Blood Tests

There are two different types of blood work that our veterinarians will recommend. The first is called a pre-anesthetic panel which is recommended before a surgery. Anesthesia is one of the risks of surgery, so we want to ensure there are no potential complications. This panel checks organ functions, electrolyte levels, white blood cells and red blood cells. The pre-anesthetic panel is recommended at the time of a spay or neuter or anytime your cat goes under anesthetic. The pre-anesthetic panel also provides a baseline for a young healthy cat in case they become ill later in life. The second type of blood work is a senior blood panel and is recommended when your cat is 7 years or older. Your cat ages 7 years every 1 human year which means there can be many medical changes that can occur in one year. A senior blood panel checks organ functions, electrolytes, platelets, proteins, glucose, white blood cells, red blood cells, and thyroid levels. This panel provides much needed valuable information for our veterinarians and is also recommended if your cat becomes ill.

Why does my cat need a blood test?

Blood tests performed on your cat are important in many ways for their health. It helps our veterinarians catch disease processes early and if the blood work is normal it provides our veterinarians with a baseline should your cat become ill. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding blood work for your cat and we will be happy to discuss the benefits of bloodwork.

How long does it take to get blood test results?

We have an in-house laboratory which allows the veterinarians to have results in about 20 minutes. This allows our veterinarians to treat your cat accordingly and it tells them a lot about your cat.

What precautions should I take before a blood test?

No precautions are needed. We may ask you to fast your cat for 12 hours prior to the blood test which allows for more accurate results and gives our veterinarians a better picture on what’s going on. When your pet is fasting, we recommend a morning appointment, so we can take the blood right away, that way your cat can go home and eat breakfast.

How often should blood tests be done?

Blood tests are a very important tool when your cat becomes ill. If your cat becomes ill our veterinarians will recommend blood work to help them diagnose a problem. Our veterinarians recommend all cats that are 7 years or older have senior blood work performed every year at the time of their wellness exam. Remember cats age 7 years per 1 human year so a lot can change in one year.

Do you also perform a urinalysis?

Our in-house laboratory is equipped with a urine analyzer. Your cat’s urine can help our veterinarians diagnose kidney disease, bladder infections, inflammation, and diabetes. We can also find crystals which may indicate bladder stones. We recommend a urinalysis in our senior cats over the age of 7 years. If your cat is urinating inappropriately in your house, our veterinarians will recommend a urinalysis to rule out a bladder infection.