Laboratory tests are an integral part of veterinary diagnostics. They provide your veterinarian with vital information to aid in the diagnosis of many illnesses, including kidney disease, liver disease, infection, anemia, and other serious medical conditions. Our in-house laboratory has the latest diagnostic equipment, which allows us to provide an immediate patient evaluation on a variety of tests, including complete blood counts, blood chemistry panels, urinalysis, fecal examinations, fluid and skin analyses, parasite examinations, and cytology.

Complete blood count and serum chemistry panels may be recommended to collect baseline values on your pet. These help to establish a “normal” value that can be used as a comparison if your cat or dog becomes ill. Routine blood work is also recommended for patients that are taking long-term medications that may affect their heart, liver, or kidney function over time. Semi-annual blood tests are also beneficial for senior patients, as routine lab work aids in the early detection of underlying diseases when they are easiest to treat.

Dr. Rogers also recommends that intestinal parasite tests be performed at each annual pet wellness exam via a fecal evaluation to check for roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms, Giardia, and coccidia. A blood test is also used yearly to test for heartworm disease, Lyme disease, ehrlichia & anaplasmosis, which are tick-borne illnesses.

These tests are an inexpensive and quick way to obtain vital information about your pet’s health.