Why are blood tests important for my cat’s health?
Blood work may be recommended for your cat if they are unwell, or as a method of early disease detection in an otherwise healthy pet. We also recommend blood work prior to any anesthetic procedure to make sure there are no abnormalities that may alter our plan for a safe anesthetic.
How long does it take to get blood test results?
We have an in-house laboratory to get the quickest possible results for a sick patient in anywhere from 10-30 minutes. If sent out to our reference laboratory, the results of your pet’s blood work are usually received within 1-2 days of collecting the sample. At this time, your veterinarian will call you to discuss any abnormalities and the recommended next steps. Some blood value irregularities are not significant depending on the age, breed, and overall health of your pet. When a concerning abnormality is present, your veterinarian may suggest ongoing monitoring, treatment, or further diagnostic workup.
How should I prepare my cat for their blood tests?
We will advise you beforehand, whether any steps should be taken to prepare your pet for their blood work prior to their visit. Some blood tests require a 12-hour fast prior to collection, as fat in the blood can interfere with the results.
How often should blood tests be done?
This is very dependent on the health of your pet and how they are responding to treatments prescribed by the attending veterinarian.
Does your clinic perform urinalysis and biopsy?
We routinely perform a urinalysis to help diagnose the cause of a urinary tract issue and to check kidney function. A urine sample can be tested in-house or sent to our reference laboratory. Samples can be collected by one of three methods (free catch, cystocentesis, or catheterization) depending on the medical concern.
Biopsy procedures are performed in-hospital under local anesthesia and sedation, or under general anesthetic. The collected samples are sent to an outside reference laboratory for histopathology.
