We use state of the art Idexx In-house Hematology, Chemistry, and Urine Testing equipment to detect, diagnose, and monitor many diseases. Having a laboratory in the clinic allows us to quickly assess your pet's health and determine what therapy, if any, is required.
Pet Blood Work
At Glen Eagles Pet Hospital & Urgent Care Clinic, we offer comprehensive veterinary care for pets in Edmond, including pet blood work. Blood tests can provide important information about your pet's health and help detect certain conditions early on. In this article, we'll discuss why your pet may need a blood test, the types of tests that can be performed, and what to expect when preparing for a blood test.
Why Does My Pet Need a Blood Test?
There are several reasons why your pet may need a blood test. One common reason is as part of preventative care. A blood test can establish a baseline for what's normal for your pet, and help detect health conditions early on when they are most treatable. Blood tests can also be useful if your pet is sick or injured. They can detect conditions such as toxin ingestion, kidney or liver failure, and dehydration.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A complete blood count, or CBC, is a common blood test for both pets and humans. It measures the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. A CBC can provide your veterinarian with valuable information about your pet's health, including whether they have dehydration, anemia, or an infection. It also checks their blood's clotting ability and immune system response.
Additionally, a CBC can reveal certain types of cancer, hormonal imbalances, allergic reactions, and parasite infections. Your veterinarian may perform a CBC if your pet has a fever, stomach upset, pale gums, or a loss of appetite. If your pet needs surgery, a CBC will be performed to ensure they are healthy enough for the procedure.
Blood Chemistries
While a CBC is the most common blood test, your pet may also need blood chemistries in some cases. Blood chemistries test many aspects of your pet's health, including kidney, liver, and pancreas function. These tests may be necessary if your pet is older, or if your veterinarian suspects toxin exposure or severe vomiting or diarrhea.
If your pet is taking medication, blood chemistries may be used to monitor their organ function while taking the medicine. Electrolytes such as sodium and potassium can be checked with a blood chemistry, and other chemistries, such as creatine and amylase, can also reveal important information about your pet's health. Low levels of thyroxine (T4) can indicate hypothyroidism in dogs and cats.
Preparing for a Blood Test
Your veterinarian may instruct you to avoid feeding your pet for six hours before the blood test. This is because eating can increase lipemia, which are fat droplets in the blood that can interfere with certain blood tests.
Bloodwork
Diagnostic Testing is an essential part of diagnosing what is ailing your pet, just as they are in human medicine. These tests can tell the veterinarian a myriad of things, from whether your pet is dehydrated to whether he or she has anemia to whether your cat or dog is suffering from Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Cushing's Disease, Addison's Disease, Kidney Disease, Liver Disease, and Cancer.
Common tests used by veterinarians
A complete blood count (CBC) tells us if your pet is fighting an infection, has dehydration, has anemia, has a bleeding problem, has an immune mediated disease, or has cancer.
A chemistry profile tells us how the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, intestines, kidneys, and thyroid are functioning.
A urine test tells us if your pet has problems like bladder infection, bladder stones, kidney issues, and cancer.
A feces test tells us if your pet has parasites, such as worms.
Benefits of in-house diagnostics and bloodwork
When your pet is sick, you don't want to wait days to get the results of blood tests and start his or her treatment. Neither do you want to drive all around Edmond from the vet's office to the lab and back. Our in-house diagnostic lab decreases the time and energy necessary to get your pet the blood tests he or she needs. Plus, you'll get the results much more quickly than if you use an outside lab. We also believe it's easier for your pet to only deal with one technician and one visit than to have him or her visit two separate facilities.
Having a sick pet can be a scary thing. After all, they are part of the family. Glen Eagles Pet Hospital & Urgent Care Clinic wants to ease some of your anxiety and get your pet on the road to wellness quickly. That's why we've invested in an in-house diagnostic lab. Call us today at (405) 463-0600 to learn more about our in-house testing lab or to make an appointment for your pet.
Early Disease Screening
This protocol is based on evidence that performing a wellness exam, blood work, urinalysis, and fecal can uncover underlying disease in "healthy" pets. According to data provided by Idexx, Early Disease Screening revealed significant findings that required follow up in:
1 in 7 adults
1 in 5 seniors
2 in 5 geriatrics
Early Disease Screening helps to identify underlying, hidden disease in otherwise healthy pets. Earlier detection allows effective treatments that can extend a pet's quality of life, and it can slow down the progression of disease, so pets live longer.
Get Veterinary Care at Glen Eagles Pet Hospital & Urgent Care Clinic
If you need to visit a veterinarian in Edmond, contact Glen Eagles Pet Hospital & Urgent Care Clinic. We offer diagnostic tests, including blood tests, as well as routine veterinary care and emergency services. Call our team today at (405) 463-0600 to learn more or to schedule an appointment.