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Understanding Blood Tests for Dogs

Diagnostic testing can be beneficial for pets in many different ways. They allow your vet to monitor their health and diagnose potentially serious conditions. In this post, our Cumming vets discuss the benefits of blood tests for dogs performed in our veterinary diagnostics laboratory and what we can learn from them.

Why would a dog need blood tests?

If your dog comes to our specialty animal hospital, we may recommend blood tests. This can leave you with many questions.

Blood tests are vital in routine, specialized, and emergency veterinary care. For certain procedures, such as soft tissue surgery, your pet's blood will need to be tested to ensure it is healthy enough to undergo the procedure.

In our diagnostic lab at Crestview Animal Hospital & Emergency, we can perform a range of common and specialized blood tests to assess your pet's health and monitor and diagnose illnesses, such as various forms of cancer. It can sometimes be challenging to understand the value of blood work and how it can help your vet make decisions about your pet's health and treatment, so this post is dedicated to providing more information about why blood tests are important.

What happens when your dog (or cat) has bloodwork?

Many people think all blood tests are the same, but this is untrue. Speak with the vet to learn more about the blood test that your dog will have done. Our vets in Cumming will be able to explain your pet's condition, any diagnostic tests that are needed, and what we can expect from them in easy-to-understand terms.

CBC (Complete Blood Count) and a serum chemistry panel are some of the most common veterinary blood tests. Each test provides different but complementary information.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

With a CBC, we can measure a patient's white blood cell count, red blood cell count, and platelet count. We can usually also get information about the shape and size of red and white blood cells, which can provide useful information about potential diseases your pet may have.

For example, larger red blood cells can be seen with bone marrow disease, vitamin deficiency, and other conditions. In comparison, smaller red cells can be found with immune system issues and iron deficiency. Sometimes, though the red cells are normally sized, there are not enough of them, which can point to longstanding illnesses such as cancer, persistent inflammation, or kidney disease.

In addition, many changes in the shape of red cells have been associated with various diseases. While we can rarely base a diagnosis on these changes alone, they can offer clues as to the nature of the underlying disease. 

Chemistry Panel

Blood chemistry panels or tests allow us to assess values related to organ function (such as the liver, kidneys, and pancreas), electrolyte levels and other important enzymes in the bloodstream.

This test measures specific chemicals and enzymes in the blood, which can reveal important information about organ health and function. We can also see your pet's blood sugar level and the level of important electrolytes such as calcium, sodium, and potassium in the blood. Increasing or decreasing these electrolytes can point to various health issues and may impact your pet's suitability for anesthesia or healing post-surgery.

Fortunately, our in-house vet lab has advanced tools and technologies that can help us accurately and efficiently diagnose your pet's medical issues. The sooner you seek care, and we can diagnose and treat your pet, the better the outcome.

What do your pet's blood tests tell us about their well-being?

Each type of blood test provides us with different information. For example, a variety of CBC and chemistry panels can provide different data depending on what we need to measure and what we hope to learn about your pet's health.

The Results of a Complete Blood Count (CBC)

When a threat of any type enters your pet's bloodstream, the white blood cells assemble to clear away with the foreign visitor. The vet can use a CBC to analyze the total number of white blood cells and how many of each type of white blood cell is present in your pet's blood sample.

A CBC will be important for dogs with pale gums or who are experiencing fever, weakness, loss of appetite, or vomiting. Blood tests for dogs with diarrhea also fall into this category.

Red blood cells (RBCs) transport oxygen to numerous tissues. A CBC counts the RBCs in your pet's blood and reveals how well they move oxygen based on the hemoglobin levels (a protein that carries the oxygen) in your furry friend’s blood.

Platelets help with blood clotting. If your dog has insufficient platelets, blood may be slow to clot, and your dog may bleed abnormally or excessively. A CBC will count how many platelets are in your dog’s blood.

For instance, we can order a routine CBC, which provides numerical values associated with the counts of cells in the samples obtained by a diagnostic machine. A CBC with pathology review will be sent to a clinical pathologist. They will assess a blood sample under a microscope to confirm the counts the machine provides are correct.

They can also determine if any abnormal cells are present (damage to cells can indicate leukemia, infections, anemia, poisoning, parasites, or other serious health problems).

When a veterinary surgeon requests blood tests before surgery, it is for a CBC to help determine the number of platelets in the body. Platelets play a critical role in helping to stop bleeding, so they must be at certain levels to avoid your pet losing too much blood. Low platelets may also indicate serious infections (such as tick-borne illnesses) or life-threatening diseases.

What is Learned From a Blood Chemistry Profile

A blood chemistry profile can tell us much about the compounds in your pet's bloodstream, including how well your dog’s kidneys are functioning.

In addition, we can determine whether there may be abnormalities in renal systems if your dog is dehydrated or if an object obstructs these areas.

The liver plays an important role in your dog’s health, and elevated chemical values here could indicate liver disease or abnormalities in other organs. This test can also reveal any abnormal electrolyte levels, which can be related to illnesses and conditions such as seizures, gastrointestinal disease, and others.

Blood protein levels are another critical element of your dog’s physical health. They can play a role in the immune system’s functioning while also helping the blood clot properly. A blood chemistry profile will reveal valuable information about total protein, albumin, and globulin levels.

Despite the many things we can learn from blood work, the results will rarely tell us whether your pet has cancer or if cancer has spread in their body. However, CBC and chemistry panels can confirm that an animal's body responds to an oncological treatment plan without complications, such as anemia or elevated kidney values. If these are not detected, they can cause blood loss and eventually cause your dog to collapse due to weakness or organ failure.

How long does bloodwork take at a veterinary clinic?

At our in-house veterinary diagnostic lab, we can perform numerous tests that are relatively quick and may take minutes. However, some tests take a little longer. Your vet will have information about the tests your dog needs and how long you can expect them to take.

How much are blood tests for dogs?

The precise cost of your dog's blood work depends on several factors, such as which tests are needed and where the hospital is located.

Note that the price of these critical tests covers the special equipment needed to conduct them, specially trained staff, and laboratory costs to process them. We work hard to keep our prices affordable so that we can provide blood and diagnostic testing for as many pets as possible.

Blood Tests for Dogs & How They Monitor Their Health

When your pet is sick or injured and needs specialty or immediate emergency care, you'll likely be full of questions and concerns. From the time you walk into our hospital and throughout your pet's treatment journey, our team at Crestview Animal Hospital & Emergency is here to guide you through the process.

If your pet undergoes an anesthetic procedure, blood work should be current (within a month). Pets that are ill or have health issues may need more up-to-date blood work (or blood work tests completed more frequently than those who are healthy, such as on an hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly basis), depending on the health issue and its severity.

We can address any questions and explain when and why certain diagnostic tests are required. Using our veterinary laboratory, we can perform blood and other diagnostic tests quickly, provide a diagnosis, and offer treatment options based on the results.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

Would you like to learn more about diagnostic testing at Crestview Animal Hospital & Emergency? Contact our Cumming vets today.

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Crestview Animal Hospital & Emergency is always welcoming new patients! Our Cumming vets provide veterinary services designed to promote good health and longevity. Get in touch today to book your pet's first appointment.

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