Blood Tests and Other Laboratory Tests for Dogs
We often see blood testing done when an animal is sick. These tests can give us much information about what is going on inside a dog’s body so that we can treat their illness. However, blood tests are necessary for healthy dogs as well. Testing a dog’s blood before surgery will show us if they are healthy enough to handle the anesthetic drugs, or if we need to take extra precautions to keep them stable during surgery. When your dog comes in for their annual exam, we can test their blood to see if they may be in the beginning stages of a disease that isn’t showing itself any other way yet. Blood work procedures are especially important for older dogs.
Why are blood tests for dogs important?
To take blood from your dog, a technician will hold them to keep them sitting still. The veterinarian will then use a needle and syringe to take a small blood sample from a vein in the dog’s leg. If you are not comfortable with the sight of needles or blood, please let us know, and we will bring your dog to another room to take the blood. Our clinic is equipped with a laboratory that can perform blood tests right away. You’ll get the results before the end of your appointment. We can run many tests and learn much about your dog’s health from just one blood sample. We can test for diabetes, anemia, clotting disorders, various infections, as well as assessing kidney function, liver function, pancreatic health, and electrolyte balance.
How do I understand the blood test results?
Once the test results are ready, the veterinarian will review them with you and discuss any treatments your dog may need. Even if a sick dog’s blood test results are normal, this is useful information. It lets us narrow down the possible reasons for the illness, telling us what the which tests should be done next, leading us closer to an answer. If your dog’s blood tests were done in preparation for surgery, normal results mean we can confidently perform the surgery with few risks. Any abnormal results will be discussed with you before we decide if we should proceed with the surgery.
What other tests do you perform?
Our laboratory is equipped to perform many kinds of tests; urine testing gives us information about kidney health, enzymatic tests can identify specific bacterial or viral infections, and our technicians are trained in microscopic identification of many kinds of normal and abnormal cells. We also have access to the services of a referral laboratory that can perform any additional tests we may require.