Annual Bloodwork

A VITAL TOOL FOR SCREENING OUT DISEASE

Pets can’t tell us when they’re ill - that’s where lab tests like blood analyses come in. Blood tests are essential for identifying diseases at the earliest most treatable stage possible.

Sick or senior pets often have more than one disease affecting them, complicating diagnosis and treatment. Blood tests can help pinpoint the problems. Some medications can harm pets with underlying problems like kidney or liver disease. Blood tests can ensure your pet is healthy enough to take the medication. Even in young and healthy pets, lab testing gives us a valuable baseline picture of what represents good health for your individual pet. A recommended part of your pet’s annual exam, blood tests can spot health trends sooner, before they become more serious.

WHAT DOES A BLOOD TEST LOOK FOR?

Standard blood test panels for dogs and cats routinely include:

• Complete Blood Cell Count (CBC) provides important information about the types and number of blood cells in your pet’s blood. A low red blood cell count, for example, indicates anemia, while a high white blood cell count can indicate an infection, chronic infl ammation or other disease process.  

• Blood Chemistry Profile - particularly important for evaluating organ function (e.g., liver, kidneys), electrolytes, blood sugar,screening for presence of an endocrine disorder, etc. Any abnormalities will help us decide on further diagnostic tests or treatments.

• Heartworm Test can detect evidence of heartworm disease. 

• Urinalysis can detect urinary tract infections or disease

• Fecal can detect presence of intestinal parasites or blood