Blood and Urine Testing
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Diagnostic services are invaluable in both sick pets and as a part of the annual wellness program.
When your pet is sick, we have a wide range of diagnostic tools readily available. We provide laboratory services, diagnostic imaging, and microscopy.
Our team at Gateway Vet Centre recommends getting your pet’s routine blood and urine testing, especially in senior dogs and cats. The objective of every veterinarian is to distinguish any issues your pet might have early. It’s because early determination can mean better treatment choices.
Furthermore, blood and urine testing can help ease back the progression of an illness. It’s incredible what can be found about your pet’s well-being with a couple of tests tied to their blood and urine. Thus, pet owners must know about these tests and their importance.
Laboratory Services
We routinely use in house blood analyzers for blood chemistry and complete blood counts. These are run in preventative exams, before surgeries, and in sick pets and emergencies where more information is needed than the physical exam can provide. We also monitor health through urinalysis, (common findings are bacterial infection, crystals/stones, and bladder cancer), and checking for internal and external parasites that your pet may have.
We have many individual tests when a specific disease is suspected, (e.g. Parvo Virus, Feline Leukemia or Aids, Thyroid hormone level, Assays to monitor pets who must take long term medications like NSAIDS or Anti-Seizure medication, and diseases like Cushings, Addisons, or Diabetes.).
We also routinely use an outside reference lab for more than 200 tests including histo-pathology of biopsies and Culture and Sensitivity of bacterial diseases, which allow us to know exactly which antibiotic is the most effective for a specific pet.
Diagnostic Services including X-rays/ radiographs
Diagnostic imaging has given us great non-invasive tools to understand what is causing your pet’s disease. It is often indicated by results of blood work. Often successful treatment can be given based on the results. It also prevents unnecessary surgeries or confirms the need for surgeries.
Our digital X-Ray unit gives the greatest resolution and clarity that exists today! We can also manipulate the images which allows us to see detail, not previously possible. With this tool we are able to make faster and more accurate diagnoses for your pet. Some examples of conditions picked up are congestive heart disease, lung disease, intestinal obstruction, enlarged liver or spleen, bladder stones. The reduced radiation also means that your pet is exposed to much less radiation. Results are available the same day.
Our Ultrasound unit allows us another perspective that X-Ray. Some pathology is seen better with X-Ray and some with Ultrasound. Because of this they are often used together. Some conditions for which Ultrasound is well suited are masses or enlargements of organs, lymph nodes, prostate, as well as the architecture of the organs which often gives clues to the diagnosis. The severity of heart disease and heart murmurs can also be evaluated.
Microscopy Services
The microscope is still a valuable tool for many diagnoses. Most commonly we use it for cytology, either from ear samples, Fine Needle Aspirates of masses and lumps, impression smears of infected skin, fecal testing, blood slide evaluation, urine sediment analysis as well as a multitude of others.
Endocrine testing-these tests range from testing for hyperthyroidism in cats, diabetes in our furry friends to more intricate testing like addisonian or cushing.
What is Urinalysis?
Urinalysis is a standard test that reports urine’s physical and substance properties. It’s utilized to evaluate the well-being of the kidneys and urinary framework. However, it can uncover issues in other organ frameworks and is significant for diagnosing metabolic sickness.
How Urine is Collected
- Cystocentesis – A sterile needle is used to collect urine from the bladder.
- Catheterization – An exceptionally thin sterile catheter is inserted into the lower urinary passage into the bladder.
- Mid-stream flow – Urine is collected voluntarily by the pet, similar to human urine tests.
How Blood and Urine Samples Work
What happens after your veterinarian acquires tests of your pet’s blood and pee? The blood test is typically separated into two distinct sorts of cylinders. The red-bested tube permits the platelets to cluster, so the liquid in the blood, called serum, is tried for certain chemicals and enzymes.
The serum is utilized for various tests that will let your veterinarian know how some of your pet’s inner organs work. A basic urine test (urinalysis) can give extra data on numerous medical issues. A pee test gives data on concentration and pH and distinguishes things that shouldn’t be common in the urine.
FAQ
Though it’s not the primary reason for urine and blood tests, these tests can assist your vet with diagnosing conditions connected with blood clots, kidney sickness, diabetes, and other metabolic illnesses. It’s a way to check your pet’s well-being to ensure everything is copacetic.
A typical urine test ranges from $25 to $100. For some pet people, that puts the testing far off, regardless of how much their pet may need. Thankfully, payment plans and pet health insurance are options to help with costs that you can’t cover.
Blood and urine tests typically take 30 to 45 minutes for dogs. If the results are sent out, it usually takes a few days for the vet to get the results back. Some cases may take up to two weeks, though this isn’t common. Regardless, you can expect results and any potential treatment or advice with your dog within a week.
Yes, your pet can drink water before bloodwork. Mild dehydration can significantly affect a pet’s bloodwork. Thus, your pet must stay hydrated. Regardless, the vet will tell you any specific rules your pet will need to follow before blood and urine testing.
Gateway vet centre and emergency vet clinic was established with an aim to serve our Edmonton pet community and provide honest, reliable and independent advice that is evidence-based. We are open late and open 7 days a week and 365 days a year. We accept walk-ins normally. (Right now we appreciate if you call us ahead due to COVID restrictions.)
Gateway Veterinary Centre is a full-service canine and feline hospital in the heart of South Edmonton. Our newly-built veterinary clinic is easily accessible by Whitemud Drive, Gateway Boulevard and Calgary Trail. We are located next to LA Fitness and CIBC Bank.