Veterinary Diagnostics

When your dog or cat is sick, the answers often sit beneath the surface where an exam alone can’t reach. Vague symptoms like lethargy, vomiting, a poor appetite, or sudden limping can point to dozens of causes. Diagnostic testing turns that uncertainty into a clear plan.

Fish Creek Animal Hospital provides veterinary diagnostics in Montgomery, TX, with an in-house laboratory, digital radiography (X-rays), and ultrasound under one roof. Our veterinarians can diagnose many conditions quickly and begin treatment during your visit, rather than sending you home to wait on outside results. Pet owners from Montgomery, Willis, and Huntsville can get diagnostic answers close to home.

Why In-House Diagnostics Matter for Your Pet

Diagnostic testing reveals what a physical exam cannot. Blood work can identify organ function issues, metabolic disorders, and infections before they cause visible symptoms. Urinalysis can uncover kidney problems, urinary tract infections, and diabetes in their early stages, when treatment is most effective.

Having these tools on-site means faster answers. When a dog comes in vomiting, immediate blood work can reveal dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, or kidney dysfunction. We can start fluid therapy or adjust the treatment plan before you leave, instead of waiting two or three days for an outside lab.

In-house testing can also keep costs reasonable. Outside laboratories add processing and shipping fees, and we can run only the specific tests your pet needs.

Our In-House Veterinary Laboratory

Our laboratory handles a wide range of tests that help us identify disease, monitor chronic conditions, and confirm your pet is safe for anesthesia.

Blood Work and Blood Panels

A complete blood count (CBC) checks red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which can reveal anemia, infection, inflammation, or clotting problems. A blood chemistry panel measures enzymes, electrolytes, proteins, and glucose to evaluate the liver, kidneys, pancreas, and blood sugar regulation.

Changes in these values often appear months before a pet shows outward signs of disease. Learn more about when we recommend testing, what each value means, and how to prepare on our pet blood work and routine blood panels page.

Urinalysis

Urinalysis evaluates kidney function, identifies urinary tract infections, and detects crystals that can lead to bladder stones. The test measures urine concentration, pH, protein, and glucose, and a microscopic exam of the sediment can reveal bacteria, crystals, or abnormal cells.

Pre-Surgical Screening

Before any procedure that requires anesthesia, blood panels evaluate liver and kidney function, check for anemia or clotting disorders, and flag conditions that could complicate surgery. This screening helps our team adjust anesthetic protocols when needed. See our surgical services for how we keep surgical patients safe.

Digital Radiography (X-Rays) for Dogs and Cats

Digital radiography uses flat panel detectors instead of film to produce high-resolution images within seconds. Our veterinarians use X-rays to examine your pet’s heart and lungs, digestive tract, urinary and reproductive systems, and bones and joints.

What X-Rays Help Us Diagnose

We use digital X-rays to identify fractures, detect tumors, evaluate organ size and position, diagnose arthritis and joint problems, locate swallowed foreign objects, and assess dental disease beneath the gum line. Beyond the obvious findings, our veterinarians look for subtle changes in organ density, unusual fluid, or variations in bone structure that can signal disease early.

The Digital Advantage

• Faster answers: We review images immediately and can discuss findings during the same appointment.
• Less radiation: Digital systems require fewer retakes than film because image quality can be adjusted after capture.
• Easy specialist consults: Images can be sent electronically when a second opinion would help your pet.

What to Expect During X-Rays

Most pets stay awake during X-rays while our team positions them carefully. For some chest or abdominal views, we may ask you to step out briefly to protect you from radiation exposure. Studies that need very precise positioning, including dental X-rays, may require sedation or anesthesia. When that is the case, we discuss it with you first and use an EKG to monitor your pet’s heart throughout.

Pet Ultrasound in Montgomery, TX

Ultrasonography uses high-frequency sound waves, not radiation, to create real-time images of your pet’s organs and soft tissues. At Fish Creek Animal Hospital, ultrasound exams are performed and interpreted by board-certified radiologists who come to our clinic, so your pet can get specialist-level imaging close to home.

What Ultrasound Helps Us Diagnose

Ultrasound lets us examine the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, bladder, heart, and reproductive organs. It helps diagnose:

• Pancreatitis, which is difficult to confirm with blood work alone
• Kidney or bladder stones and urinary obstructions
• Enlarged organs, portosystemic shunts, and adrenal gland tumors
• Gastrointestinal issues behind chronic vomiting or diarrhea
• Pregnancy, including confirming an early pregnancy and assessing fetal viability

When blood work shows elevated liver enzymes or kidney values, ultrasound is often the next step. Blood tests screen for possible organ disease, while ultrasound shows the actual structure of those organs. Ultrasound can also guide needle biopsies to collect tissue samples.

The Ultrasound Exam Process

We clip the hair over the area being examined and apply a gel that helps transmit the sound waves. The exam is painless and typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. Light sedation may be recommended for anxious pets. The radiologist interprets images in real time, so you get preliminary findings during your visit, with a detailed written report typically within 24 hours.

How Our Team Uses Diagnostic Results

Test results guide every treatment decision. For a lethargic dog, blood work might reveal anemia, infection, or kidney disease, and each finding leads to a different treatment. We combine lab results, imaging, and exam findings to build a complete picture of your pet’s health.

Diagnostics also support long-term care. Pets with diabetes need regular glucose checks, pets with kidney disease need periodic blood panels, and senior pets benefit from regular screening that catches age-related changes early. When a case needs a specialist, your pet’s diagnostic history is ready to share for a smooth referral.

Why Choose Fish Creek Animal Hospital for Pet Diagnostics?

Founded by Dr. Kevin Wheeler in 2021, Fish Creek Animal Hospital is a privately owned practice serving Montgomery, Conroe, Magnolia, Woodforest, and nearby communities. Dr. Melissa Pawlowski’s special interests include internal medicine, radiology, and ultrasound, and two of our three veterinarians are Texas A&M graduates.

We invested in diagnostic equipment because your pet deserves the same technology found at larger specialty hospitals, delivered with personal attention. Our veterinarians explain every recommendation clearly, and you will never feel pressured into unnecessary testing.

Schedule Diagnostic Testing at Fish Creek Animal Hospital

Whether your pet needs routine screening or answers about a new symptom, our Montgomery team is here to help. Request an appointment or give our team a call to discuss your pet’s needs.

Frequently Asked Questions