Finding proper veterinary care for your pet is vital for a happy pet and a worry-free household. Bloodwork is an important part of that care as a preventative screening tool and to determine if treatment is required for any illness or general health concerns.
Bloodwork isn’t just for diagnosing illness, it’s also an important step before anesthesia and when starting new medications, helping to ensure your pet’s body can safely handle the next stage of care. Because we come to you, mobile pet bloodwork means your pet can be tested in the comfort and calm of home, without the stress of a clinic visit or carrier ride. Even after a few minutes of stress, your pet will relax again in no time in their familiar environment.
Your pet’s blood test results may seem overwhelming at first glance. But our dedicated veterinary team will go over your pet’s bloodwork results in detail and come up with a personalized plan based on the findings.
Common Blood Tests
While some pets, especially cats, hide sickness or pain well, at-home pet bloodwork tests help to determine what’s really going on with their well-being.
3 Most Common Types of Blood Tests for Your Dog or Cat:
Complete blood count (CBC): Indicates the different types, numbers, and shape of each blood cell (red, white, platelets), which can indicate disease. Your pet’s CBC can detect anemia, inflammation, or blood clotting concerns.
Serum chemistry panel: A chemistry panel is taken to determine how well your pet’s kidneys, liver, and pancreas are performing. The test will look at enzymes and electrolytes in the blood.
Thyroid panel: Checking your pet’s T4 levels is essential to look for thyroid gland problems. This test is often used for older cats and dogs as part of an annual check-up. Whether tests show hypothyroidism (more common in dogs) or hyperthyroidism (more common in cats), catching issues early makes the health issue easier to treat.
Why Are Blood Tests Important for Your Pets
While blood tests can seem like an added expense during your pet’s annual check-up or pre-surgery, they are critical to see if any health issues exist that you can’t assess yourself. Bloodwork provides a view into what’s going on internally, so your pet can live a healthy and pain-free life.
For example, before your pet undergoes surgery for a procedure like dental work or lump removal, vets often run bloodwork to check organ function and assess whether your pet can safely tolerate anesthesia.
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Dr. Wendy Vet Care is a mobile veterinary practice serving the Calgary Northwest, Cochrane, Airdrie and select surrounding areas. They provide at-home pet bloodwork, annual wellness exams, microchipping, allergy testing, and more.
All written material is for general purposes only and isn’t a substitute for in-person diagnosis or treatment plans.
