Medical Diagnosis

The process of determining which disease or condition explains an animal’s symptoms and signs

Medical Diagnosis

Medical diagnosis is the process of determining which disease or condition explains an animal’s symptoms and signs. The information required for diagnosis is typically collected from a history and physical examination of the animal, often followed by one or more diagnostic procedures, such as diagnostic tests.

With all the advances in Veterinary medicine there are many options available in terms of diagnostic investigations.

Some investigations will be carried out during a consultation, while others may involve your pet staying in our hospital for the day. For pets that are unwell, they may be hospitalised for treatment alongside diagnostic tests in an attempt to identify the cause of their symptoms.

You can find out more information about our inpatient care in our Hospitalised Patients section.

During most investigations there are different ways we can approach a patient and we will be guided by you. At each step we will communicate with you the available options.

We will ensure you know:

  • what we are testing
  • how this will be carried out
  • the results
  • the ongoing plan

We regularly invest in new equipment to ensure that most conditions can be diagnosed quickly and treated appropriately on site. The diagnostic equipment we have includes:

  • Imaging equipment: Ultrasound, Digital X-Rays, Endoscopes. These are often useful when used in combination as different modalities are better at imaging different parts of the body
  • Lab equipment providing same day results: Blood analysers for routine biochemistry and haematology, more advanced blood gas and coagulation.
  • Ophthalmic and Aural Scopes: For examination of eyes and ears
  • Heart monitoring: Electrocardiogram (ECG), Echocardiology and blood pressure monitors.

We also have a good working relationship with referral centres if your pet needs more advanced imaging such as CT or MRI scanning.

For more information about the equipment we have, please visit the Equipment and Facilities page. 

Animates have been awarded ‘OUTSTANDING’ in the RCVS Practice Standards Awards category for DIAGNOSTICS. This means you can be assured you are receiving the best possible diagnostics service.

Our knowledgeable, experienced team of Vets and Nurses have a wide range of interests and regularly attend courses to keep up to date with all the advances in Veterinary medicine.

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