Laboratory screening tests such as complete blood counts, blood chemistry, urinalysis, parasite testing, and viral screenings are performed at IDEXX Laboratories which provides a high quality, service and excellent quality control. Often, test results are available later the same day of submission. Minor diagnostic tests can be provided by our hospital’s in-house laboratory.
Why are blood tests important for my cat’s health?
Blood tests are recommended for a variety of reasons for both sick and well cats. The veterinarian will determine the appropriate blood test panels to run for each patient based on their health status, age, medical history and lifestyle.
All our surgical patients are pre-screened for internal organ function such as liver and kidney performance. This helps us to determine how well they can tolerate surgical procedures and eliminate anesthetic drugs from their system. We use this information to customize an anesthetic protocol for each patient.
For middle age and senior cats, we recommend wellness blood test panels so that we can monitor for changes in the performance of their internal organs as they age. Early detection of disease can provide you with the opportunity to treat and potentially slow the progression of some diseases such as diabetes and kidney disease. Cats are especially skilled at hiding their symptoms and pain. This is a natural behaviour for cats, but it means that owners often don’t see the signs of their illness until it is quite advanced. For this reason, we recommend routine wellness blood testing starting at six years of age in all cats.
How long does it take to get blood test results?
Most routine blood test results are available by later the same day or early the following day. Your veterinarian will follow-up with a telephone call to explain all test results and answer any questions.
How should I prepare my cat for their blood tests?
Please call the hospital to inquire about any preparations for your cat’s blood tests. Some tests require a fasting blood sample but for most tests, there is no preparation required.
How often should blood tests be done?
Annual wellness and preventive health care tests are recommended annually for cats over six years of age. For cats with ongoing medical conditions, your veterinarian will arrange a customized schedule for your cat’s blood tests and we will send you a reminder to book an appointment.
Does your clinic perform urinalysis and biopsy?
We have access to a full-service laboratory for all types of samples including blood, urine, fecal and tissue samples. Our veterinarians perform all types of tissue biopsies in hospital while patients are under general anesthesia.
