Diagnostic Care and Health Management

Radiology

Radiology is an essential diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine. Radiographs (x-rays) are used for assessing pets with a wide variety of ailments. X-rays are used to diagnose many conditions including broken bones, tumors, bladder stones and determining the location of a foreign body in your pet's stomach (a bone, toy, article of clothing). They are useful for diagnosing heart and lung problems and are also used to evaluate dogs for hip and elbow dysplasia. Special procedures (such as barium series) help evaluate your pet's gastrointestinal tract for motility problems and obstructions. In order to provide the most accurate radiographic diagnosis possible, Hill Country Animal Hospital has invested heavily in the latest x-ray technology.

In-House Laboratory

Hill Country Animal Hospital is equipped with a state-of-the-art, in-house diagnostic laboratory that is capable of performing complete series of diagnostic tests for your pet. Our laboratory is staffed by trained veterinary technicians who are skilled in interpreting your pet's results quickly and accurately.

During an emergency, your pet needs to be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible. With our state-of-the-art laboratory analyzer, we are able to do a complete blood count (CBC), blood chemistry profiles and serum electrolyte measurements within a matter of minutes. With fast and accurate laboratory results in hand, our veterinarians and technicians can begin your pet's treatment almost immediately.

Health Management

If your pet has been diagnosed with a chronic health condition, Hill Country Animal Hospital can help. We provide a full range of medical treatments and therapies for a variety of conditions and diseases, including:

• Heartworm treatment
• Parvovirus therapy
• Chronic renal failure management
• Diabetes management
• Cushings disease management

We work with you to develop a health care program for your pet. Dr. Kruse and our caring staff members can help you manage and treat your pet's chronic condition.

Specialist Referrals

In some cases, we may refer your pet to a veterinary specialist. Hill Country Animal Hospital works with local veterinary specialists in the area in order to provide high quality medical care for your pet.

For major orthopedic and soft-tissue surgeries and internal medicine cases, we refer clients to the Central Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital (CTVSH) in Austin, located about 50 miles from Copperas Cove.

For dermatology cases, we refer clients to Dr. Jenise Daigle at Austin Veterinary Dermatology and Allergy (AVDA), located about 40 miles from Copperas Cove.

Your pet is assessed by Dr. Kruse in order to determine the need for a referral. We help guide you through the referral procedure and work closely with the veterinary specialist as part of your pet's care.