In House Blood Testing
When you have a sick pet, it can be quite stressful, and we do our best to provide treatment as quickly as possible. At Eastwaye Veterinary Clinic, we diagnose sick pets fast using our in house laboratory and blood testing capabilities. Blood testing is one of the simplest, most precise ways to diagnose a pet, as blood chemistry and composition reveal numerous clues about how your pet’s body is functioning and more.
Blood Test Results: What We Look For
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) indicates the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets which tell our veterinarian about your pet’s immune system and oxygen levels.
- Various chemical compositions can provide an indication of how well your pet’s organs are functioning.
- Hormone and electrolyte balances
- Blood sugar levels
- Cholesterol
- Digestive enzymes
- Signs of diseases, infection, or parasites
Depending on your pet’s test results, a blood test might provide a definitive diagnosis or indicate a potential problem that might require further examination or additional diagnostic tests.
Pet Wellness, Geriatric Care, and Pre-Surgery Blood Tests
Blood tests are also a useful tool for monitoring health, especially as pets age. With an annual wellness blood test, we can catch early signs of age-related or breed-specific illnesses before they progress far enough to cause your pet unpleasant symptoms. This gives us a better chance of providing effective treatment and preventing your pet from any pain or discomfort.
We require blood tests for dogs prior to administering preventative heartworm medications, such as Proheart Injections, as administering heartworm preventatives to an infected dog can be extremely dangerous.
Also, for the safety of your pets, we require blood tests for all cats and dogs prior to any procedure which requires general anesthesia, such as surgery or dental cleaning. This screens pets for potential bleeding problems or dangerous reactions to ensure they are healthy enough to undergo the procedure and sedation with no medical concerns.
Speedy Diagnoses and Quick Care
We’re proud to offer in house blood testing to provide fast, safe, and effective treatment to all our patients. If your pet needs a blood test, we welcome you to contact our office for more information about what to expect and how to interpret your pet’s results.
