Bloodwork is one of the many types of diagnostic services we offer here at Bridgwater Veterinary Hospital. During regular wellness checks, or during the diagnosis process of a potential health problem, our veterinarians will require bloodwork to take a closer look at your pet’s wellbeing. It is a routine part of veterinary care performed by our licensed technicians on an almost daily basis. To learn more, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 204-452-0911.
Should my dog or cat fast before bloodwork?
It is not necessary, but yes, it would be ideal for pets to not consume any foods about 6 hours before getting their bloodwork done. This is because fat droplets appear in the blood after eating, which can interfere with results. That being said, bloodwork can be done impromptu upon the request of the veterinarian and can still be totally accurate even if your pet has eaten beforehand.
What is the veterinarian looking for during a blood test?
As we mentioned earlier, bloodwork can be requested to help diagnose a health condition or to retrieve baseline levels of health if your pet is in perfect condition (this way, if they develop any health problems in the future, our team has a baseline model for comparison). Specifically, we are looking to obtain a complete blood count which will give us insight about infections, anemia, hydration levels, immune response, blood clotting ability and more.
How long does it take to get bloodwork results back for pets?
Due to our high-spec laboratory facility, we can provide you with same-day results for routine or point-of-care diagnostics. Sometimes, we may need to take the lab to specialty centres. This is usually for more complex cases and in these scenarios, it can take up to 3 business days to see the results.
