When a patient comes into our hospital showing signs of illness the plan of action is to immediately do bloodwork. Blood tests can reveal a wealth of information beyond what can be discovered from physical examinations. At our hospital we are equipped with a state-of-the-art in-house laboratory which allows us to obtain bloodwork and urinalysis results within minutes for pets needing urgent care. Being able to provide this service enables us to start helping your pet as quickly as possible with treatments required.

Will my pet have bloodwork done if they are healthy?

Yes. In many cases it is impossible to say that a patient is completely healthy without knowing what exactly is happening internally. Bloodwork is one of the non-invasive diagnostic tools we use to establish that a patient is completely healthy. Blood tests are necessary for the following reasons:

1. To identify underlying problems and to monitor the patient’s health status. We’ve seen it many times where a patient does not exhibit any physical signs of illness in the early stages.
2. Pre-anesthetic testing before a surgical procedure where anesthesia is used. Blood tests can reveal the state of vital organs such as the kidney and liver which metabolize anesthesia. With this information we can determine how much anesthesia to use during the procedure.
3. Baseline health information, if the patient is truly healthy it’s the perfect time to learn about their normal blood levels.
4. Senior wellness checkups - if your pet is a senior, bloodwork is necessary during their wellness exams. Seniors are prone to age-related illness and with routine bloodwork we can detect them early.

To schedule bloodwork for your loyal companion, please call us at 780-481-5678.

How can I prepare my cat or dog for bloodwork?

Generally, we recommend that patient’s fast for at least 8 hours before a blood test so that we can get a viable sample. Our team will also provide any special instructions, if necessary, prior to the appointment.

What health issues can be diagnosed with bloodwork?

Blood tests can detect the following health conditions:

• Anemia
• Bleeding disorders
• Heart disease
• Infections
• Parasites
• Pregnancies