You’re not alone if you’ve ever felt anxious about taking your dog to the veterinarian for routine checkups. It can be very stressful when your vet gives you a laundry list of tests to choose from. You could be apprehensive about neglecting the most important tests in favor of the more trivial ones. It may be quite pricey if you sum up everything on the list. Do they have to? Most dog owners would shell out big bucks to ensure their pet’s well-being, but is this necessary? When taking your dog in for its first veterinary visit or yearly checkup, it’s a good idea to have a list ready of the most important tests your vet should run to assess your dog’s health.
Clinical Chemistry
The analysis of a sample’s chemical composition is known as “clinical chemistry.” Serum or plasma is the most common sample. However, other body fluids may also be tested. Clinical chemistry tests can evaluate organ function (kidneys, liver, etc.). They help medical professionals identify conditions, including diabetes and pancreatitis. Your pet’s progress in recovery can be monitored in places like Westside Animal Emergency Clinic using these tests.
Cytology
The study of cells and how they form, develop, and eventually die is called cytology. Pathologists can help veterinarians learn more about cells. Tissue or fluid samples obtained via fine-needle biopsy are prepared as slides and stained to identify cell types.
Pathologists are the medical professionals most commonly tasked with detecting cancerous cells and tumors (malignant). Some microorganisms may be seen, like certain yeast strains, while others, like bacteria, require microbiological testing to determine their identity.
Fluid Analysis
The fluid analysis involves evaluating bodily fluids apart from blood (urine, joint fluid, etc.). Experts in analyzing body fluids work along with other veterinarians to determine the state of an animal’s health. Cell and protein detection in fluids is performed. Furthermore, compound-specific clinical chemistry testing is feasible.
Hematology
The field of hematology examines the functions of many types of blood cells, both healthy and diseased. Routine blood tests typically consist of a complete blood count (CBC). The number and type of cells in the blood and the presence of anemia, inflammation, and clotting are all evaluated in this analysis.
A diagnosis of anemia is aided by evaluating red blood cell count, size, shape, and hemoglobin concentration. Inflammation, as measured by the number of different white blood cell types, is often caused by an infection. Changes detected in the platelet count during a CBC may indicate coagulation problems.
Histology
Microscopic analysis of plant and animal tissues is the focus of histology. Tissue health is determined by analyzing microscopic samples, which is the purview of histologists (pathologists). In their research of disease, pathologists typically find explanations for abnormalities in tissue structure or cell function.
If your Westside vet suspects cancer or another illness that causes tissue change, he or she will take a small tissue sample to send to a pathologist for analysis.
Microbiology
Research in the field of microbiology focuses on single-celled organisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. There are a variety of diagnostic tests for infections that can be performed by microbiologists working in veterinary hospitals. Viruses, fungi, and bacteria are routinely cultured and identified. Some drugs may be tested to see if they have antibacterial properties.
Pathogens that are challenging to develop in the laboratory can be identified with the help of antibodies and other substances. Bacteria from your pet can be cultured from various sources, including blood, urine, feces, nasal or pulmonary secretions, and wound or abscess swabs.
Serology
The field of serology examines the components of blood serum and other physiological fluids. Antibody titers to infectious microorganisms are the primary focus of most serologic tests. If an animal develops antibodies against a microbe, it has been exposed to that organism.
There are a plethora of serologic test kits to choose from. Heartworm, feline leukemia virus infection, Lyme disease, infectious horse anemia, and other diseases are frequently tested for with test kits at both in-house and external laboratories.
Toxicology
The field of toxicology focuses on the study of poisons and the animals they affect. If your vet from this page or any other clinic suspects that your pet has been poisoned, toxicologic tests can determine the type of toxin and the extent of its effects. Typical poisons can be recognized immediately.
Identifying a toxin quickly may save your pet’s life. Sometimes samples are sent to a third-party lab where they can be thoroughly tested for a broader range of poisons. If your pet ingested something toxic, your veterinarian might want to see a sample.
Conclusion
Even if it’s not time for your dog’s yearly or semiannual checkup, you should take him in if he’s showing any signs of illness. If you notice something unusual or concerning, it’s best to schedule an appointment with your vet and have them explain the necessary tests and their rationale. You’re your pet’s biggest supporter. Therefore it’s up to you to know what he needs to thrive from puppyhood to old age.
