Essential Diagnostic Exams for Your Pets
Although a physical examination of your pet by your veterinarian can reveal a lot, some disease symptoms necessitate additional tests to be identified. Moreover, it’s crucial to know what’s happening inside of pets even when they seem healthy; this rule doesn’t just apply to ill animals. To ensure your pet is as healthy on the inside as they look on the exterior, here is a rundown of the crucial diagnostic tests we could advise.
Blood Chemistries
Blood tests are frequently advised for pets in good health, those getting ready for anesthesia, and those ill. The body’s major organ systems may be evaluated quickly and non-invasively by interpreting many tests in combination with one another (profiling).
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Monitoring unwell patients receiving treatment using objective data from CBCs is essential. Some ailments or diseases have symptoms but don’t appear until your pet is severely ill. A veterinarian can also examine internal organs like the liver and kidneys to determine their health. These tests can identify several curable disorders.
Urinalysis
Like blood tests, urine tests help vets determine your pet’s internal health. A urinalysis performed once a year might reveal underlying medical issues, including kidney or bladder infections. Veterinarians can see the state of your pet’s interior health thanks to the findings of this test.
Fecal Exam
Two times a year, veterinarians examine your pet’s stool for indications of intestinal illness and parasites. They’ll look for things like blood, mucus, and irregular consistency or color when they inspect the feces for visible symptoms of illness. In addition to these treatments, they utilize a microscope and the fecal flotation technique. The most common parasites are whipworms, hookworms, and intestinal roundworms. The feces may include little worm fragments or their eggs. Click here to learn about wellness exams and other diagnostics.
Heartworm Testing
Your pet will benefit more if heartworms are discovered earlier. In the blood veins of the heart and lungs, heartworms are internal parasites that thrive. A fecal examination cannot find them since they are not digestive system inhabitants. A yearly blood test is advised even if your dog or cat is on heartworm medication.
There are two ways to avoid heartworms: a monthly prescription for a pill, a chewy treat, a spot treatment applied at home, or an annual preventive injection given by the doctor at the same time as your pet’s vaccination.
X-Ray
For some reason, a veterinarian could advise getting an animal X-ray. The most prevalent ones include checks for malignancy, difficulties with fractured bones, and potential trauma. Testing on the animal’s muscles, lungs, pneumonia, and arthritis may be recommended by the vet. Additionally, they could check a pet for foreign objects or blockages in the stomach.
Ultrasound
Veterinarians can use an ultrasound to evaluate the organ structure in your pet. Your dog or cat won’t experience any discomfort or harm from the sound waves that the ultrasound produces. To make a precise diagnosis of the medical issues affecting your pets, veterinarians employ ultrasounds and other diagnostic equipment.
Conclusion
Blood tests allow doctors to set a “baseline” for each dog or cat. Because it enables the veterinarian to understand any changes in blood test results more precisely, this is particularly crucial if the pet becomes unwell. Healthy pets can have blood tests and other diagnostics done to look for hidden issues that your veterinarian may be able to address before they worsen. Liver illness and diabetes are two examples. No matter how slight, body chemistry changes may indicate a potentially treatable issue.
