Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Springfield

Using a radiograph (digital X-ray), we can examine your pet's internal systems to reveal information that may be invisible from the outside. 

Radiography is safe, painless and non-invasive. It uses only very low doses of radiation. Because the level of radiation exposure required to perform radiography is very low, even pregnant females and very young pets can undergo this procedure. 

Radiographs can be used to evaluate bones and organs in addition to diagnosing conditions like broken bones, chronic arthritis, bladder stones, spinal cord diseases and some tumors. 

The use of diagnostic imaging allows our team of veterinary professionals to create extremely detailed images of your pet's internal structures.

Using ultrasound imaging, we expose parts of the body to high-frequency sound waves in order to produce images of the inside of the body. 

Since we are able to capture ultrasound images in real-time, we can see the structures and movements of your pet's internal organs as well as the blood flowing through the blood vessels. 

Having this valuable technology available to our vets in our in-house lab means that your dog or cat's condition can be diagnosed quickly and treatment can start sooner. 

Endoscopes are comprised of a very small camera with a light attached to the end of a long and flexible tube. 

When we perform an endoscopy, a long, thin tube is inserted directly into the body to observe an internal organ or tissue in detail.

Minimally invasive endoscopes can be inserted into the openings of the body such as the mouth or anus.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses a powerful magnetic field, a computer, and radio waves to provide your veterinarian with high-resolution, detailed images of your pet's soft tissues such as the brain, spinal cord, ligaments, tendons, and abdominal organs.

When it comes to many soft tissue injuries or diseases, veterinary MRI often provides a more detailed picture of your animal's body than other diagnostic imaging tools are able to provide.

Our vets can then examine these images on a computer monitor or print them. 

Some conditions that MRI can help to diagnose and treat include spinal issues such as tumors, herniated discs or stenosis; brain tumors and inflammation; strokes; musculoskeletal diseases and injuries including cranial cruciate ligament injuries; and abdominal conditions including organ enlargement or tumors. 

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CT (computed tomography) Scans, (also called CAT Scans) combine X-ray images and computer technology to help us identify and diagnose numerous diseases and disorders in your pet's body. They have become an essential imaging tool used in veterinary medicine.

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If your veterinarian performs a physical examination and suspects your pet may have a heart disorder, we usually take chest X-Rays and an electrocardiogram (ECG).

This procedure can be completed easily and quickly. It reveals data that may be integral to your pet's diagnosis. In other cases, a cardiac ultrasound may be required to identify disorders in the chambers of the heart.

The Regional Veterinary Referral Center is proud to be one of the few clinics in the Springfield area to offer surgical lasers as an alternative to scalpels.

The benefits of laser surgery are many, but the most notable is that it decreases pain. Not only does this make for an easier recovery time, but there will also likely be less scarring than with traditional stainless steel scalpels.

Almost any soft-tissue surgery may be performed with the laser. Routine procedures such as spaying neutering are commonly done, as well as skin tumor removal and eyelid surgeries. Your vet will discuss whether or not a surgical laser is right for your pet's specific procedure.

Cold lasers are low-intensity lasers that are used as part of therapeutic treatment for pets - called cold laser therapy. During this treatment, light is concentrated over affected tissue for periods ranging from 8 to 30 minutes, depending on the issue being treated.

Laser therapy works by emitting light that stimulates cells in a process called photo-biotherapy. Photo-biotherapy encourages cell metabolism and protein synthesis, improving cell strength.

This drug-free and non-invasive treatment work to stimulate cells, reducing pain signals to nerves, increasing blood circulation, and releasing endorphins.