Diagnostic Services
Radiology and Ultrasound
Radiographs (X-rays) are used to evaluate and diagnose problems within your pet’s organ system, including the heart, lungs, and in the abdomen, as well as orthopedic problems with the bones and spine. These problems can diagnose many conditions, such as fractured bones, cancerous tumors, enlarged heart, stones within the urinary tract, arthritis, pneumonia, and more.
Ultrasound is an advanced, non-invasive diagnostic imaging technique that is painless. A computer image is displayed using sound waves that help us evaluate the liver, spleen, kidneys, adrenal glands, lymph nodes, gall bladder, and urinary bladder. Ultrasound can be used to avoid unnecessary surgery as it allows us to detect the spread of cancer.
Call Southern Veterinary Clinic at (601) 766-9944 to learn more about our x-rays and ultrasound services.
Laboratory Testing
Unfortunately, your pet cannot speak to you about discomfort, sickness, or complex matters. This is why it’s important to get regular exams, do routine blood testing, and diagnostic testing at Southern Veterinary Clinic. We are equipped with a sophisticated diagnostic testing laboratory.
Some of the more common tests that we perform are urinalysis, fecal examinations, blood chemistry panels, and heartworm testing. In case of emergency, additional tests may be required. We have the capabilities to evaluate kidney and liver function, blood sugar, and electrolytes in a matter of minutes.
If you have any questions about our laboratory testing, call Southern Veterinary Clinic at (601) 766-9944 today.
Pet Dentistry
Dental disease is the most common disease seen by veterinarians. In fact, 70% to 85% of pets over the age of 2 have some form of dental disease.
Poor dental hygiene can be the cause of serious health problems for your pet. If dental problems are left untreated, your pet’s heart, liver, and kidneys are in danger of being infected by bacteria. Unfortunately, these threats are often difficult to identify, so bringing your pet in for a routine check-up is encouraged.
Check your pet for these signs of dental disease:
- Discolored teeth
- Red, inflamed gums
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
- Swollen mouth, jaws, or gums
- Pain when eating
- Doesn’t play with chew toys
As you can imagine, visits to the dentist are quite different for us than our canine and feline family members. Not only have we been taking care of our teeth daily for years, but also most of us can sit still and keep our mouths open for periods of time without sedation. Veterinary dentistry is more involved, time consuming, and complex. Since cleaning your pet’s teeth requires general anesthesia, your pet may need to spend a day at our hospital.
The first step of your pet’s teeth cleaning is a physical examination. After making sure your pet is in good general health, we administer anesthesia for the safety and comfort of your pet and our team.
Once your pet is painlessly asleep, we begin the cleaning by removing the tartar from the teeth with a hand scaler. Next, we use an ultrasonic scaler and curette to clean above the gum line while cleaning and smoothing the teeth under the gum line. After that is complete, we polish their teeth, clean the gums, and wash with an antibacterial solution to delay future tartar build-up.
Call Southern Veterinary Clinic to learn more about your pet’s teeth cleaning by reaching us at (601) 766-9944.