What Is a Veterinary Laboratory? How Lab Testing Protects Your Pet’s Health

Blood, urine, stool, and tissue analysis are conducted in a veterinary laboratory to determine if animals are sick, to check chronic diseases, and to help diagnose and treat them. If you own a pet, it is very important to you to know what is going on inside of a veterinary laboratory in Gaithersburg, MD, so that you can know how to catch a problem early or before it is too late.

Pets are very good at concealing their suffering. If your dog appears to be a bit slower on walks, or your cat is drinking more water than normal, it might look okay on the outside but not the inside. Diagnostic Testing provides your veterinarian with objective answers, not all of which can be obtained through a physical examination. We at Grove Center Veterinary Hospital feel this is the most effective way that an owner can be our partner in caring for a pet and this is why we thought you might want to know how lab work is performed, why it is important, and what to expect.

What’s the point of lab testing?

During a physical exam, your vet observes clues: weight, temperature, the condition of skin, teeth, eyes and ears, and also takes a look at your pet’s heart and lungs. Laboratory tests provide additional clues which can be measured. A sample is taken and examined, and then returned as a set of values, which your veterinarian can compare with normal values for your pet’s species, age and size.

In a nutshell, lab testing is a great way to answer a few questions:

• Are you feeling something is amiss?
• How serious is it?
• And is the treatment effective?

Results also establish a baseline as they are numbers and cell counts, not impressions. It is much more useful than comparing with a general average, as future results can be compared to your pet’s healthy results.

Most routine tests performed in a veterinary laboratory

There is no one panel for pets, but there are some common tests that are seen at most visits:

• Complete blood count (CBC): Measures red cells, white cells and platelets. May indicate anemia, infection, inflammation, or clotting disorders.
• Blood chemistry panel: Tests the functioning of the kidneys, liver and pancreas, as well as blood sugar, proteins and electrolytes.
• Thyroid testing: Measures levels of thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a common problem in dogs and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is common in cats; both conditions can pass unnoticed unless bloodwork is performed.
• Urine test: Checks the concentration of urine, urine crystals, urine protein and urine infection or kidney disease.
• Fecal testing: Identifies intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and Giardia which would not be visible without a microscope.
• Heartworm and tick-borne disease screening: A simple blood test will check for heartworm and several tick-borne diseases.
• Cytology: Microscopic examination of cells taken from a lump, skin lesion or ear to determine if there is infection or abnormal growth.

These results are just parts of the picture. The numbers are used in conjunction with your pet’s history and physical examination by your veterinarian to make a diagnosis.

The importance of veterinary lab testing to preventative medicine

The value of veterinary laboratory testing for preventative medicine.

Vaccines and parasite control isn’t the only preventive care. It also involves the detection of disease at an early stage without the presence of symptoms. Common conditions in dogs and cats, such as kidney disease, diabetes and thyroid disease do not occur over a sudden period of time. When pets begin to exhibit noticeable symptoms, a lot of organ function may already have been lost.

Subtle changes can be detected during routine veterinary lab tests as a part of annual wellness exams, thereby allowing the changes to be acted upon in time. Early intervention can lead to easier treatment, decrease long term expenses, and happier years for your pet. Another significant use is pre-anesthetic bloodwork. Lab results can be useful to confirm before a dental cleaning or surgery that your pet’s organs can safely tolerate anesthesia, and can be used to customize treatment for your pet.

However, cats are an exception. They are particularly good at concealing sickness, and by the time a cat starts to show signs of difficulty, the disease is likely to have passed the stage of being easily spotted. Both kidney disease and hyperthyroidism occur in middle and old age cats, and can be diagnosed easily with blood and urine tests. Weight loss despite plenty of food, restlessness and increased thirst are the classic signs of hyperthyroidism, but blood tests can detect it before the symptoms are apparent. When it comes to diseases which don’t show symptoms like a liver or kidney change, dogs are not different. The species doesn’t matter, the time lost waiting for symptoms is lost time.

Onsite Diagnostics vs. Outside Testing

There are two types of testing in veterinary hospitals:

1. Onsite diagnostics: May be conducted onsite and results often available during the visit or within hours. This is important if the pet is sick or painful or when there is an emergency and treatment must be done as soon as possible.
2. Outside reference laboratory: Other samples may be sent to an outside reference veterinary laboratory that performs more specialized tests, tissue pathology and less common panels.

In all cases, neither of the two routes is preferred. It’s based on your veterinarian’s wants and needs and the urgency. A good hospital adopts an approach that is appropriate to the situation and provides an explanation for this. Our staff has the diagnostic tools available when you bring your pet to Grove Center Veterinary Hospital to help us move through your pet’s concerns efficiently and keep you updated with every step.

When to have your pet’s lab work performed

Lab work can be helpful at numerous stages of a pet’s life. Common moments include:

• Annual wellness exams: To create a healthy baseline and to measure changes over time.
• Senior years: Routine screening is encouraged more often during senior years since age related disease is a greater possibility.
• Pre-operative: Before a surgery or dental procedure to check organ function prior to anesthesia.
• Symptoms that occur: When there is any change in appetite, thirst, urination, weight, or energy or when there is vomiting and diarrhea, it should be investigated.
• In the case of long-term medication: Some medicines need to be monitored periodically, while taking the medicine.
• New puppies, kittens and adopted pets: Pets have a healthy start with fecal tests and screening for infectious diseases.

Lab testing requires a lot of preparation

Lab testing involves much preparation for your pet.

The preparations are generally easy, and different tests require different preparations, so always follow the instructions your clinic provides. Some blood tests are more accurate when performed after a fast, and your veterinarian might request that you not feed your pet for a certain amount of time, but provide water. Please submit fresh stool specimen in a closed container for fecal analysis, preferably the same day. Take current medications and supplements with you and any changes that you may have noticed at home. The more precisely you state what you have observed, the more helpful your findings will be.

Are you familiar with what the results mean?

Do you know what the results mean?

Grading is seldom a matter of just passing or failing. A number that is a little bit more or a little bit less than the normal numbers may be normal, or a number that is within this range may still be significant if it is a number that has been trending in the wrong direction. That is why your veterinarian will check your results in conjunction with the exam and your pet’s history. Be sure to ask questions:

• What is the indicator?
• What is meant by change?
• Should we take further tests or imaging tests (like digital X-rays)?

Grove Center Veterinary Hospital has a number of reasons why pet owners choose and prefer Gaithersburg

There are several reasons why pet owners opt for and prefer Grove Center Veterinary Hospital.

Grove Center Veterinary Hospital is a full-service small animal hospital located at 9033 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg, offering medical and surgical care, dental care, preventive care, diagnostics, laser therapy, nutrition and guidance. Your client education is our priority and we lead a team headed by Dr. Naseer Malik to ensure that you know why your pet has been recommended for a test and what the results will mean. One more thing we do to help you make informed decisions is providing you with reliable laboratory testing by our veterinarians. Emergency care information is provided if your pet is not feeling well so that they can contact us quickly.

Conclusion

Lab testing eliminates the need for guesswork. An annual blood panel to your veterinarian allows a veterinary laboratory to provide your veterinarian with the information necessary to preserve your pet’s health and detect disease in the early stages and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Call Grove Center Veterinary Hospital at (301) 963-0400 or make an appointment to get a wellness exam for your pet or if you notice any changes in your pet’s behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a Vet Lab?

Laboratory testing involves examination of animal samples, including blood, urine, stool and tissues. The results allow vets to be able to diagnose sickness, track chronic disease and monitor organ function before a procedure.

When should we expect results of the lab work?

This is related to the test. Onsite testing may take place during your visit or within a few hours, and samples sent to an outside reference lab may take a few days. Your veterinarian will inform you of what to expect.

If my pet is healthy, should they require any tests?

Yes, it’s often suggested. Pets naturally try to cover up their illness and disease such as kidney or thyroid disease may be silent. Regular screening helps to detect changes before symptoms occur.

Should my pet fast for blood tests?

Sometimes. Some tests are more accurate if performed after a fast, but this varies. If you are unsure follow your clinic’s instructions when booking.

When do I need to have my pet’s blood tested?

Its best to test most healthy adult pets during their annual exam. Senior pets, pets with chronic conditions or pets that require long-term medication may require it more often. Your veterinarian will determine on a case-by-case basis.

How to Schedule Lab Tests at Grove Center Veterinary Hospital?

Please call (301) 963-0400 or schedule an appointment online. Our address is 9033 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.