Whether your cat is ill, in for a senior check up, or needs preanesthesia bloodwork, we can run the necessary bloodwork in-hospital or ‘in-house’. A complete blood count (CBC) together with a general health blood chemistry profile and a urinalysis, gives your doctor volumes of information about your cat’s health. You will received copies of your cat's results for your records. Click here to view our "cheat sheet" of the meanings of each test.

Renal (kidney) insufficiency is a common disease in cats, and we can catch it early and prevent further damage to the kidneys by performing in-house labs. Also, cats having general anesthesia and surgery will receive a preanesthesia panel to ensure that the different organ systems, like the kidneys and liver, are healthy to undergo anesthesia. Some special tests, such as thyroid, PLI (intestinal absorption), allergy panels, and biopsies will be sent to one of our specialty outside laboratories for analysis. The turn-around time varies, depending on the type of test.

Feline leukemia/FIV/Heartworm tests, urinalysis, microscope cytologies, and fecal samples are are also run in-house.

Scroll down for a list of what our in-house blood panels, urinalysis, fecal tests, FeLV/FIV tests, and outside lab tests include.

General Health Blood Panel includes:

          Blood chemistry values:

                 - Albumin - protein made in the liver

                 - Alkaline phosphatase “Alk-phos” - enzyme present in bone, cartilage, and liver

   - ALT - liver enzyme

                 - Amylase - pancreatic enzyme

                 - BUN - indicates urea content in the blood, used to evaluate kidney function

   - Calcium

                 - Cholesterol

                 - Creatinine - used to evaluate kidney function

                 - Glucose - blood sugar

                 - Phosphorus - major component of mineral phase of bone

                - Total bilirubin - related to the liver and bile ducts

                - Total protein - includes plasma prealbumin, albumin and globulin, and fibrinogen     

   - Globulins - proteins

Electrolytes:

     - Sodium - regulates water distribution and cellular osmotic pressure

     - Potassium - that is responsible for normal cellular function

     - Chloride - that regulates water distribution and cellular osmotic pressure

        Complete Blood Count (CBC):

                - White blood cell count - abnormalities can indicate infection or immune deficiency

                - Red blood cell count - low number points to anemia

                - Platelet count - blood clotting information

                 - Hematocrit - volume % of red blood cells in whole blood, checks for anemia

   - Manual differential - % of specific types of white blood cells microscopically

              - Segmented neutrophils - engulfs blood pathogens

              - Band neutrophils - rare, immature WBC

              - Lymphocytes - related to immune function

              - Monocytes - engulfs foreign substances

              - Eosinophils -increased numbers seen with allergies or parasitism

              - Basophils - rare, seen with inflammatory disorders, allergies, or parasitism

- Platelets - forms blood clots

Preanestheric Blood Panel includes:

       Blood chemistry values:

                 - Alkaline phosphatase “Alk-phos” - enzyme present in bone, cartilage, and liver

   - ALT - liver enzyme

                 - BUN - indicates urea content in the blood, used to evaluate kidney function

   - Creatinine - used to evaluate kidney function

                 - Glucose - blood sugar

                 - Total protein - includes plasma prealbumin, albumin and globulin, and fibrinogen

        Complete Blood Count (CBC):

                - White blood cell count - abnormalities can indicate infection or immune deficiency

                - Red blood cell count - low number points to anemia

                - Platelet count - blood clotting information

                 - Hematocrit - volume % of red blood cells in whole blood, checks for anemia

   - Manual differential - % of specific types of white blood cells microscopically

              - Segmented neutrophils - engulfs blood pathogens

              - Band neutrophils - rare, immature WBC

              - Lymphocytes - related to immune function

              - Monocytes - engulfs foreign substances

              - Eosinophils -increased numbers seen with allergies or parasitism

              - Basophils - rare, seen with inflammatory disorders, allergies, or parasitism

- Platelets - forms blood clots

Renal (Kidney) Profile includes:

        Blood chemistry values:

                  - BUN - indicates urea content in the blood, used to evaluate kidney function

                  - Creatinine - used to evaluate kidney function

                  - Phosphorus - major component of mineral phase of bone

           Electrolytes:

                  - Potassium - responsible for normal cellular function

Hepatic (Liver) Profile includes:

       Blood chemistry values:

                 - Albumin - protein made in the liver

                 - Alkaline phosphatase “Alk-phos” - enzyme present in bone, cartilage, and liver

                 - ALT - liver enzyme

                 - Total bilirubin - related to the liver and bile ducts

Urinalysis

        Physical Exam

                  - Color

                  - Appearance - clear, cloudy, etc.

          Specific Gravity - urine concentration (how well kidneys concentration urine)

          Chemical Exam

                  - Protein - increased levels mean higher workload for kidneys

                  - pH - important to monitor for crystal formation

                  - Blood - presence of blood may point to irritation or infection

                  - Ketones - important in diabetics - ketones in urine means problems

                  - Bilirubin - may indicate liver problems

                  - Glucose - important in diagnosis of diabetes mellitus

          Microscopic Exam

                  - Epithelial cells - normal to see some epithelial cells

                  - White blood cells - increased numbers can indicate infection

                  - Red blood cells - presence may indicate irritation or infection

                  - Casts - normal to see some casts

                  - Crystals - struvite and calcium oxalate crystals are abnormal in cat urine

                  - Bacteria - can indicate infection

                  - Lipids - normal to see some lipids (fat droplets)

Fecal Examination

        Microscopic examination of stool for intestinal parasites:

                     Roundworms

                               Toxocara cati

                               Toxascaris leonina

                     Tapeworms

                               Dipylidium caninum (tapeworm from fleas)

                               Taenia spp. (tapeworm from rodents)

                      Protozoa

                                Isospora spp. (coccidia)

                                Giardia spp.

                                Toxoplasma gondii

                      Whipworms

                                 Trichuris vulpis

                       Hookworms

                                 Uncinaria stenocephala

                                 Ancylostoma caninum

Feline Leukemia/FIV/Heartworm Test

              A small blood sample is used for a simple in-house test. Results in 8-10 minutes.

                  What is FeLV & FIV?  

                  What is Feline Heartworm Disease?

Common Tests Sent to Outside Laboratories

          Thyroid values (T3, T4)

                         - screens for, or monitors hyperthyroidism

              PLI (intestinal absorption test sent to Texas A & M University)

                         - determines body’s vitamin absorption levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid

                         - screens for pancreatitis and intestinal disease

              Fructosamine

                         - determines long term blood glucose control

                         - used to monitor diabetic patients

              Histopathology/Cytology/Biopsy

                         - used to screen for neoplastic (cancerous) changes in cells

              Allergy Panels

                         - used to determine what a cat is allergic to and to form allergy serum for injections