Diagnostics
In a perfect world, we vets would be sitting around with very little to do. Or maybe spending our days fishing! Sadly, this is not to be. It is an unfortunate fact that one day your pet may become ill and will need treatment, fast!
Diagnosis before treatment
At the Chastain Veterinary Medical Group, we diagnose before we treat. So, one of our first priorities is identifying the cause of a pet's illness so that we may treat it correctly. Our in-house veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory provides us with essential information that could be critical to your pet.
With equipment such as a flow-cytometry based CBC machine, blood chemistry analyzer, wireless ECG, electronic ocular tonometry and blood pressure monitors, the time between examination, diagnosis and treatment can be kept to an absolute minimum.
With this same hi-tech equipment, we can perform same-day pre-anesthetic blood testing. This is especially important in veterinary medicine because, unlike human medicine, our patients can't tell us when and how they're feeling poorly. Pre-anesthetic blood testing also greatly reduces the risks associated with anesthesia and surgery.
Endoscopy
Chastain Veterinary Medical Group is proud to offer advanced veterinary endoscopy for our patients. Endoscopy uses fiber optic technology to directly examine the interior of your pet's body, including the abdominal cavity and gastrointestinal tract. These advanced diagnostic procedures are useful in evaluating abdominal and thoracic organs, conducting biopsies with minimal incision and decreasing blood loss and pain. Click here to learn more about veterinary endoscopy.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a safe, non-invasive medical imaging technology that allows us to see the inside of the body, in real time - both at rest and as the body moves. The state-of-the-art Ultrasound services at Chastain Veterinary Medical Group are recognized in the north Dallas area for professionalism and accuracy and as such are patronized by other veterinary hospitals and clinics in the area. We offer both abdominal and cardiac (heart) ultrasound services in-house.
Why is ultrasound better?
Ultrasound images often provide a level of resolution and detail that is simply not possible with ordinary X-rays. Unlike conventional X-rays, which yield only static images and could cause harm if used excessively, scientific studies have shown that ultrasound appears to be completely free from these side-effects.
Our ultrasound machines are manufactured by General Electric or Aloka. These are some of the most advanced ultrasound units available. These units provide excellent detail and resolution and can also show actual blood movement in a number of different modes.
Along with the most advanced equipment, we also have experienced and well trained operators. We are committed to rigorous ultrasound training and development and we are determined to stay abreast of this ever-developing industry.
Click here for an overview of small animal ultrasound.
Digital Radiology
Yes, we do have digital x-ray. Each clinic is equipped with an Idexx 14X17 Computed Radiography (CR) System. We love the equipment. It produces beautiful and detailed images.
We have developed a relationship with Gulf Coast Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging for those cases where the opinion of a board certified radiologist is called for. When need be, we can upload digital radiographs and/or ultrasound images directly into the Gulf Coast dicom server. Reports are typically returned in a matter of minutes to hours.
Telemedicine
Access to the worlds's best vets
Doctors have always consulted each other to establish the best treatments. Today, through the miracle of broadband internet, a specialist located hundreds of miles away can be brought into the doctor's office - virtually - through a live interactive system of sharing and discussing medical data, images, and patient files. This is Telemedicine.
Telemedicine is the practice of medicine, or veterinary medicine, over long distance by means of special telecommunications equipment.
In veterinary medicine, as with humans, there are specialists in virtually every field and they are available to help with difficult cases. For example, a board certified surgeon can be consulted about an unusual fracture, a board certified radiologist can be consulted for guidance in understanding a complicated X-ray image or unusual ultrasound finding, a board certified internist can give valuable guidance in managing a diagnostic challenge and a board certified oncologist can help manage a patient with cancer.
Unfortunately, in veterinary medicine, there aren't that many of these specialists and those that do exist are scattered around the country in university veterinary teaching hospitals or large specialty centers such as Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, and the Veterinary Referral Center of North Texas.
In the past, because of time zone differences and the fact that specialists have their own patients to treat, contacting a board certified veterinary specialist was often not practical. Not any more. Today we can send X-ray images, ultrasounds, endoscopy pictures, microscope pictures of cells, and so on to any veterinary specialist, anywhere in the world, instantly. This allows specialists to examine data at their own pace and return their findings without interruption.
With a special telecommunications set up, the veterinarians at CVMG have almost instant access to the best veterinary specialists in the world. Telemedicine is indeed a technological miracle and it's available right now at CVMG for the better treatment of your pet.