Medical Services
| Laboratory |
|
Laboratory tests are an integral part of any comprehensive diagnostic workup. We are constantly training our staff to perform lab tests, from simple fecal flotations to check for intestinal parasites to more complicated procedures like cytology and urinalysis. Our in-house lab is well-equipped to run large numbers of tests and we have access to several outside laboratories for more comprehensive studies. Below we will describe some of the lab procedures available for your pet.
Hematology, Blood Chemistry and Electrolytes
We frequently run "blood work" to look at generalized health screens on our patients. Whether it is for pre-operative screening or a sick patient, we are able to use a small amount of blood and get results in just a few minutes.   Blood Samples waiting for analysis Hematology and Chemistry analyzers There are a large number of values measured by screening blood work. Here we will describe a few: CBC -- The complete blood count looks at the types and relationships of cells withing the blood. A few of the specific values that we measure are:
1) Hematocrit -- This is the percentage of the blood that is made up of cells. Hct. values are useful in assessing anemia and dehydration. 2) Platelets -- Platelets are the cells responsible for the clotting process. This is obviously important for surgical patients. 3) White Blood Cells -- The blood cells serving an immune function. These values give us clues about infection or inflammation. Occasionally we will look at a sample of blood under the microscope to better assess the number and type of cells present. This is called a Peripheral Blood Smear:  Blood Chemistry -- We look at several blood chemistry values which give us information about internal organ function and hormonal control:
1) Blood Urea Nitrogen / Creatinine -- 2 values that give us information about kidney function and dehydration. 2) Blood Glucose -- Information about diabetes and certain types of infection. 3) ALT -- Liver enzyme that may be elevated with cellular damage. 4) ALP -- Enzyme associated with liver congestion. May be elevated with liver and gall bladder disease, steroid overuse, or Cushing's disease. 5) Albumin / Globulin -- Blood proteins that can give us a wide range of information regarding liver function, dehydration and certain types of infections. 6) Calcium -- Mineral that gives information about bone or kidney disease. Also associated with certain types of cancer.
7) Amylase -- Pancreatic enzyme often elevated in cases of pancreatitis 8) Potassium / Sodium -- Electrolytes giving a wide range of information regarding overall body condition. A great deal of our work here is related to keeping your pet safe from parasitism and infectious disease. Below are some common parasites that we regularly look for and treat:
   Hookworm Tapeworm eggs Roundworm egg
   Whipworm egg Giardia trophozoites Giardia oocyst
Otitis externa
We also deal with a great deal of ear disease (otitis). Cytologic examination allows us to know exactly what type of infection to treat. Frequently we see a combination of bacterial and yeast infections and have medications geared toward multimodal treatment. The following are just some of the organisms associated with otitis externa:
   Staphylococcus organisms Pseudomonas organisms Malassezia (yeast)
Otodectes (Ear Mite)
|
|||
| Last Updated on Friday, 23 October 2009 14:09 |
