Blood tests are an essential part of diagnosing what is ailing your pet, just as they are in human medicine. Blood 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 cancer.
Common blood tests used by veterinarians
Red blood cells are used to determine a number of factors. The packed red blood cell count can detect a condition called polycythemia. A high count indicates dehydration, while a low count can be an indicator of anemia. The hemoglobin concentration test measures the oxygen-carrying capacity of your pet's blood, and the red blood cell count can tell your vet how well your pet's body is functioning. Testing the white blood cells is equally useful. A high white blood cell count is indicative of infection, whereas a low white blood cell count can mean a weakened immune system.
Benefits of 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. We partner with Zoetis Reference Laboratory to get your pet the blood tests they need. Moreover, we run Heartworm Tests in-house, urinalysis, cytology, and cPLi's in house for immediate results.
Not only do we check bloodwork on sick or unwell patients, but there are benefits to running annual bloodwork on healthy pets as well. These annual panels can help when your pet becomes acutely sit or to help do early screening as your pet gets older. We also always run blood on any patient prior to any operation or surgery to ensure the health of your pet prior to going under general anesthesia.
Having a sick pet can be a scary thing. After all, they are part of the family. Highlands Ranch Animal Hospital wants to ease some of your anxiety and get your pet on the road to wellness quickly. Call us today at (858) 240-5239 to learn more about bloodwork or to make an appointment for your pet.