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Blood Pathology Services
At Box Hill Veterinary Hospital, the majority of our patient's blood and urine tests, and all of our histopathological tests, are completed by an external specialist laboratory (ASAP Veterinary Laboratories). This is due to increasingly sophisticated pathology standards and also increasingly superior standards in how we treat our patients. ASAP laboratories employs Board Certified Specialist Veterinary histopathologists and clinical pathologists, ensuring that we have access to the best minds to assist with our diagnostic work.
Biochemistry:
Analysis of
blood biochemistry gives us vital information about the
function of your pet's liver, kidneys, biliary duct system,
pancreatic function and electrolyte concentration. Depending
upon the clinical presentation of the patient, the most
appropriate of these tests may be undertaken. A selection of
these tests comprise our
pre-anaesthetic
blood screen,
which we recommend all sick or elderly patients have before
undergoing anaesthesia or sedation.
Blood
Counts:
Blood counts
(or blood cell analysis) give us information about the
body's response to certain diseases. This is usually seen in
increases or decreases in the normal range of red and white
blood cells, and platelets. In the case of patients with
bleeding disorders, such information needs to be interpreted
in the light of clotting factors, which are proteins which
work with the platelets to coagulate the blood.
Hormonal
concentration determination:
If treatment is
instituted for thyroid problems, adrenal gland problems or
diabetes, it is important to monitor the blood
hormone/glucose concentrations regularly. Monitoring occurs
more frequently in the initial stages of treatment, then at
longer intervals once the patient appears stable. Such
monitoring may involve a single blood test, or a series of
tests during the day.
Drug
monitoring:
Drug
monitoring is important in certain diseases, such as canine
epilepsy. In the case of canine epilepsy, phenobarbitone and
potassium bromide concentrations are measured at regular
intervals. The results of these tests are interpreted in
conjunction with the results of a thorough physical
examination of the patient, and the seizure history since
their last check-up.
Infection monitoring:
There are a
range of infections which can cause serious illness to our
four-legged friends, including canine heartworm and a range
of viruses - feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukaemia
virus, and canine parvovirus. We stock blood test kits for
all of these diseases to ensure fast diagnosis should one of
these diseases be suspected.
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