Can you explain what lab work for cats involves?
Lab work in cats, to me, would be what I consider the minimum database. This would include a complete blood count, commonly abbreviated as a CBC. This portion of the blood work lets me look at the cat's immune system, red blood cells, and white blood cells. It helps me identify whether there's any infection, anemia, or general problems with the immune system. I would also pair that with what we call a comprehensive chemistry panel. This portion of the blood work allows me to look at organ function, including the pancreas, liver, and some gastrointestinal areas, as well as electrolytes. Additionally, we like to look at what's called a total T4, a test that helps us evaluate the cat's thyroid function. Lastly, a complete urinalysis allows us to make a complete picture of the cat's kidney function when paired with the other portions of the lab work, as well as rule out any signs of urinary tract infection or problems in the urinary tract itself.
Are there any lesser-known blood work tests or screenings for cats?
Yes, there are some lesser-known blood work tests and laboratory tests that we use for cats for annual screening or maybe just once-in-a-lifetime screening. The one that comes to mind first would be the feline leukemia and FIV test, often referred to as the feline combo test or combination test. Feline leukemia and FIV are both viral infections specific to cats. This testing is done with just a couple of drops of blood, and we generally recommend it for kittens when we first start seeing them early in life. It can certainly be run at any other point in time if we think the cat has had a history of potential exposure to feline leukemia or FIV, or if their medical history lacks information regarding this testing and we're suspicious that those viruses may be a problem for that cat. Lastly, I would mention fecal screening for intestinal parasites. Sometimes we think about that more commonly in dogs because many cats stay indoors, but cats are prone to intestinal parasitism just as much as dogs are, even indoor-only cats. We ask that an owner bring a stool sample with them when they come to their visit, and we like to test that once a year.
Why is lab work important for cats?
Lab work is important for all of my patients for the same reasons it's important for me when I go to my doctor. Performing annual blood work is a wonderful way to screen for early disease processes. It allows us to have what we consider a historical database of information about that cat. As we continue to run blood work annually, we're able to see trends. Oftentimes, we think young animals, like young cats, won't have any problems. Maybe they don't for the first couple of years, and the lab work shows no visible problems. However, we can see that for any given parameter we look for in the blood work, there's a range considered normal for that species. If we start seeing on repeat lab work that a cat's BUN or creatinine is starting to trend up over time, we might think they are developing early kidney dysfunction. Similarly, we may find that a value for any given parameter runs a little low, and because we document that it's consistent over a number of years, we realize it may just be normal for that cat and not indicative of a more serious problem. We recommend lab work be done annually for all cats up until the age of maybe eight. After eight, most of us in this profession start to look at both cats and dogs as falling into a senior pet category. I focus on seeing if there are any trends moving up or down over the cat's life. After age eight, I might start recommending lab work every six months because illness happens quickly in cats, and they are notorious for hiding their illness. Lab work can show us trends earlier than the cat will display problems outwardly to the owner.
How is blood work collected from cats?
There are two main ways that blood work is collected from cats. The most common and efficient way is through a vein in the neck, which is the same way we draw blood work from our dog patients. It is a very good vein in most cats, allowing us quick access to collect the large volume of blood needed in a short period with minimal stress to the cat. Alternatively, depending on the health state of the cat and its temperament, it might be easier to draw blood from the inside of the back leg. I would say it's not painful; it's a single needle stick or poke through the skin to access the vein, no different than giving a vaccination. Most owners notice their cat has a very minimal or momentary reaction to getting a vaccination, so it's on par with that in terms of anxiety or stress. It depends on the cat's disposition. Many cats are calm and easygoing during a wellness exam and do well for the short time we need to restrain them to collect a blood sample. However, a certain percentage of cats tend to be anxious due to car travel or a barking dog in the lobby. For those cats, we recommend premedication to reduce stress for the patient coming into the hospital.
Thanks for spending some time with us today. I hope you found this chat informative. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us at Tuscan Ridge Animal Hospital.
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