Muffin seems slightly tender and tenses her abdominal muscles, making a reliable abdominal exam impossible. Thanks to the laboratory workup, the veterinarian was able to do a little internal exam on the dog that disproved the original suspicion and directed the search toward the actual cause of the problem. Antibiotics won't help this kind of infection. The Biopsy This is a view of a very nasty cancer of an intra-abdominal lymph node. Maybe the lymph node is actually severely infected and just appears to be cancer.
Many animal hospitals rely on off site laboratory help.
A good example of this is Marshfield Labs in Marshfield, Wisconsin. This well respected human medical and surgical center also developed a Veterinary Laboratory employing a number of veterinary specialists in pathology. The lab's Outreach Program employs carriers who pick up test specimens and transport them back to the Lab where tests are performed the same day. Results are phoned or faxed to the animal hospital the next morning. This service is a great way for animal hospitals in a wide radius from Marshfield Labs to get specialized services from competent and experienced veterinary pathologists.