Lab work is a blanket term for any testing we're doing on the patient to evaluate overall function a little better. Our most routine lab work is the evaluation of basic organ function. We're taking a blood sample to look at liver values, kidney values, and electrolytes, just getting an assessment of the health of their whole body.
Lab work can also entail submitting a urinalysis to look for infections or other problems in their urine sample, stool sample analysis, or even biopsies or skin samples if we have dermatologic disease.
How often should cats have lab work done?
That depends on a couple of factors. For young, healthy patients, we usually recommend lab work every one to two years. For a geriatric cat, let's say a 16 or 17-year-old, things can change quite rapidly. For those patients, we typically recommend lab work every six months. It also depends on if your pet has any pre-existing conditions. If a cat has kidney disease, for example, in the later stages, we really want to monitor closely. Some pets will even come in every one to two months for lab work.
What is the process for cat lab work?
It depends on the exact type of lab work. Usually, when we're doing organ function assessments, the whole process is pretty quick. Pets come in, have the sample drawn, we send it to the lab, and typically have results within two to three days.
For most cats, it is not painful or stressful. If we're doing routine lab work, usually all they have to do is lay on their side. We have a couple of different veins we can access, but in cats, we're usually pulling blood from the inside of their thigh. They feel one little poke and just need to sit still for a few seconds.
Of course, some cats don't like being restrained or held in one position for too long. We use certain techniques to help with their stress. Some cats like to be wrapped in what we call a kitty burrito, wrapped in a towel, which can provide them some comfort. Cats that are food motivated will get a treat or a snack while we're pulling their sample.
For cats that are extremely stressed or uncomfortable, we will sometimes give them sedatives to help with the process.
What information does a CBC (complete blood count) provide about my cat's health?
A CBC chemistry provides us with a lot of very useful information. CBC stands for complete blood count. We're basically looking at three types of cells in their body:
- We're looking at their red blood cell count to see if they're anemic or dehydrated.
- We're looking at their white blood cell count to see if they have evidence of significant infection or inflammation.
- We are looking at their platelets to see how well they can clot their blood.
A chemistry panel gives us a little more information about overall organ function. We're often looking at liver values, kidney values, and electrolytes to paint a picture of their overall health.
What is the purpose of a urine analysis for a cat?
A urinalysis provides us with a lot of very useful information. The main reason we run a urinalysis is often twofold. One, we want to assess their overall kidney function, such as how well they concentrate their urine. Whether we have any leakage of proteins or other substances into their urine could be a sign of their kidney health.
We're also looking for evidence of primary bladder disease. If they have a urinary tract infection, a polyp, or cystitis, we can see changes in their red blood cell counts, their white blood cell counts, and for bacteria in that sample to help guide our treatment.
What is a fecal exam used for in cats?
A fecal exam is primarily used to evaluate for parasites. Our standard fecal exam is just going to assess for worms. There are some more in-depth stool sample analyses that can look for bacterial overgrowth, viruses, and other changes. There are a couple of different options there.
Typically, we have owners collect a fresh stool sample. Obviously, it's not always immediately fresh, but a sample that hasn't been in the litter box for too long. We submit it to the lab, and they will often do a combination of two tests. One is called the fecal flotation, where they're basically taking the sample and seeing which eggs float to the surface when they spin it to concentrate the eggs to see if we can find any parasites. Then they also do what's called antigen testing, which is a more specific test looking for evidence of worms in the sample.
Why would my cat need a thyroid panel?
A thyroid panel is a panel that we run quite commonly. It looks for overall thyroid hormone levels and can also look at some changes elsewhere in the body secondary to changes in the thyroid hormones. We're often looking at liver values, kidney values, and electrolytes as well.
Most people are familiar with hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid gland, which can make you gain weight and feel a little sluggish. Cats, as they age, usually develop the opposite condition. They develop something called hyperthyroidism, where their metabolism goes into overdrive. They can lose weight, feel nauseous, and have a myriad of symptoms that can affect their overall health.
What do elevated liver enzymes indicate?
When we look at a chemistry panel and examine their liver values, it really is a clue or one piece of a puzzle. Elevated liver enzymes often indicate that there's either inflammation, infection, or an abnormal growth process in the liver. We don't always know exactly what's causing that, but it does tell us there's something abnormal going on. Usually, our next step is to do additional testing such as an abdominal ultrasound, biopsies, or X-rays to get more information about why those values are elevated.
Do cats need to be prepared for blood panels?
Most cats undergoing standard blood panels don't require any specific prep. They can come in during their routine visit and get the lab work drawn. It does depend on the individual cat and the panel we're running. If you know that your cat is easily stressed or anxious and doesn't like restraint, I would discuss with your vet whether they would benefit from an anti-anxiety medication. There are some specific panels where we do want pets to be fasted. If they eat within an hour or two of the panel, it could skew our results. That's always something you should check with your vet as well.
What is a feline leukemia test?
A feline leukemia test is a test for a virus called feline leukemia virus. It's pretty common to see in the cat population. The virus itself can cause a bunch of health issues. What we worry about the most are either the development of certain types of cancers like leukemia or lymphoma, or it can affect their immune system.
That virus is transmitted by cats just hanging out with other cats. Sometimes transmitted by bites or scratches, but it can also be transmitted just from saliva. If they groom each other or share food or water bowls, they can transmit it as well. The feline leukemia virus test is most important when a cat comes from an outdoor or colony environment. We essentially want to know if they've been exposed to that virus so that we can best plan for their health moving forward.
At City By The Sea Veterinary Hospital, your pet always comes first. Whether they need routine care or something more urgent, call (848) 217-5000 or email [email protected] to schedule a visit. Our team is here for you and your pet.