If you bring your pet in for a checkup or have a health concern diagnosed or treated, your vet may suggest specific treatments or tests check on your pet’s health. The term “preventive testing” is used for this type of testing.
The preventive test lets you establish a baseline for your pet to compare with subsequent tests to determine whether anything has changed. It can also help you spot issues early on, extending the life of your pet and making it more pleasant for them.
According to research, diseases and other underlying conditions are easily identified If your pet’s behavior is regularly tested for preventative issues. Sometimes, lab tests are the only way to identify illnesses before they become grave.
Common Lab Tests
Regular checkups of your pet must include laboratory work. A more detailed review of the most well-known tests and what they can reveal about your best pet’s health is provided below. This article will explain the most frequently used tests for pets and how they can aid your pet stay well and living longer.
1. Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A vet will look over your pet’s blood to determine the number of white and red cells as well as immune status. hemoglobin levels, which is the component in red blood cells that circulates oxygen.
Blood tests are often used to determine the reaction of animals to long-term medication. Your veterinarian can send samples to outside labs to study less common conditions, such as allergies, parasite infections, or histology. Learn more about preventive medication from your local veterinarian.
2. Urinalysis
Urinalysis tests are usually conducted at the time you visit your physician. However, most veterinarians don’t perform this vital test regularly.
This could be because collecting the urine of animals can be more difficult or because doctors do not understand the necessity of urine tests. Urinalysis, in any situation, is an essential supplement for the blood test.
Urinalysis results can complement the results of blood tests and provide additional information that blood tests might not be able to reveal. Urine tests, for instance, will show ketones or glucose levels are present. Urinalysis also can reveal early loss of protein from the kidneys, something a blood test cannot. A vet like East Bay Veterinary Clinic has more information on their website.
3. Fecal Testing
Healthy cats and dogs should undergo a fecal examination at least once a year because they could be afflicted with intestinal parasites that can be passed on to other animals and possibly humans. Positive test results typically mean that deworming is needed, and follow-up tests ensure that all parasites have been removed.
Animals suffering from any illness, however, with widespread diseases like diarrhea and vomiting, are tested for feces. This test is more recent and searches for the DNA of parasites, bacteria, and toxic substances.
4. Radiography
Radiography utilizes a small amount of X-ray radiation that allows the vet to look at your cat or dog’s internal organs. It can help animals suffering from any illness, but it is most often used for soft tissue and orthopedic issues.
By using radiography, puppies can be examined for possible hip dysplasia. This is a great way to quickly identify animals that don’t appear to have any particular abnormalities. When radiography is done with “normal” animals, it is common to find issues that allow us to offer options for treatment before they become serious issues.
5. Ultrasonography
Since ultrasound tests use sound waves instead of radiation, they are entirely secure. If the animal is not agitated, the test can be performed without anesthesia. Since ultrasonic imaging of body tissues differs from radiography, two tests are typically required.
Ultrasound exams can also be utilized as a screening tool. Scottish Terriers, for instance, are prone to a high rate of bladder cancer. Likewise, larger dogs are more likely to have a rate of liver and spleen cancer. For your pet’s dental health, you should call a dog dentist.
