In-House Lab Diagnostics
A CBC can help screen for a number of conditions, including:
A CBC can be used as part of a general wellness check or throughout a course of treatment. A veterinarian might also recommend other diagnostic tests based on the results of a CBC.
- Anemia: Low red blood cell levels
- Bleeding problems: Low platelet levels can indicate a tendency to bleed abnormally or excessively
- Infections: White blood cells fight infection
- Inflammation: A CBC can help identify inflammation
- Stress: A CBC can help indicate a pet’s stress level
- Hydration status: A CBC can help indicate a pet’s hydration status
Here are some things that a chemistry panel can measure:
- Bilirubin
A breakdown product of hemoglobin, which is the pigment in red blood cells. Elevated bilirubin can indicate liver dysfunction, anemia, or decreased bile flow. - Glucose
A measure of a pet’s blood sugar level. High glucose levels can indicate diabetes or obesity, while low glucose levels can lead to seizures or a coma. - Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
A waste product produced by the liver from proteins in the diet. BUN is influenced by the liver, kidneys, and dehydration. - Cholesterol
Deviations in cholesterol levels are often secondary signs of other diseases. For example, animals with underactive thyroid glands often have elevated cholesterol. - Creatinine
A level that is often evaluated during routine wellness checkups or pre-surgery screening. Creatinine levels are often evaluated along with urine tests or other blood tests that screen for kidney abnormalities. - Calcium
Changes in calcium levels can be associated with a variety of diseases or conditions. For example, persistently high calcium levels may indicate kidney disease, cancer, or disease of the parathyroid
Electrolytes are minerals that help regulate the body’s pH, move nutrients into cells, and facilitate muscle and nerve function. Some electrolytes include:
- Potassium (K): Helps with muscle, respiration, and cardiac function. High levels can be caused by diabetes or tissue trauma, while low levels can be caused by congestive heart failure, constipation, or renal failure.
- Chloride (Cl): Helps regulate acid-base balance and fluid movement. High levels can be caused by metabolic acidosis, while low levels can be caused by severe vomiting or constipation.
Electrolyte imbalances can have serious consequences, such as:
- Elevated potassium: Can lead to cardiac arrhythmias
- Low sodium and chloride: Can lead to dehydration and shock
- Low phosphorus: Can lead to red blood cell rupture and anemia in diabetic patients
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in dogs caused by parasitic worms that live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels.
Ehrlichia is a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks.
Anaplasmosis is a bacterial disease that affects dogs and is spread by the bite of an infected tick.
Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete (a type of bacterium), Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to dogs through the bite of an infected tick. Once in the bloodstream, the Lyme disease organism is carried to many parts of the body and is likely to localize in joints or kidneys.
Canine parvovirus is an infectious DNA virus that commonly causes severe illness in young and unvaccinated dogs. It primarily affects the body’s rapidly dividing cells, meaning the intestinal tract and bone marrow are the most affected. Heart muscle cells of very young puppies can also be damaged by parvovirus
Feline Leukemia Virus is one of the most common infectious diseases in cats, affecting 2-3% of all cats in the U.S. The virus can cause cancer, blood disorders, and immune deficiency, which makes cats more susceptible to other infections.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is one of the most common and consequential infectious diseases of cats around the world. In infected cats, FIV attacks the immune system, leaving the cat vulnerable to many other infections. Although cats infected with FIV may appear normal for years, they eventually suffer from immune deficiency, which allows normally harmless bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi found in the everyday environment to potentially cause severe illnesses.
Feline pancreatitis is a condition where a cat’s pancreas becomes inflamed, causing pain and potential damage to the surrounding tissues due to the release of digestive enzymes within the pancreas itself; essentially, it’s inflammation of the pancreas in a cat, which can be a serious health concern if not treated properly
Canine pancreatitis is a painful inflammation of the pancreas, a vital organ in a dog’s abdomen that produces digestive enzymes and hormones
Feline proBNP is a blood test that measures the level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in a cat’s blood. NT-proBNP is a protein released by the heart’s muscle cells when they are stretched or stressed, which can happen in many types of heart disease. The amount of NT-proBNP in a cat’s blood is a marker of the severity of their heart disease, with higher levels indicating a greater risk.
A vet takes skin scrapes to collect a sample of skin cells that can be examined under a microscope, primarily to diagnose the presence of skin parasites like mites (such as Demodex or Sarcoptes), which are often the cause of skin irritation and hair loss in animals; this procedure is a key tool in diagnosing various skin diseases and conditions, including mange, fungal infections, and sometimes even skin cancer.
A vet would perform a cytology to examine cells from a sample taken from your pet’s body, most commonly to diagnose the nature of “lumps and bumps” on the skin, but can also be used to assess internal organs, body fluids, or abnormal fluid accumulations, allowing them to determine if a mass is benign or cancerous, identify infections, or analyze the cause of inflammation in a specific area.
Our in-house laboratory allows our doctor to provide you with answers within minutes. This efficiency will enable us to identify disease and formulate a treatment plan quickly.
In-House Lab Diagnostics
A CBC can help screen for a number of conditions, including:
A CBC can be used as part of a general wellness check or throughout a course of treatment. A veterinarian might also recommend other diagnostic tests based on the results of a CBC.
- Anemia: Low red blood cell levels
- Bleeding problems: Low platelet levels can indicate a tendency to bleed abnormally or excessively
- Infections: White blood cells fight infection
- Inflammation: A CBC can help identify inflammation
- Stress: A CBC can help indicate a pet’s stress level
- Hydration status: A CBC can help indicate a pet’s hydration status
Here are some things that a chemistry panel can measure:
- Bilirubin
A breakdown product of hemoglobin, which is the pigment in red blood cells. Elevated bilirubin can indicate liver dysfunction, anemia, or decreased bile flow. - Glucose
A measure of a pet’s blood sugar level. High glucose levels can indicate diabetes or obesity, while low glucose levels can lead to seizures or a coma. - Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
A waste product produced by the liver from proteins in the diet. BUN is influenced by the liver, kidneys, and dehydration. - Cholesterol
Deviations in cholesterol levels are often secondary signs of other diseases. For example, animals with underactive thyroid glands often have elevated cholesterol. - Creatinine
A level that is often evaluated during routine wellness checkups or pre-surgery screening. Creatinine levels are often evaluated along with urine tests or other blood tests that screen for kidney abnormalities. - Calcium
Changes in calcium levels can be associated with a variety of diseases or conditions. For example, persistently high calcium levels may indicate kidney disease, cancer, or disease of the parathyroid
Electrolytes are minerals that help regulate the body’s pH, move nutrients into cells, and facilitate muscle and nerve function. Some electrolytes include:
- Potassium (K): Helps with muscle, respiration, and cardiac function. High levels can be caused by diabetes or tissue trauma, while low levels can be caused by congestive heart failure, constipation, or renal failure.
- Chloride (Cl): Helps regulate acid-base balance and fluid movement. High levels can be caused by metabolic acidosis, while low levels can be caused by severe vomiting or constipation.
Electrolyte imbalances can have serious consequences, such as:
- Elevated potassium: Can lead to cardiac arrhythmias
- Low sodium and chloride: Can lead to dehydration and shock
- Low phosphorus: Can lead to red blood cell rupture and anemia in diabetic patients
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in dogs caused by parasitic worms that live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels.
Ehrlichia is a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks.
Anaplasmosis is a bacterial disease that affects dogs and is spread by the bite of an infected tick.
Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete (a type of bacterium), Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to dogs through the bite of an infected tick. Once in the bloodstream, the Lyme disease organism is carried to many parts of the body and is likely to localize in joints or kidneys.
Canine parvovirus is an infectious DNA virus that commonly causes severe illness in young and unvaccinated dogs. It primarily affects the body’s rapidly dividing cells, meaning the intestinal tract and bone marrow are the most affected. Heart muscle cells of very young puppies can also be damaged by parvovirus
Feline Leukemia Virus is one of the most common infectious diseases in cats, affecting 2-3% of all cats in the U.S. The virus can cause cancer, blood disorders, and immune deficiency, which makes cats more susceptible to other infections.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is one of the most common and consequential infectious diseases of cats around the world. In infected cats, FIV attacks the immune system, leaving the cat vulnerable to many other infections. Although cats infected with FIV may appear normal for years, they eventually suffer from immune deficiency, which allows normally harmless bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi found in the everyday environment to potentially cause severe illnesses.
Feline pancreatitis is a condition where a cat’s pancreas becomes inflamed, causing pain and potential damage to the surrounding tissues due to the release of digestive enzymes within the pancreas itself; essentially, it’s inflammation of the pancreas in a cat, which can be a serious health concern if not treated properly
Canine pancreatitis is a painful inflammation of the pancreas, a vital organ in a dog’s abdomen that produces digestive enzymes and hormones
Feline proBNP is a blood test that measures the level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in a cat’s blood. NT-proBNP is a protein released by the heart’s muscle cells when they are stretched or stressed, which can happen in many types of heart disease. The amount of NT-proBNP in a cat’s blood is a marker of the severity of their heart disease, with higher levels indicating a greater risk.
A vet takes skin scrapes to collect a sample of skin cells that can be examined under a microscope, primarily to diagnose the presence of skin parasites like mites (such as Demodex or Sarcoptes), which are often the cause of skin irritation and hair loss in animals; this procedure is a key tool in diagnosing various skin diseases and conditions, including mange, fungal infections, and sometimes even skin cancer.
A vet would perform a cytology to examine cells from a sample taken from your pet’s body, most commonly to diagnose the nature of “lumps and bumps” on the skin, but can also be used to assess internal organs, body fluids, or abnormal fluid accumulations, allowing them to determine if a mass is benign or cancerous, identify infections, or analyze the cause of inflammation in a specific area.
Our in-house laboratory allows our doctor to provide you with answers within minutes. This efficiency will enable us to identify disease and formulate a treatment plan quickly.
