At Richman Animal Clinic, we understand how important your pet’s health is to you. Whether you’re visiting for puppy/kitten care or regular or a senior pet visit, you want to know that your pet is receiving the best possible diagnosis and treatment. Our in-house laboratory is a key component of our commitment to excellence. The in-house lab allows for quick diagnosis and provides the information necessary for efficient evaluation and treatment of your pet.
When you bring your pet(s) to us for a routine or urgent care visit, we may use lab work to assess the level of your pet’s health or to assist in a diagnosis. Just as with humans, much of this can be accomplished through the use of blood tests. We draw the necessary amount of blood during the appointment and then analyze it right here in our clinic.
Dr. Pawling may request a complete blood count, or CBC, which provides information on a variety of factors regarding your pet’s blood cells. The doctor may also use blood chemistries which test organ function, hormone levels, and electrolyte status to help in controlling long-term medications, assist in diagnosis or assess your pet’s health before surgery. These chemistries may help point out liver, kidney, pancreas or bone disorders and may indicate when certain chemical levels are out of balance. We may also ask you to bring in a stool sample to check for parasites, as well as blood, hair, and urine to check for infection and kidney disease.
All screens should also include a heartworm test. If the results should indicate any type of health issue, Dr. Pawling will discuss this with you and provide advice and information on various forms of treatment.
Of course, if you should ever notice any unusual behavior or symptoms, we urge you to contact our office immediately so we can quickly determine the exact cause of your pet’s discomfort. At the Richman Animal Clinic, we do everything we can to keep your pet(s) healthy! Call us at (440) 585-3600 today.