LABORATORY
Our
laboratory plays a vital role on maintaining the health and
well being of your pet. Our technicians routinely perform
a wide variety of blood and urine profiles with specific attention
to the diseases that effect animals.
For
the critically ill pet, a blood chemistry and hematology profile
are completed within 5- 10 minutes. These sensitive instruments
offer highly accurate results of tests used to diagnose or
evaluate a the following things:
| * Pre-anesthetic
risk |
* Liver
function |
| * Blood
count |
* Clotting
function |
| * Kidney
function |
* Hydration |
| * Infection |
* Pancreatic
function |
Our
healthy pets may also receive a pre-anesthetic blood profile
prior to any surgical procedure. These panels reduce the risk
of anesthesia by screening for preexisting conditions
that are not apparent on the pet’s physical examination.
Other
conimon tests that are performed include:
Urinalysis-
This is a comprehensive test of a pet’s urine. It requires
a dipstick to be evaluated, concentration of the urine recorded,
and the sample spun for 10 - 15 minutes. Then the sediment
of the spun urine is stained and evaluated by an experienced
veterinary technician under the microscope.
Fungal
culture- Small pieces of skin scales or hairs
are collected and laced on a special culture medium. These
tests are evaluated every three days for three weeks. A specific
growth or color change of the medium is then confirmed by
microscopic examination.
Cytology-
Ear swabs, skin swabs, and needle aspirates are just a few
of the things we stain and evaluate under the microscope.
Ear cytology slides are evaluated for the presence or absence
of bacteria or yeast helping us to select the right medication
for the pets ear infection. Needle aspirate slides of cysts
or masses are evaluated for atypical cells that may indicate
a fungal infection or cancer.
Fecal
analysis- A flotation technique is used to
evaluate the presence of roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms
in our patients. This technique allows us to find eggs of
these worms even if they are present in a low number. A gram
stain or direct fecal test are commonly done in our patients
with diarrhea. We use these test to look for an overgrowth
of bacteria or other protozoan parasites.
Feline
Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficency Virus-
These tests are performed using a highly accurate testing
system called a SNAP test. With only 3 drops of blood and
10 minutes, we can test your cat for two very serious illnesses.
These diseases are much like “AIDS” in people and
can result in immunosuppression, cancer, and death.
Heartworm
disease. Lyme disease, and Ehrichiosis- These
tests are also screened by using a SNAP test. Again, within
10 minutes we can screen a pets blood sample for these serious
illnesses.
More
advanced tests are sent out to a veterinary exclusive laboratory.
Iddex Veterinary Laboratory offers comprehensive panels and
all special tests typically within 24 hours. Biopsy samples
are routinely reported within 3 - 4 days. Board certified
internists and pathologists are available for consultation.
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