At Main Street Pet Care, we do our very best to diagnose before we begin treatment on your pet.  Numerous diagnostic tests and procedures are available today that were not available just a few short years ago. 

We offer a full line of diagnostic laboratory testing, most with same day results.  We run many of our test at a nearby reference lab that is held to very high state and federal standards with regards to calibration and quality control.  Other tests we run here in-house or at diagnostic labs around the country.

In the past, we ran many almost all here in-house, but experience has shown that we simply lack the resources to provide adequate and consistent quality control.  By using the local reference laboratory, we are able to provide very high quality lab tests at lower prices, and in some cases, we actually can get results quicker than we could in-house!

We also perform many diagnostic procedures here at Main Street Pet Care, Inc.  Flexible and Rigid Endoscopy allow us to look into body cavities, the bladder, sinuses and ears with better and more clear views than ever before!  X-rays and special radiology procedures are also available, as well as many biopsy options.

Why All These Tests?

Testing allows our doctors to get to the root of the problem and then make a plan for proper and effective treatment.  Many of the problems that we see daily in our patients have underlying causes that cannot be detected simply from a thorough physical examination.

Testing gives us a window into the pet's body, to detect things that we otherwise may not even suspect.  It is not uncommon for us to discover the underlying cause of a problem that a pet has had for years, just because we used our "window into the body" to view thing in a new light with more complete information.

Dr. Leavens became especially educated about this on a personal level, when he came down with diabetes.  He had symptoms for three years of diabetes (and yes, he was in denial about it), but when he went to the physician with huma diabetic symptoms, no tests were run.  Because he was in denial about this himself somewhat, he did not insist on testing.

Finally, at the demand of his health insurer as a policy for annual testing recently instituted, the tests were run and he failed them!  He had diabetes in a big way (type 2 and it is now well-controlled through weight loss and oral medication).  His policy was also cancelled, but that is another story.

It is a sad comment on the state of things when an insurance company has to make us practice good medicine, but that is the mindset many doctors are in, whether veterinary medicine or human. 

Testing is inexpensive, and gets less expensive every year for routine tests, and especially in pets, it allows us to discover things that simply cannot be detected on physical examination.  Failure to use these tests is one of the biggest mistakes made in medicine today, and one that we will no longer make.

Because of this, and the fact that pets age much faster than people do, we also recommend routine testing yearly on all pets, and at six month intervals in very young and very old pets.  This not only allows early detection of disease, but also provides a baseline with which to compare should your pet ever need blood work when illness arises.

What If I Chose NOT To Test?

Our diagnostic and routine testing options are recommendations only.  As always, you have a right to decline any testing we recommend.  We will cheerfully respect your decision and provide the best level of care we can for you and your pets.