We go to the doctor when we don’t feel quite right, we have a headache, or we feel nauseous. Unfortunately, our pets can’t tell us when or where they hurt. We have to depend on behavior, examination and testing in order to determine if disease is present. Bloodwork is an extraordinarily important and helpful component of testing. No other easily performed, relatively inexpensive test can tell us so much about the red blood cells, immune system, organ function (including the liver and kidneys), digestive tract, and clotting ability than a simple set of blood tests. Often, bloodwork can reveal evidence of disease at an early stage that may not be outwardly apparent. In these cases, we can take measures to delay or prevent the onset of overt disease, and can improve the quantity and quality of life for your pet. In emergency cases, bloodwork can mean the difference between life or death, as it directs the most helpful therapy in these often difficult situations.
Our fully-equipped in-house laboratory includes state of the art CBC, blood chemistry, and electrolyte analyzers (see below). They allow us to quickly and accurately monitor critical parameters in our hospitalized patients without the delay in sending blood out to a commercial laboratory.
CBC (complete blood count) - red blood cells - anemia, bone marrow activity
- white blood cells - inflammation, infection, blood borne cancers such as leukemia
- platelets – low blood platelets can cause unexpected and/or excessive bleeding
Blood Chemistry - liver and kidney function
- blood sugar – diabetes mellitus causes high blood sugar; liver disease, severe infections, and malnutrition can cause low blood sugar
- blood proteins – dehydration causes proteins to increase, diseases of the liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract can cause them to decrease
- calcium, cholesterol, other parameters
Electrolytes - imbalances resulting from dehydration, kidney disease, vomiting and diarrhea, and other metabolic and hormonal diseases
|