Blood Tests
Why do pets need blood tests?
Our pets are not able to tell us if they feel unwell. They can’t tell us if a fatty meal makes them feel nauseous or if they are in pain. We do recommend annual health checks. Even a thorough physical exam is not always enough. We do need to know how our pet’s organs are functioning. The only way to accurately do this is with blood tests, which help to diagnose any illness or problems with your pet. Blood tests for our pets are very similar to those performed on humans. We use a combination of in-house and external laboratories so that the information received.
What do blood tests test?
Blood tests look at the function of the body’s organs, the immune system and the progression of a disease process. Some more advanced tests have the ability to look at your pet’s genetics for specific disease or infections.
The organs that are tested in the most common tests undertaken are the liver, kidneys and pancreas. The red & white blood cells are tested which can give an indication of things such as hydration anaemia, inflammation or infection and how the pet’s immune system is reacting to them.
Why would my pet need a blood test?
How often should pets have a blood test?
Depending on the age and condition of your pet the frequency testing does vary. It is recommended that blood tests be performed prior to anaesthetics especially if a problem is suspected. As pets do age much faster than humans (nearly 7 years for every one of ours), a yearly screen for any new developing conditions is highly recommended in older animals.
How are blood tests performed?
Blood tests are a simple procedure that can be carried out quickly, often as part of a consultation. Your Vet clips a small amount of hair from your pets arm or neck and alcoholic swabs are used to clean the area. A small amount of blood is collected from one of these areas, placed into special tubes and processed either in the clinic or sent out to a laboratory. Our pets do not seem to feel these needle sticks like we do and before you know it, it’s all over.