Diagnostics

In house blood testing and cytology

Routine labs are made easy with quick yet comprehensive lab panels with our in-house blood analyzers. We offer comprehensive chemistry analysis of electrolytes and internal organ function for diagnosis or monitoring of diseases as well as complete blood count (CBC) to evaluate red and white blood cells.

We also offer a large selection of panels provided by our partner national lab (IDEXX). This partnership allows us to find more specialized tests for the diagnosis or monitoring of specific diseases and ultimately bring a higher standard of care to our patients!

In addition to our in house lab panels, we offer expertise in evaluation of the body’s cells through the aid of a microscope! One of Dr. Begemann’s special interests is clinical pathology, which is the study of disease based on evaluations of bodily fluids or tissues, particularly with the aid of a microscope. Lumps and bumps on your pet? Let us take a look! We can take a sample of most external masses and help evaluate or stage problems before surgical removal is needed! If we can’t evaluate it in house, IDEXX has pathologists available for consultation.
Questions about recommended lab work for your pet? Need us to evaluate a mass? Call us today at 405-513-5905!

Heartworm and Tick-borne illness screening

Heartworms and tick-borne diseases are major scourges of the pets in Oklahoma. Both dogs and cats are susceptible to heartworms and many pathogens that ticks can carry.

Yearly heartworm testing for dogs is required for continued monitoring of heartworm prevention efficacy in the face of resistant strains of heartworms (insert link for heartworm prevention page). Fortunately for our patients, we have simple in-house screening available that just takes a few drops of blood for us to ensure your dog is safe from heartworms.

In an area with heavy tick populations, one of the most common medical issues seen is tick-borne illness. Many of these diseases are hard to notice until serious consequences arise and can even lead to irreversible kidney damage. Some of the most common clinical signs of tick-borne illness in dogs includes: unexplained lethargy, joint pain, bruising, and nose bleeds.

Ehrlichia, Lyme, and Anaplasmosis are all readily available on routine heartworm testing panels to monitor for exposure. There are several tick-borne diseases that are more difficult to identify, but thanks to our partnership with a national veterinary laboratory (IDEXX), we have access to testing for a wider array of diseases.

Not sure when your dog’s last heartworm test was? Call us today at 405-513-5905 to schedule a visit.

Imaging: Ultrasound & X-rays

Most people associate ultrasounds with monitoring progress through pregnancies in humans, but this mode of imaging is very versatile for many reasons! Ultrasound images are created by a computer analyzed signal based on waves of sound echoing as they pass through tissue, allowing us to see images of internal structures of the body.

How do we use this awesome technology here at Okoboji? We have the ability to use ultrasound for a wide array of body systems or problems: confirming pregnancy, obtaining samples of urine for analysis while evaluating urinary bladder structure, locating internal masses, evaluating structure of internal organs, and more! Ultrasound scans are a great, non-invasive procedure for many pets that can help us get a better overall look at body health.

Radiographs (commonly called x-rays) are a very common non-invasive procedure that many people associate with the evaluation of broken bones. We use this tool for not only bone evaluation, but also for softer tissues of the body! X-rays work by making an image based on how the body’s tissues absorb a beam of high-energy electromagnetic waves. Bones and metallic objects are the whitest structures on the images created due to the higher amount of radiation absorbed, while other tissues will create different gradients of grey or white based on the varying levels of absorbed radiation.

We use these images to help us evaluate many body systems in dogs and cats, from evaluating bone health and injuries to aiding in searching for masses or blockages in the abdomen or chest, to investigating changes to the heart or lungs. Our x-ray system is equipped with digital cassettes to help us quickly develop high-quality images with the aid of a computer, which helps us save time in evaluating your pet’s needs.

Call us with any questions you have about imaging needs for your pet at 405-513-5905.