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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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