Veterinary Services

Pet Annual Labwork in Cleveland, TN

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Pet Annual Labwork

Routine bloodwork is a great way to keep tabs on your pet’s health. This diagnostic tool helps to identify underlying health problems before they become severe. Early detection for things like diabetes, thyroid disease, and kidney disease make all the difference for your pet.

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Routine Bloodwork

Blood work is usually a combination of a complete blood count (CBC) and a blood chemical analysis. Blood work is a basic evaluation tool. Pets, particularly those above the age of 5, should have bloodwork done at every annual exam. This will allow the veterinarian to monitor the progression of a pet’s disease and intervene earlier in many cases, which can save lives.

Routine blood tests are run before anesthesia and surgery to ensure that your pet does not have a disease or illness that would make anesthesia or surgery a significant risk. This lab work is very similar to the “pre-op labs” that your doctor would recommend before you have any procedure performed on yourself.

Fecal Test

Fecal tests provide insights regarding any intestinal parasites that may be inhabiting your pet’s body. Intestinal parasites are organisms that live, grow, and feed in the intestinal tract taking away nutrition and in severe cases causing illnesses such as anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, anemia, or even death. The best way to detect parasites is by testing a fresh fecal sample for the parasite’s eggs. Treatment may vary depending on the type of parasite found, but it usually consists of oral medication.

Urinalysis
A urinalysis test checks for levels of specific chemicals in your pet’s urine. Abnormal levels of certain chemicals can be a sign of particular illnesses. The urinalysis screens for imbalances that can be an indication of kidney disease, kidney infections, bacterial infections, urinary tract disease, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, urinary bladder disease, auto-immune disease, Cushing’s disease, prostate disease, and hepatitis and liver conditions.
Imaging & Diagnostics

X-ray goggles aren’t real yet, and your pet can’t say where it hurts. Sometimes imaging is needed. We have in-house, top-of-the-line digital radiology and in-house ultrasound capabilities. Full in-house lab capabilities let us appropriately care for your pet’s urgent and emergency needs, and we work with an outside lab for monitoring and early detection lab work.

We’re fortunate to have the ability to consult with a wide range of specialists at our fingertips! We can do so using telemedicine right from our hospital. We will openly let you know when a consult isn’t enough and if visiting a specialist in their office is the best thing for your pet.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Annual Labwork

Why does my pet need bloodwork if they aren't acting sick?

Pets are masters at hiding discomfort and illness. Routine bloodwork—including a Complete Blood Count (CBC) and chemical analysis—acts as an early warning system. By testing annually, especially for pets over age five, our veterinarians can identify the early stages of kidney disease, diabetes, or thyroid issues before symptoms even appear, allowing for earlier and more effective intervention.

What is the purpose of a fecal test and a urinalysis?
A fecal test screens for microscopic intestinal parasite eggs that can drain your pet’s nutrition and cause serious illness. Similarly, a urinalysis is a powerful screening tool for the “silent” signs of disease. It checks for chemical imbalances that can indicate urinary tract infections, bladder stones, diabetes, or early-stage liver and kidney conditions that a physical exam alone might miss.
Why are "pre-op labs" required before my pet has surgery?
Just like a human doctor would require “pre-op” testing, we run bloodwork before any anesthetic procedure to ensure your pet can safely process the medications. These labs check liver and kidney function and blood clotting factors. This allows us to customize an anesthetic protocol specifically for your pet, significantly reducing surgical risks and ensuring a smoother recovery.