We have an extensive range of equipment to help us better diagnose a wide range of conditions.
Ultrasound
We use this to help us diagnose abdominal issues and for pregnancy diagnosis. It uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the part of the body being scanned. This kind of imaging can usually be done without sedation unless your pet is particularly nervous. We clip the hair away from a small area and apply gel that helps the scanner get a clear picture. The results of the scan will help us diagnose what is wrong with your pet.
Echocardiography
This is used to help us get a good picture of what is going on in your pet’s heart. Much like the ultrasound, it uses sound waves to create a picture of the beating heart so we can make a diagnosis. We will clip away the hair in a small area above the heart, apply a gel to the skin and then use the scanner to create the picture. We can use this picture to check the heart’s function, take measurements, etc.
Electrocardiograph Test
We use this test to check the heart’s rhythm and activity. Electrodes are attached to your pet in four places to measure the electrical activity of the heart and detect any issues.
Bronchoscopy
This is a test that we do to take a look inside your pet’s lungs. This helps us check for any abnormalities and take any samples we might need for further testing. A bronchoscopy does involve a general anaesthetic so we can feed a thin, flexible tube with a camera and a light at the end, down your pet’s windpipe and into the airways.
Endoscopy
This is similar to a bronchoscopy test, but is for checking the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. Again, this test is carried out under general anaesthetic and helps us diagnose things like ulcers and other inflammatory conditions. We can also take biopsies with the endoscope and remove foreign bodies.
Digital X-ray
Like traditional x-rays, this is a form of imaging that uses x-ray plates to capture an image. Because it is digital, it immediately transfers the image to our computer system so we can diagnose issues quicker. The images are also higher quality than traditional x-rays, allowing us to take good images of a wide variety of tissues, from lung to bone.
Blood Pressure Monitoring
Much the same as the equipment your GP may have used to measure your blood pressure, this test uses an inflatable cuff that is placed on one of your pet’s legs or their tail. Blood pressure monitoring is important because it can help us diagnose high blood pressure which can lead to more serious issues like blindness as well as heart, kidney or thyroid problems. The test only takes a few minutes, is completely painless and can normally be done without any sedation.
In House Laboratory Service
Because we can do in house lab testing, we can get same-day results – in some instances, while you wait – reducing the number of visits you have to make. It also means that we can come to quicker diagnoses as we don’t have to wait for test results to come back from an external lab. This is especially important for acutely ill patients and means we can diagnose and treat more swiftly. In house testing also means we can quickly and easily monitor the progress of treatments and make sure medications are being given at the right dosage.
Anaesthesia
At Westwood Vets we believe that practising the safest and most comfortable anaesthesia is paramount. To achieve this end we use a combination of pre-medications which ensure that your pet is not anxious while waiting for their procedure and to ensure effective pain relief. The induction agent is then administered via an intravenous catheter resulting in a smooth transition from consciousness to sleeping. This drug is very short acting and will be excreted from the body by the end of most procedures. Anaesthesia is maintained by your pet breathing a combination of oxygen and anaesthetic agent. The agent used is extremely short acting and non-irritant, it is used in paediatric anaesthesia. We find our patients wake up smoothly and more quickly after their procedure than with other types of agent.
During the anaesthetic the vital signs of your pet are monitored by a trained nurse using a combination of manual monitoring and multi-parameter devices. Your pet is kept warm by a hot air filled blanket during and after anaesthesia.
Our protocols can be adapted to give safe anaesthetics to patients at greater risk e.g. elderly patients or those with pre-existing medical conditions.
It is our opinion that these protocols provide a Gold Standard of individual care as we would wish for our own family pets.