treat them before the illness become more serious.
Prompt diagnosis of illness not only increases the chances of your pet's successful recovery, but also improves their quality of life. Early detection can also help prevent the spread of contagious diseases among other pets, ensuring a healthier environment for both pets and their owners.
Our Diagnostic Services
- Radiography (Digital X-rays)
Radiography is safe, painless and non-invasive. The level of radiation required to perform radiography is so low that even pregnant females and very young pets can undergo this procedure.
Radiographs can be used to evaluate bones and organs, and diagnose conditions including broken bones, chronic arthritis, bladder stones, spinal cord diseases, and some tumours.
- Digital Dental X-rays
If your cat or dog is suffering from severe dental issues, such as periodontal disease, much of this damage occurs below the gum line where it can't be easily seen. Digital X-rays allow our team to examine the roots, bones, and internal anatomy of your cat or dog's teeth.
With digital X-rays, the risk of radiation exposure for your pet is significantly lower than with traditional X-ray technology. This allows us to have a safe way to see below the surface of your pet's gum line to fully evaluate each tooth.
- Ultrasound
With ultrasound imaging, we expose part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. Because we capture ultrasound images in real time, we can see the structure and movement of your pet's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through the blood vessels.
- ECG
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).
This procedure can be completed easily and quickly. It reveals data that may be integral to your pet's diagnosis. In other cases, a cardiac ultrasound may be required to identify disorders in the chambers of the heart.
- Bloodwork
At our veterinary lab in Grande Prairie, we can run a number of different blood tests to help us determine the health of your pet and to diagnose illness.
Some of the most common veterinary blood tests we perform include CBC (complete blood count), white blood count, hemoglobin and MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), hematocrit, platelets, eosinophils, and blood serum profile.
- Urinalysis
Urinalysis is a key diagnostic test that provides your veterinarian with essential insights into the physical and chemical properties of your pet's urine. These insights allow your veterinarian to assess the health of your pet's kidneys, urinary system, and other organs.
Urinalysis is also important when it comes to diagnosing metabolic diseases, such as diabetes.
- Fecal Exams
A fecal exam is used to identify and treat any gastrointestinal infections that could be compromising your pet's health and even the health of your family. Fecals allow your veterinarian to determine if your pet has intestinal parasites such as roundworms or hookworms.
In-House Veterinary Pharmacy
Once your dog or cat's condition has been diagnosed, your veterinarian can prescribe and supply the medications to help resolve or manage your pet's issue.
When it's time to renew your pet's prescription, let us know. We can have your pet's prescription ready and waiting when you come in.
In-House Pet Health Supplies
Managing medical conditions can sometimes be as simple as providing your pet with the right diet. Our veterinarians want to make caring for your pet's dietary needs as easy and convenient as possible. At Animals First Clinic, we stock a variety of the highest quality food and health care products to treat your furry friend's medical issues and maintain their good health.
Our veterinary clinic is well-stocked with prescription diets, parasite prevention products, medications, and more, allowing our team to provide you with the products your four-legged friend needs while in our care. You can also conveniently purchase these products from the comfort of your home through our online store.