Pre-Anesthetic Testing

Before every surgical procedure we highly recommend pre-anesthetic bloodwork. This will provide the veterinarian with valuable information regarding your pet's health status and assist in deciding on an anesthetic protocol that is catered to your pet's needs.

Your Pet's Bloodwork

Complete Blood Count (CBC): The most common blood test performed on pet's and people. It gives information on hydration status, anemia, infection, the blood's clotting ability, and ability of the immune system to respond.
Hematocrit (HCT): Measures the percentage of red blood cells to detect anemia and dehydration.
Hemoglobin and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (HGB and MCHC): These are oxygen-carrying pigments of red blood cells.
White Blood Cells (WBC): Measures the cells that fight off infection. Increases or decreases can indicate certain infections or disease processes.
Granulocytes, Lymphocytes and Monocytes: These are specific types of white blood cells.
Eosinophils: These are a specific type of white blood cell that may indicate allergic or parasitic conditions.
Platelets (PLT): Measures the cells that form blood clots.

Blood Chemistries: These common blood serum tests evaluate organ function, electrolyte status and more. These are important in evaluating pets for a large variety of conditions and are useful in verifying health before any surgical procedure.
Albumin (ALB): This is a serum protein that helps evaluate hydration, hemorrhage, and intestinal, liver and kidney disease.
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALKP): Elevations may indicate liver damage, Cushing's disease, cancer and active bone growth in young pets.
Alanine Aminothansferase (ALT): This is an indicator of liver damage but does not indicate the cause.
Amylase (AMYL): Elevations can indicate pancreatitis or kidney disease.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): Indicates kidney function. An increased blood level is called azotemia and can be caused by kidney, liver and heart disease, urethral obstruction, shock and dehydration.
Calcium (CA): Deviations can indicate a variety of diseases. Tumors, hyperparathyroidism, kidney disease, and low albumin are just a few of the conditions that can alter serum calcium.
Cholesterol (CHOL): This is used to supplement the diagnosis of hypothyroidism, liver disease, Cushing's disease and diabetes mellitus.
Creatinine (CREA): Reveals kidney function. This test helps distinguish between kidney and non-kidney causes of elevated BUN.
Glucose (GLU): Blood Sugar. Elevated levels can be due to stress or diabetes mellitus. Low levels can cause collapse, seizures or coma.
Phosphorus (PHOS): Elevations are often associated with kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and bleeding disorders.
Total Bilirubin (TBILI): Elevations may indicate liver disease or anemia.
Total Protein (TP): Indicates hydration status and provides additional information about the liver, kidneys and infectious diseases.
Globulin (GLOB): This is a blood protein that often increases with chronic inflammation and certain diseases.
Sodium (NA): This is an electrolyte lost with vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney and Addison's disease. It helps indicate hydration status.
Potassium (K): This is an electrolyte lost with vomiting, diarrhea or excessive urination. Increased levels may indicate kidney failure, Addison's disease, dehydration or urethral obstruction. High levels can lead to cardiac arrest. Lowered levels can lead to excessive lethargy and lack of muscle control.
Chloride (CL): This is an electrolyte often lost with vomiting and Addison's disease. Elevations often indicate dehydration.