In-House Lab Puts Information at Our Fingertips
Laboratory tests are used extensively in veterinary medicine and are helpful in a variety of situations: for wellness and prevention, diagnosis of illness, and pre-surgical screenings. At Deer Creek Animal Hospital, we have a state-of-the-art in-house laboratory. This means test results can be as little as 10 minutes away. Faster results means less waiting, fewer appointments, less phone calls, and less going back and forth—we can get to work more quickly getting your pet well.
How are lab tests used?
For well pets, lab tests, such as complete blood counts (CBC), chemistry panels, and urinalysis, help to establish your pet’s “baseline” values. If your pet becomes sick, these values can be compared to current values. Lab tests may also indicate emerging problems or conditions. Early intervention often results in more successful treatment. Wellness testing can help catch many conditions early before they become serious illnesses.
For sick pets, laboratory test results can be essential to diagnosis. Results can rule certain diseases in or out. Sometimes further testing will be done to track the disease and see how your pet responds to treatment.
Lab tests are routinely performed prior to surgeries. Because the liver and kidneys metabolize and excrete anesthetic drugs, we will run pre-surgical screening tests to reduce the risk for complications while under general anesthesia.
Common Tests We Perform in Our In-House Lab Include: