Laboratory Services
Laboratory Services at Love Animal Hospital & Urgent Care
At Love Animal Hospital & Urgent Care, we feature a complete in-house laboratory, enabling us to receive immediate results for pets with emergency or urgent care needs. For other types of tests, we work closely with an external laboratory that can provide most results within 24 hours. Lab work is crucial not only for diagnosing illness and before any anesthetic procedures but also for maintaining the overall health of your beloved pets.
Laboratory Services at Love Animal Hospital & Urgent Care
At Love Animal Hospital & Urgent Care, we feature a complete in-house laboratory, enabling us to receive immediate results for pets with emergency or urgent care needs. For other types of tests, we work closely with an external laboratory that can provide most results within 24 hours. Lab work is crucial not only for diagnosing illness and before any anesthetic procedures but also for maintaining the overall health of your beloved pets.
Understanding Your Pet’s Bloodwork
Blood tests are invaluable tools for veterinarians to determine the causes of illness and monitor the efficacy of ongoing medical treatments. This guide aims to help you make sense of your pet’s test results, ensuring you are well-informed and can actively participate in your pet’s care.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
The Complete Blood Count (CBC) is the most commonly performed blood test for both pets and humans. It provides critical information regarding hydration status, anemia, infection, blood clotting ability, and the immune system’s response. This test is especially essential for pets exhibiting symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, or loss of appetite. Moreover, if your pet requires surgery, a CBC can help detect potential bleeding disorders or other hidden abnormalities.
- Hematocrit (HCT): Measures the percentage of red blood cells to detect anemia and hydration levels.
- Hemoglobin and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (Hb and MCHC): These indicate the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells.
- White Blood Cell Count (WBC): Assesses the body’s immune cells. Fluctuations in WBC count can indicate various diseases or infections.
- Granulocytes and Lymphocytes/Monocytes (GRANS and L/M): Specific types of white blood cells.
- Eosinophils (EOS): A type of white blood cell that may indicate allergic or parasitic conditions.
- Platelet Count (PLT): Measures the cells responsible for blood clotting.
- Reticulocytes (RETICS): Immature red blood cells; elevated levels suggest regenerative anemia.
Blood Chemistries
The blood serum tests, known as blood chemistries, are vital for evaluating organ function, electrolyte balance, hormone levels, and more. They play a critical role in assessing older pets, those showing signs of vomiting, diarrhea, or recent toxin exposure, as well as those on long-term medication and for health evaluations prior to anesthesia.
- Albumin (ALB): A serum protein that helps evaluate hydration status, hemorrhage, and various organ diseases (intestinal, liver, and kidney).
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALKP/ALP): Elevated levels may indicate liver damage, Cushing’s disease, or active bone growth in young pets, particularly significant in cats.
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT): This helps determine active liver damage but does not specify the cause.
- Amylase (AMYL): High levels can indicate pancreatitis or kidney disease.
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST): Increased levels may suggest liver, heart, or skeletal muscle damage.
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): This test assesses kidney function; elevated levels can indicate various health issues, including kidney, liver, heart diseases, and dehydration.
- Calcium (Ca): Abnormal levels can signify conditions such as tumors, kidney disease, or hyperparathyroidism.
- Cholesterol (CHOL): Assists in diagnosing conditions like hypothyroidism, liver disease, and diabetes; results are most accurate when the pet is fasting.
- Chloride (Cl): An electrolyte often lost during vomiting or with diseases such as Addison’s disease.
- Cortisol (CORT): A hormone monitored during tests for Cushing’s or Addison’s disease.
- Creatinine (CREA): Evaluates kidney function, helping differentiate kidney-related issues from others affecting BUN.
- Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT): Elevated levels may indicate liver or gallbladder disease.
- Globulin (GLOB): Often increases with chronic inflammation or specific diseases.
- Glucose (GLU): Measures blood sugar; high levels can indicate diabetes mellitus, while low levels may cause severe health crises.
- Potassium (K): An electrolyte affected during vomiting, diarrhea, or kidney issues; imbalances can have severe consequences, including cardiac arrest.
- Lipase (LIP): Elevated levels may indicate pancreatitis.
- Sodium (Na): Often decreased in pets with vomiting, diarrhea, or kidney disease; it aids in assessing hydration status.
- Phosphorus (P): Elevated levels may associate with kidney disease and other conditions.
- Total Bilirubin (TBILI): High levels may indicate liver disease or certain types of anemia.
- Total Protein (TP): A sum of albumin and globulin that informs on hydration status and provides insight into liver, kidney, and infectious diseases.
- Thyroxine (T4): A thyroid hormone; decreased levels often indicate hypothyroidism in dogs, while increased levels suggest hyperthyroidism in cats.
Understanding Your Pet’s Bloodwork
Blood tests are invaluable tools for veterinarians to determine the causes of illness and monitor the efficacy of ongoing medical treatments. This guide aims to help you make sense of your pet’s test results, ensuring you are well-informed and can actively participate in your pet’s care.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
The Complete Blood Count (CBC) is the most commonly performed blood test for both pets and humans. It provides critical information regarding hydration status, anemia, infection, blood clotting ability, and the immune system’s response. This test is especially essential for pets exhibiting symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, or loss of appetite. Moreover, if your pet requires surgery, a CBC can help detect potential bleeding disorders or other hidden abnormalities.
- Hematocrit (HCT): Measures the percentage of red blood cells to detect anemia and hydration levels.
- Hemoglobin and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (Hb and MCHC): These indicate the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells.
- White Blood Cell Count (WBC): Assesses the body’s immune cells. Fluctuations in WBC count can indicate various diseases or infections.
- Granulocytes and Lymphocytes/Monocytes (GRANS and L/M): Specific types of white blood cells.
- Eosinophils (EOS): A type of white blood cell that may indicate allergic or parasitic conditions.
- Platelet Count (PLT): Measures the cells responsible for blood clotting.
- Reticulocytes (RETICS): Immature red blood cells; elevated levels suggest regenerative anemia.
Blood Chemistries
The blood serum tests, known as blood chemistries, are vital for evaluating organ function, electrolyte balance, hormone levels, and more. They play a critical role in assessing older pets, those showing signs of vomiting, diarrhea, or recent toxin exposure, as well as those on long-term medication and for health evaluations prior to anesthesia.
- Albumin (ALB): A serum protein that helps evaluate hydration status, hemorrhage, and various organ diseases (intestinal, liver, and kidney).
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALKP/ALP): Elevated levels may indicate liver damage, Cushing’s disease, or active bone growth in young pets, particularly significant in cats.
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT): This helps determine active liver damage but does not specify the cause.
- Amylase (AMYL): High levels can indicate pancreatitis or kidney disease.
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST): Increased levels may suggest liver, heart, or skeletal muscle damage.
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): This test assesses kidney function; elevated levels can indicate various health issues, including kidney, liver, heart diseases, and dehydration.
- Calcium (Ca): Abnormal levels can signify conditions such as tumors, kidney disease, or hyperparathyroidism.
- Cholesterol (CHOL): Assists in diagnosing conditions like hypothyroidism, liver disease, and diabetes; results are most accurate when the pet is fasting.
- Chloride (Cl): An electrolyte often lost during vomiting or with diseases such as Addison’s disease.
- Cortisol (CORT): A hormone monitored during tests for Cushing’s or Addison’s disease.
- Creatinine (CREA): Evaluates kidney function, helping differentiate kidney-related issues from others affecting BUN.
- Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT): Elevated levels may indicate liver or gallbladder disease.
- Globulin (GLOB): Often increases with chronic inflammation or specific diseases.
- Glucose (GLU): Measures blood sugar; high levels can indicate diabetes mellitus, while low levels may cause severe health crises.
- Potassium (K): An electrolyte affected during vomiting, diarrhea, or kidney issues; imbalances can have severe consequences, including cardiac arrest.
- Lipase (LIP): Elevated levels may indicate pancreatitis.
- Sodium (Na): Often decreased in pets with vomiting, diarrhea, or kidney disease; it aids in assessing hydration status.
- Phosphorus (P): Elevated levels may associate with kidney disease and other conditions.
- Total Bilirubin (TBILI): High levels may indicate liver disease or certain types of anemia.
- Total Protein (TP): A sum of albumin and globulin that informs on hydration status and provides insight into liver, kidney, and infectious diseases.
- Thyroxine (T4): A thyroid hormone; decreased levels often indicate hypothyroidism in dogs, while increased levels suggest hyperthyroidism in cats.
Behavioral Treatments
- Training and Behavior Modification – Professional training techniques help resolve behavioral issues, emphasizing the importance of consistency for long-lasting improvements. This investment in behavior fosters a harmonious home environment.
- Environmental Enrichment – Enhancing your pet’s surroundings – through play, interaction, and stimulation – positively impacts their quality of life.
Preventive Care
- Nutrition and Diet — A balanced diet plays a vital role in health and treatment, and specialized diets are available for specific conditions.
- Regular Check-Ups – Routine veterinary visits are essential for the early detection of health concerns. These check-ups are pivotal in maintaining your pet’s overall wellness and ensuring timely interventions.
Conclusion
At Love Animal Hospital & Urgent Care, we are dedicated to providing your furry family members with the best veterinary care. If you have any questions about your pet’s laboratory results, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (657) 756-5683 or visit us at our facility located at 16161 Springdale St, Huntington Beach, CA 92649.
