Bloodwork is important in veterinary medicine as it helps us identify potential health issues in pets. We recommend bloodwork for pets even if they appear to be in good health. This is because many diseases can go months or even years without your pet showing any symptoms.
When should my pet have bloodwork done?
Your veterinarian will recommend a lab panel for your pet for various reasons. Here are the times when we recommend blood work for our patients:
- Your pet shows signs of a health issue like weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
- It’s your pet’s first visit to the vet (we need to establish their baseline or normal health)
- A senior wellness exam (seniors are prone to various health issues, and bloodwork helps us catch the signs early when it’s easy to manage and treat)
- Pre-surgical testing (we use blood tests to determine how well your pet will respond to surgery and how much anesthesia to use)
What will my pet’s bloodwork show?
Your pet’s blood contains different chemical components that can help us analyze their health and organ functionality. Your veterinarian can get information about your pet’s blood cells, both red and white, indicating how well their immune system functions. We can identify your pet’s glucose, protein levels, digestive enzymes, electrolytes, cholesterol and endocrine levels. Certain organs produce these components, which means we can narrow down your pet’s problem if there is a deficiency. From your pet’s blood test, we can diagnose anemia, blood clotting issues, parasites, allergies, heart disease and pregnancy.
How long will it take to have my pet’s results?
Our hospitals have on-site laboratories to process your pet’s blood, urine and fecal samples. All testing done in our lab can be processed within a few minutes. For more specialized lab services, we work with an off-site lab. The results may take 24 hours or a few days in these instances.
