As veterinarians, we often wish we could just ask our patients to tell us where it hurts. Unfortunately, evaluating sick pets is much more complicated, which is why blood work is such a valuable diagnostic tool.
Routine blood testing can help determine causes of illness, verify organ health prior to anesthetized medical treatments and aid in the general maintenance of healthy pets.
Regular lab work allows your pet’s doctor to assess symptoms he/she cannot see or feel, such as indicators of liver disease or diabetes. In healthy pets, blood work helps doctors establish a “baseline” for each individual pet. A baseline blood panel determines what is considered “normal” for a particular pet. This is especially important if the pet becomes ill because it helps the doctor to more accurately interpret any changes in blood work results.
Performing blood tests on healthy pets can also detect underlying problems, which your veterinarian may be able to treat before they become a bigger issue. Even slight changes in body chemistry could signal a problem that may be easily managed.
If you see any changes in your pet’s behavior, like increased thirst or urination, loss of appetite, weight loss or lethargy, it may be a sign that he/she needs blood work.
Typical lab work includes a complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry and a urinalysis.
A CBC provides information on hydration status, anemia, infection, blood clotting ability and immune system response. This test is essential for pets that have symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums or loss of appetite. Prior to surgery, a CBC can detect bleeding disorders or other unseen abnormalities that could cause problems with anesthesia.
A chemistry panel screens for metabolic disease. Liver function, kidney function, protein and glucose levels are assessed as part of a general health profile. A thyroid hormone level should be checked annually in older pets as well.
A urinalysis tests the concentration and pH of a pet’s urine and checks for red blood cells, white blood cells, protein, bacteria, crystals and casts in the urine.
The Drake Center features a complete in-house laboratory for these tests, which allows us to receive immediate results for pets with emergency or urgent care needs. We also work with an external laboratory that can provide most results within 24 hours for all other types of tests.
For cats and dogs, we recommend one blood panel before six months of age and then every one to two years as needed. Annual labs are recommended for all pets over eight years of age.