Janesville Equine Hospital & Clinic
a division of Janesville Animal Medical Center
Laboratory Testing
Veterinarians depend on laboratory results to help them understand the status of your pet's health. When your pet is sick, the results of lab tests can help the veterinarian confirm the presence of some illnesses and rule out others. Your veterinarian may also run laboratory tests during the course of your pet's illness to track the course of the disease and the results.
Veterinarians also routinely request pre-surgical screening tests to help identify patients at risk if given general anesthesia. These tests are recommended for pets of all ages and all health.
There are many different lab test your veterinarian may recommend based on your pets age, symptoms, and sex. The most common are listed below.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
This test measures the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The number and types of these cells gives the veterinarian information needed to diagnose infections, anemia and leukemia. It also helps your veterinarian monitor your pet's response to some treatments.
Blood Chemistry Panel
Blood Chemistry panels measure electrolytes, enzymes, and chemical elements such as calcium and phosphorous. This information helps your veterinarian determine how various organs are currently functioning. The results of these tests help your veterinarian formulate an accurate diagnosis and monitor the response to treatment.
Urinalysis (UA)
Lab analysis of urine is a tool used to detect the presence of one or more specific substances that normally do not appear in urine, such as protein, sugar, white blood cells, or blood. Urinalysis can assist the veterinarian in the diagnosis of urinary-tract infections, diabetes, dehydration, kidney problems, and many other conditions.
Blood Parasite Profile (Heartworm test)
There are several different tests for heartworm, all of which require a blood sample. Some tests show whether or not there are microfilariae (offspring of adult heartworms) present in the bloodstream. Other tests confirm the presence of adult heartworms by detecting specific substances in the bloodstream. JAMC uses a blood parasite profile which tests not only for Heartworm disease, but also Lyme disease, Ehrlichia and Anaplasmosis, three other tick-borne diseases.
Fecal Examination
Microscopic examination of your pet's feces can provide information about many different kinds of diseases, such as difficulties with digestion, internal bleeding and disorders of the pancreas. Most importantly, this test confirms the presence of intestinal parasites such as roundworms, tapeworms, etc.