Diagnostic Services

West Hills Animal Hospital & Emergency Center is equipped with in-hospital state of the art diagnostic technology to aid us in making a thorough and rapid diagnosis of your pet’s condition, either on an emergency basis or during a regularly scheduled wellness exam.

Radiology – Telemedicine Consultations 24/7 by Diplomates American College Veterinary Radiology (DACVR)

West Hills Animal Hospital & Emergency Center has teamed up with Idexx Laboratories, Inc. to offer consultations by board certified veterinary radiologists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This allows us to obtain consultations on diagnostic imaging at the click of a button within hours, any time of the day or night, further enhancing the care provided for your pet. Idexx employs over 35 board-certified veterinary radiologists (DACVR). Board Certification requires three years of a residency program after completion of veterinary school.

Examples of our in-house diagnostic equipment include:

• CT Scan (HD Volumetric Imaging™)
• Radiology (X-Rays)
  • Allows us to assess bone and joint abnormalities and injuries
  • Detects the presence of foreign material inside the pet’s body
  • Used to screen for abnormalities in the heart, lungs, and urinary and digestive systems
  • Used to screen for cancer
  • While the vast majority of times sedation is not necessary, sedation may be recommended to limit stress to your pet and help us to get the highest quality diagnostic images.
• Ultrasound
  • Allows us to visualize the architecture of your pet’s internal organs.
  • Painless, non-invasive and safe.
  • Performed by one of our specially-trained veterinarians with state of the art equipment in our hospital, providing convenience, expertise and immediate results.
  • Typically does not require any form of sedation.
  • Allows us to safely obtain tissue samples by ultrasound guided needle aspirates or biopsy.
• Echocardiography
  • Ultrasound of the heart.
  • Allows us to visualize the structure and assess the function of the heart.
  • Use of Doppler allows blood flow to be visualized and evaluated.
  • Non-invasive, safe, and usually does not require sedation.
  • Helps determine cardiac changes and which medications or procedures should be utilized to help slow progression of the heart disease.
  • Performed by one of our specialty trained veterinarians using state of the art equipment in our hospital.
• Endoscopy
  • Minimally invasive procedure that allows our specially-trained veterinarians to view inside the pet’s body and visualize some of the organs and internal systems without performing surgery.
  • Allows examination of the pet’s upper gastrointestinal tract, lungs, colon, nose and nasal passages.
  • Allows us to take biopsies utilizing specialized instruments inserted through a channel in the endoscope.
  • Allows us to remove many foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract without requiring exploratory surgery
  • Minimal time your pet is under anesthesia.
  • Your pet typically does not experience pain or discomfort after the procedure.
• In-House laboratory
  • Staffed by skilled, trained technicians.
  • Allows us to remove many foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract without requiring exploratory surgery.
  • Screening tests for Canine Parvovirus, and Feline Leukemia and FIV viruses.
  • Tonometry checking for glaucoma.
  • Cytology examination of ear, skin, urine and blood specimen.
  • Screening tests for Heartworm Disease and other tick-borne diseases (Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma).
  • Evaluation of blood clotting times.

Any samples not ran in-house are sent to our reference laboratory with multiple pick-ups each day, allowing for your pet’s lab results in a timely manner.

• ECG, Pulse Oximetry, Capnography, and Blood Pressure Monitoring
  • Detects hypertension or hypotension (high or low blood pressure)
  • Helps us to evaluate and stabilize critically ill or injured pets
  • Allows us to measure oxygen saturation in patients’ blood, giving us information on how well they are oxygenating their tissues
  • Capnography gives us the ability to determine ventilation status, and assess for hyperventilation or hypoventilation
  • Provides a baseline reading during comprehensive physical exams for older or sick pets
  • Used to monitor pets’ condition while under anesthesia