Identifying that your pet is sick and discovering the underlying cause of their illness is often a very complicated process, that takes into account many different factors. Health problems often cause internal changes to things such as your pet’s blood, urine or internal organs. Performing diagnostic testing allows us to identify these changes, and to have a much clearer understanding of why your pet may be suffering from particular health issues.

Whereas cytology studies the structure and function of your pet’s cells, histology looks at their tissues, organs, and other bodily systems. As such, cytology has a fairly narrow study area, whilst the study area of histology is much wider. The results of both cytology and histology are essential in helping the vet determine an appropriate course of action, and suitable treatment.

There are several categories of diagnostic tests that may be performed to help your veterinarian determine the cause of your pet’s illness.

Bloodwork Bloodwork provides an overview of an animal’s health and is done in both healthy pets and sick pets. Bloodwork is highly important testing which includes a Complete Blood cell Count (CBC), and chemistry values. A CBC will give our vets vital information on your pet’s Red Blood Cells and White Blood Cells, and can help to detect signs of many diseases and infections. Chemistry values will determine how your pet’s organs such as their kidneys, liver, and pancreas are performing. Faecal testing

Examination of faeces can be helpful in investigation of gastrointestinal disease and internal parasites such as worms. Sometimes, your cat or dog may not display any symptoms initially. The faecal sample will also be checked for consistency and colour, as well as for irregularities. We recommend faecal testing at least once per year. Urinalysis

Urinalysis is mainly used to assess the health of the kidneys and urinary system including urinary tract infections (UTIs), but it can also reveal problems in other organ systems and issues such as diabetes, amongst others. Urine samples can also tell us if there is any evidence of pH imbalance, glucose issues, or crystals.

Tick-borne and Heartworm testing Tick-borne diseases are important to check for routinely because these diseases can cause many health issues. Therefore, we generally recommend tick-borne and heartworm testing is carried out annually, in addition to monthly preventatives. Cytology

This type of testing is most often used to diagnose the nature of 'lumps and bumps' found on the surface of the body. It can tell us is whether a problem is caused by inflammation or by neoplasia (abnormal growth of tissue).

Radiology Our clinics include both digital x-ray and ultrasound machines for advanced imaging. Radiology is a vital in help our vets to determine what’s going on inside your pet’s body – for example helping to understand the effect an illness is having on your pet’s internal organs, checking to see if your pet has broken a bone, or checking on the health of kittens or puppies in a pregnant pet.

Yes, even if there are no obvious signs of ill-health, we would always recommend you bring your pet to our clinic for annual bloodwork, faecal testing, and heartworm and tick-borne testing. By testing annually, we can detect health issues that are still in the early stages, and so before they become more serious. Early detection will ensure that treatment is quicker, generally less expensive, and has a higher chance of success.

Understanding your pet’s health needs is a complex thing. Diagnostic tests both help detect illnesses, and give our vets a much clearer picture of why your pet may be encountering particular health problems. The more detailed our understanding, the higher chance our vets have of being able to provide the best treatment for your pet. Whether your pet is currently healthy or showing signs of illness, book an appointment with our veterinary teams today, and we will give you a complete understanding of your pet’s health.