If you develop an illness, you’ll be able to communicate your symptoms to a medical professional, how bad you’re experiencing, and when you first noticed the signs. Furthermore, you can aid the medical professional in making a proper diagnosis by responding to the questions.
However, assessing a sick animal is a much more difficult task. They cannot express themselves verbally, so you must use non-verbal signals such as changes in appearance or behavior to determine if something’s incorrect. Because of this, lab workups are an essential tool that can benefit your pet’s health. It’s a great way to check on your pet’s organs, find out what’s ailing it, and help prevent further health issues.
Necessary Laboratory Examinations for Pets
Your pet might require lab tests if you observe any behavioral changes, for example, more thirst, changes in the amount of food and urination, weight loss, or the feeling of being tired. These can be signs of various issues, some relatively minor and some more severe. Veterinarians will recommend the tests below as a comprehensive pet health evaluation.
1. Complete Blood Count
A complete blood count (CBC) could reveal problems such as anemia, dehydration, infection, blood clotting, and immune system function. Pets should take this test in a vet lab whenever they show signs of fever, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, weakness, yellow gums, or lack of appetite. Complete blood counts (CBC) can identify bleeding disorders and other undetected anomalies that may interfere with the anesthesia required before surgery.
2. Heartworm Testing
The general perception is that heartworm is a dog-specific illness. Although it occurs less frequently, heartworm disease can also affect cats. An infectious disease caused by worms in the pulmonary or heart blood vessels can be fatal. Mosquitoes transmit the disease. Preventing heartworm disease is preferable to treating it. Since heartworm disease can cause serious complications, testing your pet for heartworm disease before beginning preventative treatments are advised. Talk to your dedicated vet about the most effective product to help prevent illness.
3. Screening Blood Exams
A blood test is a test for diagnosing issues that assist doctors in identifying conditions that can cause noticeable symptoms. This is why it is recommended to rule out diseases during routine exams like diabetes, kidney disease, and thyroid dysfunction, regardless of how well your pet’s health is. Regarding veterinary surgery, screening tests are essential for pets of all ages.
4. Fecal Analysis
Both cats and dogs are susceptible to getting intestinal parasites. Tapeworms, roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, and protozoa are all internal parasites. The stool test of an animal with the examination of fecal flotation (also called the fecal float) and fecal antigen tests can reveal internal parasites. Internal parasites should be checked since they can pass from one animal to another and, in some cases, even to humans. Many treatments are currently very effective against parasites.
5. Urinalysis
Urinalysis tests the concentration and pH of the urine that comes from pets. Additionally, it examines the pet’s urine for the presence of white blood cells, red blood cells, bacteria, protein, casts, and crystals. The tests show a pet’s hydration level and whether they suffer from bladder or kidney disease, infections, diabetes, or other health conditions.
If you have an exotic animal as a pet and you are concerned about its health, you should contact a vet in an avian and exotics animal hospital so that they can perform a thorough examination on your animal.