Blood Testing

We have facilities In-house to perform Haematological and Biochemical analysis of blood samples to aid us in the diagnosis of pet's and equine illness.

The blood biochemistry tests provide an indication of the functional ability of your pet's vital organs (for example the liver and kidneys) and can be used to diagnose medical problems such as diabetes. Haematological tests look at the blood cells themselves. We look at the red blood cells monitoring the oxygen carrying capacity throughout the body; the white blood cells checking for signs the body is fighting an infection and the platelets which ensure the blood can clot sufficiently to stop bleeding when necessary.

Having the facilities in-house means we can obtain results rapidly in emergency situations but it also enables us to perform pre-anaesthetic blood tests to ensure we know of any pre-existing problem that may affect your pets ability to cope with an anaesthetic. This is especially important in more elderly patients as organ function may be decreased but not yet to an extent that clinical signs are apparent (For example, a pet can lose up to 75% of kidney function prior to showing clinical signs). If the results of the pre-anaesthetic tests are within normal ranges, we can proceed with confidence knowing the anaesthetic risk is minimised. On the other hand, if the results are not within the normal ranges, we may alter the anaesthetic procedure, provide medical support during and after the procedure (e.g. a drip) or postpone the procedure.

If we need a more in-depth analysis of your pet's condition, we may send the blood sample we've taken to a specialist veterinary laboratory which will provide us with a full report in the next day or so.

Other blood tests we can perform at the surgery include Feline Leukaemia (FeLV) and Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) testing in cats Thyroid hormone testing Pre-mate tests for bitches Cortisol testing

Microscopy Looking at samples under the microscope is a very useful aid to diagnosis Blood smears showing the morphology of the blood cells. Cytology of Fine needle aspirates to help diagnose skin masses. Dermatology - hair plucks, skin scrapes etc. looking for lice and mites, bacteria and yeast (we also have facilities to culture these organisms to identify them). Faecal Worm Egg Counts for horses to help owners know when worming is necessary and monitor the efficacy of their worming regimen.