Whether you're bringing your dog or cat to our veterinary clinic for a routine checkup or medical procedure, they may need bloodwork and diagnostic tests. Here, our Kent vets explain why laboratory tests are important for pets and what they reveal.
Why Pets Need Lab Tests
Blood work, a biochemistry panel and urinalysis play an essential role in monitoring your dog or cat's general health, and in the diagnosis and treatment of any illnesses or health issues. For certain procedures like soft tissue surgery or dental exams, your pet's blood will need to be tested to ensure they are healthy enough to undergo the procedure.
A urinalysis can provide much-needed insight into how your pet's kidneys are functioning and assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of a variety of diseases and metabolic disturbances in the body.
Lab tests are used to check your pet's health and to monitor and diagnose illnesses, such as various types of cancer and kidney problems.
It can sometimes be challenging to understand what these diagnostic tests measure, what the results mean, and how they can help your vet make decisions regarding your pet's health and treatment, so you'll find more information on this below.
What Blood Tests for Dogs & Cats Reveal
A complete blood count (CBC) and blood chemistry panel, including electrolytes and urinalysis, are common tests. The CBC identifies whether anemia, infection, or inflammation are present. These an also indicate how the immune system is responding and blood clotting ability.
The chemistry panel and electrolytes reveal whether your pet's liver, kidneys, and pancreas are working as they should.
This important lab work can also detect and help identify complex issues within a dog or cat's internal systems. For example, blood tests can detect whether environmental or internal stimuli are causing hormonal-chemical responses. This tells a veterinarian there may be a potential problem with your dog or cat's endocrine system.
When Your Dog or Cat Needs a Blood Test
Your pet may need blood work for many reasons. Here are a few scenarios:
- Semi-annual routine exams, as preventive care and regular monitoring
- Your pet's first vet visit (to establish baseline data)
- Pre-anesthetic testing before a spaying or neutering procedure
- During senior pet exams to check for age-related conditions in their earliest stages
- As pre-surgical testing to identify your dog or cat's risk of complications during surgery
- Before starting a newly prescribed medication
- If your cat or dog is displaying odd behaviors
- To help assess your pet's condition during an emergency visit
How Long Lab Work Takes at a Vet
How long it takes to perform a certain tests and receive results will depend on a variety of factors. Your vet can provide a time estimate for your pet's specific diagnostic tests.
What Your Dog or Cat's Blood Test Results Mean
Typically, your cat or dog's bloodwork will include a complete blood count (CBC) or blood chemistry (serum test). The CBC will be important for pets that are experiencing vomiting, gastrointestinal upset (diarrhea) weakness, loss of appetite, or who have pale gums.
A CBC can also detect bleeding disorders and other abnormalities that may not be identified otherwise.
A CBC reveals detailed information, including:
- Hematocrit (HCT): With this test, we can identify the percentage of red blood cells to detect hydration or anemia.
- Hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (Hb and MCHC): These are pigments of red blood cells that carry oxygen.
- White blood cell count (WBC): With this test, we measure the body’s immune cells. Certain diseases or infections can cause WBC to increase or decrease.
- Granulocytes and lymphocytes/monocytes (GRANS and L/M): These are specific types of white blood cells.
- Eosinophils (EOS): These are a specific type of white blood cells that can indicate health conditions due to allergies or parasites.
- Platelet count: (PLT): This test measures cells that form blood clots.
- Reticulocytes (RETICS): High levels of immature red blood cells can point to regenerative anemia.
- Fibrinogen (FIBR): We can glean important information about blood clotting from this test. High levels can indicate a dog is 30 to 40 days pregnant.
What Biochemistry Blood Panels Reveal
Biochemistry blood panels measure the levels of enzymes and chemicals in your dog or cat's body and can reveal much about the health and function of your pet's organs, particularly the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. It also assesses your pet's blood sugar levels and the status of electrolytes in the blood. This test is used to screen:
- Kidneys for early renal disease or failure, stones, infections, and abnormalities
- The liver for dehydration obstruction of bile ducts, abnormalities, and Cushing's disease
- Pancreas for pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), diabetes mellitus, and abnormalities
- Electrolytes (potassium, sodium, and chloride), which are critical to the healthy function of your pet's body
- Glucose fluctuations, which can point to a variety of metabolic diseases and organ abnormalities
What a Urinalysis Can Reveal
A urinalysis is a diagnostic test that determines the physical and chemical properties of urine.
Your pet can perform a urinalysis on your pet's urine sample to gain insight into the health of the kidneys and urinary system, as well as your cat or dog's hydration status and issues with other organ systems.
This common test may also be used to help diagnose and monitor various diseases, such as Cushing's disease and cancer, and metabolic disturbances throughout the body. It can also be used to detect bacterial infections.
Diagnostic Testing for Health Status & Disease
Veterinary diagnostic testing allows your vet to make prompt and accurate diagnoses, leading to more effective treatment plans and better health outcomes for your pet.
Our team at Clover Veterinary Hospital sees diagnosis, treatment, and management of health issues as a team effort between our vets and loving pet owners. We are here to help you understand why your pet may need certain diagnostic tests and we will take the time to explain the results, and how they impact your pet's health and treatment plan, in terms you can understand.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.