6 Common Pet Diagnostic Tests That Veterinarians Perform

Your veterinarian can explain much about your pet’s health from a physical exam. Still, there are some details that vets can only identify through diagnostic testing. Therefore, vets might recommend diagnostic exams for both healthy and ill animals.

Diagnostic exams can speed up the procedure of identifying the cause of disease in pets. Therefore, your pet can get treatment and recover health in less time. Here are the typical diagnostic examinations and why you must get them done frequently to ensure your pet’s optimal wellness.

The Most Popular Pet Diagnostic Examinations

Diagnostic testing is used to check your pet’s internal organs and systems to identify illness early on or confirm diagnoses that have been suspected based on your pet’s symptoms. Discover why maintaining your pet healthy is crucial and what diagnostic exams are commonly suggested.

Urinalysis

When you come in for an appointment, you might be asked to bring a sample of your pet’s urine. This is because, like blood, urine can provide important details regarding your pet’s health and urinary health. This includes their bladder and kidney function and condition. If your pet requires surgery, a veterinary surgeon may perform it.

Blood Testing

Another common pet diagnostic test is blood testing. Your pet’s blood can uncover crucial information about their health and condition. Some diseases and conditions will show signs after the animal is very sick. Nevertheless, their blood may reveal illness much earlier. Multiple blood tests will be done, including a complete blood count, blood chemistry profile, and platelet count.

Fecal Testing

Many owners are advised to have their pets’ feces examined twice a year. This mainly aims to look for intestinal parasites like hookworms, tapeworms, and roundworms. They are parasites that live in your pet’s digestive system and cause health problems and discomfort. Small pieces of the worms or their eggs can be seen when a sample is examined under a microscope, making them fairly simple to identify. You can also check out the rabies vaccine for dogs for more details.

Blood Pressure Measurement

Blood pressure should be measured in canines and felines with clinical signs or clinicopathologic changes associated with the above organ systems, such as acute blindness, renal failure, and seizures, in animals with systemic conditions like sepsis, which can trigger hypotension.

Skin and Ear Testing

One of the most popular types of veterinary patient complaints are related to the skin or ears. Numerous are related to food or environmental allergies; however, there are many other reasons. Taking a swab or light scrape of the affected area and then looking at it under a microscopic lens can help your vet identify the problem faster and determine the most effective solution.

Heartworm Testing

Heartworms are another type of internal parasite; however, unlike other types, veterinarians can not detect them through a fecal test. This is because they reside in the blood vessels of the heart and lungs instead of the digestive system.

Heartworms, transmitted by the bite of infected insects, can be deadly. Even if your pet is on heartworm medication, frequent testing is advised. Your pet has a better chance of recovering from heartworms if you catch the problem as soon as possible.

Final Thoughts

Routine preventative testing can help you keep an eye on your pet and identify diseases and underlying problems early on. When you bring your pet in for an examination, your veterinarian may recommend particular examinations or treatments to detect or treat any illness and guarantee your pet’s health. Prevention is crucial for your pet’s long-term health.