Diagnostics

Early detection is key when it comes to treating your pet, and Willits Veterinary Hospital – Basalt & Glenwood Springs offers complete in-house diagnostics including cutting-edge equipment and an on-site laboratory. This saves time, money, and most importantly, you don’t have to wait overnight for results—meaning your pet gets a diagnosis and needed treatment sooner.

Our Diagnostic Services

Digital Radiology (X-Rays)

The key to effective diagnosis. One of the most important components of a solid diagnosis is often diagnostic imaging technology. The cornerstone of the diagnostic imaging suite at Willits Veterinary Hospital – Basalt & Glenwood Springs is the ClearVet DR9 digital radiography system. Providing unparalleled soft tissue and skeletal detail not possible just a few years ago. The DR9 has the ability to reveal subtle lesions missed by older technologies.

Radiographs, or x-rays, use electromagnetic radiation directed towards the body to highlight objects within. They can detect abnormalities including skeletal fractures, soft tissue damage, foreign bodies and dental disease.

Orthopedic radiographs and contrast studies require the patient remain completely still to work correctly, necessitating sedation in most cases. Some specialized procedures may require anesthesia. The duration of sedation or anesthesia is usually short and patient recovery is swift. A board-certified anesthesiologist oversees all procedures.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a powerful diagnostic tool that creates a real-time image of an animal’s body. This composite reveals important information about internal processes including the circulatory, skeletal and gastrointestinal systems.

When used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools like x-rays, ultrasounds can help identify disease, blockages, skeletal fractures, soft tissue damage and other internal injuries.

Our new Toshiba Xario digital ultrasound machine represents the cutting edge of ultrasound technology.

An ultrasound works by broadcasting high-frequency sound waves that reflect off your pet’s internal structures. A small probe held against the skin collects the returning signals to create an image of the internal body, most commonly used to examine abdominal organs like the stomach, kidneys, liver, spleen and gallbladder. An ultrasound of the heart, known as an echocardiogram, provides precise information about heart valves, blood flow, chamber size and contractions.

Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CT)

Willits Veterinary Hospital – Basalt & Glenwood Springs is pleased to bring the newest and best technology in advanced imaging with the NewTom 5G Cone Beam CT scanner. Cone beam technology produces equal or better image quality compared to traditional CT scans, while exposing patients to far less radiation and with faster results.

In just 18 seconds, this state of the art technology takes the equivalent of a 360 slice CT scan. The Cone Beam CT creates a three-dimensional, cone shaped beam that only has to circle the patient once to generate and image of the entire area.

The benefits are many, from exposing pets to far less radiation to generating images in far less time – a mere 18 seconds. The images generated by a Cone Beam CT contain huge, helpful data sets that include both traditional and three-dimensional reconstructions. Cone Beam CT can be used for the evaluation of the following:

  • Dental Disease
  • Cancer Screening (abdomen/thorax)
  • Inner/Middle Ear Disease
  • Disease of the Nasal Passages
  • Brain Imaging
  • Spinal Cord Disorders
  • Trauma to the chest/abdomen/limbs
  • Orthopedic Disease/Fractures
  • Musculoskeletal & Soft Tissue Tumors
  • Thoracic disease

Completely painless and non-invasive, ultrasounds usually require some sedation because the patient must remain completely still. Willits Veterinary Hospital – Basalt & Glenwood Springs employs advanced imaging technologies operated by board-certified veterinary radiologists, guaranteeing the highest quality of care for our patients.

Diagnostic Consultations in Basalt and Glenwood Springs, CO

To schedule a diagnostic consultation for your pet, please visit our Make An Appointment page.

What's Next

  • 1

    Call Us or Schedule an Appointment Online

  • 2

    Meet with a Doctor for an Initial Exam

  • 3

    Put a Plan Together for Your Pet

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