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Lab work gives us important information about your dog’s health that we cannot see on a physical exam alone. It helps confirm or rule out medical concerns, monitor chronic conditions, and establish a baseline for comparison over time.
We believe client education is an essential piece to your pet's care and want you to feel confident in your pet's health. We will always go over your pet's results and diagnosis with you and are available for any questions.
If your dog needs a veterinarian in South Jordan, UT, A Gentle Vet is here to help. Please call us at (801) 968-9932 to schedule an appointment.
Why Might My Dog Need Lab Work?
Veterinarians recommend lab work for several reasons: routine screening, evaluating symptoms, monitoring a diagnosed condition, or checking organ function before anesthesia. Common lab tests for dogs include bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal testing, and skin or ear samples such as cytology for skin concerns.
Lab testing may help identify or monitor issues such as diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, infection, inflammation, intestinal parasites, pancreatitis, and urinary tract disease. In many cases, it can also detect early changes before a dog appears obviously ill.
Why Are Laboratory Tests Important For My Dog’s Health?
Routine lab testing helps establish a baseline for your dog’s “normal.” When we repeat lab work later, we can compare results and look for meaningful changes. This is especially helpful for senior dogs, pets on long-term medications, and dogs with chronic conditions.
Lab work is also commonly used to confirm whether a dog is healthy enough for anesthesia before surgery and to monitor how well medications or treatment plans are working.
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Types Of Dog Lab Work And How These Tests Are Done
Several types of lab testing may be recommended depending on your dog’s needs. Common categories include:
- Clinical Chemistry: Evaluates organ function and metabolic health using blood serum or plasma. This may help assess liver function, kidney function, blood sugar, protein levels, and more.
- Hematology (CBC): Reviews red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to evaluate anemia, inflammation, infection patterns, and clotting support.
- Urinalysis: Assesses urine concentration and content to help evaluate hydration, kidney function, diabetes, urinary tract infection, and other metabolic issues.
- Cytology: Examines cells collected from skin, ears, masses, or fluid samples to look for inflammation, infection (bacterial or yeast), and abnormal cells.
- Histology: Evaluates tissue samples under a microscope. This is often recommended when a more detailed diagnosis is needed.
Why Routine Blood Tests Matter For Your Dog
Routine blood tests are often recommended as part of an annual or semiannual wellness plan, especially for senior dogs or dogs taking ongoing medications. Standard bloodwork typically includes a complete blood count (CBC) and a chemistry panel.
A CBC can provide insight into hydration status, anemia, inflammation patterns, immune system changes, and platelet numbers. A chemistry panel helps evaluate organ function, including the liver and kidneys, and may also assess glucose, protein levels, and electrolytes.
What Do Blood Chemistry Results Mean?
Bloodwork includes many values, and each one has context. Your veterinarian interprets results based on your dog’s history, exam findings, and trends over time. If you would like to review common bloodwork abbreviations, Veterinary Partner provides a helpful overview of key components of blood tests.
If you have questions about any value on your dog’s report, we are always happy to walk through it with you and explain what it means for your dog specifically.
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How Baseline Lab Work Helps Your Pet Over Time
A baseline lab test is lab work performed when your dog is healthy. It creates a reference point that helps us interpret future results more accurately.
Baseline testing can also identify early changes that may not be visible during an exam. It may support earlier intervention and help guide decisions before anesthesia, surgery, or long-term medication use.
Why Early Detection Matters
Lab work can identify early changes associated with illness before symptoms become severe. When issues are found early, treatment is often more straightforward and may help prevent progression.
Early detection can also support better preventive planning, including preventive care strategies tailored to your dog’s age, lifestyle, and medical history.
Caring For Your Dog At A Gentle Vet
Lab work is one of the most useful tools we have for evaluating your dog’s health, whether they are feeling unwell or simply due for routine screening. It supports accurate diagnosis, helps monitor ongoing conditions, and can catch changes early.
If you have questions about lab work or would like to schedule testing, contact A Gentle Vet at (801) 968-9932 or email us at [email protected].
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