It is likely to be a straightforward diagnosis when your dog's medical condition requires a veterinarian visit. Although, there are times when your vet may need more information regarding your dog's health. If necessary, your veterinarian will recommend that specific blood work and other bodily fluids like urine be tested to further check for internal complications.
Comprehensive Lab Testing for Dogs
Blood and other lab tests are part of your veterinarian's periodic wellness exams for dogs. By collecting a sample of your dog's blood, a CBC (complete blood count) and blood chemistries can analyze chemical components in the blood.
White blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets can be identified in this CBC. Analyzing the shape and condition of the cell includes information that is helpful to learn more about your dog's immune system (white blood cells) and the oxygen-carrying capacity (red blood cell count) for health and functionality. In addition to a CBC, other blood tests for dogs can also identify:
You must look at your dog's blood test as a veterinarian's toolkit. It helps to detect, identify, diagnose, and even treat illnesses or diseases. Chemicals found in the bloodstream correlate with specific organs; these are beneficial to help your veterinarian determine more than just the blood count. When a dog's blood test shows a deficiency in levels such as albumin, your veterinarian knows to examine your dog's liver because albumin is produced in the liver, indicating hydration or liver and kidney diseases.
Lab tests for dogs will help detect abnormal hormonal-chemical responses to environmental and internal stimuli. These responses alert your veterinarian to a potential issue in your dog's internal system. These results identify complex problems resulting in valuable information to diagnose and treat your dog's health issues.
Here's when to expect recommended blood work for your dog:
At Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital, we care about your dogs. We will quickly and reliably determine a diagnosis of health concerns and implement successful medical interventions based on the lab work and blood test results.
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Types Of Lab Tests for Dogs
Lab testing for dogs can assess many features of the blood. In addition to your dog's blood work test, we may process and analyze urine, stool samples, CBC, clotting, chemistries, and cytology. Here are the lab tests for dogs that we perform and what they are for:
What Do Lab Test Results for My Dog Mean?
Blood tests are second nature to veterinarians. We will most likely run tests for a Complete Blood Count or a Blood Chemistry (serum) test by ordering blood work. Veterinarians use the results of a Complete Blood Count, or CBC, for information about your dog's hydration status, anemia, infection, blood clotting ability, and immune system response.
A CBC is essential – especially with symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, or loss of appetite. A CBC may detect unseen abnormalities when a dog needs surgery, such as bleeding disorders. A Complete Blood Count provides specific detailed information, including:
Here at Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital, we will thoroughly explain the results of your dog's blood test. Only then, with you as your dog's human caretakers, will we treat whatever a blood test indicates as an informed and concerted team effort.
The next step is to process and analyze your dog's blood work sample(s). Blood Chemistries, or blood serum tests, evaluate a dog's organ function, electrolyte status, hormone levels, and more.
At ACVH, we evaluate a dog's health based on the results of these tests. Suppose your dog shows signs of vomiting, diarrhea, or toxin exposure or is the recipient of long-term medications and general health before anesthesia. In that case, these results may be critical for ensuring the appropriate care.