Beneath The Surface: Advanced Diagnostics for Cats
Our advanced imaging and diagnostic services at Town and Country Animal Hospital help us assess your cat’s health with precision. Whether identifying subtle changes, diagnosing illnesses, or monitoring ongoing conditions, our Annandale animal hospital provides state-of- the-art technology to ensure the best care for your feline companion. All our digital imaging diagnostics are reviewed by a board-certified radiologist.
CT Unit
At Town and Country Animal Hospital, our advanced CT (computed tomography) unit provides highly detailed, three-dimensional images of your cat’s internal anatomy. This powerful diagnostic tool allows us to evaluate areas that are difficult to assess with traditional imaging, offering a more complete picture of your pet’s health.
CT scans are especially useful in identifying and diagnosing:
- Neurological disorders and brain abnormalities
- Nasal and sinus disease
- Complex orthopedic injuries
- Spinal problems, including disc disease
- Internal tumors or abnormal growths
- Thoracic (chest) and abdominal conditions
With rapid image acquisition and high-resolution results, CT imaging helps us make accurate diagnoses and create targeted treatment plans. The procedure is painless and performed under light anesthesia to keep your cat still and safe during the scan.
Ultrasound
Why is ultrasound important?
Ultrasound is really important because your basic diagnostics of blood work and X-rays sometimes can't find those little things that we really need to find, and it's not a comprehensive workup. The ultrasound can actually image all of the organs thoroughly. You get a snapshot with an X-ray, and some idea of how the organs are functioning with blood work, but the ultrasound provides a full image of a 3D view of that organ and tells us if there's something wrong with it. It can be very important, especially when we've exhausted all other possibilities of diagnostics and we're just not finding what's going on.
Can you give an example of ultrasound use?
We have a cat that comes to our clinic frequently for urinary issues. We had X-rayed it and didn't see any concerns. We've done urinalyses and urine cultures, but we just couldn't figure out what was going on. We decided to ultrasound the cat and found some bladder stones. There are bladder stones that you cannot see on X-ray but can see on ultrasound, so we were able to perform surgery to remove those stones, and the cat is doing well today.
How does ultrasound compare to other diagnostics?
It is an adjunct. They all have their benefits, and sometimes you need all three, depending on the case. Ultrasound offers more of a 3D view. You get to see around the organ, examining all the surfaces in real time, versus a snapshot with X-ray or slices with CT. It's nice because you actually see things moving and can observe more movement volatility. If you want to dig deep to see if there's something stuck and want to see everything surrounding it, you get a real-time picture. It's one of the best diagnostic tools.
What should you do before an ultrasound?
The night before an ultrasound for a cat, you want to remove the food at midnight. Make sure the bowl is not down, and don't feed breakfast that morning. Also, remove the water bowl that morning. You can use things like Feliway spray on the carrier to help ease the transition to the clinic. We will give a light sedation here to calm them as soon as they arrive. With the light sedation, they're very calm, which helps ease us through the actual ultrasound, and they tend to do very well.
In-House Laboratory
Our in-house lab enables rapid analysis of blood, fecal, and urine samples, ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment. For urgent cases, we can provide test results within 1-2 hours.
Digital X-Rays
Digital radiography is a non-invasive imaging technique we use at Town and Country Animal Hospital to quickly and safely examine your cat’s bones, joints, and internal organs. This technology produces clear, high-resolution images in seconds, allowing for faster diagnosis and treatment planning.
We commonly use digital X-rays to assess a wide range of health concerns, including:
- Arthritis and degenerative joint disease
- Bone fractures and skeletal abnormalities
- Foreign bodies (such as swallowed objects)
- Tumors or abnormal masses
- Bladder stones and urinary issues
- Dental disease, including root and jaw damage
Because digital X-rays require less radiation than traditional film, they are safer for your cat and more environmentally friendly. Our team uses these images to guide both diagnosis and ongoing care, ensuring your pet gets the best possible treatment.
If you’re ready to book a visit or want to learn more about our services, contact Town and Country Animal Hospital today. Reach out by phone at (703) 273-2110 or email us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.