During or following a visit with one of our veterinarians, the doctor may have recommended additional blood and/or urine testing to recheck for infection, inflammation, anemia, diseases of the liver, pancreas or kidneys, thyroid dysfunction, or glucose or cortisol level irregularities.
Depending upon your pet’s medical condition(s) and any previous diagnostic results, the following tests may have been recommended:
Complete Blood Count (blood) – anemia, clotting issues, infection, inflammation and some cancers
Chemistry Profile (blood) – liver, kidney, pancreatic, and muscle and bone diseases
Thyroid Function Test (blood) – hyperthyroidism (high thyroid levels) and hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels)
Urinalysis (urine) – infection and the progression of kidney disease and diabetes
Blood Glucose Curve (blood) – a series of blood samples taken throughout the day that determines if your pet’s glucose levels are appropriate or its insulin dose is successfully controlling diabetes.
ACTH Stim/Dexamethasone Suppression Tests (blood) – a series of blood samples taken over four to eight hours that helps diagnose and monitor adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s Disease) or excessive cortisol circulation (Cushing’s Disease).
Additional blood or urine diagnostic testing is necessary to help our veterinarians identify your pet’s specific medical condition and successful treatment options for a variety of diseases. For example, if a chemistry profile includes high glucose levels, and your pet has experienced increased thirst and urination, a blood glucose curve may be recommended to determine if your pet is diabetic and needs to have insulin administered.
Regularly rechecking blood or urine tests is also necessary to help the doctor determine if your pet’s current medication dose remains effective, a diagnosed infection has resolved, or to follow the progression of liver, kidney or other organ diseases. As an example, if your pet was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and antibiotics were dispensed, rechecking a urine sample 10-14 days after starting the medication is the only way to determine if the infection has resolved.
Diagnosing a medical condition that requires treatment is only the first part of excellent medical care. Rechecking a blood or urine sample helps determine if the treatment is successful or if additional or new treatment options are needed. Call us today at (630)598-0600 for more information about the importance of rechecking blood or urine samples.