In House Laboratory:

Our extensive in-house laboratory provides information that is critical to caring for the sick or injured pet. Being able to obtain instant results allows us to provide the appropriate treatment immediately on arrival at the hospital.

Blood testing:
Our blood analysing “Vet-Test” machine allows us to evaluate your pet’s general health status and diagnose disease immediately. It also allows us to perform pre-anaesthetic blood testing prior to a GA to ensure that liver and kidneys are functioning normally and there is no evidence of anaemia or hypoproteinaemia. This allows us to modify or even post-pone an anaesthetic to ensure that safety is not compromised.

Use of the vet test blood machine

Other In-House tests:
We can perform tests for many of the common infectious diseases of dogs and cats. These include:
- heartworm disease in dogs
- parvovirus in dogs
- feline AIDS
- feline leukaemia virus

Faecal Screening:
A faecal flotation is the most common test performed and detects the presence of internal parasites such as worms and coccidiosis. The binocular microscope is used to identify worm eggs or coccidial oocysts from a small faecal sample.

Cytology:
This involves the examination of cell samples from any part of an animal’s body to help diagnose a disease process. Today’s veterinary training includes training in cytology which allows us to make an immediate diagnosis in many cases, avoiding the time-consuming wait when sending samples to a laboratory. Samples are collected either by needle or swab and placed on a slide for staining, then examined under the binocular microscope.
Cytology is useful in the following situations:
- skin lumps - allows differentiation between benign and malignant lumps.
- lymph node aspirates - allows diagnosis of the cause of swollen lymph nodes.
- aspiration of internal masses eg tumours, enlarged prostate
- ear infections - allows identification of the type of organism involved which determines treatment used.
- examination of blood smears -useful for assessing disorders of the red and white blood cells.
- vaginal swabs - allows us to diagnose the stage of oestrus.
- examination of body fluids eg urine sediment exam, semen analysis, abdominal and thoracic fluid cytology.

Examining a fine needle aspirate under the microscope

Radiology:

At Port Macquarie Veterinary Hospital we take and develop all our radiographs on site. We have recently upgraded to a brand-new state-of-the-art  portable X-ray machine which allows us to take high-quality radiographs in species of all shapes and sizes. Radiology allows us to diagnose  innumerable conditions from fractured limbs, to heart and lung disease, to bladder stones as well as provide services such as hip and elbow scoring for breeding dogs.

X-ray machine	A fracture of a dog's forelimb
	Spinal X-ray

Ultrasonography:

Ultrasound is used to examine the internal structure of the organs in all species. Some of the common uses of ultrasound at Port Macquarie Veterinary Hospital are:
- assessment of abdominal organs - liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder, intestines, lymph nodes etc.
- diagnosis of the cause of heart enlargement.
- ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirates of internal structures.
- pregnancy diagnosis .

Performing an abdominal ultrasound

Advanced Diagnostics:

Endoscopy:
We have 2 fibre-optic endoscopes, which allow us to take a direct look inside animals to aid in diagnosis as well as to collect biopsies or fluid samples.
Our 5 mm diameter bronchoscope allows us to directly visualise the nasal cavity of large dogs, the back of the nasal cavity of cats and dogs, the trachea and bronchi, and the oesophagus, stomach and the 1st part of the small intestine.
Our 12 mm diameter scope is more versatile - instils both air and water, has 4-way deflection, and a biopsy channel for introduction of a biopsy or grasping instrument. It is used for examination of the oesophagus, stomach, 1st part of the small intestine and colonoscopy. It has been used on occasion to remove needles and fish-hooks from the stomachs of cats and dogs!

Performing Nasal Endoscopy

Myelography:
At Port Macquarie Veterinary Hospital myelography is used to diagnose diseases of the spinal cord which cannot be visualised with  plain X-rays. Myelography involves insertion of a spinal needle into the space directly around the spinal cord at either the lumbar level or at the base of the skull. A dye is injected which appears on the X-ray and outlines the spinal cord to display any areas of compression.
The most common indication for myelography is to diagnose intervertebral disc prolapse which can occur in the neck or lower back of dogs.

Plain radiograph - no lesion is visible	After myelogram performed - displays a sub-arachnoid cyst

Tonometry:
The Schiotz Tonometer is an instrument used to measure intra-ocular pressure i.e. the pressure inside the eye. This is most important for the diagnosis and early treatment of glaucoma, which quickly leads to blindness if undiagnosed.

Schiotz Tonometer - used to check intraocular pressure following numbing of the eye with local anaesthetic

Electrocardiogram (ECG):
The ECG is used to measure the electrical activity of the heart. This is most commonly performed to diagnose and treat arrhythmias (abnormalities in heart rhythm).