CAT AND DOG LAB TESTING: A KEY DIAGNOSTIC TOOL
CAT AND DOG LAB TESTS TO DETECT ILLNESS
Similar to their human companions, pets may need to undergo different exams, analyses, and tests to detect health problems. Is your pet showing signs of illness? Your veterinarian can perform certain tests in the Globalvet clinics to determine where the problem is stemming from and provide an accurate diagnosis.
WHY SHOULD YOUR CAT OR DOG GET LAB WORK DONE?
Our veterinarians and their teams use lab tests in many different situations, including to prevent, diagnose, and monitor various health problems and to provide preoperative checkups.
DIAGNOSIS AND FOLLOW-UP
Lab work is also used to get to the root of the symptoms behind your pet’s ailment. Your vet can use the results to determine if your cat or dog has an infection or illness, or whether their organs are working as they should. Tests are used to identify or rule out certain problems and provide a more accurate diagnosis.
Your vet may also do follow-up tests to monitor your pet’s condition. They can see if any health problems have changed, improved, or been resolved, and plan treatment accordingly.
PREOPERATIVE PREPARATION
Your vet may order lab tests to make sure your cat or dog is healthy enough to undergo surgery. With your pet’s blood work in hand, your vet can adjust anesthesia protocols based on their condition, making the process as safe as possible.
PREVENTION
Your veterinarian may also have lab tests done as a preventive measure to identify health problems with no obvious symptoms such as:
Kidney failure, common in aging animals:
- Symptoms may not appear until many years after onset
- Early screening and early intervention can delay symptom onset and improve your companion’s quality of life
The use of certain medications:
- It’s best for your vet to make sure that certain organs, like the liver and kidneys, are working as they should
WHAT LAB TESTS CAN BE DONE?
Certain tests can be performed in our veterinary clinics or sent out to partner labs, including:
- Blood work
- Stool analysis
- Urinalysis
- Cytology
- Skin, urine, stool, and other cultures
- Antibiogram
- Cat and dog DNA tests